Legatum

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Rise Of Cain (Preview of Chapter 1)

http://storyofcain.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-first-dynasty-rise-of-cain.html

(The Author of what we’ve taken to be the first section is not verified. However after reading the complete text I believe this writer is supposed to be Enoch II. We will see more of the writer in a later chapter.)


In the beginning of Cain’s life he was welcomed into the world with thankfulness and joy; he was seen as a gift from the creator. This child would grow up to be the originator of agriculture, the first human king, and the builder of the first city. He would become notorious for his failures, which were also the first of their kind.


The mother held her baby and wept tears of joy, feeling her son was well worth the pain she had endured. “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man,” she declared this and then named him Cain.


 Cain’s father Adam had begun to adjust to existing outside of a paradise which Cain would hear about in stories, and only ever see a blurred vision of from a safe distance. Adam was severely depressed and hardly ever spoke the months before his first child was born. Even though he was still frequently intimate with his wife, the seed of bitterness was growing within his heart towards her. In those days Eve was at first sorrowful over having lost her home, and although she longed for the simplicity and luxury of life in Eden, she struggled in forgiving Adam. She wished he had been a man who would have stopped her. The great sin Adam had to live with was the original sin of choosing his wife before the will of the Creator, his Father. When Eve ate of the forbidden fruit Adam feared he would lose her, he feared for her life. He chose to eat with her because he loved Eve and believed they would both die together. The original sin Eve had to live with was the sin of wanting Adam to desire her more than anything, for him to listen to her before the will of the Father. She held the fruit offered to her by the cunning and appealing one, took a quick bite, and then turned to her husband and asked him to eat with her. In this moment she wanted him to choose her first.  


In the days following the birth of Cain, Adam moved his family west across a large field. (In the center of this field was the now lost Garden of Eden). Adam lived as a hunter and gatherer. For the first years game consisted primarily of the animals he could easily catch, like sheep and goats. Eve would gather fruits and vegetables to add to their diet, and these grew amongst the vegetation near the hills to the west.


While dwelling in the land west of Eden Adam lay with his wife Eve and then she was with child again.


Eve gave birth to another son named Abel, meaning breath or vapor. His name was decided upon because in comparison to the labor pains Eve endured with Cain, Abel was a breath. When Abel was born Cain was three years from being fully grown.


Adam recognized Cain’s inquisitive nature blooming soon after he took his first steps. He observed how his son would stare with wonder at the ants bringing food into their mound. Cain did not stomp on the insects, nor did he trample over their home like future generations of children would; Cain watched the ants, he studied them, and his father studied him. When Cain was able to run without falling, his father observed his sons' discovery of the seed. He watched as Cain took the core of an apple and buried this in a shallow grave of rich soil. Cain would drink from his mother often, and she would hold him and tell him how her nectar was what made him grow and gave him strength. Adam assumed this was the thought Cain had when he would take their water skin, daily returning to the place where he buried the apple seeds, and would then pour some of the water. Adam was intrigued by how his son discovered the smaller something is the less fluid is needed for nourishment. Together, as the days went by, they would watch this seed grow, with excitement by the first green sprout emerging from the soil, on into a sense of accomplishment when the small tree eventually bore fruit. The father was learning along with his son, but he knew Cain’s inquisitive nature could only be allowed to go so far.


Abel would feed from his mothers’ right breast while Cain fed from her left, but as Cain grew older his father encouraged him to eat as he ate and tried to wean him off of his mothers’ milk. Cain was in despair when he recognized his mother no longer wanted to feed him her nectar, and instead chose to give this kind of affection only to Abel. Cain started to spend more time with his father after his mother rejected him, while his brother Abel remained with their mother.


Adam would frequently take Cain hunting in the hills beyond the trees. The manner in which they would usually do this was to track their food and walk the animal down. Adam learned early on that the beasts of the field were faster than him, but then he learned they grew tired sooner than Man. During one of these hunts Cain was talking with his father, asking many questions as he always did in those days. Adam always had an answer. During this particular hunt Cain asked a question to which he did not appreciate his father’s answer.


Adam knelt down and touched the soil, taking notice of a large footprint on the ground. He inhaled deeply and recognized the scent of the animal, and how close the beast was to them.


“This is a warning,” Adam muttered. “To such a beast as this we may be the hunted. We will head to the left now and continue after the elk.”


 “Why don’t we gather the sheep in one place,” Cain asked, “then build a barrier around them? We don’t need to hunt the meat of other animals like the beast we are tracking today hunts.”


“I enjoy the hunt with you son, this is why we are out here today instead of obtaining one of the sheep closer to where we rest. We will not build a barrier to hold any animals because there is no need to. The Lord provides us with what we need daily, and this is why he wills for us to only gather what food is necessary to sustain us for the day.”


Cain did not respond to his fathers’ answer but he was not happy, for from this answer birthed another question; “Where is the Lord who provides us with our daily nourishment, and how come I cannot see him as I see you?” Cain chose to ignore this question on that day, and he assumed his father’s word was good enough.


 Now after Abel was nearly grown he chose to keep flocks of sheep. He did not withhold them in a barrier, but instead he kept watch over them and slept where they slept. The animals he ate were those he hunted separate from his flocks. Cain worked the soil, and had planted the first seeds of agriculture. He knew his father did not approve of him creating his own garden, but Adam never said anything. Cain enjoyed gathering the seeds from different foliage and learning how to plant each one, and while he was doing this he had peace of mind. When he wasn’t working in his garden Cain felt another emotion developing within him; he was jealous. This jealousy was towards his brother, who was now gaining more attention not just from Eve but from Adam. Cain resented his brother, and this feeling grew from the seed of sadness planted inside him back when he first perceived rejection from his mother. When Abel was the one who started drinking from Eve and was held by her more, Cain reasoned with this. When Abel was older, nearly grown, Cain no longer reasoned over the affection Abel received from their mother more than he. When Adam started to spend more time with Abel, seeming happier with him than with Cain, the jealousy began to blossom and change into another emotion, an even more dangerous one. Abel was keeping his flocks one day in the vast field which surrounded Eden, and Cain watched him from the tree line. Abel was so happy with his sheep, and Cain recognized the peace he felt, a peace Cain was losing from his own passion in life; his gardening.


Adam recognized Cain as being above Abel, and he expected Cain to see his position as one of authority over his younger brother. The time came when Abel started looking up to his older brother, but Cain found no joy in this, and he would try to avoid him. Adam did not approve of his older son planting his own crops, for he feared this would eventually take away his sons’ dependence on the creator, and his appreciation for what the Lord daily provided would diminish. Adam decided to spend more time with Abel, starting at a younger age than he did with Cain. His hope was to dissuade Abel from stepping outside of the Creator’s perfect will, like Cain chose to.


One day Cain was standing in the vast field, looking out at the bright green colors in the distance, the place where he had been told the Garden of Eden was. He made a decision this day; he was going to have the creator speak with him, not through his father, but to personally communicate with the Lord like his father used to. And the first thing he was going to do was give to the creator, so as to show him how appreciative he was of the knowledge he was allowed to receive.


Cain was being watched by his admirable brother, Abel saw his brother picking various vegetables and gathering them into a leather pouch. Cain hollered out to his brother to come out from behind the shrubbery he was hiding behind. Abel emerged from his concealment with a large smile on his face.


“Why do you watch me,” Cain asked. “Why don’t you go back to your sheep, they care for your company.”


“I like watching you in your garden brother,” Abel replied, “You look so happy, and this pleases me.”


Cain did not reply to his brother and he continued gathering the fruits of his labor.


“May I have some,” Abel asked.


“This is not for you,” Cain said, “I am bringing these as an offering to the Lord.”


Abel was fascinated by what his brother was doing and he was moved.


“You are not bringing any of your sweeter fruit,” Abel asked.


“The Lord knows they are harder to grow, and as father has taught us, the vegetables offer more nourishment.” (This was not the primary reason Cain chose not to pick any fruit.)


“I want to go with you,” Abel replied. “Will you take me?”


Cain looked up at his brother and saw the emotion in his eyes. He imagined how proud of him his father and mother would be if he took his brother with him to do this commendable deed.


“I will be heading towards Eden soon…”


“Let me bring my own offering,” Abel pleaded, “I won’t be long.”


Abel ran in the direction where he left his flock, and Cain started to head out towards Eden before his brother returned. Abel had to take some time in finding one of his most beloved lambs, searching in a living maze made up of the larger sheep. He finally found his favorite, picked her up with haste, and ran with her on his shoulders, holding onto her feet. Cain was almost close enough to the garden to stop and give up his offering, when he heard his brother running up behind him.


Cain brought the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of the flock, their fat portions.


The place where Cain and his brother stopped at was a dominant location, where there were two large boulders lying in the mist amongst the long blades of grass. Cain stared with apprehension at the sight. There was a thick wall of large trees with leaves filling in all the spaces in between, blocking the sight of what beauty lay beyond. They were at a safe distance, and would not dare approach any nearer.


“In there is paradise…” Abel said. “Where the Lord would walk with father and mother, talk with them, and love them. Father said Eden is a place of everlasting joy.”


Cain looked over at his brother and saw the tears flowing down his cheeks and dropping from the tip of his chin. He looked away from him and faced the wall to paradise.


“I hope the Lord still dwells in there.”


Abel looked at his brother and was confused by the words he spoke.


“The Lord is there brother… but he is also here.”


Cain was confused by his brothers’ words as much as Abel was Cain’s.


Cain approached one of the boulders and he took out each of the vegetables from his pouch, laying them side by side in a decorative manner. Abel watched him, while he ran his fingers under the neck of the lamb he held. After emptying his pouch Cain knelt down on the grass and looked up at the sky above the wall of trees (which was several yards in front of them).


“My Lord, I thank you for the knowledge you have provided me through your creation,” Cain called out. “The wonders you have shown me through the smallest of insects on up to the largest of the fruit trees I’ve grown. I offer you a gift from my own garden, an offering I have worked the soil to obtain for you my Lord. Please come to me and talk with me as you once did my father Adam.”


Cain remained on his knees for several minutes and he called out for the Lord again. The Lord did not look with favor on Cain or his offering.  So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.


“I am not going to let this food go to waste,” Cain said as he arose and started packing the vegetables back into his pouch. “Let’s go Abel.”


Abel watched his brother pack the last of his vegetables and then he stepped towards the same boulder his brother had just used.


“I still have to present my offering to the Lord.”


Cain did not object and he stood aside and watched with interest as Abel gently laid his lamb down onto the stone. Abel knelt down and placed his hands on the lamb, keeping the animal steady. Abel prayed, calling out to the Lord as he wept.


“My Lord, I thank you for your grace. I thank you for the love I have known. I thank you for the joy I have had while being with the parents you’ve given me and those in my flock you’ve given me. I take joy in the affection from these lambs, as I take joy in the affection offered me by my mother. So I want to give back to you my Lord, and I want to show you how I understand the depth of your great love!”


Cain watched his brother remove one hand from his lamb and then bring this hand down to the ground to pick up a rock which was near his knee. And he was taken back when he watched Abel lift the rock to the sky, cry out a thank you to the Lord for his sign, and then bring the rock down with a solid blow against the lambs head. There was a cracking sound and the body of the lamb had a spasm, but again Abel brought the rock down hard onto the lambs head. Three solid blows were inflicted onto the head of the animal, but several times Abel brought down the rock, missing his target.


Abel stopped after he was quite sure the life of his favored lamb was depleted. He remained on his knees for a few minutes sobbing and crying out his thanks to the Lord.


The blood from the sacrifice was trickling down from the boulder like a crimson stream, and Cain watched the drops of blood land on his brothers’ hand. Abel leaned his head against the boulder where the blood was and he closed his eyes as the stream ran down his face.


 The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering.


The earth suddenly began to shake for a moment, and then both Cain and Abel looked up at the sky above where Eden was. Both of them stared in astonishment at the strange colored lights which appeared as soon as the sun touched the horizon. So many colors were all blending into each other and shining so brightly, and Abel stood up from the ground and raised his hands up to the Lord.


Abel started thanking the creator all the more.


Cain said nothing.


Cain watched the morbid sight of his bloody brother Abel giving up his praises, while he stared up at the strange lights that he saw as representing the Lord. The dangerous emotion within Cain reached a boiling point and then he heard nothing, everything went silent. Cain continued to watch his brother, no longer caring to look up at the sky, and then he heard a voice. Cain heard a non-threatening voice following the sudden silence, sounded like his father.


Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?  If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”


Cain turned away from the scene and started heading back towards the west. Soon his brother followed close behind. Abel told Cain that he was going to tell their parents about all they had witnessed, but Cain offered him no response.


The next day Cain decided to go for a hunt, he wanted to get away before his parents, with his brother, came to hear his thoughts about the wonder witnessed the night before. Cain grabbed a rock and a long stick and then he ran into the hills. While he was moving he came across a scent, a warning (his father would tell him). He did not want to see a warning on this day, so he decided the scent would become that of his prey.


“May this beast pick up my scent and heed me as the warning.”


Cain was running towards the beast, which would soon pick up on his scent and sense his intentions. Cain took for granted the fresh air he breathed, and the strength the food he ate gave him. His anger remained this day even through the exhilaration of the hunt. Cain ran faster when he sensed the beast was heading in his direction. He had just reached the top of the hill and was standing on top of a pillar, looking out on a series of stone pillars spread out on top of this hill. He smiled at the sight of the maze of stone, for he knew the advantage was his as long as he kept the high ground. He remained still and stared out at the sight of some birds flying out from behind two pillars a couple yards out in front of him. Cain leapt onto the next pillar, and then to the next, he moved like a mountain goat. The beast who believed she hunted him was moving fast as well. Cain stopped himself after one more leap and the beast jumped up onto its hind legs, scratching her claws into the stone, and roaring up at the man. Cain did not hesitate for a moment and he slammed his stick down towards the large feline, piercing the end of the stick into the animals left eye. He then grabbed a tight hold on his stick and jumped down towards the beast, putting all of his weight into pushing the wood deeper into his preys’ eye. The beast turned her head to the right and Cain rolled onto the dirt below. He turned fast towards the beast, with his hand up and ready to strike out with his rock. The beast roared in pain and was backing away from Cain, moving cautiously between the rows of pillars. The stick still pointed out from the beasts’ face and Cain charged her. He shouted so as to let her know he was the one to be feared. He pushed on the stick as the beast was cornered against a large rock, and she roared one more time before her legs gave out and she fell to her side.


“I will not eat your flesh,” Cain said as he pulled his stick out of the beast. “I offer you as a sacrifice to the *Baal off my har[vest], and to my crops of *Dagan.”


Now Cain returned from his hunt determined to see his brother. With his stick and rock still in hand, he quickly found Abel with his grazing flock. Abel was happy when he saw his brother walking towards him and he was anxious to tell him about their parents’ reaction to their experience.


“Let’s go out to the field.” Cain said.


Abel nodded, still smiling, and he followed his brother into the thicker grass.


They were walking with haste when Abel was caught by surprise. One moment he was seeing the back of Cain’s head, and in the next moment Cain turned towards him and slammed his rock against his brothers' forehead. Abel’s eyes rolled back and he fell unconscious. Cain grabbed him by his wrist and dragged him the rest of the way towards the boulder upon which the blood of the lamb still shown. Cain picked up his brothers body and laid him down on the stone alter. He looked down at Abel and held up his rock, ready to strike again, but then he dropped the weapon instead. He felt sudden grief by the sight of his brothers’ blood, which flowed from the wound on his head and trickled down the rock onto the soil. Watching the life flow out of his brothers’ body was an awful sight for Cain to behold, and he was afraid.


Cain pulled his brothers body down from the rock and then with haste he started pulling at the grass below the boulder, throwing handfuls to the side. When he reached the soil he started digging with his stick. His hands were bleeding as he dug, and his heartbeat was rapid. He had to be rid of what he did. He did not want anybody else to look upon the sight of the shell Abel became. Cain grabbed his brother by the wrist and pulled him towards the hole he had dug at the base of the boulder. He would not look directly at Abel as he pushed his body into the hole.


‘From dirt we came’, ‘so back to the dirt you’ll return.’


As soon as Cain had his brothers’ body covered with soil, and with the grass he had pulled, he heard the same fatherly voice who had spoken to him the day before.


And the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”


“I don’t know,” he replied, as he rubbed the sides of his throbbing head. “Am I my brother’s keeper?!” He could not tell from where the voice came, but the sound seemed to come from within him, while also encompassing everything.


The LORD said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.  When you work this ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”


Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is more than I can bear!  Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; as a restless wanderer on the earth, whoever finds me will kill me.” 


(Cain believed that because of what he did to Abel the rest of life in the world would want to destroy him, and they would have right to, because he took the life of the Lord’s chosen.)


But the LORD said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.


* Cain fell to his knees and he looked down at his hands. A couple white patches appeared on the back of his hands and slowly the pigmentation begun to spread, as if the Lord was pouring milk on his hands. Cain looked down at his chest and saw a couple more patches where the pigment of his skin had changed, and this too was spreading. He felt a shocking pain in his shoulders and his back below his neck; something was changing inside him, like his bones were expanding. He shouted out and crossed his arms over his chest before falling prostrate before the Lord, thanking him for his mercy.


 So Cain went out from the LORD’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. 


Cain wandered the land for years before he settled, and it took this long for his fear to begin to decrease. He was saddened by the thought that his parents would remember him with sorrow and regret, but he hoped that someday he’d attain redemption.


In the beginning of Cain’s life he was welcomed into the world with thankfulness and joy; he was seen as a gift from the creator. This child would grow up to be the originator of agriculture, the first human king, and the builder of the first city, but ultimately he would be remembered as being the first murderer and prodigal son.


*{ (בעל: Baal , meaning Lord.) (דגון:dāgān, meaning grain)(קָצִיר:Harvest-The last letters were not clear.)-This passage is interesting because the Hebrew words used-Grain: Dagan & Lord:Ba'al-were also used as names for Pagan deities in later times.}


*{Possible origin-Vitiligo (vit-ih-LI-go) is a condition in which your skin loses melanin, the pigment that determines the color of your skin, hair and eyes; chronic pigmentation changes to the skin seen by white patches which can steadily increase.}

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