Of whom was Cain afraid after he killed Abel?

Response

In Genesis 4:13-14, shortly after Cain killed his brother Abel, he 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; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” Whom was Cain afraid of exactly? Up to this point, the book of Genesis had only mentioned Adam and Eve (Cain’s parents) and Abel (now deceased). Who could pose a threat to Cain?

It is crucial to note that Cain and Abel were both mature adults when the incident occurred. They were both farmers who tended to their own lands and flocks (Genesis 4:2-4). Although the Bible does not specify the ages of Cain and Abel, it is plausible that they were in their 30s or 40s. The Bible does not explicitly mention Adam and Eve having any children between Abel and Seth «And Adam knew his wife again; and she bore a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, has appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. », (Genesis 4:25). However, it is improbable that Adam and Eve, considered the most perfect human beings in history, did not have children over several decades. After Seth, they had many children «and the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters: », (Genesis 5:4). Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that they had other children between Abel and Seth. The Bible does not state that Seth was their first child or son after Abel’s death but rather that he was born as a “replacement” for Abel. Genesis chapter 5 continues to trace

The genealogy of Seth. Prior to his death, Abel was likely the “chosen” son who would eventually produce the Messiah «and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. », (Genesis 3:15). It is in this sense that Seth “replaced” Abel.

So, whom was Cain afraid of? Cain was afraid of his own brothers, sisters, nephews, and nieces, who were already born and would be capable of seeking revenge. The fact that Cain had a wife «And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. », (Genesis 4:17) is further evidence that Adam and Eve had other children after Cain and Abel, but before Seth.