Quote:
Originally Posted by NoahideHiker
Quote:
Originally Posted by kefa5
***That is a LIE! Cain slew his brother Abel [Genesis 4:8] and NOWHERE in the Hebrew scriptures does it record that he did teshuva. In fact, HaShem cursed him in Genesis 4:11 and told him that he would be a FUGITIVE and a VAGABOND {Genesis 4:12]...and put a mark on him and Cain went out "from the presence of the LORD" [Genesis 4:16]. Adam's wife then bore another son to replace Abel who Cain slew {Genesis 4:25].
Kefa
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This teaching is found in Midrash Tanhuma where it teaches Adam ran into Cain after his trial with G-d and Adam asked him ho it went and Cain responds, "I repented and G-r accepted it.".
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And Cain said to the Lord, "Is my iniquity too great to bear? Behold You have driven me today off the face of the earth, and I shall be hidden from before You, and I will be a wanderer and an exile in the land, and it will be that whoever finds me will kill me." And the Lord said to him, "Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be wrought upon him sevenfold," and the Lord placed a mark on Cain that no one who find him slay him. - Bereishit (Genesis) 4:13-15
After being judged Kayin (Cain) accept the verdict, acknowledges his sin, and asks for mercy. G-d accepts his teshuva (return, repentance) and lessens his punishment. As NoahideHiker said this is the understanding based on the Midrash.
And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and he begot in his likeness after his image, and he named him Seth. - Bereishit (Genesis) 5:3
Why did he wait 130 yrs? From the same Midrash we learn that Adam learned of teshuva (return, repentance) from Kayin (Cain). He separated from his wife and fasted for 130 yrs to do teshuva (return, repentance) for his sin.
And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son, and she named him Seth, for God has given me other seed, instead of Abel, for Cain slew him. - Bereishit (Genesis) 4:25
The Shaar Hagilgulim teaches that Kayin (Cain) and Hevel (Abel) where conceived after Adam sinned. Their souls were damaged. Kayin’s (Cain’s) was mostly evil while Hevel’s (Abel’s) was mostly good. Seth was a gilgulim (reincarnation) of Hevel (Abel) he received the good from Hevel (Abel).
By killing his brother he brought the concept of teshuva (return, repentance) into the world. He also put into motion the actions need to rectify Adam’s sin. This would not be completed until the giving of the Torah.