CAIN'S WIFE | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · June 17, 1880

FromThe Review and Herald, Vol. 55, No. 25

CAIN'S WIFE.

NOTWITHSTANDING the disposition of so many people to “Raise Cain,” he does not seem to come up half as often as his wife. The oft-repeated question comes in again from a correspondent who says that one of his neighbors wishes it answered:—

“If Adam and Eve were the first of God’s creation, whom did Cain get for his wife?”

The frequency with which this question is brought to the front, indicates that many consider it one of the most apparent and available objections to the credibility of the Scriptures. If it is so, it was certainly very stupid in Moses to introduce Cain’s wife in so unguarded a manner, right in connection with his record which sets forth Adam and Eve as the first pair, from whom have sprung all who live upon the earth.

But we are unable to see really where the objection comes in. The expression in Gen. 4:16, “And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod,” if supposed to prove that he went into a distant part of the earth and there found a wife, loses all its force in this direction, when we have the right translation, which scholars tell us should read thus: “And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land a nod [that is, a vagabond], on the east of Eden.”

Well, but who was his wife? Why, one of his sisters, of course. Who else could he marry, unless a first or second niece, or some more distant relative? But it is not lawful for a man to marry his sister. It is not now; but it was then, because it was necessary. It is not natural. It is not now; but it was then, because it was necessary. It is not according to the laws of health. It is not now, but it was then, because it was necessary. The human race has now become sadly degenerated, and the blood in our veins is vitiated and impure. It was then at the fountain head in its native purity and energy. Like circumstances would produce far different results now from what they would and did then; and we can draw no parallel, in this respect, between Cain’s time and ours.

But the same problem remains to be solved, from whatever point of view we consider this question. We may never have explored the streams of skepticism to their source. But we presume all agree that there was somewhere and somehow a beginning to the human family. How did it begin? With a single pair? If so, the first marriage that took place must have been between a brother and sister. Do you say that there were more than a single pair? Then the question arises, How did these come into existence? God must have created them. And what was the relation between these? Must it not have been as close as that of brother and sister? And would there not be as much objection against these, all coming at once from the hand of the same Maker, marrying together, as against the marriage of Cain with his sister?

If it be said that these were all made without any consanguineous relation between them, because such would be the better way, according to physiological law, then, on the other hand, can it not be easily admitted that God might interpose to prevent the evils of consanguinity in the union of Adam’s immediate descendants, until the number became so great that union of those near akin would not be necessary? A little invention in the beginning, of which we may be sure that the Maker of the heavens and earth had no lack, or a little thought on the part of modern skeptics, it seems to us would obviate all difficulty.

But why does not the objector go back a step further, and raise a query on the union of Adam and Eve? According to the record, Eve was made of a rib taken from Adam’s side. Between this woman and Adam there must have existed a greater degree of consanguinity than between brother and sister. Why not try to create a difficulty here, where, if a man has not much respect for God’s power and design, there seems to be a better chance, rather than in the case under notice?

Thus, from whatever point of view we look at this subject, there seems to be no occasion to disturb the connubial relations of Cain. And hence we plead for a little seasonable rest for this man and his curiosity-exciting wife.