Lesson Five: The Story of Cain and Abel: God's Judgment, the Sixth Commandment & Murder in the Bible Explained

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In case you’re wondering why I read from the Book of Jubilees, it’s because it gives greater detail compared to Genesis, which only provides a summary. Remember, the Book of Jubilees contains information given by God’s Angel to Moses during the forty days and forty nights on Mount Sinai.

In Genesis 4:5–7, Jubilees 4:1–6, and Jasher 2:12–33, we see that Adam and Eve had two sons and three daughters. For this lesson, we will focus on the two brothers, Cain and Abel, because from them commandments six, nine, and ten were revealed and established as eternal laws in the Torah.

In Jubilees chapter 4, Adam and Eve, after being cast out of the Garden of Eden, conceived Cain and Abel. Both Cain and Abel offered sacrifices to God, but God only accepted Abel’s sacrifice. Abel was a shepherd who tended sheep, while Cain was a farmer, a tiller of the ground. However, God was displeased with Cain’s offering. The reason for this is outlined in Genesis 4:16, which states: “And unto Cain and his offering God did not turn, and He did not incline to it; for he had brought from the inferior fruit of the ground.” Abel, on the other hand, brought the firstlings of his flock, the best of the best, and God honored his sacrifice. Cain, feeling jealousy and anger, murdered his brother Abel.

God’s reasoning for rejecting Cain’s sacrifice is emphasized in Genesis 4:16. Cain’s jealousy led him to kill Abel, but what Cain failed to see was that Abel offered his best out of respect and reverence for God. It wasn’t a competition for Abel, but rather an expression of his gratitude and honor toward God. Cain, in contrast, could have learned from his mistake, repented, and brought a better offering. Instead, he chose to kill his brother. This is where the Sixth Commandment—“Thou shalt not kill”—finds its roots. Though God didn’t kill Cain immediately, He cursed him, declaring that he would be a fugitive on the earth.

This incident was written in the Heavenly Tablets, which would later form part of the Ten Commandments. As we see in Jubilees 4:5-6, it is written: “Cursed is he who smites his neighbor treacherously, and let all who have seen and heard say, ‘So be it.’ And the man who has seen and not declared it, let him be accursed as the other.” Genesis 9:5-6 echoes this, stating: “And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. From each human being I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being. Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind.”

Cain’s death did not occur until after the death of Adam. As noted in Jubilees 4:31-32: “At the close of this jubilee, Cain was killed... he was killed by its stones; for with a stone he had killed Abel, and by a stone was he killed in righteous judgment.” This suggests that Cain’s death was a result of the stone he used to kill Abel. However, there is some discrepancy in other texts. In the Book of Jasher 2:26-28, it’s stated that Lamech killed Cain with a bow. But in Jasher 1:24, it mentions that Cain used the iron part of his plowing instrument to strike Abel. Despite the differences in these accounts, the key principle remains: the instrument used to commit murder is the same instrument used to execute judgment. This aligns with the principle found in the Heavenly Tablets: “With the instrument with which a man kills his neighbor, with the same shall he be killed.”

Thus, the Sixth Commandment—“Thou shalt not kill”—was established from the time of Adam and Eve. God’s view on murder is clear, and His judgment is just. God instructed Moses on how to deal with murderers, distinguishing between those who kill out of hatred and those who kill by accident. While the punishment for both is death, God allowed for a distinction: those who kill out of malice face justice after proper investigation and witness testimony (Numbers 35:9-34). However, those who kill accidentally are allowed refuge in cities of refuge, where they can stay safe until the high priest’s death (Numbers 35:29-34).

God’s laws concerning murder are straightforward: “Anyone who kills a person is to be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness” (Numbers 35:30). God’s punishment is just, and no ransom is to be accepted for a murderer. Bloodshed pollutes the land, and the land can only be purified through the blood of the murderer (Numbers 35:33).

Commandments Revealed Through Cain’s Sin

From Cain’s actions, we clearly see:

• Commandment 6: You shall not kill.

• Commandment 9: You shall not lie.

• Commandment 10: You shall not covet (envy).

Cain displayed envy of his brother, committed murder, and then lied to God. This shows us that the Ten Commandments were not “new” at Sinai but existed from the beginning of time.

As Moses received the Book of Jubilees, he understood why these commandments were given — to keep Israel from walking in the ways of the wicked and to live righteously before the Most High.

After Abel's death, God blessed Adam and Eve, and Eve bore Seth, a replacement for Abel. Cain, too, had a son named Enoch, but it’s important to note that this Enoch is not the same as the one who ascended to heaven. Seth, after having a daughter named Azura, bore a son named Enosh, who began to call upon the name of God. Enosh had a son named Qeynan, who in turn had a son named Mahala’el. Mahala’el's son was Yered, and it was during his time that the angels known as the Watchers descended to earth, charged with instructing humanity.

Yered took a wife named Barak, and they had a son named Chanok (Enoch). This Enoch was from the righteous bloodline, not Cain’s. As described in Jubilees 4:17-19, Enoch was the first man to learn writing, wisdom, and knowledge, and he documented the signs of heaven to help people understand the seasons, months, and Sabbaths. Enoch wrote down his testimony, recounting the events of the generations and the day of judgment, all of which were revealed to him in visions.

Enoch married a woman named Edna, and they had a son named Methuselah. During this time, Enoch had interactions with the angels who showed him the sins of mankind. Enoch was taken to the Garden of Eden, where he recorded the judgment of the world and the wickedness of mankind, leading to the flood that would come upon the earth. As we read in Jubilees 4:25-28, Enoch testified to the people, and through him, God declared the purification of the earth and the sanctification of certain mountains, including Mount Sinai and Mount Zion.

In the next session, I will discuss the birth of Noah, the Watchers, and why God punished the Watchers and the children of men. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

I pray that the Most High helps those who are truly seeking Him to see the secrets of the Torah and walk in His wisdom. As Moses said, choose life, that it may be well with you and your family.

Ecclesiastes 12:13:

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.”

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