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Cain and Abel

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Biblical Characters

The Resume

    (3700 BC- )
    By-products of Adam and Eve's sexual escapades
    Part of the Creationist theory
    Third & fourth humans to occupy Earth
    First referenced by the Bible in Genesis, Chapter 4
    Also mentioned in the Torah (known as Kayin and Hevel) and the Qur'an (known simply as Adam's children)
    First documented case of fratricide (a person murdering one's brother)

Why they might be annoying:

    They may or may not have existed.
    When they both offered God a sacrifice, Cain offered 'the fruits of his field' (grain), and Abel offered 'the best of his flock' (a herd animal). According to the Book of Hebrews, God preferred Abel's offering as 'more excellent.'
    This pissed Cain off and he wanted vengeance.
    He went a little overboard and killed his brother.
    When God asked Cain where Abel was, his smart ass reply was, 'I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?'
    This amounted to mind games between God and Cain since they BOTH already knew Cain bumped off his brother.
    A third son was born to Adam and Eve; Seth, though he barely gets a mention other than as a suitable 'Abel replacement.'

Why they might not be annoying:

    They weren't slackers. Cain made a living as a farmer; Abel was a shepard.
    Though Cain was fearful of repercussions (such as getting bumped off himself), God promised to protect him, stating, 'If any one slays Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him seven fold.'
    Theologians have been driven nuts trying to adequately explain how Cain's 'nameless' wife just sort of 'showed up one day.'
    Besides Genesis in the Old Testament, they get a mention in three Books of the New Testament (Hebrews, I John, and Jude) to help drive home the point that murder is not the best solution to anger management issues.
    John Steinbeck's 'East of Eden' (1952) is a modern day retelling of their story.
    Bruce Springsteen sings about them in 'Adam Raised a Cain' (from the 'Darkness on the Edge of Town' album).
    Trivia: Event geeks like to point out that the first 3 men on Earth were Adam, Abel and Cain. The first letters in their names are A, A & C. The first 3 men to reach and walk on the Moon were Neil Armstrong, 'Buzz' Aldrin and Michael Collins. The first letters in their last names are A, A & C. (note - Collins did not set foot on the Moon, he orbited it in the Apollo 11 command module)

Credit: Scar Tactics


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 10 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 9 Votes: 22.22% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 20 Votes: 55.00% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 21 Votes: 52.38% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 25 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 28 Votes: 67.86% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 107 Votes: 57.94% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 39 Votes: 56.41% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 156 Votes: 48.08% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 136 Votes: 45.59% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 129 Votes: 55.81% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 436 Votes: 69.50% Annoying