h it is not recorded at what time, in what
place, or by whom, Cain was slain, yet it is most probable that he was
killed. The Scriptures however make no mention of it, even as they are
quite silent also concerning the number of the years of Cain, and say
nothing about the day of his birth or the day of his death. He
perished, together with his whole generation; to use a popular
proverb, "without cross, candle, or God." A few only of his generation
are excepted, who were saved by the uncovenanted mercy of God.

229. The question is here usually asked, To what persons could the
words of Cain possibly apply, when he says, "Everyone that findeth me
shall slay me," when it is evident that besides Adam and Eve and their
few daughters, no human beings were in existence. I would at once
reply that they bear witness to the fact that we see the wicked "flee
when no man pursueth," as the Scriptures say; for they imagine to
themselves various perils where none really exist. Just so we see it
to be the case with murderers at the present day, who are filled with
fears where all is safe, who can remain quiet nowhere, and who imagine
death to be present everywhere.

230. However, when it follows in the command of God, "Yea, verily,
whosoever slayeth Cain shall be punished sevenfold," these words
cannot be referred exclusively to the fears of Cain, for Cain had
sisters, and perhaps he greatly dreaded that sister whom he had
married, lest she should take vengeance on him for the murder of her
brother. Moreover, Cain had perhaps a vague apprehension of a long
life, and he saw that many more sons might be born of Adam. He feared,
therefore, the whole posterity to Adam. And it greatly increased these
fears that God had left him nothing more than his stray mercy. I do
not think that Cain feared the beasts at all, or dreaded being slain
by them; for what had the sevenfold vengeance threatened upon
murderers to do with beasts?

V. 15b. _And Jehovah appointed a sign for (set a mark upon) Cain, lest
any finding him should smite him (slay him)._

231. What this mark was is not to be found in the Holy Scriptures.
Therefore commentators have entertained various opinions. Nearly all,
however, have come to this one conclusion--they have inferred that
there was apparent in Cain a great tremor of his head and of all his
limbs. They suppose that, as a physical cause of his trembling, God
had changed, or disarranged, or mutilated some particular orga