Fratricide, Murder, Guilt, and Reprieve
In the texts and commentaries of the first murder as well as the stories of Lemech’s boasting of his kills, the midrash weaves a deep connection of a sense of justice and punishment.
We will review the commentaries and midrashim as well as other tradition’s view (Patristic) of how the great great grandson inadvertently kills Cain. We will then review psychodynamic theories of Eden fratricide and guilt to harmonize the spiritual and psychodynamic aspects of the biblical myths.
Murder, genocide, and ongoing man’s inhumanity to man is especially pertinent to the current crisis in the holy land, and the connection of the genocide with the Holocaust.
Particularly ironic is Lemech’s wives appeal to Adam with their refusal to have relations with him after killing Cain, and then throw his argument against his own celibacy.