Cain's exile and the nature of God's presence

The phrase 'everyone who killed Cain' is said instead of a vocative, instead of 'O Cain, everyone who killed', or other ways about him, so that it might be 'everyone who killed Cain', which some say would not be a sin for certain powers. To these same things he gave a 'sign' 'not to let him be killed' (Gen 4:15), which was God's command for him; for no such judgments happen without forgiveness.

He set a sign, the momentum of repentance after the falls, by which he will not be easy to take away. For it is a great good not to fall; but to come after the falls into recognition would be a second chance, which God provides through teaching to prevent falling into deception. Such a mind is suggested by what is said in the Psalms: 'Light was signaled in the face of the Son, or the light of your face toward us, O Lord' (Ps 89:13), which you say properly, speaking of divine thought. For so also the fleeing from the face of the bow would happen, of the face of God in us, as it is said, while it exists; and what follows confirms it: 'So that your beloved ones may be delivered' (Ps 100:2). Therefore, through philanthropy and goodness, God gives a place of repentance even to those falling greatly, so that a recovery of virtue may happen again.

So Cain went out from the face of God and dwelt in the land of Nod opposite Eden (Gen 4:16). We say that the going out of Cain from the face of God is not to be taken locally, but that everyone sinning becomes outside God, since we also understand entering toward God in this way, the Psalmist saying: 'Enter before Him in gladness' (Ps 100:2); For someone enters before God, leaving all things outside—sins and sensible things—and becoming another in the world, so that he might thus become a partaker of the knowledge concerning God. It is said here therefore: 'Cain went out from the face of God' (Gen 4:16), and we do not say that...

What kind of place is it in which God exists, and from which Cain, while existing, went out? For God is uncircumscribable and is not subject to places, even if a temple has later become a teaching for symbolic worship. Cain went out, having made himself unworthy of the face of God, having become otherwise thoughtless.

Concerning such things it is said, 'God is not before him' (Ps 31:9), and concerning the sons of Eli it is said, 'The sons of Eli did not know the Lord' (1 Sam 2:12); for if they drew near to the temple, it was in their disposition and works that he was found outside. That Cain went out in this way, the following shows: 'And he dwelt' (Gen 4:16) for he says 'in the land of Nod, opposite Eden.' For 'Nod' is interpreted as 'trembling'; for where was it necessary for the one departing from peaceful virtue to dwell, except in 'trembling,' in an unstable and uncertain thing, which is wickedness? And also 'opposite'; for wickedness is contrary to virtue.

We must remember, therefore, that when we were participating in the account of Adam's expulsion, we noted that He expelled him not as one having gone out of his own accord, but still possessing an impulse of longing for the enjoyment of the luxury of Paradise; therefore, opposite these things, He settled him, just as He himself had managed the dwelling. For to those who do not sin greatly, since virtue does not exist within them deeply, a certain quick opportunity is given, indicating a return, being given toward God, which was not said of Cain.

For neither has he been settled nor expelled, having perished through a willing longing for evil; therefore he dwells in 'trembling,' being incessantly disturbed, since he desired this, of the contrary stable thing, in order to have a strong standing, as if he could stand even with God, according to what was said: 'But you shall stand with me' (Ps 16:8), and by the Savior regarding those not tasting death: 'There are some standing here' (John 12:35), who were his acquaintances. But even Paul, exhorting not...