"And Hashem set a mark upon Cain"

Synopsis

God inscribed the Hebrew Letter Vav ו onto the forehead of Cain. The letter Vav connects to the Sfirot of Yesod, which signifies the Covenant between God and the Israelites. When Cain sincerely repented for the murder of his brother Abel, the letter Vav protected him from the murderous hands of people which were aroused against him by the spiritual law of cause and effect. Provided we fully repent, meditating upon the letter Vav offers us protection from any decrees of judgment.

Abel Adam Anger Brit (Covenant) Cain Covenant (Brit) Death Death and the Afterlife Eve Face Field Hebrew Letters Jealousy Offering Samael Torah Tree Women

458. "And Hashem set a mark upon Cain lest anyone finding him should smite him" (Beresheet 4:15). This is one of the twenty-two letters of the Torah, WHICH IS THE LETTER VAV that he placed upon him for his protection. THE LETTER VAV IS RELATED TO YESOD, WHICH IS RELATED TO THE SIGN OF THE COVENANT. THIS HE MERITED WHEN HE REPENTED AND AGREED TO KEEP THE COVENANT. Rabbi Yehuda said: Why is it written, "And it came to pass, when they were in the field"? HE ANSWERS: A field signifies a woman. Thus, BECAUSE OF A WOMAN, he rose and killed ABEL. For it is from the side of woman, WHO IS THE LEFT SIDE, that he inherited his murderous tendency, which is the aspect of Samael that brought death to the whole world WHEN HE SEDUCED ADAM AND EVE WITH THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL. Similarly, Cain was jealous of Abel because of his wife, AS ABEL HAD A SECOND WIFE. Rabbi Chiya RAISED AN OBJECTION BEFORE RABBI YEHUDA. HE said: The reason CAIN KILLED ABEL was as it is written that "Cain was very angry, and his face fell" (Ibid. 5). It was because his offering was not accepted AND NOT BECAUSE OF A WOMAN. RABBI YEHUDA said THAT CAIN WAS ANGRY THAT HIS OFFERING WAS NOT ACCEPTED, and all the reasons were before him WHEN HE KILLED ABEL, INCLUDING JEALOUSY BECAUSE OF THE EXTRA WIFE.

458. וַיָּשֶׂם ה' לְקַיִן אוֹת לְבִלְתִּי וגו', מַאי אוֹת, אוֹת א, מֵעֶשְׁרִין וּתְרֵין אַתְוָון דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, יְהַב עֲלֵיהּ לַאֲגָנָא עֲלֵיהּ. אֲמַר ר' יְהוּדָה, מַאי דִכְתִיב וַיְהִי בִּהְיוֹתָם בַּשָּׂדֶה, מַאי בַּשָּׂדֶה דָּא אִתְּתָא, וְעַל דָּא קָם וּקְטֵיל לֵיהּ, דְּהָא מִסִּטְרָא דָא יָרֵית לְקַטְלָא, מִסִּטְרָא דִסמא"ל דְּגָרִים מוֹתָא לְכָל עַלְמָא. וְקַנֵּי קַיִן לְהֶבֶל עַל נוּקְבֵיהּ. ר' חִיָּיא אֲמַר, הָא חֲזִינָן דִּכְתִיב וַיִּחַר לְקַיִן מְאֹד וַיִּפְּלוּ פָנָיו, עַל דְּלָא אִתְקַבֵּיל קָרְבָּנֵיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ הָכֵי הוּא, וְכֹלָּא הֲוָה לָקָבְלֵיהּ.