Who was the first person who died in the world?
The first person to die in the world, according to Judeo-Christian scriptures, was Abel. Abel was the second son of Adam and Eve and was killed by his older brother Cain.
Expanding the Cain and Abel Narrative
The story of Cain and Abel, found in Genesis 4, is sparse on details. As gamers and game creators, we often like to fill in gaps in narratives and expand on backstories. So while staying true to the essence of the biblical story, we can imagine some additional details about Cain and Abel‘s lives:
- They were raised outside Eden by parents who had recently fallen from grace. The boys would have faced hardship and toil as they worked the land.
- Perhaps Cain, as the eldest, felt pressure to succeed and provide. His role as farmer may have started auspiciously but crops or livestock later failed, leaving offerings meager.
- Abel‘s flocks apparently thrived enough that he could offer the choicest portions. Perhaps as the younger brother he had less expected of him.
- The brothers likely hunted wild game on occasions – the thrill of the stalk and a successful kill probably gave them great satisfaction.
While Genesis leaves the specific motivation unclear, we can picture Cain struggling under the weight of expectations, simmering with jealousy over his brother‘s seeming good fortune. This boiled over into the first act of murder – a profound tragedy.
Cain and Abel as Archetypes
While fictional embellishments taking liberties with the Genesis account would be inadvisable, the story of Cain and Abel can be viewed through some archetypal lenses. They represent:
- Good vs Evil: Abel righteous, Cain corrupt
- Civilization vs Barbarism: Cain‘s agriculture vs Abel‘s nomadic herding
- Redemption vs Damnation: Abel lifted up in death, Cain cursed as fugitive
Seen this way, they foreshadow future struggles – including internal ones. Perhaps in slaying Abel, Cain slew the better part of himself as well. Gamers choosing morality systems in games replay this theme of wrestling with good/evil.
The First Death in Scripture and Tradition
So while details are few, Genesis establishes the profound concept of death entering the world. Later Scriptures build on this tragic foundation. Some key points:
- Abel‘s shed blood "cried out" for justice – foretelling christ‘s redemptive sacrifice
- Cain‘s mark and curse – unwillingness to take responsibility and corruption of sin
- Geneologies tracing back to "Seth" to replace Abel‘s lost lineage
Cain and Abel established templates for how humans grapple with mortality. Conan the Barbarian epically declared "I live, I love, I slay, I am content" – suggesting the nobility to be found even in a brutal age. But Genesis gives context for why that slain blood cries out – calling us to aspire to something higher.
