The land of Nod
Question
In the first book of the Torah, Adam and Eve are the first people with Cain and Abel as their sons. Cain is banished to the land of Nod, and is afraid anyone there might kill him. Who are these other people in the land of Nod? Are these humans without God in their lives? Are these non-human people? Is there a Jewish teaching on this or perhaps a reformed, conservative, and orthodox perspective?
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question.
There is a little known about the land of Nod, other than it is “east of Eden.” We also know that after arriving in Nod, Cain’s wife gave birth to Enoch.
The word “Nod” means “to wander” referring to Cain’s new life and punishment of being a wanderer.
Josephus writes in his “Antiquities of the Jews” that Cain continued to be evil in Nod and lived a life of violence and robbery.