Land of Nod
Today I was going through some old text files, and found a paper I wrote in 11th grade, in Mrs. Koehens english class. In it, I try and compare the land of Nod found in the Bible, and the Nod found in past civilizations. I think the paper is actually pretty far out there, but it is decent writing, and not a bad read. Please don't grade me too hard on my writing skills at the time. Keep in mind this was Pre-Mrs. Meadows. =).
Cain and Abel and the Land of Nod
English 11 H Block 4
December 11, 2003
By: Dennis Davis
The story of Cain and Abel, and the Land of Nod, may have direct connections with our own ways if “venting” our most extreme desires, and Cain and Abel maybe directly responsible for that.
Cain and Abel is a historically renowned tale in the Bible, speaking of the first murderer in world, Cain, and Abel his victim, his own brother. The Land of Nod that was said to be the place Cain was sent seems strangely similar to the Land of Nod spoken of in other mythologies. Could it be theorized that the two are similar, or better yet, one in the same?
The story of Cain and Abel is written in Genesis Chapter 4. In the story, Eve gave birth to Cain. Soon after, she bore another son, named Abel. The two got along ok through their entire childhood, all the way to adulthood. “And knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground. (Moses 4).” One day, however, they both tribute to God, but only Abel gave a blood tribute, and God only accepted his tribute. “But for Cain and his offering he [God] had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. (Moses 4).” Cain was enraged, filled with jealousy, and shortly after rose up against Abel, and slew him. “And Cain talked with Abel his brother and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him(Moses 4).” God was furious with Cain, and confronted him about his deeds. Cain said he was not his brothers’ keeper, and was begin a smart-alec with God. God decided to banish Cain to the Land of Nod, East of Eden for the rest of his natural life. “And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the and of Nod, on the east of Eden.(Moses 4).”
He left a mark upon Cain, so if anyone were to slew Cain himself, they will receive a punishment seven more severe then the one Cain received. He was left alone for the rest of his life. In this time period, he created a city in honor of his son, and called it Enoch. This was the first city ever created by man.
The story speaks of the land of nod as a place of banishment. A place you go when you have done something extremely wrong, and sent there for the rest of your days. And yet still, some people still have a difference of opinion on the subject. Believe that there is more to Nod then what the Bible has stated.
The Land of Nod holds its origins in the Bible, when God banished Cain to this place. However, another Nod has since come about since then. This Land of Nod was more or less referring to sleep. A dream land if you will. Here is where you go when you go to sleep and dream. Daydreaming included. After all, you “nod-off,” don’t you? “If you say that someone is in the Land of Nod, this means that they are asleep (presumably by analogy with the expression to nod off), but originally…(Back 1).”
Many past civilizations believed in the land f nod. They didn’t necessarily call it “The Land of Nod,” but it was still evident that they were all the same. The ancient Greeks, for example, believed in multiple gods, and that there was a god for just about every aspect of life. Hypnos was their god of sleep. He would ride through the air, and drape his cloak over the sky, that had a power to knock anyone asleep when they were underneath it. He had a brother named Morpheus who also wanted o be the god of sleep, but instead became the god of dreams. He is the reason why we have either placid dreams or horrible nightmares. This dream place was also referred to as the Land of Nod.
Old literature referred to Nod as well. In the novel, Hearts of Midlothian, they say, “I’m going to the Land of Nod (Walter 98).” before and character goes to sleep. This was the first reference in literature to nod. It’s Theorized that Wonderland and Never-Never land fantasy and wonder. They each have different connotations in them that may lead one to think that they are a place of imagination, the same kind you would find in a dream.
As you know well by now, Cain was banished to the Land of Nod. Later writings show that Nod is a place of dreams. How can the two be similar?
Many people believe that the dreamland of nod is some bad pun off of the Biblical one. Others believe that neither Nod exists. Seeing how there is no proof to show that either are true, it makes sense that one wouldn’t believe in such a story that seems as such a big stretch. And yet still, they’re the believers that have faith, and can see how the two may in fact be very well connected.
First, let’s look at how they are different. One obviously is a place of punishment, while the other seems to be a place to get away from it all, if you will. In the Biblical Nod, it wasn’t made out to be strange or out of the ordinary at all. In fact, it was just made out to be a pretty drab place, which makes sense, seeing how it was where Cain was sent as punishment. No abnormalities, no imaginative objects and/or creatures, no anything. Dreamland of nod, however, seems as though it would be out of the ordinary not to have something a bit “strange.” Biblical nod was to be an actual place here on Earth, where as Dream nod is on a whole other plain of existence as us.
Though the two seem to be incredibly different, the inverse also could be said. Sure, they seem to be on different plains of existence, but think of it this way. What if they are one in the same?
Let’s say that Cain did actually exist, and he really did kill Abel. God really did banish him to Nod. Maybe he was not there just for punishment. Maybe he was there also to be a martyr for the rest of us. And maybe, just maybe it actually is on another plain of existence.
It is my humble opinion that Cain was sent to Nod for the rest of us, for the fact that he was the first murderer, so for his situation, it could be true, for this is a whole new case open to God. This was God’s plane, to try and stop this quandary before it becomes a mass problem. Cain is in Nod as an example. As a guide through our dreams. Help us get rid of excess tension and negative thoughts that we have building up. Let us “vent” off our ill will so we don’t have to do them in the “real world.” Fantasizing doing things being much too extreme in our world, so we don’t feel so tense and so upset that we have to just hurt something/someone. This could be an explanation for our imagination.
We imagine doing things that are out of the ordinary, as a stress reliever. It can be concluded that God has given us imagination and dreams for our own benefit. So we are not so compelled to be so stressed and so angry. Of course, this is all just theorized, and all really based on a belief. I believe that God put Cain there as sort of a martyr, but I have no physical evidence to prove so. I’ve just shown a certain side of an opinion. Take it however you would like.
Cain and Abel and the Land of Nod
English 11 H Block 4
December 11, 2003
By: Dennis Davis
The story of Cain and Abel, and the Land of Nod, may have direct connections with our own ways if “venting” our most extreme desires, and Cain and Abel maybe directly responsible for that.
Cain and Abel is a historically renowned tale in the Bible, speaking of the first murderer in world, Cain, and Abel his victim, his own brother. The Land of Nod that was said to be the place Cain was sent seems strangely similar to the Land of Nod spoken of in other mythologies. Could it be theorized that the two are similar, or better yet, one in the same?
The story of Cain and Abel is written in Genesis Chapter 4. In the story, Eve gave birth to Cain. Soon after, she bore another son, named Abel. The two got along ok through their entire childhood, all the way to adulthood. “And knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground. (Moses 4).” One day, however, they both tribute to God, but only Abel gave a blood tribute, and God only accepted his tribute. “But for Cain and his offering he [God] had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. (Moses 4).” Cain was enraged, filled with jealousy, and shortly after rose up against Abel, and slew him. “And Cain talked with Abel his brother and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him(Moses 4).” God was furious with Cain, and confronted him about his deeds. Cain said he was not his brothers’ keeper, and was begin a smart-alec with God. God decided to banish Cain to the Land of Nod, East of Eden for the rest of his natural life. “And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the and of Nod, on the east of Eden.(Moses 4).”
He left a mark upon Cain, so if anyone were to slew Cain himself, they will receive a punishment seven more severe then the one Cain received. He was left alone for the rest of his life. In this time period, he created a city in honor of his son, and called it Enoch. This was the first city ever created by man.
The story speaks of the land of nod as a place of banishment. A place you go when you have done something extremely wrong, and sent there for the rest of your days. And yet still, some people still have a difference of opinion on the subject. Believe that there is more to Nod then what the Bible has stated.
The Land of Nod holds its origins in the Bible, when God banished Cain to this place. However, another Nod has since come about since then. This Land of Nod was more or less referring to sleep. A dream land if you will. Here is where you go when you go to sleep and dream. Daydreaming included. After all, you “nod-off,” don’t you? “If you say that someone is in the Land of Nod, this means that they are asleep (presumably by analogy with the expression to nod off), but originally…(Back 1).”
Many past civilizations believed in the land f nod. They didn’t necessarily call it “The Land of Nod,” but it was still evident that they were all the same. The ancient Greeks, for example, believed in multiple gods, and that there was a god for just about every aspect of life. Hypnos was their god of sleep. He would ride through the air, and drape his cloak over the sky, that had a power to knock anyone asleep when they were underneath it. He had a brother named Morpheus who also wanted o be the god of sleep, but instead became the god of dreams. He is the reason why we have either placid dreams or horrible nightmares. This dream place was also referred to as the Land of Nod.
Old literature referred to Nod as well. In the novel, Hearts of Midlothian, they say, “I’m going to the Land of Nod (Walter 98).” before and character goes to sleep. This was the first reference in literature to nod. It’s Theorized that Wonderland and Never-Never land fantasy and wonder. They each have different connotations in them that may lead one to think that they are a place of imagination, the same kind you would find in a dream.
As you know well by now, Cain was banished to the Land of Nod. Later writings show that Nod is a place of dreams. How can the two be similar?
Many people believe that the dreamland of nod is some bad pun off of the Biblical one. Others believe that neither Nod exists. Seeing how there is no proof to show that either are true, it makes sense that one wouldn’t believe in such a story that seems as such a big stretch. And yet still, they’re the believers that have faith, and can see how the two may in fact be very well connected.
First, let’s look at how they are different. One obviously is a place of punishment, while the other seems to be a place to get away from it all, if you will. In the Biblical Nod, it wasn’t made out to be strange or out of the ordinary at all. In fact, it was just made out to be a pretty drab place, which makes sense, seeing how it was where Cain was sent as punishment. No abnormalities, no imaginative objects and/or creatures, no anything. Dreamland of nod, however, seems as though it would be out of the ordinary not to have something a bit “strange.” Biblical nod was to be an actual place here on Earth, where as Dream nod is on a whole other plain of existence as us.
Though the two seem to be incredibly different, the inverse also could be said. Sure, they seem to be on different plains of existence, but think of it this way. What if they are one in the same?
Let’s say that Cain did actually exist, and he really did kill Abel. God really did banish him to Nod. Maybe he was not there just for punishment. Maybe he was there also to be a martyr for the rest of us. And maybe, just maybe it actually is on another plain of existence.
It is my humble opinion that Cain was sent to Nod for the rest of us, for the fact that he was the first murderer, so for his situation, it could be true, for this is a whole new case open to God. This was God’s plane, to try and stop this quandary before it becomes a mass problem. Cain is in Nod as an example. As a guide through our dreams. Help us get rid of excess tension and negative thoughts that we have building up. Let us “vent” off our ill will so we don’t have to do them in the “real world.” Fantasizing doing things being much too extreme in our world, so we don’t feel so tense and so upset that we have to just hurt something/someone. This could be an explanation for our imagination.
We imagine doing things that are out of the ordinary, as a stress reliever. It can be concluded that God has given us imagination and dreams for our own benefit. So we are not so compelled to be so stressed and so angry. Of course, this is all just theorized, and all really based on a belief. I believe that God put Cain there as sort of a martyr, but I have no physical evidence to prove so. I’ve just shown a certain side of an opinion. Take it however you would like.