The Kenites eventually became part of the tribe of Judah along with other disparate elements like the Kenaz tribe of Edom. (Kenaz is said to mean 'hunter'). The relevance between the two peoples pertains to a story they share: In the story of Cain, a farmer, and Able a shepherd, Cain betrays his birthright by murder. In the story of Jacob and Esau, the shepherd Jacob outwits his brother Esau the hunter. Jacob later becomes Israel. And from these ancient peoples came the Hebrew and Christian Bible.

Eventually the long saga of history winds through several revelations and a millennium or two to the present day where the narrator of this tale contemplates an iota of his personality (the self-realization of a memory) against the backdrop of his existence.

Revelations...--The Mark of Cain has an ambitious objective:

The central theme of this film was alluded to in The Art Detective, concerning the two poles of human faith: Belief or doubt borne of suffering.

The other theme of Revelations refers to the mysterious "mark of Cain." According to researchers the name 'Cain' translates as 'Smith' -- he was a metalworker. But in the post stone-age era anyone who could turn rocks into molten liquids and harden them into tools, weapons and musical instruments was a magician.

One or more of the Israelite tribes or Canaanite peoples may have had unpleasantness with the people of Cain (literally: children of Cain or Kenites) due to the latter's earlier relationship with Amalek. So we have two streams of recollections about Cain: The first that he was the first murderer and the second that he invented civilization. Later stories of the Kenites show them aiding Israel or involved with religious duties in league with Moses.

 

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