Originally posted by galveston75
The Bible is not clear on that but it could be the offspring of Cain were needed to help populate the earth at that early time of mans existance. But apparently none of his offspring were seen as being worthy enough to make it into the ark and survive the flood.
So why then were Cain's offspring "needed"? It would appear they were not.
As for myself, I tend to think that at God's core is the desire to show mercy. He did so with his father and mother after the fall and he did so with Cain. Either transgression could have been handled by immediate death but was not.
So what do we see before the flood? Do we not see mankind increase in wickedness with such liberal enforcement of the law of God? According to Genesis mankind increased in wickedness to the point of almost no return. Then the flood waters came and "cleaned house". So the conundrum appears to be that if you show mercy towards wickedness, it simply multiplies and creates more death and destruction. So you are faced with immediate judgement or one to come in the future on a much grander scale.
Another interesting thing occured pre and post flood. Before the flood mankind lived close to 1000 years but after the flood God declared mankind would not live past 120 years old. It would appear, at least to me, that death is a formidable barrier for wickedness to flourish. Just imagine if Hitler, for example, lived to be 900 years old.