When God rejected Cain's gift, Cain became angry. God counseled Cain "You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master." Cain, unable to let go of his anger, invited his brother into the field where he murdered him. He was banished from the land and the curse placed on his father Adam was increased. Adam was cursed to have to work by the sweat of his brow to scratch a living from the ground. Now Cain was further cursed from being able to coax anything to grow no matter how hard he worked... he was to be a wanderer, but also an example to future generations. We don't know much of Cain's descendants, but we do know that just a few generations down the line, the sins of the father visit again. Cain's great-great-great grandson Lamech resorted to murder as his ancestor had.
Why are the children punished for the sin of the father? We might as well ask why the children are blessed for the righteousness of the father. Seems to me that the punishment is not so much placed on the children, but rather chosen by the children. Once a taboo is breached by the father, it becomes that much more acceptable in the eyes of the children. Cain murdered, but pretended as though he knew nothing of it... when Lamech murdered, he all but bragged of it to his wives.
Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master... or it will master your children too!
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