20130724 Wednesday, July 24 2013
Genesis 04: Cain and Abel

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Am I my brother's keeper?"

The first human, a male, was created before the Garden of Eden was planted by the LORD (see The Kingdom Of The LORD God). "But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (see What Does The Bible Really Say About Your Soul?). Notice how humans and plants are "related" by their soil origin (see the Fact Finder question below).

"2:5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. 2:6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

2:8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil." (Genesis 2:5-9 KJV)

The second human, a female, was created from the male (see Brides From Their Sides). The first woman was the only human to begin life in Paradise, the Garden of Eden (The Only Child Of The Garden).

"2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed." (Genesis 2:21-25 KJV)

After their rebellion (see Genesis 3: The Sin Of The Garden), the first two humans were expelled, not from Eden, but from the Garden in Eden (see The Garden In Eden).

"3:20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 3:23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life." (Genesis 3:20-24 KJV)

After "Adam" and Eve were out of the Garden, "Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived." They had two children, sons, who they named Cain and Abel. Some believe that the context and the literal meaning of the original Hebrew indicates that Cain and Abel were twins i.e. "she again bare his brother Abel" may mean not a later pregnancy, but a second-born twin.

Humans began as vegetarians (Genesis 1:29; see also Seed-Bearing Plants: For Food Or For Folly?) and remained so until after the Flood (Genesis 9:1-6; see also The LORD's Seed Covenants With The Two Men Of Iraq). Cain worked at producing food for the family, while less-practical Abel kept sheep. Despite the LORD's stated love and acceptance of him, Cain became increasingly resentful toward his bother Abel.

"4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. 4:2 And she again bare his brother Abel.

And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

4:6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him." (Genesis 4:1-7 KJV)

The Scriptures do not specifically say that the killing of Abel was premeditated murder, although Cain's anger and resentment toward Abel were surely already there. "Cain talked with Abel his brother" could mean an argument or outburst in which Cain's temper crossed the line, just as his parents' coveting had escalated into theft.

"4:8 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." (Genesis 4:8 KJV)

Cain's famous "Am I my brother's keeper?" was actually, according to the meaning of the original words, a sarcastic, or whining, "Am I my brother's shepherd" - keeping in mind that favored Abel was the shepherd.

"4:9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:9 KJV)

When Adam and Eve became sinners, toxic and worthless weeds began to grow (see Seed-Bearing Plants: For Food Or For Folly?). When Cain, who was also a worker of the soil ("soul" and "soil" have a surprising connection; see What Does The Bible Really Say About Your Soul? and the Fact Finder question below), became a murderer, crop failures began i.e. "When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength."

"4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. 4:11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; 4:12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth." (Genesis 4:10-12 KJV)

While Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden, but still in Eden, Cain was then driven farther away, out of Eden i.e. "Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden."

"4:13 And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. 4:14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.

4:15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. 4:16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden." (Genesis 4:13-16 KJV)

Cain was not however unproductive in children and descendants (see Cain's Wife).

"4:17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. 4:18 And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.

4:19 And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 4:20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. 4:21 And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. 4:22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.

4:23 And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. 4:24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold." (Genesis 4:17-24 KJV)

With Cain at a safe distance away, Adam and Eve then had another son, "and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew."

"4:25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. 4:26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD." (Genesis 4:25-26 KJV)

Fact Finder: When Cain murdered his brother Abel, how did he further compounded the curse on "aw-dawm-ah" - and the "aw-dawm" who were created from "aw-dawm-ah"?
See Adam and Adamah