Chapter 4 - Cain and Abel, Murder, Seth, Enosh
"I have produced a man with the aid of Jehovah"
Eve gives birth to the first man born of woman, Cain. Eve acknowledges Jehovah.
Abel born.
Cain is a farmer raising crops. Abel is a shepherd, herding sheep.
Both Cain and Abel sacrifice their "first fruits" to Jehovah. Cain the first fruits of his crops and Abel the firstlings of his herd.
Abel's sacrifice is favored over Cain's; and this makes Cain hot with anger. Jehovah warns Cain to let go of the anger because, "sin is crouching at his door." Cain does not listen to the advice; instead he deceives Abel into going with him (Cain) to check out a field. When the two men are alone, Cain kills Abel.
Later, Jehovah approaches Cain and inquires as to Abel's whereabouts. Cain lies and answers God saying he does not know, and then Cain asks God if he (Cain) is his brother's keeper.
Jehovah convicts Cain based on the evidence of Abel's blood crying out from the ground. Jehovah curses Cain and tells him the ground will not produce its fruit for Cain as before and that Cain will become a wanderer and a fugitive. Cain laments that he is now in danger of being killed for crime and appeals to Jehovah. Jehovah marks Cain and decrees vengence on anyone killing Cain. Cain departs and leaves the area for the land of the fugitives.
Cain's Geneology:
Cain's first son is Enoch. Cain builds a city and names it Enoch.
Enoch fathers Irad. Irad fathers Mehujal. Mehujal fathers Methushael. Methushael fathers Lamech. Lamech takes two wives: Adah and Zillah. Wife Adah bears Lamech Jabal and Jubal. Wife Zillah bears Lamech Tubal Cain.
Jabal considered the founder of all those who live in tents and have livestock. Jubal the founder of harp and pipe musicians. Tubal Cain considered the founder of all those working with metal tools and metals.
Lamech and Zillah have a daughter, named Naamah.
Lamech's poem: He killed a man for injuring him. If Cain was to be avenged (seven times), then Lamech claims the right to be avenged eleven times more (seventy-seven times.)
Adam and Eve have another son, Seth. Seth replaces Abel. Seth's son is Enosh.
The chapter closes with the comment that in the time of Enosh, there was a start made to call on the name of Jehovah.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Just thinking about this, notice how quickly the first murder occurred after mankind's fall into sin?
I have also wondered about the sacrificing and how it came about.
Was it something Abel did spontaneously out of a true feeling of appreciation in his heart? Or, was there a command laid down by God or Adam that such sacrifices should be offered?
Post a Comment