Cain and Able

The story of these two brothers is one of the most popular stories in all of the Bible. In the book of Genesis, two genealogical lines become very important.

The line of Adam, and the line of Noah . Each Patriarch produced a line of descendants fundamental in the early stages of Israel's development.

The genealogical line of Adam is, naturally, the first which appears in the Bible. Three sons of Adam and Eve are mentioned in the early chapters of Genesis. From two of these sons, descendants of a very different nature will permeate the book of Genesis. These two lines are seen initially in Cain and Able. The opening verses of Genesis 4 introduced Cain as the first born. Cain was a "tiller of the ground". The younger brother, Able, was a "keeper of flocks", or, a shepherd.

It is interesting to note that Adam is believed to have had 56 children; 33 sons, and 23 daughters. Why God choose Abel and Cain is never said.

Able

Between Cain and Able, a distinct difference in profession is first mentioned. Genesis 4:2 gives the first bit of details concerning Cain and Able.

"And Able was a keeper of the flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground."

God had made it clear to man he was not to eat flesh (Gen. 1:29; Gen. 2:16; Gen. 3:19). Able's sheep would have been for commercial and spiritual use.

He undoubtedly made his sheep available to local merchants and farmers through purchase and trade. He may have even supplied others with his sheep for worship of the Almighty God.

Further development of Able's character is given in the New Testament. Hebrews 11:4 mentions Able among the Bible's most faithful and Godly men. The divide between Cain and Able was a deep one.

"By faith Able offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his faith, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks."

In Matthew 23:35 Jesus Christ calls him "righteous Able". He was a righteous man, with purity of heart. Luke also described Abel as righteous, and even as a prophet ( Lk. 11:50-51 ).

He was a man who obeyed God. As a prophet, he must have also received God's Word directly through divine experience. Between Cain and Able, there is no doubt as to which one sought after the Lord more than the other. Able was the more spiritually concerned.

Able's spiritual nature emphasizes his profession as a shepherd. Abel tended his flock with the greatest of care, for their ultimate purpose was to be a divine offering to God Almighty. Able truly toiled for God's honor. His sheep were holy sheep.

God's promised "seed of the woman" was intended to stem from the descendants of Able and Cain. Able is of the "seed of the woman". This is the seed that will carry God's words and commandments, and the seed of Ancient Israel that would form the nation as it is today.

Cain

A distinctly different personality is seen in Able's older brother, Cain. The Hebrew word for Cain is Qanah. This translates as; to erect; to create; to procure; to own. Cain's profession was as a "tiller of the ground".

The Hebrew word translated "tiller" is an interesting word. The Hebrew "Abad", has a number of different uses and translations in the Old Testament.

It is used 290 times in the Old Testament. However, the general meaning of the word is a notion of service. It can be service to God, object, people, land, etc.

The nature of the service, though, varies widely. Abad can denote a service of worship, as to God. However, many of its meanings imply enslavement, forced service, to compel, and to keep in bondage. This may be illuminating as Cain's nature develops. Flavius Josephus also illuminates the difference in character between Cain and Able. He described Cain in his Jewish Antiquities. Though Josephus' works should be taken with a grain of salt, he often illuminates Jewish traditions from antiquity. He relates Cain "was not only only very wicked in other respects, but was wholly intent upon getting".

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Genesis 4:3-5

"So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the of the fruit of the ground. And Able, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Able and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell."

Obviously Adam and his people were worshiping God even after the expulsion from Eden. Throughout the history of Israel, God has always provided opportunities to meet with His people.

It would seem God had appointed times to meet with Cain and Abel individually, at which point they would offer sacrifices.

Scholars believe Cain and Able were grown men by the time of this sacrifice. Adam and Eve had been told to multiply, so Abel and Cain likely had many brothers and sisters, and other extended members.

This may help explain how Cain and Able diverged so widely from each other. They both had been brought up in the commands of God. However, they had become grown men, and formed their own attitudes and beliefs. They were brothers, but also members of a much larger, diverse family as well. As stated above, Cain and Able were only two of fifty-six children Adam and Eve had.

When it came time approach God, Cain and Able each brought their sacrifices to Him. Cain, being a farmer, brought forth "fruit from the ground".

Able, being a shepherd, brought forth "firstlings of his flock".

In all likelihood, this was not the first time Cain and Able had met and sacrificed to God. Scripture seems to indicate this is the first time Cain receives a rebuke from God. In other words, Scripture indicates Cain's previous sacrifices had been pleasing to God.

Scripture does not elaborate as to why, but "for Cain and his offering He had no regard". Though any reasoning is speculation, when one takes into account all the information, a picture of Cain's nature may be painted.

Cain seems to have been an individual bent on gain. He enslaved the ground he worked on. He sought to create and own his wealth and goods. Whereas Able tilled for God, and used his wealth to honor God, Cain tilled for personal gain and wealth.

Cain sought to exert dominance over the land in a selfish way. Whatever the actual reasons, it would seem Cain begrudgingly gave up "his" produce to God.

God's rebuke caused Cain to become angry, "and his countenance fell". A more accurate translation of countenance is, "glance".

One can imagine Cain "glancing" haughtily at his brother, angry and envious of God's favor upon him. God even warns Cain that sin; "is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you," (4:7)

God is aware of Cain's thoughts, and is encouraging him to simply be righteous. Cain, however, immediately plans his brother's murder in verse 8.

Scripture clearly indicates Cain was fully aware of his plan. In fact, it was premeditated murder on Cain's part.

"And Cain told Able his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Able his brother and killed him."

The Greek Septuagint and Samaritan Pentatuech add the phrase: "Let us go out to the field"

Cain's murder was not a crime of passion. He had lured Able into the fields. His reason was simple; in the fields they would be alone, separated from the camp.

Able's cries would not be heard by anybody, thus enabling Cain to murder his brother, bury his body, and feign ignorance. Mankind's first cold-blooded, premeditated murder had been committed.
Throughout the Bible, cries reach up to heaven, drawing the attention of God. The cry of mankind reached God during the days of Noah, the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah reached God before He destroyed the cities, and the cries of the saints reach God in Revelation.

The first such cry in the Bible occurs in verse 10. God had asked Cain where Able was. Cain responded with the infamous; "Am I my brother's keeper?"

"And He said, 'What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground."

Cain thought he could hide from God, much like his parents had years earlier in the garden of Eden. Able's cry, though, had reached God. God, as He would be from this time forward, did not turn a dear ear to Able's cry.

God's judgment towards Cain takes the one thing most precious to Cain. God damns the land Cain has toiled so fruitfully. God declared that the land, "shall no longer yield its strength to you, you shall be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth."

Cain seems to realize the gravity of his actions, though true regret and sorrow are never found in Scripture. He claims his punishment is "too great to bear!". He expresses fear for his life to God.

This would have been a legitimate fear, as some of Able's kin surely sought blood revenge. God protects Cain. He "appointed a sign for Cain", which would warn man to stay away from Cain. He was to be marked, an outcast, a wanderer.

Cain was exiled from his current home. He was forced to leave the presence of the Lord. Genesis 4:16 stated Cain went out to the land of Nod, which lie to the east of Eden. The land of Nod's whereabouts are unknown. However, it, like the site of Adam's creation, lie to the east of Eden. Nod translates as "wandering".

Thus, Cain dwelt in the land of wandering. Based on this literal translation, some have suggested Nod is not an actual place. Scripture seems to indicate it was, and it was located east of Eden.

The story of Cain and Able reaches its conclusion with God's judgment of Cain. However, Scripture gives more details concerning Cain's actions afterward.

Cain's Line of Descendants

What is known about Cain's life after the murder of his brother is scant. Scripture does tell Cain bears a son, and names him Enoch. This is not the same Enoch taken up by God, but perhaps his namesake.

In an attempt to settle down and honor his son, Cain builds a city, and calls the city Enoch. Cain's attempt at settled life went against God's previous judgment he would be a wanderer, and a vagrant. This is the first mention in the Bible of a city.

It is interesting that in the Hebrew language the verb is indefinite, "was building", and perhaps suggests that Cain did not finish the city, but continued his life of wandering.

The list of Cain's main descendants is then given in Genesis 4:18-22. The list is as follows:

Enoch, born to him was I'rad, born to him was Mehujael, born to him was Methusael, born to him was Lamech, who becomes the most notorious of Cain's descendants.

We are told that Lamech takes unto himself two wives, defying God's principle of monogamy found in Gen. 2:23,24.

Within Cain's line there are two names which end in "el", which happens to be the Hebrew name for God.

This suggests that despite Cain's wickedness, and the wickedness of his line, there were perhaps some who still worshiped the true God.

Adam was still alive throughout Cain's life, and no doubt continually prayed for the soul of his son, and his son's sons.

Some of these descendants were perhaps reached by Adam, and obeyed God and His commandments.

Lamech certainly was not one of those individuals. In fact, he may have been the man that led the Canaanites into open rebellion against God. Genesis 4:23-24 depicts Lamech's careless attitude towards God and His commands.

Lamech boasts to his wives about a murder he committed, He goes on to say that if God said Cain would be avenged sevenfold, then Lamech promises if anyone even hurts him he will avenge it "seventy and sevenfold", thus positioning himself over God's power and authority.

Rebellion can also be seen in the occupations of Lamech's sons.

Jabal invented the tent, thus enabling the nomadic lifestyle that would soon characterize Ancient Israel life and culture. Man was not intended initially to roam about.

He also developed a system of domesticating animals, and using them for commercial purposes. Cattle refers to camels, donkeys, goats, etc.

In the antediluvian world meat was not eaten. Yet this domestication would suggest that man was perhaps eating meat against God's commands, though this cannot be known for certain.

Jubal invented the harp and the organ. He was an artist, very different from his brother Jabal. These instruments no doubt appealed to the ancient people Jabal came into contact with.

The last brother mentioned is Tubal-cain. He was the inventor of metallurgy, creating things with brass and iron.

For the most part, inhabitants of this pre-flood world followed "in the way of Cain" (Jude 11).

These inventions no doubt made it easier to become preoccupied with the pursuits of the flesh and the pleasures of sin, and the way of God was all but forgotten.



Conclusion

The repercussions of Adam and Eve's sin in the Garden poured over into the lives of their children. Cain and Able are the first examples of mankind Scripture gives after the fall.

Through the story of Cain and Able, the duality of man is seen. The righteousness of Able is in sharp contrast to the selfish evil of Cain. Their descendants tended to follow in suit, though eventually all of mankind would become corrupt.

Cain and Able is a story reaching back to the very earliest existence of man on earth. It depicts Satan's initial attempt to destroy the "seed of the woman".

God, however, demonstrated His Supreme Sovereignty. He brought forth Seth, and his godly line of descendants. This line would carry the promised "seed of the woman" into future generations.

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