-
†. Gen 4:2b . . Abel became a keeper of sheep, and Cain became a tiller of
the soil.
Both men worked at honorable professions and their skills were essential to
the Adams' survival. Man at this time was a vegetarian so Cain farmed and
raised the family's food; while Abel kept them clothed and shod by tending
flocks for leather; and possibly fleece too.
†. Gen 4:3-4a . . In the course of time, Cain brought an offering to The Lord
from the fruit of the soil; and Abel, for his part, brought the choicest of the
firstlings of his flock.
There's no indication in this scene suggesting their oblations were sacrifices
for sin. The Hebrew word for their offerings is from minchah (min-khaw')
and means: to apportion, i.e. bestow; a donation; euphemistically, tribute;
specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary).
Since the offerings were minchah type offerings-- which are essentially gifts
rather than atonements --it would be wrong to insist Abel slew his firstling
and/or burned it to ashes. In point of fact, holocaust offerings are indicated
by the word 'olah (o-law') instead of minchah; for example Gen 22:2.
Ancient rabbis understood the brothers' offerings to be a "first fruits" kind of
oblation.
T. And it was at the end of days, on the fourteenth of Nisan, that Kain
brought of the produce of the earth, the seed of cotton (or line), an oblation
of first things before the Lord; and Habel brought of the firstlings of the
flock. (Targum Jonathan)
Seeing as how Cain was a farmer, then in his case, an amount of produce
was the appropriate first fruits offering, and seeing as how Abel was an
animal husbandman, then in his case a head of livestock was the appropriate
first fruits offering.
I think it's safe to assume the brothers were no longer boys, but rather,
responsible men in this particular scene because God is going to treat them
that way. This incident is not said to be the very first time they brought gifts
to God. The brothers (and very likely their parents too), probably had been
bringing gifts for many years; ever since they were of age. And up to this
point, apparently both men were doing everything right and God was just as
much pleased with Cain and his gifts as He was with Abel and his gifts.
But where did they get this religion of theirs? Well; wasn't Abel a prophet?
"Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the
prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, from the
blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar
and the sanctuary." (Luke 11:50-51a)
It's evident then that the offerings were a legitimate part of a God-given
religion rather than a pagan ritual. (cf. Heb 11:4)
†. Gen 4:4b-5a . .The Lord paid heed to Abel and his offering, but to Cain
and his offering He paid no heed.
It's common for poorly-trained Bible students to trip up on the nature of the
offerings and totally miss the role that the nature of the men played in their
worship; in other words: they assume Cain was rejected because his offering
was bloodless and they attempt to justify their theory by citing the below:
"It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than
Cain did. God accepted Abel's offering to show that he was a righteous
man." (Heb 11:4)
However, the focus in both Genesis and Hebrews is not really upon the
offerings because it's okay for a minchah to be bloodless. The focus is
actually upon faith and righteousness; viz: the focus is upon the nature of
the brother's conduct rather than upon the nature of their gifts. Abel's
conduct was righteous; hence God felt honored by his gift; while Cain's
conduct was unrighteous; hence God felt insulted by his gift.
Cain was of a good family. He wasn't the product of poverty or an inner city
barrio or dilapidated public housing. His mother wasn't cruel and/or
thoughtless, nor did she neglect or abandon him. He wasn't in a gang, didn't
carry a church key, a shank, an ice pick, or a gun; didn't smoke weed, drink,
snort coke, take meth, gamble or chase women. He was very religious and
worshipped the exact same God that his brother worshipped, and the rituals
he practiced were correct and timely.
Cain worked for a living in an honest profession. He wasn't a thief, wasn't a
predatory lender, wasn't a Wall Street barracuda, dishonest investment
banker, or an unscrupulous social network mogul. He wasn't a cheap
politician, wasn't a terrorist, wasn't on the take, wasn't lazy, nor did he
associate with the wrong crowd. The man did everything a model citizen is
supposed to do; yet he, and subsequently his gift, were soundly rejected
because he was unrighteous.
In what way was he unrighteous? Well, Cain's blemish is an elephant in the
middle of the room. It was friction between him and his brother. It is
unacceptable to worship God while the worshipper's relationship with their
brother is dysfunctional.
"Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your
brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar,
and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and
offer your gift." (Matt 5:23-24)
†. Gen 4:5b-7a . . Cain was much distressed and his face fell. And the Lord
said to Cain: Why are you distressed, and why is your face fallen? If you do
what is right, will you not be accepted?
Cain knew the drill; viz: it's righteousness first and worship second. That can
be readily seen played out in the first chapter of Isaiah where Yhvh's people
are depicted practicing their God-given worship to perfection. They were
attending Temple on a timely basis, praying up a storm, offering all the
correct sacrifices and offerings, observing the Sabbath, and all the feasts
days. But God soundly rejected all of that because their conduct was
unbecoming.
=================================
†. Gen 4:2b . . Abel became a keeper of sheep, and Cain became a tiller of
the soil.
Both men worked at honorable professions and their skills were essential to
the Adams' survival. Man at this time was a vegetarian so Cain farmed and
raised the family's food; while Abel kept them clothed and shod by tending
flocks for leather; and possibly fleece too.
†. Gen 4:3-4a . . In the course of time, Cain brought an offering to The Lord
from the fruit of the soil; and Abel, for his part, brought the choicest of the
firstlings of his flock.
There's no indication in this scene suggesting their oblations were sacrifices
for sin. The Hebrew word for their offerings is from minchah (min-khaw')
and means: to apportion, i.e. bestow; a donation; euphemistically, tribute;
specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary).
Since the offerings were minchah type offerings-- which are essentially gifts
rather than atonements --it would be wrong to insist Abel slew his firstling
and/or burned it to ashes. In point of fact, holocaust offerings are indicated
by the word 'olah (o-law') instead of minchah; for example Gen 22:2.
Ancient rabbis understood the brothers' offerings to be a "first fruits" kind of
oblation.
T. And it was at the end of days, on the fourteenth of Nisan, that Kain
brought of the produce of the earth, the seed of cotton (or line), an oblation
of first things before the Lord; and Habel brought of the firstlings of the
flock. (Targum Jonathan)
Seeing as how Cain was a farmer, then in his case, an amount of produce
was the appropriate first fruits offering, and seeing as how Abel was an
animal husbandman, then in his case a head of livestock was the appropriate
first fruits offering.
I think it's safe to assume the brothers were no longer boys, but rather,
responsible men in this particular scene because God is going to treat them
that way. This incident is not said to be the very first time they brought gifts
to God. The brothers (and very likely their parents too), probably had been
bringing gifts for many years; ever since they were of age. And up to this
point, apparently both men were doing everything right and God was just as
much pleased with Cain and his gifts as He was with Abel and his gifts.
But where did they get this religion of theirs? Well; wasn't Abel a prophet?
"Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the
prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, from the
blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar
and the sanctuary." (Luke 11:50-51a)
It's evident then that the offerings were a legitimate part of a God-given
religion rather than a pagan ritual. (cf. Heb 11:4)
†. Gen 4:4b-5a . .The Lord paid heed to Abel and his offering, but to Cain
and his offering He paid no heed.
It's common for poorly-trained Bible students to trip up on the nature of the
offerings and totally miss the role that the nature of the men played in their
worship; in other words: they assume Cain was rejected because his offering
was bloodless and they attempt to justify their theory by citing the below:
"It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than
Cain did. God accepted Abel's offering to show that he was a righteous
man." (Heb 11:4)
However, the focus in both Genesis and Hebrews is not really upon the
offerings because it's okay for a minchah to be bloodless. The focus is
actually upon faith and righteousness; viz: the focus is upon the nature of
the brother's conduct rather than upon the nature of their gifts. Abel's
conduct was righteous; hence God felt honored by his gift; while Cain's
conduct was unrighteous; hence God felt insulted by his gift.
Cain was of a good family. He wasn't the product of poverty or an inner city
barrio or dilapidated public housing. His mother wasn't cruel and/or
thoughtless, nor did she neglect or abandon him. He wasn't in a gang, didn't
carry a church key, a shank, an ice pick, or a gun; didn't smoke weed, drink,
snort coke, take meth, gamble or chase women. He was very religious and
worshipped the exact same God that his brother worshipped, and the rituals
he practiced were correct and timely.
Cain worked for a living in an honest profession. He wasn't a thief, wasn't a
predatory lender, wasn't a Wall Street barracuda, dishonest investment
banker, or an unscrupulous social network mogul. He wasn't a cheap
politician, wasn't a terrorist, wasn't on the take, wasn't lazy, nor did he
associate with the wrong crowd. The man did everything a model citizen is
supposed to do; yet he, and subsequently his gift, were soundly rejected
because he was unrighteous.
In what way was he unrighteous? Well, Cain's blemish is an elephant in the
middle of the room. It was friction between him and his brother. It is
unacceptable to worship God while the worshipper's relationship with their
brother is dysfunctional.
"Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your
brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar,
and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and
offer your gift." (Matt 5:23-24)
†. Gen 4:5b-7a . . Cain was much distressed and his face fell. And the Lord
said to Cain: Why are you distressed, and why is your face fallen? If you do
what is right, will you not be accepted?
Cain knew the drill; viz: it's righteousness first and worship second. That can
be readily seen played out in the first chapter of Isaiah where Yhvh's people
are depicted practicing their God-given worship to perfection. They were
attending Temple on a timely basis, praying up a storm, offering all the
correct sacrifices and offerings, observing the Sabbath, and all the feasts
days. But God soundly rejected all of that because their conduct was
unbecoming.
=================================
