Genesis Chapter 4
Cain and Abel
Adam knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. “I have brought forth a man with the help of the Lord,” she said. Again, she gave birth to a second child, Abel, the brother of Cain. Now Abel became a shepherd and kept flocks, while Cain tilled the soil.
So it came about in the course of time Cain brought some of the fruit of the ground as an offering for Lord. Abel for his part also brought the first-born of his flock and some of their fat as well. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but he did not look with favor on Cain and his offering, and Cain was exceedingly angry and downcast.
So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry and downcast? If you are doing right, will you not be received? But if you are not doing right, sin will be crouching at the door lusting for you, but you can still master it!”
Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out”; and while they were in the open country, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
“I do not know,” he replied. “Am I my brother's keeper?”
“What have you done?' Yahweh asked. “Your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground. Now be cursed and banned from the ground that has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood at your hands. When you till the ground it will no longer yield up its strength to you. A restless wanderer you will be on earth.' Cain then said to Yahweh, 'My punishment is greater than I can bear. Look, today you drive me from the surface of the earth. I must hide from you, and be a restless wanderer on earth. Why, whoever comes across me will kill me!' 'Very well, then,' Yahweh replied, 'whoever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold vengeance.' So Yahweh put a mark on Cain, so that no one coming across him would kill him. Cain left Yahweh's presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
Cain had intercourse with his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch. He became the founder of a city and gave the city the name of his son Enoch. Enoch fathered Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. Lamech married two women: the name of the first was Adah and the name of the second was Zillah. Adah gave birth to Jabal: he was the ancestor of tent-swelling herdsmen. His brother's name was Jubal: he was the ancestor of all who play the harp and the pipe. As for Zillah, she gave birth to Tubal- Cain: he was the ancestor of all who work copper and iron. Tubal-Cain's sister was Naamah. Lamech said to his wives: Adah and Zillah, hear my voice, wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I killed a man for wounding me, a boy for striking me. Sevenfold vengeance for Cain, but seventy-sevenfold for Lamech.
Adam had intercourse with his wife, and she gave birth to a son whom she named Seth, 'because God has granted me other offspring,' she said, 'in place of Abel, since Cain has killed him.' A son was also born to Seth, and he named him Enosh. This man was the first to invoke the name of Yahweh.
In their exile, Adam and his wife begin their family. The birth of Adam's sons will be the focus of this part of the narrative, coming at the beginning, the middle, and the conclusion of this section in the account of Adam's family.
Q: Why is the word “knew” used in "Adam knew his wife"?
In the language of the Bible, "to know" (yada) someone doesn't mean intellectual knowledge of that person. "To know" means "intimacy," both the physical intimacy between a man and a woman and the intimacy of a covenant family relationship.
Q: What does the birth of the first child in salvation history suggest, born from the woman as the woman was "born" from the side of the man Adam?
God intends that the sexes are to be mutually dependant on each other, in birth and in life, and both sexes are ultimately dependent upon God.
Q: What is notable about Cain and Abel’s occupations ?
Adam's curse
Question: Where does Cain's failure begin? What are the implications of this failure?
Cain's failure began at God's altar, which was his interface with God. Theologians debate Cain’s mistakes. Was it…
The quality of the sacrifice?
The manner of sacrifice?
The spiritual quality of the worshiper?
Likely a bit of all of them, but all stem from #3.
Q: What is the message to us? If we fail at the altar can we also fail at life?
Remember Jesus instructions about the altar. If you have an offering but you have a grievance with your brother, set down your offering and go be reconciled with your brother. Then come back.
Q: What do you think about Cain’s response, "Am I my brother's guardian/keeper?"
Notice how Cain is doing the opposite of what God/Jesus teaches about loving our neighbor (let alone our brother).
Q: What did Lamech mean by “Sevenfold vengeance for Cain, but seventy-sevenfold for Lamech”
He is boasting that since he was justified in killings, he would be receive seventy times the protection that Cain did. His credibility has been weighted, measured, and found wanting. The world is falling fast between Cain and Noah.
Q: Who is the seed of Eve who will carry forward the prophecy to one day crushing the head of the serpent?
Seth
Next week: Chapter Five is all about the generations leading to Noah, so I will only make a couple comments on this chapter. We will meet the Nephilim and Noah in Chapter Six.
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