Reference: Cain (1)
Fausets
(acquired). For Eve said, "I have gotten a man from (or with the help of) Jehovah." She recognized this gift of Jehovah, though accompanied with the foretold "sorrow" of conception, as a first step toward fulfilling the promise of the Redeemer, "the seed of the woman" (Ge 3:15). Cain, her supposed acquisition, proved a deadly loss. Parents' expectations are very different from after realities. Cain was of that wicked one (1Jo 3:12), not associated with Jehovah, except as incurring His curse. Augustine (City of God, 15:1) says: "Cain, the author of the city of the world, is born first, and is called an acquisition because he buildeth a city, is given to the cares and pomp of the world, and persecutes his brother that was chosen out of the world. But (See ABEL (see), the beginner of the city of God, is born second, called 'vanity' because he saw the world's vanity, and is therefore driven out of the world by an untimely death. So early came martyrdom into the world; the first man that died died for religion."
Jealousy was Cain's motive, "because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous." His "offering of the fruit of the ground," not "the firstling's of the flock," seems to have been an unhumbled self-willed setting aside of God's will (to be inferred from the "coats of skin," Ge 3:21, involving animal sacrifices) that the death which man's sin incurred should be acknowledged as due by the sinner offering penitently a slain victim, and a substitution of his own act of will worship ("the error of Cain," Jg 1:11), a mere thankoffering. Jehovah "had not respect to Cain and his offering," but had to Abel and his offering; probably God gave the visible token of acceptance, fire from heaven consuming the sacrifice. So Theodotion; compare Ge 15:17; Le 9:24; Jg 6:21; 13:19,21); 1Ki 18:39.
Abel, according to Heb 11:4, "by faith offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain"; lit. a fuller sacrifice, partaking more largely of the nature of a sacrifice. "Faith" presupposes a revelation of God's will concerning sacrifice, otherwise it would have been an act of presumptuous will worship (Col 2:23), and taking of a life which man had no right to before the flood (Ge 9:2-4). E. of Eden before the cherubic symbols of God was probably the appointed place of offering. "In process of time," lit. "at the end of days," namely, at some fixed sacred season, as the sabbath. Cain's "countenance fell" at the rejection of his sacrifice, which possibly involved the loss of his privileges of primogeniture. Jehovah, who still vouchsafed intercourse to man though fallen, argues with Cain as a wayward child, "If thou doest well shalt thou not be accepted?" (or "have the excellency," namely, that belonging to the elder born. (Compare Ge 49:3.) Literally, will there not be lifting up? alluding by contrast to Cain's fallen countenance.)
But if thou doest not well (which is thy real case, and thy not confessing it, but offering a mere thank offering, leaves thee still under guilt), a sin offering (so 'sin' is used Ho 4:8; Le 6:26; 10:17; 2Co 5:21; Heb 9:28) lieth at the door, i.e. is within thy reach (compare Mt 24:33), you have only to go to the appointed place (probably E. of Eden where the cherubim were), and offering it in faith thou shalt be accepted and may have lifting up of countenance again (Job 11:15; 22:26). The explanation, "if thou doest not well (i.e. sinnest), sin lieth at the door ready to assail you as a serpent" is tautology. The "sin" feminine joined with the masculine verb in the Hebrew implies that a male victim is meant by "sin" or sin offering. "And unto thee shall be his desire" as that of a younger brother subordinate in rank to the elder.
You need not in jealousy fear losing your priority of birth, if you do well. Cain talked with Abel, proposing probably that they should go to the field, and when there away from man's eye rose up and slew him. Adam's sin now bears fratricide among its first and terrible fruits; and the seed of the serpent stands forth thenceforward throughout man's history, as distinguished from the seed of the woman (Ge 3:15). Adam hid in the trees and then confessed his sin; but Cain stoutly denies it, showing himself the child of him who is the father of lying and the murderer from the beginning (Joh 8:44). But God convicted him, "The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto Me from the ground." Herein God shows He takes cognizance of man's sin, though there be no other accuser; next, that innocent blood is too precious to be shed with impunity; thirdly, that not only He cares for the godly in life but "precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints" (Ps 116:15) (Calvin).
Exile from the original seat of the human family and the scene of God's manifestations was the sentence, a mild one, in consonance with the mild administration of the divine government before the flood. "My punishment is greater than I can bear" marks Cain's unhumbled spirit, regretting only the punishment not the sin. "It shall come to pass that every one that findeth me shall slay me," words implying that the human race had even then multiplied since Adam's expulsion from Eden, a fact also appearing from Cain having a wife, doubtless one of Adam's descendants; the sacred historian only giving one or two prominent links of the genealogy, not the sons, much less the daughters, all in full. God "set a mark upon," or set a sign for, "Cain," (what it was we know not) to assure him of safety from the blood avenger (Jg 6:17; Isa 7:14).
Cain, the second head of the race, namely, of the ungodly seed, must live, as the tares among the wheat, until the harvest, God reserving judgment to His own time and not allowing man to take avenging into his own hands. But after the flood God delegated in part the avenging of blood to man (Ge 9:6). In Nod ("exile") he built a city and named it from his son Enoch (high dedication); the first step in the founding of the spiritual world city upon which the carnal fix their affections as their lasting home, instead of seeking the heavenly city and continuing pilgrims on earth (Ps 49:11; Heb 11:10-16), To make up for his loss of unity in the fellowship of God and His people, Cain creates for himself and his an earthly center of unity. There civilization, but without God, developed itself, while the Sethites continued in godly pastoral simplicity (Ge 4:26).
Lamech began polygamy; Jabal, nomadic life; Jubal, musical instruments; Tubal-cain, working in brass and iron. Lamech made his manslaughters an occasion for composing poetry in parallelism. The names of the women, Naamah (pleasant), Zillah (shadow), Adah (ornament), all imply refinement. But all this allied to godlessness, violence, and luxurious self indulgence, only prepared the world for the consummated corruption which brought down judgment, as it soon shall again in the last days (Revelation 17; 18; 19; Lu 17:26-37). The traditions of the Phoenicians, Egyptians, and Greeks, refer the invention of agriculture and breeding of cattle to prehistoric times, also the preparation of metals; whereas in the historic period these arts have made comparatively small advances.
But ethnologists from the art-formed flints in the gravel and drift formations on the earth's surface infer three successive ages, the flint, the bronze, the iron; also from the lower type of older skulls they infer that civilization was a slow growth from original barbarism. But Scripture does not represent man as possessed of superior intellectual power and refined knowledge. Adam was placed in Eden to until it, and his power of knowledge and speech was exercised in naming the beasts. China has been in a state of mental cultivation and art far beyond Adam, yet for ages has made no progress. All that Scripture states is man's original innocence, and that his state was not savagery but rudimentary civilization. High art in the valley of Ohio is proved by the dug up remains to have preceded the forests which the Red Indians tenanted. Cereals have been found among very early remains of man's industry, whether Cain cultivated them, or knew only roots, fruits, and vegetables. The oldest skulls are by no means all of low
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And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
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.
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.
And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.
And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.
And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.
Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation.
The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin offering in the holy place, seeing it is most holy, and God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD?
Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin offering in the holy place, seeing it is most holy, and God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD?
And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher:
And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher:
And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.
And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.
Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.
Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.
So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on.
So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on.
But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD.
But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD.
And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.
For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.
Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot's wife.
Remember Lot's wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.
And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.