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
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; he shall crush thy head, and thou shalt crush his heel.
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; he shall crush thy head, and thou shalt crush his heel.
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; he shall crush thy head, and thou shalt crush his heel.
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; he shall crush thy head, and thou shalt crush his heel.
And Jehovah Elohim made Adam and his wife coats of skin, and clothed them.
And Jehovah Elohim made Adam and his wife coats of skin, and clothed them.
And to Seth, to him also was born a son; and he called his name Enosh. Then people began to call on the name of Jehovah.
And to Seth, to him also was born a son; and he called his name Enosh. Then people began to call on the name of Jehovah.
And let the fear of you and the dread of you be upon every animal of the earth, and upon all fowl of the heavens: upon all that moveth on the ground; and upon all the fishes of the sea: into your hand are they delivered.
And let the fear of you and the dread of you be upon every animal of the earth, and upon all fowl of the heavens: upon all that moveth on the ground; and upon all the fishes of the sea: into your hand are they delivered. Every moving thing that liveth shall be food for you: as the green herb I give you everything.
Every moving thing that liveth shall be food for you: as the green herb I give you everything. Only, the flesh with its life, its blood, ye shall not eat.
Only, the flesh with its life, its blood, ye shall not eat.
Whoso sheddeth Man's blood, by Man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God he hath made Man.
Whoso sheddeth Man's blood, by Man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God he hath made Man.
And it came to pass when the sun had gone down, and it was dark, that behold, there was a smoking furnace, and a flame of fire which passed between those pieces.
And it came to pass when the sun had gone down, and it was dark, that behold, there was a smoking furnace, and a flame of fire which passed between those pieces.
Reuben, thou art my firstborn, My might, and the firstfruits of my vigour: Excellency of dignity, and excellency of strength.
Reuben, thou art my firstborn, My might, and the firstfruits of my vigour: Excellency of dignity, and excellency of strength.
The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in a holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tent of meeting.
The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in a holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tent of meeting.
And there went out fire from before Jehovah, and consumed on the altar the burnt-offering, and the pieces of fat; and all the people saw it, and they shouted, and fell on their face.
And there went out fire from before Jehovah, and consumed on the altar the burnt-offering, and the pieces of fat; and all the people saw it, and they shouted, and fell on their face.
Why have ye not eaten the sin-offering in a holy place? for it is most holy, and he has given it to you that ye might bear the iniquity of the assembly, to make atonement for them before Jehovah.
Why have ye not eaten the sin-offering in a holy place? for it is most holy, and he has given it to you that ye might bear the iniquity of the assembly, to make atonement for them before Jehovah.
From there they went against the inhabitants of Debir. The name of Debir was formerly Kir'iath-se'pher.
From there they went against the inhabitants of Debir. The name of Debir was formerly Kir'iath-se'pher.
And he said to him, "If now I have found favor with thee, then show me a sign that it is thou who speakest with me.
And he said to him, "If now I have found favor with thee, then show me a sign that it is thou who speakest with me.
Then the angel of the LORD reached out the tip of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes; and there sprang up fire from the rock and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and the angel of the LORD vanished from his sight.
Then the angel of the LORD reached out the tip of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes; and there sprang up fire from the rock and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and the angel of the LORD vanished from his sight.
So Mano'ah took the kid with the cereal offering, and offered it upon the rock to the LORD, to him who works wonders.
So Mano'ah took the kid with the cereal offering, and offered it upon the rock to the LORD, to him who works wonders.
The angel of the LORD appeared no more to Mano'ah and to his wife. Then Mano'ah knew that he was the angel of the LORD.
The angel of the LORD appeared no more to Mano'ah and to his wife. Then Mano'ah knew that he was the angel of the LORD.
And all the people saw it, and they fell on their faces and said, Jehovah, he is God! Jehovah, he is God!
And all the people saw it, and they fell on their faces and said, Jehovah, he is God! Jehovah, he is God!
Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot, and thou shalt be stedfast and shalt not fear:
Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot, and thou shalt be stedfast and shalt not fear:
Yea, then shalt thou delight thyself in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto +God:
Yea, then shalt thou delight thyself in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto +God:
Their inward thought is, that their houses are for ever,their dwelling-places from generation to generation: they call the lands after their own names.
Their inward thought is, that their houses are for ever,their dwelling-places from generation to generation: they call the lands after their own names.
Precious in the sight of Jehovah is the death of his saints.
Precious in the sight of Jehovah is the death of his saints.
Therefore will the Lord himself give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and shall bring forth a son, and call his name Immanuel.
Therefore will the Lord himself give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and shall bring forth a son, and call his name Immanuel.
Thus also ye, when ye see all these things, know that it is near, at the doors.
Thus also ye, when ye see all these things, know that it is near, at the doors.
And as it took place in the days of Noe, thus also shall it be in the days of the Son of man:
And as it took place in the days of Noe, thus also shall it be in the days of the Son of man: they ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all of them;
they ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all of them; and in like manner as took place in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
and in like manner as took place in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and sulphur from heaven, and destroyed all of them:
but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and sulphur from heaven, and destroyed all of them: after this manner shall it be in the day that the Son of man is revealed.
after this manner shall it be in the day that the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he who shall be on the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not go down to take it away; and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
In that day, he who shall be on the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not go down to take it away; and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember the wife of Lot.
Remember the wife of Lot. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it, and whosoever shall lose it shall preserve it.
Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it, and whosoever shall lose it shall preserve it. I say to you, In that night there shall be two men upon one bed; one shall be seized and the other shall be let go.
I say to you, In that night there shall be two men upon one bed; one shall be seized and the other shall be let go. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be seized and the other shall be let go.
Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be seized and the other shall be let go. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be seized and the other let go.
Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be seized and the other let go. And answering they say to him, Where, Lord? And he said to them, Where the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
And answering they say to him, Where, Lord? And he said to them, Where the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
Ye are of the devil, as your father, and ye desire to do the lusts of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks falsehood, he speaks of what is his own; for he is a liar and its father:
Ye are of the devil, as your father, and ye desire to do the lusts of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks falsehood, he speaks of what is his own; for he is a liar and its father:
(which have indeed an appearance of wisdom in voluntary worship, and humility, and harsh treatment of the body, not in a certain honour,) to the satisfaction of the flesh.
(which have indeed an appearance of wisdom in voluntary worship, and humility, and harsh treatment of the body, not in a certain honour,) to the satisfaction of the flesh.
thus the Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear to those that look for him the second time without sin for salvation.
thus the Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear to those that look for him the second time without sin for salvation.
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained testimony of being righteous, God bearing testimony to his gifts, and by it, having died, he yet speaks.
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained testimony of being righteous, God bearing testimony to his gifts, and by it, having died, he yet speaks.
for he waited for the city which has foundations, of which God is the artificer and constructor.
for he waited for the city which has foundations, of which God is the artificer and constructor. By faith also Sarah herself received strength for the conception of seed, and that beyond a seasonable age; since she counted him faithful who promised.
By faith also Sarah herself received strength for the conception of seed, and that beyond a seasonable age; since she counted him faithful who promised. Wherefore also there have been born of one, and that of one become dead, even as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the countless sand which is by the sea shore.
Wherefore also there have been born of one, and that of one become dead, even as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the countless sand which is by the sea shore. All these died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar off and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth.
All these died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar off and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth. For they who say such things shew clearly that they seek their country.
For they who say such things shew clearly that they seek their country. And if they had called to mind that from whence they went out, they had had opportunity to have returned;
And if they had called to mind that from whence they went out, they had had opportunity to have returned; but now they seek a better, that is, a heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for he has prepared for them a city.
but now they seek a better, that is, a heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for he has prepared for them a city.
not as Cain was of the wicked one, and slew his brother; and on account of what slew he him? because his works were wicked, and those of his brother righteous.
not as Cain was of the wicked one, and slew his brother; and on account of what slew he him? because his works were wicked, and those of his brother righteous.