| |
Cain and Abel |
|
|
|
Introduction |
|
In Chapter 4
of Genesis is the short story of Cain and Abel. In
this story the LORD gives Cain a warning to master
his anger and resentment. Cain chooses not to and
commits the first murder by killing his brother
after God rejects his sacrifice, but accepts Abel's.
Genesis puts some emphasis on the occupations of the
brothers; Abel tends flocks while Cain is a farmer.
Abel is
not mentioned in the Old Testament except in Genesis
4. St. Augustine makes him as one who loves ideas of
justification, and Cain a man of nature. Cain, he
tells us, gave God a part of his goods, but he did
not give Him his heart (De Civitate Dei, XV, vii),
alluding to the evil disposition of Cain's heart.
St. John says that Cain slew Abel because his works
were evil, while those of his brother were just (1
John 3:12), and we read in Hebrews that "by faith
Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than
Cain" (Hebrews 11:4).
The descendants
of Cain were wicked, but, as nothing is said about
those of Abel, it is supposed that he had none; or
at least that no son was alive at the birth of Seth,
"whom God has given me for Abel", as Eve expressed
it (Genesis 4:25). |
|
|
|
Cain and
Abel |
|
|
The man had
relations with his wife Eve, and she conceives
and bears Cain, saying, "I have produced a man
with the help of the LORD." |
| |
|
 |
Next she
bears his brother Abel. Abel becomes a keeper of
flocks, and Cain a tiller of the soil. In the
course of time Cain brings an offering to the
LORD from the fruit of the soil, while Abel, for
his part, brings one of the best firstlings of
his flock. The LORD looks with favor on Abel
and his offering, but on Cain and his offering
he does not. Cain greatly resents this and is
crestfallen.
So the
LORD says to Cain: "Why are you so resentful and
crestfallen? If you do well, you can hold up
your head; but if
not, sin is a demon lurking at the door: his urge is
toward you, yet you
can be his master." |
|
|
|
The
First Murder |
|
Cain says
to his brother Abel, "Let us go out in the
field." When they are in the field, Cain
attacks his brother Abel and kills him.
Then the LORD asks Cain, "Where is your brother
Abel?" He answers, "I do not know. Am I my
brother's keeper?"
The LORD then says: "What have you done! Listen:
your brother's blood cries out to me from the
soil! Therefore you shall be banned from the
soil that opened its mouth to receive your
brother's blood from your hand. If you till the
soil, it shall no longer give you its produce.
You shall become a restless wanderer on the
earth."
The
Mark of Cain |
 |
|
Cain Leadeth Abel to Death, Tissot |
|
|
 |
Cain says
to the LORD: "My punishment is too great to
bear. Since you have now banished me from the
soil, and I must avoid your presence and become
a restless wanderer
on the earth, anyone may kill me at sight."
Not so!" the LORD
says to him. "If anyone kills
Cain, Cain shall be avenged sevenfold." So the LORD
puts a mark on Cain, lest anyone should kill him at
sight. Cain then leaves the LORD'S presence and
settles in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
Cain has relations with his wife, and she conceives
and bears Enoch. Cain also becomes the founder of a
city, which he names after his son Enoch. Cain also
has other children. |
|
|
Adam again has relations with his wife, and she
gives
birth to a son whom she calls Seth. "God has
granted me more offspring in place of Abel," she
says, "because Cain slew him."
To Seth, in turn, a son is born, and he names him Enosh. At that time men
begins to invoke the LORD by
name.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
The Navarre Bible: Pentateuch (The Navarre Bible: Old Testament)
This volume helps you make the first five
books of the Old Testament a vital part of
your spiritual reading and practical
growth in the Christian life. It contains
the full English and Latin texts of these
books, along with extensive and faithfully
Catholic commentaries. Like other volumes
in the world-renowned Navarre Bible
series, these commentaries draw on Church
|
|
documents, the exegesis of Fathers and Doctors
of the Church, and the works of contemporary
spiritual writers — particularly St. Josemaría
Escrivá, who initiated the Navarre Bible
project. |
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
Samson and Delilah and Other Old Testament Stories (Discovering the Bible) (Hardcover)
by Victoria Parker (Author), Retold by Victoria Parker (Author)
This
book provides known Bible stories from Israel in the Promised land to the Story
of Ruth. It has the stories we grew up with but it adds historical and religious
facts to each story. It tells the stories gearing them toward elementary school
children. |
|
|
|
|
 |
Moses
Great Lives Series: Volume 4 ,
by Charles R. Swindoll. This book presents the Bible's real Moses-the
Moses who tried to decline his assignment from God; the Moses who dazzled Pharoh;
the Moses who received the Ten Commandments; the Moses who was disobedient and
weak; the Moses who was the greatest leader of God's people in all of history.
Through his faith and selfless dedication, Moses continually chose to follow
God's will through difficult and seemingly impossible situations. |
|
|
|
|
 |
Jacob and Esau
by Harriette Augusta Curtiss and F. Homer
Curtiss (Paperback - Dec 30, 2005) |
|
|
|
 |
The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction & Commentary
by J. A. Motyer
Recipient of a Christianity Today 1994 Critics
Choice Award! Among Old Testament prophetic books no other equals Isaiah's
brilliance of style and metaphor, its arresting vision of the Holy One of Israel
and its kaleidoscopic vision of God's future restoration of Israel and the
world. Now, after over three decades of studying and teaching Isaiah, Alec
Motyer presents a wealth of commentary and perspective on this book. |
|
|
|
|
 |
Saint of the Day: Lives, Lessons, and Feasts
(Paperback)
by Leonard Foley (Editor), Pat McCloskey (Editor) |
|
|
|
|
 |
Lives of the
Saints You Should Know by Margaret R. Bunson,
Matthew E. Bunson |
|
|
 |
New Illustrated Book of Saints
Author: Catholic Book Publishing Company |
|
|
 |
One Hundred Saints: Their Lives and Likenesses
Drawn from Butler's
This is a coffee-table collection of 100
popular saints illustrated with art works taken
from international galleries. The saints are
listed alphabetically in a valuable table of
contents, with a larger list of patron saints
following the text. Inclusion is based on
popularity within the Christian world and the
|
|
| |
availability of
atypical art works. Entries are generally based
on the 1926-38 edition of Butler's Lives of the
Saints, with the length of each entry varying
from one-half page to several pages. Short
entries giving written insight into the lives of
pious individuals are combined with depictions
rendered by artists such as Raphael and El
Greco. An inexpensive tribute to art and faith
more appropriate for gift-giving than for
libraries. |
|
|
|