In one of the Legends of the Jews, Cain is the fruit of a union between Eve and Satan, who is also the angel Samael and the serpent in the Garden of Eden, and Eve exclaims at Cain's birth, 'I have gotten a man through an angel of the Lord.' Īccording to the Life of Adam and Eve (c. One popular theory regarding the name of Cain connects it to the verb 'kana' ( קנה‎ qnh), meaning 'to get' and used by Eve in Genesis 4:1 when she says after bearing Cain, 'I have gotten a man from the Lord.' In this viewpoint, articulated by Nachmanides in the thirteenth century, Cain's name presages his role of mastery, power, and sin. The Body of Abel Found by Adam and Eve by William Blake, 1826 Similar to the internalized spiritual death God warns Adam and Eve of from eating the forbidden fruit - they do not physically die immediately but over the course of time their bodies age and die - the Lord warns Cain that his inappropriate anger is waiting to consume him: 'If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” The Midrash suggest that although Abel brought the best meat from his flock, Cain did not set aside for God the best of his harvest. Fat-portions are set apart for the Lord, and came from the firstborn - which point to an act of faith, since it is not guaranteed there will be more. Noteworthy is the difference in the type of sacrifice: fruits of the soil are renewable and bloodless. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.' Genesis 4:3-5a. And Abel also brought an offering-fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The text states that 'In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. Main article: Cain and Abel Interpretations Jewish and Christian interpretations Ī question arising early in the story is why God rejected Cain's sacrifice. According to Genesis, Cain was the first human born and the first murderer. Some traditional interpretations consider Cain to be the originator of evil, violence, or greed. The narrative is notably unclear on God's reason for rejecting Cain's sacrifice. He had several children, starting with Enoch and including Lamech. Out of jealousy, Cain killed his brother, for which he was punished by God with the curse and mark of Cain. However, God was not pleased and favored Abel's offering over Cain's. He was a farmer who gave an offering of his crops to God. He is the elder brother of Abel, and the firstborn son of Adam and Eve, the first couple within the Bible. Cain, by Henri Vidal, 1896, Jardin des Tuileries, ParisĬain is a Biblical figure in the Book of Genesis within Abrahamic religions.

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