Knowing The Word in Genesis 4:1-7, Cain and Abel Part 1

Chapter 4 has three main sections: 1-16 Cain and Abel, 17-24 Cain’s Descendants, and 25-26 Seth’s Family with the following chiastic structure:

A 2b-5 Narrative Cain, Abel main actors; Yahweh passive

B 6-7 Dialogue Yahweh questioning Cain

C 8 Dialogue/Narrative Cain and Abel alone (Abel's murder central event)

B’ 9-14 Dialogue Yahweh and Cain

A’ 15-16 Narrative Yahweh active, Cain passive

1 Now Adam knew [euphemism for sexual intercourse] Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel [which means “breath,” suggesting his life will be cut short as in “man is like a breath”]. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep [the patriarchs preferred profession, suggesting the younger son is the elect], and Cain a worker of the ground [a tiller of the cursed land]. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground [a grain offering but not a “first-fruits” offering, meaning the original production], 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions [an animal sacrifice, the pick of the flock, the “first-fruit” of a sheep]. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. [How they understood God’s approval is unclear. Why did God react the way he did? See Hebrews 11:4: “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.”] So Cain was very angry [an intensity of passion that is often a prelude to homicide in the OT], and his face fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? [God’s question is designed to provide a change of heart for Cain.] 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door [“crouching” denotes demons]. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” [Sin is personified as a demon crouching like a wild best on Cain’s doorstep. Will he let it in?]