genesis-4:1-4,-hebrews-11:4

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:2

‘And again she bore his brother Abel (Hebel). And Abel was a keeper of sheep while Cain was a worker of the ground.’ Abel was a keeper of ‘sheep’ (the word strictly means what we might call ‘small cattle’ i.e. including goats). We must not read into this the suggestion that he was a shepherd in its later ‘advanced’ form. The sheep and goats were there and he took an interest in them and herded them for clothing and milk, and possibly for food. Thus he provided the coats of skins necessary to... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:3

‘And after a certain amount of time had passed Cain brought to Yahweh an offering of the fruit of the ground.’ The cereal offering was an acknowledgement of God’s blessing and an expression of human gratitude. It would later be quite acceptable to God, so that there is no reason here to assume it was unacceptable here. It was what Cain had laboured for. Why then was it not accepted? The word for ‘offering’ is ‘minchah’ meaning ‘a gift’. It is noticeable that Cain’s offering is described very... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:4

‘And Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions.’ We are not to read into this any cultic requirements. The cult is not established until Genesis 4:26. It is specifically intended to bring out Abel’s attitude of heart. His first thought was to show his gratitude to God, and thus he gave of his best. He gave of the firstlings of the flock, in other words he thought of God first, and he especially selected the best portions. This is in contrast with the abrupt way in... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:4-5

‘And Yahweh had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard.’ But how did they know that one was accepted and the other not? The answer would seem to lie in the fact that Abel prospered, whereas Cain was having a difficult time in some way. This would certainly explain why Cain was so angry. In the Old Testament prosperity is regularly seen as a sign of the approval of God. read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:1-16

Genesis 4:1-Nehemiah : . The Story of Cain and Abel.— This belongs to the J cycle of stories, but apparently not to the same stratum as Genesis 4:3, for it is assumed that the earth has a population from which Cain fears vengeance, and the curse in Genesis 4:11 f. ignores the cursing of the ground in Genesis 3:17-Psalms :. Originally then the story was placed in a later period of human history: its present position is perhaps due to the identification of Cain the murderer with Cain the... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:1

This modest expression is used both in Scripture and other authors, to signify the conjugal act or carnal knowledge. So Genesis 19:8; Genesis 24:16; Numbers 31:17; Matthew 1:25; Luke 1:34. Cain, whose name signifies a possession. A man, a male child, as Genesis 7:2, which was most welcome. From the Lord; or, by or with the Lord, i.e. by virtue of his first blessing, Genesis 1:28, and special favour. Or, a man the Lord, as the words properly signify: q.d. God-man, or the Messias, hoping that... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:2

Abel signifies vanity, a vain, mortal, miserable man, whereas she thought Cain to be more than an ordinary man; or this name might prophetically design his miserable life, and untimely and unnatural death. To till the ground was esteemed a more honourable calling than that of a shepherd, and therefore either chosen by the elder brother, or allotted to him by his father. read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:3

Either, 1. In general, at the return of the set time then appointed, and used for the solemn service of God. Or, 2. At the end of the year, when there might be now, as there was afterward among the Jews, more solemn worship and sacrifices; the word days being often put for a year, as Leviticus 25:29; 1 Samuel 1:3; 1 Samuel 27:7. Or, 3. More probably at the end of the days of the week, or upon the seventh and last day of the week, Saturday, which then was the sabbath day, which before this time... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:4

The firstlings; either, 1. The first-born, which God reserved to himself, both at this time, and afterwards by an express law, Exodus 13:2; Numbers 3:13. Or, 2. The choicest and most eminent of the flock; for the best of any kind are oft called first-born, as Job 18:13; Jeremiah 31:19; Hebrews 12:23. The fat thereof was either, 1. Properly, the fat being properly now required by God, as afterwards was expressed, Exodus 29:13,Exodus 29:22; Leviticus 3:3. Or, 2. The best of them, as the word fat... read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Genesis 4:1-2

MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.—Genesis 4:1-2DOMESTIC LIFEI. That it is designed for the numerical increase of humanity. The position of Adam and Eve prior to the birth of their two sons was unique. They were alone in the great world. In Eden they would not be so deeply conscious of this solitude, as there their solitude was filled with God and holy thoughts. But, now, in their altered condition of life, they would feel more keenly the need of earthly companionship. Their intercourse with... read more

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:2

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:3

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:4

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:4-5

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:1-16

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:1

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:2

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:3

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 4:4

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Genesis 4:1-2

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