Thursday, January 15, 2015

Genesis 4

Cain and Abel are the first offspring of Adam and Eve.  Cain is a tiller of soil and Abel is a shepherd.  They both make offerings to God of the fruits of their labors.  God accepts Cain's offering of lamb, but rejects Cain's offering of fruit.  God does not understand why Cain is upset at His rejection of Cain's offering, since God still accepts Cain.  Commentary suggest this reflects tension between farmers and nomads.

Cain kills Abel and Abel's blood cries from the earth to God, reflecting perhaps that God considers blood to be sacred.  God gives Cain a mark so that no one takes revenge on Cain to avenge Abel's murder.  Cain goes east of Eden and founds a city.

Adam and Eve have a third son, Seth, whose son the Bible says is the first to worship the "Lord".

Reflecting on the expulsion from Eden, Asimov speculates it might reflect a nostalgia for nomadic times that are no more once agriculture is developed, which required settling in one place.

God's Law: It doesn't come right out and say it, but seems God has a problem with murder.

My ability to comply:  Hasn't bee a problem yet.

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