Cain & Abel
Abel's Death
Topics covered in this document:
Introduction
Want to uncover some of the details about Abel's death that are barely
covered in the Bible story? If so, you've come to the right place.
Abel's Wicked Side
Cain and Abel were like many brothers today. They had their share of
good times and bad times.
Sometimes Abel could be a real pain in the neck. One of his favorite
"games" was to march his sheep across Cain's newly-planted fields,
destroying the crops. He thought that was really funny, I guess.
Besides that, he was daddy's favorite ... and he knew it too.
Cain and Abel Separated
Apparently Adam and Eve were well aware of the barely hidden hostility
that existed between the two brothers. So Adam built separate houses for
each of them ... far apart. And they were given entirely different
occupations by their parents. That's the original reason why Cain was a
tiller of the soil and Abel was a keeper of sheep ... to try to keep them
separated from each other.
Despite the best efforts of their parents, however, the two brothers
were at each other's throats more often than not.
Wives for Cain and Abel
However, there were other reasons why the two boys had trouble getting
along.
Eve Bears Twins: Son and Daughter
Hebrew legend tells us that every time Eve gave birth to a boy, she
also gave birth to a twin ... a daughter. And I bet you were wondering
where the wives came from? The son was supposed to marry his twin sister
... which I find quite strange.
(Actually, an Arabic version of the story says they were supposed
to marry their brother's twin ... but I'll continue with the Hebrew
version.)
Cain Covets Abel's Twin Sister
Anyhow, Cain was attracted to Abel's twin sister rather than his own
twin. Thus, he was always looking for ways to get rid of his brother.
You certainly won't read about this part in the Bible.
The Bible tells us that Cain slew Abel because God didn't accept his
food offering ... but we're not told why this was a problem. Well, here's
the rest of the story ... or at least, the rest of the story according
to various scholars.
Offerings to God
On the 14th day of Nisan, both sons were instructed by Adam to bring
their offering to the Lord. Later in history, the Israelites still brought
their offerings on this same day. And according to legend, Cain and Abel
just happened to bring their offerings to the exact spot where the altar
of the Temple of Jerusalem later stood.
Of course, we see Abel selecting the best of his flocks as an offering
... and wicked, rotten Cain trying to pull a fast one on God (or so the
story goes).
Cain Eats Most of His Offering
After Cain had gathered food for his offering, he grew tired and hungry.
So he sat down and ate the better portion of his food offering, leaving
only a few grains of flax seed to be offered to God.
But it really wouldn't have made any difference even if he hadn't
eaten the best part of the food. His offering was condemned before he
even got started. After all, he brought an offering of the fruit of the
ground ... which had been cursed by God as punishment of the Fall. And
to add insult to injury, it was also the kind of offering used by the
hated Egyptians.
Personally, I find their train of thought a bit confusing, since our
own lives depend, in large part, on partaking of food from the very ground
that God had cursed. Oh well.
Cain's Anger
Cain was enraged that his offering was rejected.
In a heated dispute with Abel, he said "I believed that the world was
created through goodness, but I see that good deeds bear no fruit. God
rules the world with an arbitrary power, else why had He respect unto
thy offering, and not unto mine also?"
Abel turned to Cain and replied, "If my sacrifice has been accepted
graciously by God ... and yours not ... it was because my deeds were good
and yours were wicked." I can hear Abel's tone of voice loud and clear.
Abel Taunts Cain
But the brothers eventually cooled off ... for a while, at least. Later,
Abel was playing one of his games ... parading his sheep across
Cain's field.
In a rage, Cain called out "What right hast thou to live upon my land
and let thy sheep pasture yonder?"
Abel retorted "What right hast thou to use the products of my sheep to
make garments for thyself from their wool? If thou wilt take off the wool
of my sheep wherein thou art arrayed, and wilt pay me for the flesh of the
flocks which thou hast eaten, then I will quit thy land as thou desirest,
and fly into the air, if I can do it."
Cain then threatened "And if I were to kill thee, who is there to demand
thy blood of me?"
Abel came back with "God, who brought us into the world, will avenge me.
God is the Judge. Shouldst thou slay me, God will know thy secret, and He
will deal out punishment unto thee."
Parents will readily recognize this sort of sibling arguing back and
forth.
Cain Murders Abel
Suddenly, Cain rushed at his brother. But Abel was the stronger of the
two (from having to constantly fight off wild beasts) and easily defended
himself, grabbing ahold of Cain.
In desperation, Cain begged for mercy and Abel released his grip. No
sooner did this happen, however, than Cain turned against Abel once more.
Not knowing what kind of injury would be fatal to a human (remember, no
one had murdered anyone yet), Cain pelted Abel's body with stones until
one struck him in the neck, killing him.
Origin of Burial Practice
For a long time after his death, Abel's body lay exposed above ground
because Adam and Even didn't have a clue what to do with the corpse. Adam
and Eve just sat there beside the body and wept.
Abel's Sheep Dog Mourns
Meanwhile Abel's sheep dog kept a vigilant guard against the birds and
beasts that had begun to gather.
Raven's Example
After mourning for a long time, Adam and Eve noticed a raven scratching
in the dirt nearby. After digging a hole, the raven buried another raven --
now dead -- in the hole. Adam followed the example of the raven and dug a
hole in which he buried Abel's body.
Raven's Reward
For instructing Adam on the proper way to bury the dead, God rewarded
the raven. His young are born with white feathers, wherefore the parents
desert them, not recognizing them as their offspring. God feeds the young
ravens until their feathers turn black ... and the parents return,
recognizing them again.
In addition, God rewards ravens by granting their petition when they
pray for rain.
What Next?
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