Shortly after being driven out of the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had two children. The firstborn child they named Cain and the second they named Abel (Genesis 4:1). Cain grew up to become a farmer. Abel chose to be a shepherd (Genesis 4:2).
Were Cain and Abel Twins?
I have read many times that Cain and Abel were possibly twins. I think it is within reason to infer that they were twins. This comes from (Genesis 4:1-2).
(Genesis 4:1) Adam knows his wife Eve (they have sex). Eve becomes pregnant. Eve gives birth to a boy chi
The Offerings
At a certain time (possibly at the end of each year), Cain and Abel brought an offering before to Jehovah. Cain’s offering was from his farming (the fruit of the ground) and Abel’s was from his flock (Genesis 4:3-4). All we know of Cain’s offering is that it was “of the fruit of the ground.” I think we can safely assume that Cain brought something from his garden or from other crops he was producing.
We receive a greater description of Abel’s offering. Abel “brought of the firstlings of his flock and the fat”. The first significant statement is the “firstling of his flock”. The firstling can refer to the firstborn and/or the best of something. Here we learn that Abel brought an offering from the best of his flock.
Now we come to the debate about “Fat”. The term that comes under debate is
“וּמֵחֶלְבֵהֶן”
The KJV translates this phrase simply as “their fat”. There is a possibility that this should be translated as milk or curd of the flock. Before I take us too far down this rabbit hole we need to note a few things.
- The Hebrew language had no written vowels until 600 BC (1). The pronunciation of the words was learned through memorization and word of mouth. The only way to distinguish between some words was through context or pronunciation.
- Historically many Jews recognized that it was milk that Abel bought and not fat cut from inside the sheep (2).
- The text here appears to be feminine. This is why some translations bring a different view of this verse. (Genesis 4:4 YLT) “…From the female firstlings of his flock,…)
- The word “חֶלְבֵ” or “Chlb” is the same word used for “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 33:3). And many other verses translate Chlb as “milk” (3). At that same time that are several verses that translate Chlb as “fat”.
It is my view that what Abel brought milk or a form of it, as his offering. Abel did not bring an animal sacrifice.
Rejection of Cain’s offering.
Why was Cain’s offering not accepted?
Answer: Cain’s offering was not accepted because he offered it without faith and grudgingly. (Hebrews 11:4) Right after humankind is cast out of the Garden of Eden God teaches us the greatest of all principles.
As always the answer is simple but the explanation is complicated. There are many ideas for why Cain’s offering was not accepted. Of the different ideas considered I lean toward the position that it has more do with his Attitude and reasoning, then with what Cain actually offered.
Genesis does give some reasoning for why God did not accept Cain’s offering. After Cain realized that his offering was not accepted, Cain was angry and sad. Jehovah asked Cain why he was upset (Genesis 4:5-6). Then Jehovah said to Cain…
“If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.” (Genesis 4:7)
I also like the NIV version of this verse.
“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.” (Genesis 4:7 NIV)
Cain was not doing something right and if he continued he would likely sin. After the rejection, Cain and Abel had a chance to talk (probably about the offerings). When they had both gone out into the field (away from others) Cain killed his brother Abel (Genesis 4:8).
This is how I see the narrative.
It was customary for Cain and Abel to bring an offering to God at the end of each year (1). Over the years Abel followed this command because he loved and trusted God (faith). Cain only brought the offering because it was expected of him. It is possible that over time Cain was tired of bringing these offerings or did not see the point.
Non-Blood Sacrifice.
Some have suggested that it was rejected because Cain needed to bring a blood sacrifice. But This idea does not make much sense.
First, we must assume that God had already informed them that He wanted a blood offering, but there is no direct record of this found in the scriptures. Some suggest that when God made skins to cover Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21), that this somehow was the introduction and commandment of blood sacrifices. We must always be careful to read the scriptures, not read “INTO” the scriptures. It is a big jump, to suggest that when God said “make coats of skins” He actually was introducing the law of blood sacrifice. We can not put our own words in God’s mouth to fit a narrative.
Second, and more importantly, if Cain knew he was commanded to bring a blood sacrifice and decided not to, then Cain knew his offering would not be accepted. Cain would have no reason to be sad or angry. But Cain was surprised, depressed, angry, and most likely embarrassed that his offering was unacceptable. God took this moment to teach Cain and us the important the principle of faith and to not give gruently.
It is important to note that Abel brought “the firstlings of his flock”. The firstling has long been considered the best or the most important of somethings. Probably the best definition I have found for firstling is
“the first of its kind to be produced or to appear.” https://www.dictionary.com/browse/firstling
Cain’s Offering was
Bibliography
- Blau, Joshua (2010). Phonology and Morphology of Biblical Hebrew. Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns. (ISBN 978-1-57506-129-0).
- Antiquities of the Jews – 1.2.1 (https://sacred-texts.com/jud/josephus/ant-1.htm)
- (Genesis 18:8), (Genesis 49:12), (Exodus 3:8,17), (Exodus 23:19), (Lv 20:24), (Num 13:27)
- Twins in the Bible – Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25:24), Perez and Zerah (Genesis 38:27)
