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ADAM and Eve had two sons: the elder of them was named
Cain; which
name, when it is interpreted, signifies
a possession: the younger
was Abel, which signifies
sorrow. They had also daughters. Now the
two brethren were pleased with different courses of life: for Abel, the
younger, was a lover of righteousness; and believing that God was present
at all his actions, he excelled in virtue; and his employment was that
of a shepherd. But
Cain was not only very wicked in other respects, but
was wholly intent upon getting; and he first contrived to plough the ground.
He slew his brother on the occasion following : - They had resolved to
sacrifice to God. Now
Cain brought the fruits of the earth, and of his
husbandry; but Abel brought milk, and the first-fruits of his flocks: but
God was more delighted with the latter oblation,
1
when he was honored with what grew naturally of its own accord, than he
was with what was the invention of a covetous man, and gotten by forcing
the ground; whence it was that
Cain was very angry that Abel was preferred
by God before him; and he slew his brother, and hid his dead body, thinking
to escape discovery. But God, knowing what had been done, came to
Cain,
and asked him what was become of his brother, because he had not seen him
of many days; whereas he used to observe them conversing together at other
times. But
Cain was in doubt with himself, and knew not what answer to
give to God. At first he said that he was himself at a loss about his brother's
disappearing; but when he was provoked by God, who pressed him vehemently,
as resolving to know what the matter was, he replied, he was not his brother's
guardian or keeper, nor was he an observer of what he did. But, in return,
God convicted Cain, as having been the murderer of his brother; and said,
"I wonder at thee, that thou knowest not what is become of a man whom
thou thyself hast destroyed." God therefore did not inflict the punishment
[of death] upon him, on account of his offering sacrifice, and thereby
making supplication to him not to be extreme in his wrath to him; but he
made him accursed, and threatened his posterity in the seventh generation.
He also cast him, together with his wife, out of that land. And when he
was afraid that in wandering about he should fall among Wild beasts, and
by that means perish, God bid him not to entertain such a melancholy suspicion,
and to go over all the earth without fear of what mischief he might suffer
from wild beasts; and setting a mark upon him, that he might be known,
he commanded him to depart.