Cain and Abel
The infamy of the story of Cain and his brother Abel has lasted down through the ages. The tragic tale of the first brothers in the history of the world has been passed down from generation to generation, preserved in the scriptures as the most talked about set of brothers since, well, since themselves. Cain and Abel represent to many the classic love/hate relationship found within many siblings, which can be compounded by the competitiveness often found in boys. But how much do we really know about these boys, besides their tragic fate? Genesis doesn’t give us much information regarding their early years and what might have caused the animosity found between them.
Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, “I have gotten a manchild with the help of the LORD.” Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. Genesis 4:1-2
This is really all we are given of the early life of these brothers. Abel apparently lives a very short life, for he is dead before his brother is married. The very next event described in Genesis is the day they both made an offering to the Lord their God, Adonai Elohenu. We can’t help but wonder just what events led up to that fateful day in the field. We wonder, could there be any more information on these events? Thankfully, the answer is, yes.
There are some books, referred to as the Forgotten Books of Eden, and among them we find the books of Adam and Eve. The first book, also called “The Conflict of Adam and Eve with Satan”, tells the story of Adam and Eve from the moment they stepped out of the garden to the end of the life of Abel and God’s judgment on Cain. The second book picks up where the first book leaves off and describes just who it is that Cain marries and continues on to just prior to the flood, when the only righteous men left were Methuselah, Lamech and Noah. These two books, as well as the book of Jasher (mentioned in both Joshua and Second Samuel) can give us some more insight into the lives of these two brothers.
Before we get started into our study, allow me to first make this disclaimer: I don’t not believe that these books are inspired by God as the Scriptures are, and in no way do I believe that they are infallible. We are simply using these stories, passed down from one generation to the next until finally committed to paper, to gain more insight into the lives of these brothers so that we can better understand ourselves. What is it about human nature that drives a man to kill one who he should love? Do we really understand what it means to love one another? These books just might bring us closer to understanding ourselves, our faith in our Creator and just how to express that faith in the form of worship.
According to the First Book of Adam and Eve, chapter 74, Cain was not born alone, neither was he born with Abel in the same womb, but with a twin sister. Abel too had a twin sister. Cain’s sister, Luluwa, was apparently quite the beauty, considered to be much better looking than their mother, Eve; Luluwa means “beautiful.” Cain, which means “hater,” was so named because he hated his sister in their mother’s womb. It also brings with it connotations of possession or of being possessed. Not a good start, if you ask me.
But when Adam saw the strait in which Eve was, he arose and prayed to God, and said, “O Lord, look upon me with the eye of Thy mercy, and bring her out of her distress.” And God looked at His maid-servant Eve, and delivered her, and she brought forth her first-born son, and with him a daughter. Then Adam rejoiced at Eve’s deliverance, and also over the children she had borne him. And Adam ministered unto Eve in the cave, until the end of eight days; when they named the son Cain, and the daughter Luluwa. Adam and Eve 74:4-6
Notice that they didn’t name their son until after the eighth day. God commanded Abraham to circumcise on the eighth day, but this was many, many years before that command was given. This seems strange to us because we have always been taught that the Law did not exist until it was given at Mt. Sinai, yet we are told that the saints of old taught their children “the ways of the Lord.” This is only one indication that the Law preexisted. There are many others in this book, most notably the idea of sacrifices. In fact, sacrifices play a very major role in the lives of Cain and Abel, so we will spend quite a bit of time on this topic.
The Torah, the first five books of the Bible, or the books of Moses, contain the commands regarding sacrifices. The twenty-first century man looks at these commands and tries to explain them away. We don’t understand the sacrificial system because we don’t take the time to study it. Why? Mostly because there is no Temple to sacrifice in, but mostly because we simply don’t believe that this applies to us. If that were the case, why would Adonai spend so much time teaching us about the sacrificial system?
Cain and Abel apparently came to blows over their sacrifices. Abel’s sacrifice was accepted, but Cain’s was not. Why is that? Many Bible scholars teach that it is because of what each sacrifice was. Cain’s sacrifice was from the fruit of the earth, the very same earth that God cursed as a result of the fall of Adam, which was the reason it was not accepted. Others teach that it was Cain’s heart that was not acceptable. So, which is right?
To find the answer we will consult the First Book of Adam and Eve to see what this whole sacrifice was about. It all began with Adam and Eve and the attacks of Satan. You see, Satan was truly out to destroy Adam and Eve and tried everything is his power to kill them. At one point, the couple is so despondent that they literally throw themselves off a mountain. After God saves them, and raises them back up, they build an altar, spilling their own blood upon the altar and offering it up to Adonai.
Then Adam and Eve took stones and placed them in the shape of an altar; and they took leaves from the trees outside the garden, with which they wiped, from the face of the rock, the blood they had spilled. But that which had dropped on the sand, they took together with the dust wherewith it was mingled and offered it upon the altar as an offering unto God. Then Adam and Eve stood under the altar and wept, thus entreating God, “Forgive us our trespass and our sin, and look upon us with Thine eye of mercy. For when we were in the garden our praises and our hymns went up before Thee without ceasing. But when we came into this strange land, pure praise was no longer ours, nor righteous prayer, nor understanding hearts, nor sweet thoughts, nor just counsels, nor long discernment, nor upright feelings, neither is our bright nature left us. But our body is changed from the similitude in which it was at first, when we were created. Yet now look upon our blood which is offered upon these stones, and accept it at our hands, like the praise we used to sing unto Thee at first, when in the garden.” And Adam began to make more requests unto God. 1 Adam and Eve 23:4-9
So, out of the blue these two people decide to build an altar. Why? Where did they get the idea? It just suddenly occurs to them to pile a bunch of stones upon one another and use this to worship their God? Really? I don’t think so. Actually, the first book of Adam and Eve tells us something earlier that might just help us to understand. In chapter four, Adam is lamenting over their changed conditions when he says:
And Adam said to Eve, “Look at thine eyes, and at mine, which afore beheld angels in heaven, praising; and they, too, without ceasing. But now we do not see as we did: our eyes have become of flesh; they cannot see in like manner as they saw before.” 1 Adam and Eve 4:8-9
When Adam and Eve were still in the garden, they were able to witness the angelic host, in heaven, worshipping Adonai. Moses was given the vision of the Tabernacle in heaven and told to reproduce it. What he saw included the altar. It seems to me that Adam and Eve witnessed the altar service in heaven. This could explain where they got the idea to build an altar. And on the very first altar they build, what do they sacrifice? Their own blood, mixed with sand and dust, was offered upon the altar. The big question would be, what was Adonai’s reaction to this action?
Then the merciful God, good and lover of men, looked upon Adam and Eve, and upon their blood, which they had held up as an offering unto Him; without an order from Him for so doing. But He wondered at them; and accepted their offerings. And God sent from His presence a bright fire, that consumed their offering. He smelt the sweet savour of their offering, and showed them mercy.
Then came the Word of God to Adam, and said unto him, “O Adam, as thou hast shed thy blood, so will I shed My own blood when I become flesh of they seed; and as thou didst die, O Adam, so also will I die. And as thou didst build an altar, so also will I make for thee an altar on the earth; and as thou didst offer thy blood upon it, so also will I offer My blood upon an altar on the earth. And as thou didst sue for forgiveness through that blood, so also will I make My blood forgiveness of sins, and blot out transgressions in it. And now, behold, I have accepted thy offering, O Adam, but the days of the covenant, wherein I have bound thee, are not fulfilled. When they are fulfilled, then will I bring thee back into the garden. Now, therefore, strengthen thy heart; and when sorrow comes upon thee, make Me an offering, and I will be favourable to thee.” 1 Adam and Eve 24:1-7
It appears that Adonai is pleased with this sacrifice. He sent a bright fire from His presence that consumed their offering, leaving behind a soothing aroma that Adonai savored. Because Adonai was so pleased with this offering, Adam had it in his mind to kill himself often, allowing God to raise him up time after time, so that he could offer himself often. Knowing this was the case, Adonai instructs Adam not to kill himself in order to worship Him (thank God!!)