_GOD HATH RESPECT TO THE OFFERING OF ABEL, AND REJECTS THAT OF CAIN: CAIN KILLS HIS BROTHER; GOD DENOUNCES SENTENCE UPON HIM FOR HIS FRATRICIDE. THE POSTERITY OF CAIN. LAMECH'S ADDRESS TO HIS WIVES. THE BIRTH OF SETH FROM ADAM; OF ENOS FROM SETH._ GENERAL REFLECTIONS. _on Chap. IV. and V._ CHAP. I... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS 4:1. _AND ADAM KNEW HIS WIFE,_ &C.— All the speculations respecting this passage might have been spared, if the words had been rendered, _Adam_ HAD _known his wife Eve,_ a translation which the original perfectly well bears. Moses, it is evident, gives only the most concise account of things... [ Continue Reading ]
ABEL— This word signifies _vanity._ Calmet says, that Eve having observed in the conduct of Cain that he was not the deliverer which she imagined, gave to her second son a name which might denote the vanity of her former hopes: or she might be desirous to express, that the infant was born subject to... [ Continue Reading ]
BROUGHT AN OFFERING— The words here used are the same with those applied to the legal offerings: יבא _iabo, brought,_ is always used for the sacrifices _brought_ to the door of the tabernacle: and מנחה _minchah,_ for an offering or present made to God or man, as a means of appeasing wrath, &c. See P... [ Continue Reading ]
ABEL, OF THE FIRSTLINGS OF HIS FLOCK, AND OF THE FAT, &C.— Cain's offering was suitable to his profession, and Abel's was equally so to his: there does not appear to me any reason of preference on this account. Cain brought of the fruit of the ground, Abel of the firstlings and fattest of his flock:... [ Continue Reading ]
CAIN WAS VERY WROTH, AND HIS COUNTENANCE FELL— Cain's jealousy and envy of his brother filled his heart with anger and indignation against him, passions which immediately discovered themselves in his gloomy, downcast, and revengeful countenance. Upon which the Lord condescends to expostulate with hi... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNOW NOT: AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER?— There is no wonder, that he, who from such vile motives could murder his brother, _because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous,_ 1 John 3:12 should, with an impudent sullenness, give the lie to his Maker. See the dreadful effects of the fall im... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VOICE OF THY BROTHER'S BLOOD CRIETH, &C.— i.e.. Calls upon me for vengeance. See ch. Genesis 18:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THOU HAST DRIVEN ME OUT THIS DAY FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH— that is, of _this part_ of the earth, or country: _and from thy face shall I be hid;_ an expression which must be restricted, as well as the former; for how could he be hid from the face of God, if we understand it of his all-seein... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE WHOSOEVER, &C.— As Cain was reserved for exemplary punishment, God delivers him from the apprehension of death, and assures him, that _seven-fold_ vengeance, that is, _very severe_ vengeance, (for the word _sevenfold_ is often put for an indefinite, but great number,) shall be taken on any... [ Continue Reading ]
WENT OUT FROM THE PRESENCE, &C.— From the altar of God, says Mr. Locke, after Bertram. "There was a divine glory, called by the Jews, the _Shechinah,_ which appeared from the beginning, (as I often remarked before, says Bp. Patrick,) the sight of which, it is probable, Cain never again enjoyed." _D... [ Continue Reading ]
AND CAIN, &C.— It is evident from this verse, how brief the narration of Moses is, how he passes over time, and connects events of many years distance. For it is plain, that several years must have passed from the exile of Cain to his building this city. He chose rather to call it after his son's na... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO ENOCH WAS BORN, &C.— It is observable, that while the genealogy of Seth is accurately deduced to Noah, and while an exact account is given of the age of his descendants, the genealogy of the descendants of Cain is carried but a little way, and no mention is made of their age. The reason is evid... [ Continue Reading ]
LAMECH TOOK UNTO HIM TWO WIVES, &C.— This account of Lamech has been the subject of much inquiry; and indeed it is very difficult to be understood. "That Lamech had used force against some other man," says Dr. Delaney, "is evident: as also that he thought himself much more criminal in doing so, even... [ Continue Reading ]
JABEL—THE FATHER OF SUCH, &C.— It is usual with the Hebrews to call him the Father, who is the inventor of any thing: and, indeed, the same manner of speaking was usual with the Greeks and Romans.... [ Continue Reading ]
CALLED HIS NAME SETH—FOR GOD HATH APPOINTED, &C.— Here you see, as before, Genesis 4:1 the reason of the name given, Seth, i.e.. appointed, or given in the place of Abel, to continue the chosen line, the promised seed. Seth gave his son the name of Enos (אנושׂ) expressive of the weak and miserable c... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN BEGAN MEN TO CALL, &C.— Our marginal translation seems to give us the most proper sense: _then began men to call_ themselves _by the name of the Lord: i.e._. that distinction then took place, which afterwards prevailed so generally between the children of God and the children of men: see chap.... [ Continue Reading ]