Please Read Full Chapter of Genesis Chapter 4
Verses 1 To 26
Genesis 4: 3, 4, 5 (WEB)
3 As time passed, it happened that Cain
brought an offering to Yahweh from the fruit
of the ground. 4 Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. Yahweh respected Abel and
his offering, 5 but he didn't respect
Cain and his offering.
1.
As time passed.
2.
Fruit of the ground.
3.
Firstborn of his flock and of its fat.
Three
(3) important keywords over there that will throw lots of light on that situation
between two brothers that is Cain and Abel.
The
above translation of Gen:4, 3,4,5 is from World
English Bible, which is a 1997 revision of the American Standard Version of the
Holy Bible, first published in 1901.
Let’s
look at other Parallel translations of the same text.
1.
As time passed.
Ø In
the course of time. (NIV)
Ø When it was time
for the harvest, (NLT)
Ø And
in process of time it came to pass, (KJV)
Ø One
day, (CEV)
Ø After
some time (GNT)
Ø Later (GWT)
Ø And
it came to be, in the course of time (ISR)
Ø At
the designated time (NET)
Ø And
in ketz yamim it came to pass, (OJB)
Ø And after the boundary of time
marking the beginning of the hot season it came to pass (TLT)
Ø And
it came to pass after many days, (Douay-Rheims Bible)
Ø And
it cometh to pass at the end of days (Young’s
Literal Translation)
Hebrew Words
|
This is the first instance, in the Holy Scriptures, of the Hebrew word קץ, Strongs H7093. This word, per Scripture usage, pertains to the beginning of things,
that is, not to the end of things.
Genesis 4: 3 (TLT) The Tree of
Life Time version of the Holy Scriptures.
And after the boundary of time marking the beginning of the
hot season it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an
offering unto the LORD.
TLT comment: Cf. the aviv and HagHaOmer, the sacrifice of the wave offering, which is
also the time when the lambs are being delivered. Cf. also the common Swedish
expression re age: “vårar,” i.e. so many springs.
Notice also the similarity between “vår”
(spring) and ”år”
(year.)
IMPORTANT CONNECTION IN THE NEXT FEW VERSES
Genesis 5:3
3 Adam lived one hundred thirty years, and became the
father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.
CONCLUSION
on Key Point 1.
(3, 4) In process of time.—Heb., at the end of days: not
at the end of a week, or a year, or of harvest-time, but of a long indefinite
period, shown by the age of Adam at the birth of Seth to have been something
less than 130 years.
Also note that in Verse
26 of Genesis Chapter 4, the Bible
first mentions that the people began calling on the name of Yahweh for the very
first time. So the calling of on the name of Yahweh started at the BIRTH OF
SETH and not at the time of Cain and Abel’s offering.
So from the above, one can safely conclude, that Cain and Abel’s offering was after some
due passage of time or delay and not at the very first harvest, as please note
it takes some time for cattle to get pregnant and give birth to the very FIRST
BORN of their animal kind.
2.
Fruit of the Ground.
As Cain and Abel were growing into
Adulthood as by now each one of them had chosen their individual paths or
careers so to say. Cain the Farmer of the ground. Abel the Shepherd of the
flock.
By
now, their parents must have explained to
them in sufficient detail about how they disobeyed God Yahweh and ate from the
Forbidden Tree of Knowledge of Good and Bad. In this connection they must have
even communicated to both Cain and Abel the First Prophecy that God Yahweh uttered
in the Garden of Eden before expelling them from there. - Genesis 3:15
15 I
will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring.
PLEASE ALSO
NOTE
That
God Yahweh was still directly communicating with the First Family, even outside
the Garden of Eden. – Genesis 4: 19 –
15. God did not desert or abandon Cain and Abel outside the Garden of Eden.
He was always there to give them guidance and answers. – Genesis 4:6
6 Yahweh said to
Cain, "Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen? 7 If
you do well, will it not be lifted up? If you don't do well,
sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it."
We can clearly see above, that much ahead and in sufficient advance at the time
of the offering itself, God Yahweh LOVINGLY WARNS Cain that Sin is CROUCHING at
his door.
A little bit on the word CROUCHING
God
Yahweh compares Sin to be Crouching like a Wild Animal (Leopard or Tiger or
Snake). Just before an attack, a Leopard CROUCHES its body and tightens its
body backwards into a smaller shape to hide and at the appropriate time to
SPRING and attack its enemy. Similarly even Snakes COIL OR CROUCH its full body
into a spring like small shape to bounce forward and launch an attack. Here God Yahweh compared SIN Crouching like
a Wild Animal.
God Yahweh gives Cain a Chance to Regret and Repent and ask humbly for assistance or help. He could have
simply asked God Yahweh as to why his Offering was not accepted and then he
could have done a re-offering with a change of heart, mind and circumstances.
Cain had the capability to BACK ANSWER
Yahweh by Questioning the Creator of the Universe back with a taunting
Question, Yahweh
said to Cain, "Where is Abel, your brother?" He said, "I don't know.
Am I my brother's keeper?"
Surely before
this incident of the First Murder of Humankind, God Yahweh
must have been regularly communicating and guiding both Cain and Abel. Yahweh
must be explaining what kind of faith is acceptable to him and what is not. – Hebrews 11:5
PLEASE NOTE IT
WAS NOT A SIN OFFERING. IT WAS JUST A PLAIN OFFERING TO GOD.
Now let’s get
back to a small incident in the Garden of Eden. (Since God
Yahweh noted it down in his Bible, actually nothing, not even a small word or
incident is small. Everything is very important, that’s why God Yahweh inspired
it to be in the Bible.)
On eating the
Fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Bad, the very first
decision taken by Adam and Eve, (right or wrong let’s see) was that they
decided that certain private body parts of theirs such as the Breasts and
Vagina and Penis area, they together on their own judgment now decided and came
to an immediate conclusion that it was something bad or something to be ashamed
off. So they gathered LEAVES OF PLANTS OR TREES and stitched ORGANIC GARMENTS
for themselves to hide their nakedness.
Genesis 3:7
The eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they
were naked. They sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
SIN as we all know now, denotes the act or state of missing the mark; the original sense of New Testament Greek ἁμαρτία hamartia "sin", is failure, being in
error, missing the mark, ...
Both
Adam and Eve showed that both of them now with the ability of deciding what is
good and what is bad were not capable of choosing or deciding accurately. They
MISSED THE MARK OF PERFECTION. They decided wrongly that they were NAKED. So
now when God Yahweh approached them, TO
HIDE THEIR SIN, THEY MADE A COVERING
OR CLOTHES MADE UP OF LEAVES AND PLANTS TO HIDE THEIR NAKEDNESS. – Genesis 3:7
God Yahweh the
First Tailor
VERY IMPORTANT
It was not acceptable and permissible and possible
according to God Yahweh, that LEAVES
OR PLANTS could be an accurate SIN COVERING for the sins of the FLESHLY Adam
and Eve. In his divine wisdom he FORESHADOWED THE PERFECT HUMAN SACRIFICE OF
HIS SON YAHSHUA for all of humankind’s sin including Adam and Eve too. Hence
God Yahweh kills or sacrifices some animal to make COATS OF SKINS for Adam and
Eve to wear as a COVERING FOR THEI SIN.
The
above story must have been duly told and repeated to their children that is
Cain and Abel by both Adam and Eve.
So even though
it was just a plain offering and NOT a Sin offering, Still Abel out
of his good Intelligence or Wisdom or Remembering his communication with Yahweh
or Recollecting the above Story of how God Yahweh made Animal Skins clothing
for Adam and Eve to COVER THEIR SINS. So out of Faith, Abel thought out of his
own convictions that offering an animal or blood sacrifice will be appreciated
by God Yahweh. There was no need of an animal sacrifice. BUT by this, Abel was
communicating to his God Yahweh that he understands and appreciates that God
with provide a perfect Sin Offering in the future for all of their sins.
ABOUT CAINS OFFERING OF FRUIT OF THE GROUND
Please note in
Verse 3 of Chapter 4 of Genesis, God just mentions that Cain gave an
offering. No mention that it was of FIRST FRUITS. No mention of BEST FRUITS.
Nothing. Just an Offering of Fruit of
the Ground.
The Owner of
everything in this Universe is actually the Creator. God Yahweh
created everything on this Planet Earth. He is not in need of things of the
earth. The offering of Cain and Abel was in effect an OFFERING OF THANKS GIVING
AND GIVING GRATITUDE to God Yahweh for blessing the work and effort of their
hands. – Numbers 18:13
There
was nothing wrong in offering God the produce that one has grown. God even
accepts grains and fruits of the fields.
Ex 13:11-16; Num 3:45-48; 18:13-19
CAINS INTENT OR
HEART WAS NOT GOOD WITH THE OFFERING OF THE FRUIT OF THE GROUND.
We are expressly told
in Hebrews 11:4 that
Abel’s was the more excellent sacrifice, because offered “in faith.” It was the
state of their hearts that made the difference; though, as the result of
unbelief, Cain’s may have been a scanty present of common produce, and not of
first-fruits, while Abel brought “firstlings,
and of the fat thereof,” the choicest portion. Abel may also have shown a
deeper faith in the promised Deliverer by offering an animal sacrifice.
3.
Firstborn of his flock and of its fat.
Numbers 18:15
15 Everything
that opens the womb, of all flesh which they offer to Yahweh, both of man and
animal shall be yours:
The Three Major Categories of Offerings to
Yahweh
Types of offerings
|
1.
Tribute Offerings/
Vassal payments (compulsory) Ex 13:11-16; Num 3:45-48; 18:13-19 |
3.
Altar-sacrifices
(voluntary and compulsory) Lev chapters 1-7; 16; 23 |
|
Reason
|
Owed
for services rendered by God to His people
|
To
support God's Sanctuary
|
Liturgical
service and covenant continuation
|
Gifts / Offerer
|
First
fruits of animals, sons, and harvest* presented to God by individuals.
|
Any
gift for the Sanctuary presented by the people
|
Offerings
to God made by individuals or presented by the priests for the whole
community
|
Purpose
|
For
the maintenance of the ministerial priesthood
|
Used
by the priests for the Sanctuary and liturgical services
|
1.
To provide for communal and
personal expiation of sins.
2.
To reestablish communion with God
through a sacred meal.
|
Categories
|
A. first produce of the harvest
1. grains 2. fruits B. animals from the herd and flock 1. clean 2. unclean C. first-born sons redeemed by a redemption tax |
Bloodless offerings
1. grain 2. olive oil 3. wine 4. money 5. anything of value |
A. Bleeding sacrifices from 5
kinds of animals:
1.
Daily communal Tamid whole burnt
offering (2 male lambs)
2.
Sabbath sacrifice (2 male lambs)
3.
Individual gift whole burnt
offerings according to wealth: male from herd or flock, or turtle dove and
pigeon, or wheat flour
4.
Individual sin offering (animal
designated according to wealth/status)
5.
Individual sin of reparation
offering (ram and restoration plus 1/5th of the value)
6.
Communion offering (male or female
from flock or herd)
7.
Feast day compulsory and communal
offerings (designated according to the feast)
B. Bloodless sacrifices:
1.
five classes of wheat flour /
unleavened bread offerings
2.
wine
3.
incense
4.
olive oil
5.
salt
|
Who received
|
Priests
and Levites
|
Priests
on behalf of the Sanctuary
|
God
or shared with God in a sacred meal
|
14 He shall offer
from it as his offering, an offering made by fire to Yahweh; the fat that covers the innards, and all the fat that is on the innards, 15 and the two
kidneys, and the fat that is on them,
which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he shall
take away. 16 The priest shall burn them on the altar: it is the food of
the offering made by fire, for a pleasant aroma; all the fat is Yahweh's. 17 "'It shall
be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings, that you shall eat neither fat nor blood.'"
What a BIG and STRIKING Coincidence or Chance or Luck
that Abel decided (we do not know how and why he
decided this) to offer all the FATS of the animal to God Yahweh. This is WAY
LONG BACK IN TIME before the Ceremonial laws of Food Offerings was given to
the Israelites.
ANOTHER POINT OF INTEREST ADDED RECENTLY:
Cain saw that his brother Abel's sacrifice was accepted and his sacrifice was not. So by now, Cain has definitely realized that Yahweh appreciated an animal's blood sacrifice. Instead of correcting and reverting himself to offering a repeat second animal sacrifice, he starts plotting or planning to murder his brother. 8Cain said to Abel, his brother, "Let's go into the field." (Genesis 4:8). By killing his brother in cold blood and by spilling Abel's innocent blood on the land or the fields, he in bloodshot anger made the whole field or earth into an altar and in total rebellion or retaliation into an illegal altar by offering blood sacrifice of a human being and not an animal this time. It was like Cain saying through his act or crime. "So Yahweh you like animal blood sacrifices, okay. So now I offer you something better than an animal." That's why in Genesis it is recorded as, "10Yahweh said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries to me from the ground. (Genesis 4:10)
SO TO CONCLUDE IN BRIEF
God Yahweh looks at both the CONTENT
of the Offering and MORE IMPORTANTLY at the INTENT OF THE OFFERING. Rather at
the HEART (Intent) of the Person making the Offering. Cain’s offering failed on many grounds. It was not the First Fruits
of his produce. It was not the Best of his produce. He saw his brother Abel
offering something different and better, but he did not take suggestions or
guidance either from Brother or God and did not make Timely Corrections or
Changes in his offering to God Yahweh. How
we know this? If you do well, will it not be lifted
up? – Genesis 4: 7. So
according to God Yahweh, Abel did not do well in his offering.
By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain,
through which he had testimony given to
him that he was righteous, God
testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks. – Hebrews
11:4