Reading for February 4th

Read Genesis 4.1-26
Cain and Abel - the first murder.
In verse 1 the man knew his wife implies intimate knowledge, in this case sexual intercourse.
The man had earlier names his wife Eve (3.20).
Now Eve in turn names a man, her son Cain.
In a wordplay on the name Cain ("qayin"), the woman creates or "produces" ("qnh")
a man with the help of the LORD.
In verses 4-5 the text gives no reason why God accepts Abel's animal offering but rejects Cain's grain offering.
God reserves the divine right to accept or be merciful to whomever he wills (Ex 33.19).
In verse 7 if Cain acts properly in response to his brother's acceptance and his own refection,
then Cain himself will be accepted.
But if Cain does not do well, sin is lurking at the door lake an animal eager to consume his life.
This is the first occurrence of the word sin in the Bible.
 In verse 9 Cain's cynical question, Am I my brother's keeper?, may imply that God
should be the one responsible for "keeping" or "guarding" his brother (Ps 121.5; Isa 27.3).
In verses 10-11 the blood of any human or animal is considered sacred because
it is believed to contain the essence of life.
Thus, any spilling of blood is a matter for God's attention (Deut 12.23-24; Lev 17.10-14).
In verse 14 as a fugitive and wanderer in foreign lands, Cain will have no rights or protection.
He will be vulnerable to blood revenge for the murder of his brother.
2 Sam 24.1-24 provides an example of such a case.
In verses 17-22 Cain is a fugitive from the settled rural life of farming.
His descendants become the founders of cities (v. 17), wandering shepherds (v.20),
developers of culture (v.21), and makers of tools (v. 22).
In verses 23-24 Lamech takes revenge into his own hands in an increasing spiral of violence.
He kills someone in revenge for a simple injury against himself.
Earlier, the LORD had tried to limit revenge and violence (4.15).
In verses 25-26 Adam and Eve have a third son, Seth.
The family line of Adam and Eve, through their son Seth, will be traced over
ten generations in Gen 5.
Comments or Questions...