Why did Cain kill his brother Abel in Genesis 4:8?

[XIII-Legion]

Genesis 4 -
1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. 2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. [...]

4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. [...]
8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Romans 9:21 - Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

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Cain and Abel is a Jungian archetype, and depicts classic RIVALRY between biological brothers or unfamiliar kin e.g. Sarah and Hagar, Isaac and Ishmael, Tamar and Rebecca, Esau and Jacob, Ephraim and Manasseh, Jesus and John the Baptist, Romulus and Remus, Capulets and Montague etc.

According to Genesis 4, Cain was JEALOUS of his brother Abel because God respected Abel's offering (religion), but He had no respect for Cain's offering (which is a different ethno-religious identity to his brother Abel), which is INFERIOR to Abel.

Hence, Cain used stealth, cunning, and DECEPTION to lure his brother into a trap; and he took Abel to a quiet secluded place to have him killed.

By killing his brother, Cain effectively DEPRIVED Abel of his special position, purpose, and status in the eyes of God; which was something he himself aspired to have, but could never achieve (Romans 9:21).

Hence, the allegorical potter and clay is a metaphor, which can be used to describe classic rivalry between Cain and Abel.

Although they have both issued from the same seed (and the same womb), God can use the clay to create a vessel unto honour; but using the same lump of clay, He can also create a vessel unto dishonour (Romans 9:21).

Despite having the same parents, we know that God's favourite son was Abel; and He preferred Abel over Cain in regards to the destiny of divergent ethno-religious tribes, nations, and societies in prehistoric times (as both Cain and Abel are destined to be progenitors of divergent ethno-religious tribes, nations, and societies in the Ancient Near East).

Since Cain and Abel are destined to be progenitors of divergent ethno-religious tribes, nations, and societies in the Ancient Near East, it's clear that Cain was angry, bitter, envious, and resentful that he'd been assigned to a different and lower-order power relationship in regards to his posterity.

Hence, this is perhaps the most likely reason that Cain slew his brother Abel; to deprive Abel of what he himself aspired to have, but could never achieve in the eyes of God.

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But is such behaviour consistent with evolutionary biology/psychology of Homo Sapiens; and thereby, consistent with Darwin's theory of evolution?

Is it consistent with natural selection, competition among primates, and survival of the fittest?

Therefore, is it natural for a JEALOUS individual to try and DEPRIVE another person of something; which he himself aspired to have, but could never achieve?

Therefore, is it natural for a JEALOUS individual to try and DESTROY another person for something which they both wanted; which he himself aspired to have, but could never achieve?

Is JEALOUSY part of Darwin's theory; and is it natural for a JEALOUS individual to try and DEPRIVE another person of something which he himself aspired to, but could never achieve?

Last but not least, do you think that JEALOUS individual would try to use strategic DECEPTION to level the playing field; and thereby, DEPRIVE AND DESTROY another person to whom they are JEALOUS?

 

[Gjallarhorn]

...so wait, you prefaced this with a folktale...why?

 

[XIII-Legion]

...so wait, you prefaced this with a folktale...why?

Because Cain and Abel is an interesting story.

I have tried to explain jealousy in humans, both from a scientific and religious perspective.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

Jealousy, as an evolutionary development, is less about depriving another (envy) and more about accumulating resources for yourself (greed). It has very little to do with perceptions of superiority and inferiority.

Seriously, Cain and Abel have nothing to do with it.

 

[XIII-Legion]

Jealousy, as an evolutionary development, is less about depriving another (envy) and more about accumulating resources for yourself (greed). It has very little to do with perceptions of superiority and inferiority.

But how do you know?

Are you a scientist?

 

[Gjallarhorn]

But how do you know?

Are you a scientist?

If you were interested in asking only scientists, I suggest you send an email to someone with a PhD in their title.

Instead, you have asked a religious education community. I while, not being an accredited scientist, understand the very basics of evolution. Depriving others of resources will make their survival less likely than your own, but that's life. It's not about what people deserve or believe they deserve. All species seek to gain resources or deprive resources to others even in situations where doing so dooms them both.

 

[Bunyip]

There is a fairly wide spread notion that Cain and Able were metaphors for farming and hunting. Cain kills Abel when human agriculture begins. It is metaphor.

 

[Levite]

Generally we understand the story of Cain and Abel as a lesson to serve God joyfully and with good will, rather than grudgingly or resentfully. It can also be a lesson about jealousy and not bearing grudges or harboring hatred for one's fellow-- hence the relevant commandments in the nineteenth chapter of Leviticus.

 

[Bunyip]

Generally we understand the story of Cain and Abel as a lesson to serve God joyfully and with good will, rather than grudgingly or resentfully. It can also be a lesson about jealousy and not bearing grudges or harboring hatred for one's fellow-- hence the relevant commandments in the nineteenth chapter of Leviticus.

And that of course makes perfectly good sense. Brilliant.

 

[Ingledsva]

Genesis 4 -
1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. 2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. [...]

4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. [...]
8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Romans 9:21 - Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

...[SIZE]

I think a little more twisted. LOL!


His Sacrifice wasn't accepted/good enough - so he killed a man.


I think somewhere in this story is the beginnings of Hebrew Sacrifice of the First Born Son.


He is then marked - and sent away - which is what we read happens to the one whom kills the "Sacrifice" which carries all the people's sins, - because he now carries the lone sin of the kill. The mark tells people to keep their distance from him.


*

 

[james bond]

This is silly as is evolution and evolutionists.

Here is more silliness from evos on Cain and Abel.

"One of the most perplexing (and disturbing) of all the stories in the Old Testament is that of Cain and Abel. Now, evidence from an archeological dig in Iraq exposes a dark secret about our ancient ancestors that may offer a new way to look at the ancient legend.

In case you are not familiar with the story know it, it goes like this ...

After Adam and Eve are expelled from the Garden of Eden, they have two sons. The first born, Cain, is ambitious and grows up to pioneer a whole new way of living on the earth by learning to till the soil. Cain is, in essence, the father of agriculture. His younger brother Abel is a simpler man who lives his life as a nomadic shepherd. God appears to favor the younger Abel and in revenge Cain commits the world's first murder. Cain kills Abel.

It is common knowledge that while the Old Testament is indeed highly metaphorical, it does actually track real historical and geological events. The Garden of Eden with its four rivers did, in fact, exist in southern Iraq and the great flood was real (it may have resulted from an asteroid impacting the earth during the Neolithic Age). The 6 days of creation follows fairly closely with evolutionary theory if one takes a more flexible definition of the hebrew word yom (which can be translated as "day" "month" or "age" depending upon context). And so on...

So what about Cain and Abel? Who or what did they represent and what is the significance of the "first murder?"

So here's one theory ... what if Cain & Abel actually represented two closely related species — Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis respectively — both of whom descended from a common "father" Adam, the progenitor of the hominid genus? Cain, the elder (sapiens) murders Abel, the younger (neanderthalensis)."

http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/blogs/cain-and-abel-mystery-solved

Cain and Abel is news about a brother who became angry, jealous and had his pride hurt. God revealed He wanted offerings from humans. For what purpose is not clear. Maybe it was to help those less fortunate. Birth of charity? Anyway, Abel brought the fat of the first born of his flock or the best part of his food. Abel did not bring the best part of his labor as a farmer, assuming he kept the best parts for himself. Thus, God favored Abel's gift, but did not favor Abel's offering. Thus, Cain's reaction. Some interpret this as God favoring blood sacrifice over that of other sacrifice, but I do not think so. He favors the offering which is sincere.

Homo sapiens and homo neaderthalensis came after Noah's Flood. Cain and Abel were ancient people before the flood, so they were quite capable homo sapiens. Aside from the Bible, there is indirect evidence of how Cain and Abel lived.

 

[Sleeppy]

The Law said: "Dying, you do die."

 

[The Emperor of Mankind]

Why did Cain kill his brother Abel in Genesis 4:8?

Plot.

 

[viole]

This is silly as is evolution and evolutionists.

Here is more silliness from evos on Cain and Abel.

"One of the most perplexing (and disturbing) of all the stories in the Old Testament is that of Cain and Abel. Now, evidence from an archeological dig in Iraq exposes a dark secret about our ancient ancestors that may offer a new way to look at the ancient legend.

In case you are not familiar with the story know it, it goes like this ...

After Adam and Eve are expelled from the Garden of Eden, they have two sons. The first born, Cain, is ambitious and grows up to pioneer a whole new way of living on the earth by learning to till the soil. Cain is, in essence, the father of agriculture. His younger brother Abel is a simpler man who lives his life as a nomadic shepherd. God appears to favor the younger Abel and in revenge Cain commits the world's first murder. Cain kills Abel.

It is common knowledge that while the Old Testament is indeed highly metaphorical, it does actually track real historical and geological events. The Garden of Eden with its four rivers did, in fact, exist in southern Iraq

Well, of course, that is where they made it up. I woukd have been more impressed if the garden of Eden corresponds to central Switzerland.

and the great flood was real (it may have resulted from an asteroid impacting the earth during the Neolithic Age). The 6 days of creation follows fairly closely with evolutionary theory if one takes a more flexible definition of the hebrew word yom (which can be translated as "day" "month" or "age" depending upon context). And so on...

Yes, plug in your interpretation. Everything goes.

So what about Cain and Abel? Who or what did they represent and what is the significance of the "first murder?"

So here's one theory ... what if Cain & Abel actually represented two closely related species — Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis respectively — both of whom descended from a common "father" Adam, the progenitor of the hominid genus? Cain, the elder (sapiens) murders Abel, the younger (neanderthalensis)."

So, Adam was a saelhanthropus? I don't know you, but if I had to create someone im my image, I would try not to make him look like a saehlanthropus.

http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/blogs/cain-and-abel-mystery-solved

Cool.

Cain and Abel is news about a brother who became angry, jealous and had his pride hurt. God revealed He wanted offerings from humans. For what purpose is not clear. Maybe it was to help those less fortunate.

What less fortunate? There were about four people at that time. And, by necessity, some engaged in sex with their mother. The only female around. Maybe her name was Lucy, who can say?

Birth of charity? Anyway, Abel brought the fat of the first born of his flock or the best part of his food. Abel did not bring the best part of his labor as a farmer, assuming he kept the best parts for himself. Thus, God favored Abel's gift, but did not favor Abel's offering. Thus, Cain's reaction. Some interpret this as God favoring blood sacrifice over that of other sacrifice, but I do not think so. He favors the offering which is sincere.

What?

Homo sapiens and homo neaderthalensis came after Noah's Flood. Cain and Abel were ancient people before the flood, so they were quite capable homo sapiens. Aside from the Bible, there is indirect evidence of how Cain and Abel lived.

What? So Abel was not a neaderthaler, after all. Neanderthaler magically appeared after the flood, for some reason. Maybe Noah had too much of that wine.

Do you have any idea how ridiculous all this is? i mean, if you start mixing anthropology with religious beliefs, in order to explain absurdities, without even trying to be consistent, that is the result you obtain.

Ciao

- viole

 

[The_Fisher_King]

Why did Cain (p) kill his brother Abel? Because Cain and Abel were in conflict over land.

 

[Cateau]

Because Cain and Abel is an interesting story.

I have tried to explain jealousy in humans, both from a scientific and religious perspective.

Have u read Richard Dawkins The Selfish Gene? Sounds like you both could go for some tea and crumpets lol

 

[Thief]

Therefore, is it natural for a JEALOUS individual to try and DEPRIVE another person of something; which he himself aspired to have, but could never achieve?

Therefore, is it natural for a JEALOUS individual to try and DESTROY another person for something which they both wanted; which he himself aspired to have, but could never achieve?

is it not written?.....God is a jealous god

 

[djhwoodwerks]

What less fortunate? There were about four people at that time. And, by necessity, some engaged in sex with their mother. The only female around. Maybe her name was Lucy, who can say?

There were more than 4 people at that time,

Genesis 4:14 (ESV Strong's) 14 Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”

Did he mean just Adam or Eve?

 

[Neo Deist]

Why did Cain kill Abel?

Because that is how the story was written.

 

[Cateau]

There were more than 4 people at that time,

Genesis 4:14 (ESV Strong's) 14 Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”

Did he mean just Adam or Eve?

I refute that theory any pastor who preaches that I wince at, just like when they say hell is eternal......it's not. I mean even Einstein married his cousin something's were done more from custom than nessessity. Supposedly Cain's first wife, and he had two, was of African orgin so the earth out of the garden must have already been populated, the four of them were just quarantined from sin lol. But that Cain was evil is said that Lucy was a Lucifer as he may have slept with Eve to produce the bad apple, kill the good one and stop the Messiah from redeeming humanity.