1._And Adam knew his wife Eve_. Moses now begins to describe the propagation of mankind; in which history it is important to notice that this benediction of God, “Increase and multiply,” was not abolished by sin; and not only so, but that the heart of Adam was divinely confirmed so that he did not s... [ Continue Reading ]
2._And she again bare his brother Abel _(226) It is well known whence the name of Cain is deduced, and for what reason it was given to him. For his mother said, קניתי (_kaniti_,) I have gotten a man; and therefore she called his name Cain. (227) The same explanation is not given with respect to Abel... [ Continue Reading ]
4._And the Lord had respect unto Abel, etc_. God is said to have respect unto the man to whom he vouchsafes his favor. We must, however, notice the order here observed by Moses; for he does not simply state that the _worship _which Abel had paid was pleasing to God, but he begins with the _person _o... [ Continue Reading ]
5._But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect_. It is not to be doubted, that Cain conducted himself as hypocrites are accustomed to do; namely, that he wished to appease God, as one discharging a debt, by external sacrifices, without the least intention of dedicating himself to God. But t... [ Continue Reading ]
6._And the Lord said unto Cain_. God now proceeds against Cain himself, and cites him to His tribunal, that the wretched man may understand that his rage can profit him nothing. He wishes honor to be given him for his sacrifices; but because he does not obtain it, he is furiously angry. Meanwhile, h... [ Continue Reading ]
7._If thou does well_. In these words God reproves Cain for having been unjustly angry, inasmuch as the blame of the whole evil lay with himself. For foolish indeed was his complaint and indignation at the rejection of sacrifices, the defects of which he had taken no care to amend. Thus all wicked m... [ Continue Reading ]
8._And Cain talked with Abel his brother_. Some understand this conversation to have been general; as if Cain, perfidiously dissembling his anger, spoke in a fraternal manner. Jerome relates the language used, ‘Come, let us go without.’ (241) In my opinion the speech is elliptical, and something is... [ Continue Reading ]
9._Where is Abel ? _They who suppose that the father made this inquiry of Cain respecting his son Abel, enervate the whole force of the instruction which Moses here intended to deliver; namely, that God, both by secret inspiration, and by some extraordinary method, cited the parricide (242) to his t... [ Continue Reading ]
10._What hast thou done ? The voice of thy brother’s blood _Moses shows that Cain gained nothing by his tergiversation. God first inquired where his brother was; he now more closely urges him, in order to extort an unwilling confession of his guilt; for in no racks or tortures of any kind is there s... [ Continue Reading ]
11._And now art thou cursed from the earth_. Cain, having been convicted of the crime, judgment is now pronounced against him. And first, God constitutes the earth the minister of his vengeance, as having been polluted by the impious and horrible parricide: as if he had said, ‘Thou didst just now de... [ Continue Reading ]
12._When thou tillest the ground_. This verse is the exposition of the former; for it expresses more clearly what is meant by being cursed _from _the earth, namely, that the earth defrauds its cultivators of the fruit of their toil. Should any one object that this punishment had before been alike in... [ Continue Reading ]
13._My punishment is greater, etc_. Nearly all commentators agree that this is the language of desperation; because Cain, confounded by the judgment of God, had no remaining hope of pardon. And this, indeed, is true, that the reprobate are never conscious of their evils, till a ruin, from which they... [ Continue Reading ]
14._Every one that findeth me_. Since he is no longer covered by the protection of God, he concludes that he shall be exposed to injury and violence from all men. And he reasons justly; for the hand of God alone marvelously preserves us amid so many dangers. And they have spoken prudently who have s... [ Continue Reading ]
15._Therefore, whosoever slayeth Cain_. They who think that it was Cain’s wish to perish immediately by one death, in order that he might not be agitated by continual dangers, and that the prolongation of his life was granted him only as a punishment, have no reason, that I can see, for thus speakin... [ Continue Reading ]
16._And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord_. Cain is said to have departed from the presence of God, because, whereas he had hitherto lived in the earth as in an abode belonging to God, now, like an exile removed far from God’s sight, he wanders beyond the limits of His protection. Or certa... [ Continue Reading ]
17._And Cain knew his wife_. From the context we may gather that Cain, before he slew his brother, had married a wife; otherwise Moses would now have related something respecting his marriage; because it would be a fact worthy to be recorded, that any one of his sisters could be found, who would not... [ Continue Reading ]
19._And Lamech took unto him two wives_. We have here the origin of polygamy in a perverse and degenerate race; and the first author of it, a cruel man, destitute of all humanity. Whether he had been impelled by an immoderate desire of augmenting his own family, as proud and ambitious men are wont t... [ Continue Reading ]
20._Jabal; he was the father of such as dwell in tents_. Moses now relates that, with the evils which proceeded from the family of Cain, some good had been blended. For the invention of arts, and of other things which serve to the common use and convenience of life, is a gift of God by no means to b... [ Continue Reading ]
23._Hear my voice, ye wives of Lamech_. The intention of Moses is to describe the ferocity of this man, who was, however, the fifth in descent from the fratricide Cain, in order to teach us, that, so far from being terrified by the example of divine judgment which he had seen in his ancestor, he was... [ Continue Reading ]
24._Cain shall be avenged sevenfold_. It is not my intention to relate the ravings or the dreams of every writer, nor would I have the reader to expect this from me; here and there I allude to them, though sparingly, especially if there be any color of deception; that readers, being often admonished... [ Continue Reading ]
25._Adam knew his wife again_. Some hence infer that our first parents were entirely deprived of their offspring when one of their sons had been slain, and the other was cast far away into banishment. But it is utterly incredible that, when the benediction of God in the propagation of mankind was in... [ Continue Reading ]
26._Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord_. In the verb ‘to call upon,’ there is a _synecdochee_, for it embraces generally the whole worship of God. But religion is here properly designated by that which forms its principal part. For God prefers this service of piety and faith to all sac... [ Continue Reading ]