†. Gen 4:3-4a . . In the course of time, Cain brought an offering to
the Lord from the fruit of the soil; and Abel, for his part, brought the
choicest of the firstlings of his flock.
It's evident from Heb 11:4 that what's taking place here was a legitimate
part of a God-given religion.
It's commonly assumed that Abel's offering was slain; but there isn't enough
evidence in this section to support it. Noah's offerings were obviously slain
because they're listed as burnt on an altar (Gen 8:20). But Abel's offering is
not said to end up the same way.[/size][/font]
FAQ: How did Abel get the fat out of his animal without killing it?
A: The Hebrew word for "fat" is somewhat ambiguous. It can mean fleshy
material, and it can also refer to prosperity, abundance, and/or the best of
the best; for example:
"Take your father and your households and come to me, and I will give you
the best of the land of Egypt and you shall eat the fat of the land." (Gen
45:18)
This all tells me that Abel not only offered an animal from among his blue
ribbon stock, but he picked out the choicest one of them all.
There's no indication in this scene suggesting their oblations were sacrifices
for sin. The Hebrew word for their offerings is from minchah (min-khaw')
and means: to apportion, i.e. bestow; a donation; euphemistically, tribute;
specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary).
Since the offerings were minchah type offerings— essentially gifts and/or
tributes rather than atonements —it would be unwise to insist Abel slew his
firstling and/or burned it to ashes. In point of fact, holocaust offerings go by
the name of 'olah (o-law') instead of minchah; for example Gen 22:2.
Ancient Jews believed the brothers' offerings to be a "first fruits" kind of
oblation.
T. And it was at the end of days, on the fourteenth of Nisan, that Kain
brought of the produce of the earth, the seed of cotton (or line), an oblation
of first things before the Lord; and Habel brought of the firstlings of the
flock. (Targum Jonathan)
Seeing as how Cain was a farmer, then in his case, an amount of produce
was the appropriate first fruits offering, and seeing as how Abel was an
animal husbandman, then in his case a head of livestock was the appropriate
first fruits offering.
I think it's safe to assume the brothers were no longer boys, but rather,
responsible men in this particular scene because God is going to treat them
that way.
This incident is not said to be the very first time they brought gifts to God.
The brothers (and very likely their parents too), probably had been bringing
gifts for many years; ever since they were kids. And up to this point,
apparently both men were doing everything right and God was just as much
pleased with Cain and his gifts as He was with Abel and his gifts.
†. Gen 4:4b-5a . .The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on
Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.
Now, assuming for the moment that Cain's offering was correct; then why
didn't God accept it? Well; before God snubbed Cain's offering, He first
snubbed Cain. The reason given for Cain's rejection is an elephant in the
middle of the room that quite a few Bible students seem content to ignore.
Cont.
/
the Lord from the fruit of the soil; and Abel, for his part, brought the
choicest of the firstlings of his flock.
It's evident from Heb 11:4 that what's taking place here was a legitimate
part of a God-given religion.
It's commonly assumed that Abel's offering was slain; but there isn't enough
evidence in this section to support it. Noah's offerings were obviously slain
because they're listed as burnt on an altar (Gen 8:20). But Abel's offering is
not said to end up the same way.[/size][/font]
FAQ: How did Abel get the fat out of his animal without killing it?
A: The Hebrew word for "fat" is somewhat ambiguous. It can mean fleshy
material, and it can also refer to prosperity, abundance, and/or the best of
the best; for example:
"Take your father and your households and come to me, and I will give you
the best of the land of Egypt and you shall eat the fat of the land." (Gen
45:18)
This all tells me that Abel not only offered an animal from among his blue
ribbon stock, but he picked out the choicest one of them all.
There's no indication in this scene suggesting their oblations were sacrifices
for sin. The Hebrew word for their offerings is from minchah (min-khaw')
and means: to apportion, i.e. bestow; a donation; euphemistically, tribute;
specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary).
Since the offerings were minchah type offerings— essentially gifts and/or
tributes rather than atonements —it would be unwise to insist Abel slew his
firstling and/or burned it to ashes. In point of fact, holocaust offerings go by
the name of 'olah (o-law') instead of minchah; for example Gen 22:2.
Ancient Jews believed the brothers' offerings to be a "first fruits" kind of
oblation.
T. And it was at the end of days, on the fourteenth of Nisan, that Kain
brought of the produce of the earth, the seed of cotton (or line), an oblation
of first things before the Lord; and Habel brought of the firstlings of the
flock. (Targum Jonathan)
Seeing as how Cain was a farmer, then in his case, an amount of produce
was the appropriate first fruits offering, and seeing as how Abel was an
animal husbandman, then in his case a head of livestock was the appropriate
first fruits offering.
I think it's safe to assume the brothers were no longer boys, but rather,
responsible men in this particular scene because God is going to treat them
that way.
This incident is not said to be the very first time they brought gifts to God.
The brothers (and very likely their parents too), probably had been bringing
gifts for many years; ever since they were kids. And up to this point,
apparently both men were doing everything right and God was just as much
pleased with Cain and his gifts as He was with Abel and his gifts.
†. Gen 4:4b-5a . .The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on
Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.
Now, assuming for the moment that Cain's offering was correct; then why
didn't God accept it? Well; before God snubbed Cain's offering, He first
snubbed Cain. The reason given for Cain's rejection is an elephant in the
middle of the room that quite a few Bible students seem content to ignore.
Cont.
/
