Cain And Abel Exegesis

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Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-16) There are no distinctive differences, causing any change of interpretation in the story of Cain and Abel, from the NRSV, KJV, and NIV bibles. There are a few different styles of wording, but no changes in mean, which causes a change on connotation. Later in Genesis (4:25) Adam and Eve bare another son, Seth, which changed my initial thought on how special and important Abel was as a son. Seeing how Abel was later replaced after being murdered, and his brother Cain being banished, kind of made me think that they were not ultimately the important children of Adam and Eve. They were the trial run, and Seth was the perfected product; the basis of human kind. Of all the lines, quotes, and phrases in this parable, Cain’s response to the Lord “My punishment is more than I can bear”, doesn’t seem quiet fitting to me, in any of the translations. He murdered is younger brother, his only sibling, out of jealousy and rage caused by—what he believes to be unfair—favoritism of the Lord. Murder! A thing which has never happened and has never been heard of up until this point of existence. Yet, he believes he can not bear the punishment God bestowed upon him, for he fears no longer having God’s watchful eye on him anymore, and he fears being killed by the others of the world. If he couldn’t bear the punishment because he would be forced to continue living, alone, and with the guilt of what he did, it would be reasonable for him to be unable to bear it. But that is not the way he sees his punishment. He is being removed from paradise because he himself defiled it and he fears death. The very thing he caused his brother to go through. To top this off, he acts shocked that he is somewhat expected to be his “brothers keeper”. The eldest of sons are looked higher upon because they are the

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