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The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 4:1-15
The first brothers. I. THE BROTHERS AT HOME. 1. The first home. Of Divine appointment, and among the choicest blessings that have survived the fall, homes are designed for— 2. A pious home. Its locality, though outside…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 4:1-8
The kingdom of God. Another "genesis" is now described, that of sinful society, which prepares the way for the description of the rising kingdom of God. I. THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORAL EVIL IS CONTEMPORANEOUS WITH HUMAN SOC…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 4:1
Exiled from Eden, o'er, canopied by grace, animated by hope, assured of the Divine forgiveness, and filled with a sweet peace, the first pair enter on their life experience of labor and sorrow, and the human race begins…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 4:1-16
EXPOSITION
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 4:2
And she again bare (literally, added to bear, a Hebraism adopted in the New Testament; vide Luke 20:11) his brother Abel. Habel (vanity), supposed to hint either that a mother's eager hopes had already begun to be disap…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 4:3-5
Here we have, I. The devotions of Cain and Abel. In process of time, when they had made some improvement in their respective callings (Heb. At the end of days, either at the end of the year, when they kept their feast o…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 4:3
And in process of time. Literally, at the end of the days, i.e.— 1. Of the year (Aben Ezra, Dathe, De Wette, Rosenmüller, Bohlen), at which season the feast of the ingathering was afterwards kept—Exodus 23:16 (Bush). Ar…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 4:4
And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock. Either the firstborn, which God afterwards demanded (Exodus 13:12), or the choicest and best (Job 18:13; Jeremiah 31:19; Hebrews 12:23). And the fat thereof. Lit…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 4:5
But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. Because of the absence of those qualities which distinguished Abel and his offering; not because the heart of Cain was "no more pure," but "imbued with a criminal pr…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 4:6-7
God is here reasoning with Cain, to convince him of the sin and folly of his anger and discontent, and to bring him into a good temper again, that further mischief might be prevented. It is an instance of God's patience…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 4:8-15
Malice in the heart ends in murder by the hands. Cain slew Abel, his own brother, his own mother's son, whom he ought to have loved; his younger brother, whom he ought to have protected; a good brother, who had never do…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 4:8
We have here the progress of Cain's anger, and the issue of it in Abel's murder, which may be considered two ways:— I. As Cain's sin; and a scarlet, crimson, sin it was, a sin of the first magnitude, a sin against the l…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 4:8
And Cain talked with (literally, said to) his brother. διε ì λθωμεν εἰ ς τοÌ πεδιì ον (LXX.); egrediamur foras (Vulgate). The Samaritan and Syriac versions interpolate to the same effect. The Jerusalem Targum explains—…
Cain's Punishment. (b. c. 3875.)
CAIN'S PUNISHMENT. (B. C. 3875.) We have here a full account of the trial and condemnation of the first murderer. Civil courts of judicature not being yet erected for this purpose, as they were afterwards (Genesis 9:6),…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 4:9
And the Lord said unto Cain. "Probably soon after the event, at the next time of sacrifice, and at the usual place of offering" (Bonar). Where is Abel thy brother? "A question fitted to go straight to the murderer's con…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 4:9
Am I my brother's keeper? I. The world says, No! 1. Every man's brother ought to keep himself. 2. If a men's brother cannot keep himself, he deserves to perish. 3. No man's brother will be at the trouble to keep him. 4.…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 4:9-15
The condemnation and judgment of the first murderer. Notice— I. The Divine APPEAL TO CONSCIENCE, affording opportunity to repentance and confession, and therefore to the exercise of mercy. II. THE BLINDING EFFECT OF A G…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 4:9
Care for our brethren. How terrible this question to the murderer! He thought, perhaps, his act was hidden, and strove to put it out of mind. Perhaps did not anticipate effect of his stroke; but now brought face to face…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 4:10
Satisfied that the guilty fratricide is resolved to make no acknowledgment of his deed, the omniscient Judge proceeds to charge him with his sin. And he—i.e. Jehovah—said, What hast thou done? Thus intimating his perfec…
Cain's Complaint. (b. c. 3875.)
CAIN'S COMPLAINT. (B. C. 3875.) We have here a further account of the proceedings against Cain. I. Here is Cain's complaint of the sentence passed upon him, as hard and severe. Some make him to speak the language of des…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 4:15
The condemned fratricide's apprehensions were allayed by a special act of grace. And the Lord said unto him, Therefore (the LXX; Symm; Theodotion, Vulgate, Syriac, Dathius, translate Not so— οὐ χ οὐ ì τως, nequaquam,…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 4:16-18
Cain cast off all fear of God, and attended no more on God's ordinances. Hypocritical professors, who dissemble and trifle with God, are justly left to themselves to do something grossly scandalous. So they throw off th…
The Family of Cain. (b. c. 3875.)
THE FAMILY OF CAIN. (B. C. 3875.) We have here a further account of Cain, and what became of him after he was rejected of God. I. He tamely submitted to that part of his sentence by which he was hidden from God's face;…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 4:16
And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord. Not simply ended his interview and prepared to emigrate from the abode of his youth (Kalisch); but, more especially, withdrew from the neighborhood of the cherubim (vide…