Ccel: Genesis 4
Ge 4.1 Cain Submitted by PigSP on Sat, 2015-04-25 21:50.
Ge 4:1 ¶ And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
knew - the same word as "knowing good and evil" It is used for the union of a man and a woman. But the man Christ Jesus married both the prostitute and the virgin. The church has a dual nature. We are still the prostitute in our sin, and we are the virgin bride made Holy by the blood of Christ. To some Jesus says "I never knew you" or "I was never married to you" and they show no evidence of the fruit of the Spirit or of multiplying by making disciples.
את In the rules of Rabbi Eliezer:
"Extension: The particles “et” את, “gam”, and “af”, which are superfluous indicate that something which is not explicitly stated must be regarded as included in the passage under consideration, or that some teaching is implied thereby. "
את occurs once with Cain and twice with Abel. From this the Rabbis discern that Cain had a twin sister, and Abel was a triplet. We can put to rest the Greek question of where Cain got his wife.
gotten a man from the LORD איש את יהוה - The literal says man Yahweh with את in between. We translated את as 'eternal' in Ge 1:1. So Eve said "I have gotten man the eternal God" (a hint of the birth of Christ). Remember that we are not reading the literal with this, but looking at the hidden pictures of Christ.
There is much discussion about sex before the fall, however since it is not mentioned, Eve becomes a shadow of the Virgin mother, and Cain becomes a shadow of Christ. Greek typology is concerned with the character of the type. Hebrew prophetic riddle is concerned with the word play.
Cain קין - means 'possessor' and 'spear'. Consider:
Isa 53:5 But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
The spear represents our sin. The word pierced חלל also means 'profane'. Jesus was the possesor of our sin/spear.
4.2 The lamb Submitted by PigSP on Sun, 2015-04-26 06:01.
Ge 4:2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Why did Abel keep sheep? What were Abel's career options? He could choose to live under the curse placed on Adam, and eat bread by the sweat of his brow, like Cain. Instead he chose to raise sheep and apparently live off their milk, since man was not yet permitted to eat meat.
Abel's raising of sheep, coupled with the meaning of the word 'amar' אמר as "word, said, lamb", suggests that when God killed an animal to cover the sin of Adam and Eve, that it was a lamb. They knew from the word amar that the death was a picture of the creator dying in their stead.
Clothing Where did Cain an Abel get their clothes? Cain had a garden and could make clothing from vegetable material and Abel could make clothes out of wool or skin. Their options of clothing reflect the clothing in the garden. The fig leaves were insufficient to cover their nakedness. Abel had a sense of his nakedness that could only be covered with clothing similar to that made by God.
The body of the animal What happened to the body of the animal that God used to make skins for Adam? It is not mentioned in the text. Figuratively, if not historically, God took it. When it came time to kill the animal, Abel had sufficient knowledge to mimic the first sacrifice. He would kill the lamb, and give the body to God through the burnt offering and use the skins for clothing to cover his nakedness. Abel had a desire to go to the garden he had never seen, because his parents told of their walk with God there and he desired it.
The righteousness of Abel Abel has a sense of nakedness that could only be covered with skin (holiness). He chose not to live under the curse, claiming a citizenship in the garden, and sought to return there.
Cain, represents Christ as he prepared the earth for his own death (the seed must die and be planted).
4.3 Cain's offering Submitted by PigSP on Sun, 2015-04-26 06:17.
Ge 4:3 ¶ And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
the end of days מקץ ימים (in process of time) מקץ mqets 'end'. The letters mean: from מ the Son of God's death ק holiness and grace were reconciled through his death ץ.
days Compare days ימים to waters מים. Previously waters were described as creation surrounded by the Father and the Son. Now days can be said to be 'Yah's waters'.
fruit of the ground Cain's offering consisted of things produced under the curse. How can anything produced under the curse please God? Jesus did many good works in the flesh, but they were insufficient to restore man to God. He still had to die, for "without the shedding of blood, there is not forgiveness of sin."
4.4 Abel's offering Submitted by PigSP on Sun, 2015-04-26 07:16.
Ge 4:4 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:
firstlings בכרות firstfruits בכורי Some speculate that Abel's sacrifice was acceptable to God because it was his best lamb. There is no sense of 'best' in firstlings or firstfruits. No one ever waited until the end of harvest to see which fruit was best. It was the first.
Why is the first important to God? It is an act to acknowledge that the increase was produced by God. Man can do the work of planting the garden or capturing the sheep and domesticating it, but there is no guarantee of increase. The first act of harvest is to acknowledge God as God.
It is an act of faith. There is no guarantee that after you have offered the first, that calamity won't strike and wipe out the harvest, or the sheep may die before producing again. The offering of the firstling or firstfruit indicates that He who began the work (God) will complete it.
Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:
The letters and gates (2-letter sub-roots) within the word tell us much: ב - a revelation to man כ - The Son of God incarnate ר - revealed ו - and made distinct ת - for God's ultimate purpose
בכ - in you כר - new lamb
כור - (divide the lamb) furnace. The furnace is the place where the lamb כר is divided ו בכר - firstborn
fat חלב The word for fat and milk are the same. ח - life (understanding) ל - by teaching (the shared heart) ב - revealed to man
respect ישע Scoffers think there is a contradiction here since God is not a respecter of persons, yet he respected Abel. The word means 'saved' see H3467 in Jdg 3:31, 1Sa 23:5, etc. God saved Abel.
4.5-7 Gethsemane Submitted by PigSP on Sun, 2015-04-26 08:14.
Ge 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. Ge 4:6 ¶ And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? Ge 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee [shall be] his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Having been taught by Greeks we are uncomfortable with Cain being a type of Christ, but see how the word develops the prophetic riddle:
no respect Abel was 'saved' and Cain was not saved. Christ, at Gethsemane, asked for the cup to be removed, and he was not saved.
wroth The word is translated 'kindled' 44 times, which means to prepare a fire. In Gethsemane, Christ is preparing to become the burnt offering.
countence fell The word for countenance is 'surface'. The surface of Christ fell. Lu 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
shin שׁ and sin שְׂ These are the same letter but notice the dot shifts from the right side to the left and it is pronounced differently. If you pronounced it wrong, people would still know what you were talking about, but it may cost you your life.
שְׂאת se'eth means to be exalted, or lifted up שׁאת sheth means desolation
How can they mean such different things when they are spelled identically? The underlying metaphor is that the Word descends to man, and returns fruitful.
At the cross Christ was made desolate; fruitless in his death as he was lifted up on the cross, and then fruitful in resurrection as he rose from the grave and ascended to heaven.
How can the difference cost you your life? Shibboleth שבלת - Flowing field of grain Sibboleth סבלת (pronounced the same as שבלת using the other form) - A single grain of wheat
If you say Christ died in vain and is desolate, you die. If you say he was fruitful in death, you live. See Judges 12:6.
Gethsemane In these last moments before tearing the veil of the temple, sin still tempts Jesus, (crouched at the door). Christ prayed long and hard about the cross, and some of his words are recorded for us. We hear the Father's encourage him toward the cross in these words "If you do right, won't you be lifted up?".
4.8-11 The picture of the cross Submitted by PigSP on Sun, 2015-04-26 14:12.
Ge 4:8 ¶ 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. Ge 4:9 ¶ And the LORD said unto Cain, Where [is] Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: [Am] I my brother’s keeper? Ge 4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. Ge 4:11 And now [art] thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;
rose up With Cain representing Christ, and Abel representing Christ, when Cain slew Abel, it is a picture of Christ laying down his own life. Cain was 'raised up' and Christ was raised on the cross.
I know not [where he is] Cain, representing Christ in the flesh, indicates the kenosis. Because Christ has closed his eyes to omniscience, he doesn't know his divine side.
keeper שמר The reputation (name) שמ of the revelation ר. "Aren't I the reputation of the revelation of God?"
What hast thou done? The word done is first used in Ge 1.7 when God 'made' the firmament, and divided the waters. It implies a yield as in "What have you accomplished?"
Life is in the blood The life of Christ cries out from his death. This is a resurrection picture.
cursed from the earth Christ is hated in the earth Joh 7:7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. Joh 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
the earth opened her mouth La 2:16 All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hiss and gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed her up: certainly this is the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen it. The carnal mind (earth) is enmity with God. The world was at war with God at the cross.
4.12 strangers, sojourners Submitted by PigSP on Sun, 2015-04-26 14:17.
Ge 4:12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
When Cain (as Christ in the flesh) will have no more earthly work. The fugitive and vagabond become the earthly symbol of Christ.
Mt 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Heb 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
4.13-15 Crucify Christ again Submitted by PigSP on Sun, 2015-04-26 14:25.
Ge 4:13 ¶ And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment [is] greater than I can bear. Ge 4:14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, [that] every one that findeth me shall slay me. Ge 4:15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
As Cain represents Christ, the warning against slaying Cain becomes a warning about crucifying Christ a second time.
sevenfold - completely
The most severe warnings are against those who would crucify Christ again:
Heb 6:4 For [it is] impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put [him] to an open shame.
4.16 Christ went to anothe rplace Submitted by PigSP on Sun, 2015-04-26 14:34.
Ge 4:16 ¶ And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
land of Nod Land of moving to and fro (recall how the Spirit fluttered over the waters)
east of Eden Previously we saw east was eternity, and Eden was filthy time.
Christ returned to the eternities.
The genealogies of Cain and Seth Submitted by PigSP on Sun, 2015-04-26 14:49.
Compare the seven generations of Cain to the ten generations of Seth:
Cain Enoch Irad Mehujael Methusael Lamech Jabal - Jubal & TubalCain
Seth Enos Cainan Mahalaleel Enoch Jared Methusalah Lamech Noah Shem, Ham, Japheth
As you read the genealogies, the form is different. It is obvious that the children of Seth 'lived'. How many times is it repeated?
And the children of Cain did not live. 'Live' is not mentioned once. In the language of riddle, we may say they died, or even "they are fallen".
Two names, although they are different people, occur in each genealogy; Enoch, and Lamech.
Enoch was taken to heaven without death. We might say "He is".
And Lamech means 'power'. If Lamech represents Christ, we could say that since Christ has not yet come in power, "Lamech is to come..."
Each name, in both genealogies, represents Christ. In Cain's genealogy, there is only one animal or beast.
Now compare your observation with Rev 17.10-11 and enjoy the riddle. We are parsing the hidden pictures of Christ. If Revelation is to be read literally, then there is a different literal meaning. It would be too much to engage in Rev 17 in this Genesis study.
In one day Submitted by PigSP on Sun, 2015-04-26 15:26.
Ge 4:25 ¶ And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, [said she], hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. Ge 4:26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.
Seth replaced Abel, and in the narrative is Christ in resurrection. His genealogy indicates that Christ in resurrection was fruitful with living children. (See how many times 'lived' is repeated.)
In the time of Enos, the child of Seth, "men to call upon the name of the LORD" like Abel did. They have become 'like' Christ just as the bride is 'like' Christ.
This finishes the narrative which began in Ch 2. Adam and Eve represent the desolate man (Christ) and his unfaithful bride. Cain and Abel give us the picture of the cross, and Seth and family show us Christ in resurrection. This is the picture that shows why God only man man in his image on Day 6. Christ is the express image of God. His bride is made to be like him.
Now we are told that the picture is complete, and God made man in his likeness (having obtained the bride):
Ge 5:1 ¶ This [is] the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
This narrative from ch 2-5 corresponds to Day 1 of creation; The first picture of Christ.
