Genesis 4 holds (perhaps) the first homicide case. The plot plainly describe that Cain offered plantation to GOD, and Abel offer firstling of the flocks to GOD. GOD had chosen Abel’s offering. Cain got mad, but GOD has previously warned Cain, and however, Cain killed Abel, who happened to be his younger brother. A deeper look through previous chapters will reveal many facts that will enrich the plot.
The Setup
Genesis 1, GOD has created the earth and sky objects. Genesis 2, GOD has prepared the garden in the east of Eden and placed the very first Man and Woman, who GOD created. Genesis 3, Man and Woman have fallen into sin by directly disobeying GOD and choose to follow the snake (indicated as evil).
Genesis 3 : 17 GOD put the curse on the ground, and with sorrow (KJV, Young’s Literal Translation, LITV | Jay P Green Literal Translation), toil (Amplified, ASV, NASB, NIV), struggle to scratch a living (NLT), and painful (Message), the human will eat from anything produced by the ground
Genesis 3 : 18 introducing the presence of thorns and thistles, will be grown from the ground, and the food for human is the vegetation from the ground
Genesis 3 : 19 human will eat bread with sweat until die
Genesis 3 : 21 the first thing, GOD physically puts down HIS hand to kill animal and make clothes from animal skin to cover human.
Genesis 3 : 24 GOD drove the man and woman out of Eden. GOD placed Cherubim, with the flaming fiery sword, at the east of Eden (refer to Genesis 2 : 8, GOD planted the garden in the east of Eden and placed the man there). There was a place called Eden. At the eastern part, GOD planted a garden and placed the Man (Genesis 2 : 8). Then the man was cast out from Eden (Genesis 3 : 23). GOD put guardian at the eastern part of the Eden (Genesis 3 : 24). Hypothetically assumed, that the Man and Woman was use the eastern part of the Eden as the exit, and at the exit point, GOD put guardian. No text in the Bible indicating the northern, southern, and western part of the Eden.
Genesis 2 : 10 states that a river went out from Eden, become 4 heads, to water the garden:
- Pison goes to Havilah. The place of gold, bdelium, onyx
- Gihon goes to Ethiopia
- Hidekel (Tigris) goes to East Assyria
- Euphrates
Many works regarding exact place of Eden has been in controversies involving inter-disciplinary scholars. Does Eden refers to the inter-dimensional time space relative to human, also unknown. After big flood of Noah, the where about of Eden may be assumed buried in the ocean.
Cain
Genesis 4 : 1 states the birth of Cain, whose parents was Adam and Eve. Knowing the story from his parents, in Genesis 1 : 29, that fruit of tree will be human’s meat, Cain worked tilled the ground to produce fruit for eat.
Genesis 4 : 3 states that Cain brought the food as offering for GOD.
Genesis 4 : 5 states that Cain’s offering was refused by GOD and has made Cain angry.
Genesis 4 : 6 to 7 states that GOD communicate to Cain. GOD mentioned through question that if Cain was doing well, surely will be an acceptance. GOD also mentioned the warning regarding the craving of sin on Cain, and Cain must ruled over sin.
Genesis 4 : 8 states that Cain chose to kill his younger brother, Abel
Genesis 4 : 9 states the typical question asked by GOD, "where", which elusively does not relate with the spatial geographical location (latitude, longitude, altitude) of Earth in its space-time continuum. The "where" question asked by GOD to Cain was directed to Cain’s logical where about, which has made Cain realized that Cain (as the firstlings and oldest son in the family) should be the brother’s keeper, the one who cares to his own younger brother, as later replied to GOD.
Genesis 4 : 11 to 12 states the curse for Cain as lifetime punishment by GOD. Cain will not be able to bring forth fruits from tree on the land he will work, but Cain will be the wanderer from land to land.
Genesis 4 : 13 to 14 states the acceptance of punishment by Cain. Cain knew that Cain was cast out from the land, from the presence of GOD, and Cain realize that every person he will encounter will try to annihilate him. Therefore Cain made his own defend to GOD.
Genesis 4 : 15 states GOD agree to Cain’s defendant and put a mark on Cain as a warning that will be avenged sevenfold to those who kill Cain.
Genesis 4 : 16 states that Cain went away from GOD and dwell at Nod, the east of Eden. No text in the Bible describe anything regarding north, south, and west of Eden.
Abel
Genesis 4 : 2 states that after Cain, Adam and Eve bore again Abel. Cain job was farmer (tiller of the ground), and Abel was shepherd.
Genesis 4 : 4 states that Abel brought firstlings of the flock together with the fat. GOD respected Abel’s offering.
Genesis 4 : 8 Abel was killed by Cain
Genesis 4 : 10 Abel’s blood cried to GOD.
Mysteries
The true reason why GOD refused Cain offering has remained a mystery. The Bible only stated that Cain was not doing well enough (Genesis 4 : 7). Cain perceived the command of GOD to grow vegetation that will later produce fruits as the food that will become the meat for human.
After the fall of Man and Woman, GOD showed that the sacrifice is needed for covering sin, displayed by GOD sacrificing animal to take the skin for covering the naked Adam and Eve. GOD likes sacrifices, this was perceived by Abel, that do the work as shepherd.
Experience indicates that Sunkist Oranges, bought with the label "Last Lane" is the best of all, "Last Lane" is the latest lane where the Sunkist oranges were picked up from the tree. The Bible does not indicate in detail regarding Cain’s offering, what kind of fruits, taken from what kind of tree, the Bible only indicates that whatever Cain did, not well enough. Cain made offering to GOD from the work of his hand as farmer. The work that Cain did bear fruit from the cursed ground. What Cain probably thought was that the successful work that Cain did has bear fruit, and that was offered to GOD. Perhaps, hypothetically assumed, GOD did not want the Cain sacrifice because of it comes from the cursed ground, like offering the fruit of the cursed back to the creator. If so, Cain has no other choice to offer the works of his hand, because Cain was a farmer. In the end, the Bible only indicates that Cain was not do well enough. Comparing with the offering of Abel, Bible did not indicate that offering from Cain is the firstlings.
When the parents, Adam and Eve, told the story of creation (assumed that the story told as the one written in the Bible, additional information was regarded), to Cain and Abel. Abel perceived that GOD loves animal sacrifice, and the sacrifice is to covering the effect of sin. Therefore (assumed) Abel chose to become shepherd. The offering of Abel, according to the Bible, were the firstlings and fatty. GOD loves it, as the Bible indicates. Indication perceived from the Bible (although it was not clearly written) was that Abel firstlings were all born normal and all fatty. None even one of them was born defective.
Conclusion
Regardless the matter of what kind of fruit that Cain brought before GOD as offering, GOD said to Cain that what Cain did was not well enough. Bible only indicates that Abel brings the firstlings and fatty offering in comparison to Cain’s offering which is not written in detail. It can be assumed that perhaps the attitude of heart of Cain was not as good as Abel in facing GOD as King offering sacrifices. And perhaps Abel possess the knowledge of what are the things that delighted GOD, while Cain (perhaps) only focus to the "things must to accomplish" regardless the condition of heart in offering sacrifices before GOD the King and Creator of all things.