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Genesis Framework

GF 44 Genesis 4.8-12
July 10, 2016
Part 44

Genesis 4:8-12
8 Now 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 killed him.
9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"
10 And He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground.
11 "So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
12 "When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth."

Let’s look more carefully into these highlighted areas…

in the field

rose up against

my brother's keeper

blood cries out

11 "So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
12 "When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth."

opened its mouth

yield its strength

a fugitive

a vagabond

…when they were in the field,…

Which field?

Abel’s field of pasture, or Cain’s field of tilled ground?

Is there any way for us to tell?

Yes!

Actually, it was neither of these two fields!

The word used here for “the field” is a word that almost always occurs in the Scriptures with the definite article; with the implication that a particular specificity of identity has been applied to it.

Our task is to investigate the biblical uses of this word to determine the specific character of “the field” as to the type of field that is referred to in this verse.

The word for the field in Hebrew without the definite

article is sah-deh’ which denotes an open field, a wild ground; a country exposed to violence, to wild beasts; specifically, the home of beasts; of beasts in general, and in particular of wild beasts.

Let’s try our hand at a literal translation of these pictographic word characters based on our present knowledge and experience with the Hebrew lexicon.

behold motion back and forth things to avoid

“behold the place where things to avoid move to and fro”

By the time of Cain and Abel, the reference to this unique type of field, with or without an explicit definite article, within the context set out by these verses, would have been understood as referring to a hunting-field, as a field-portion within the uniquely wild country.

According to BDB…Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon

has-sah-deh' …with the article

“The field” is the wild ground areas, as in land characterized by its wildness and untamed nature, as compared with land that had become domesticated... A comparison of these two contrasting areas would be like contrasting and comparing two different types of magazines:

Field and Stream (or Horse and Hound), compared to Better Homes and Gardens. Examples…

NKJ Genesis 2:5
before any plant of the field has-sah-deh' was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. For the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground;

NKJ Genesis 2:19
Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field has-sah-deh' and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.

The dwelling realm of every wild beasts of the field…

NKJ Genesis 3:1
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field has-sah-deh' which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?"

The implication is that the serpent as a type, was already conditioned by the highly competitive character common to creatures of the realm of the field, where experience in cunning, dealing with violence, and exposure to other wild beasts would prove beneficial for survival involving disguise, blending in (camouflage), diversion, deception, and the element of surprise attack.

YLT Genesis 4:8
And Cain saith unto Abel his brother, 'Let us go into the field;' and it cometh to pass in their being in the field, that Cain riseth up against Abel his brother, and slayeth him.

The implication as brought out in Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898), makes it apparent that Cain would have had to spent time talking with Abel in order to gain his confidence and to convince him that it was a good idea to accompany Cain into the wild-land.

Bible in Basic English (1949/64) Genesis 4:8
And Cain said to his brother, Let us go into the field:

Douay-Rheims American Edition (1899) Genesis 4:8
And Cain said to Abel his brother: Let us go forth abroad.

New American Bible Genesis 4:8
Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let us go out in the field."

New International Version (BR) Genesis 4:8
Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field."

New International Version (1984) (US) NIV Genesis 4:8
Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field.“

New Jerusalem Bible Genesis 4:8
Cain said to his brother Abel, 'Let us go out';

New Living Translation Genesis 4:8
Later Cain suggested to his brother, Abel, "Let's go out into the fields."

New Revised Standard Version (1989) Genesis 4:8
Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let us go out to the field."

NKJ Exodus 22:31
And you shall be holy men to Me: you shall not eat meat torn by beasts in the field has-sah-deh' ; you shall throw it to the dogs.

Cain was obviously successful in applying his Satan-like skills of cunning and deception to accomplish his single-minded, deliberate, focused, and purposeful act of pre-meditated murder; perhaps by enticing Abel to take a hike with him into the wild, under the guise of a
hunting trip, but really to put Abel into harm’s way.

Then if anything violent were to happen out there, Cain could always call on the excuse that a wild animal had gotten to Abel, and that Cain tried desperately, but could not save him from the jaws of some wild beast.

Then, if anyone found out, and returned to find his body, by that time some wild animal would surely have tried to devour the body, so as to corroborate his story.

This scenario was just like the that involving the spirit in Joseph’s brothers, who hatched a similarly clever plan to cover-up the darkness of their deeds.

that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

qoom to arise, to stand up; to arise: Specif.: after lying down

In this context, to arise in a hostile sense, with the idea of suddenness.

Obviously, Cain was able to hold his peace for a calculated and pre-determined time in order to convince Abel to go hunting with him; in a sense, Cain laid down his rage deliberately until the opportunity to strike was ripe.

Then at that opportune moment, Cain rose up unexpectedly in a flash of fierce anger; and as Abel was stunned by the surprise of it; as he was not prepared to defend himself, Cain easily killed him.

Any wild animals having been witness to this crime, would have likely celebrated Cain’s work as, “nice kill, Cain!”

Genesis 4:8
8 Now 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 killed him.

Translation:
Cain spoke unto Abel his brother, and it came to pass in the open hunting country, that Cain rose up ferociously unto Abel his brother and killed him.

Am I my brother's keeper

sha-mar‘ to keep, to watch, to preserve; often translated “take heed” for yourself, “beware” for yourself.

Genesis 4:9
9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"

Translation:
Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know. Am I the one who keeps constant watch over my brother?"

Participle, innocent blood as an figurative entity that continues to call out loudly unto the Lord for help, or to gather an assembly for judgment.

Apparently this expression is in the category of God’s creation groaning under the witness of injustice, when innocent blood has been shed.

' tsah-`aq‘ participle, one who cries out, calls out; typically, to cry out for help, in distress, in need

Genesis 4:10
10 And He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground.

Translation:
And He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood continues to call out loudly in distress unto Me for judgment from within the ground.

having opened its mouth to swallow of it,

pah-tsah'

Root: “open the side”

Action: to smash, as when a pot is struck on its side, it is opened and the pieces scatter

Concrete: a club

Whole word: “behold the open side”

Action: to open the mouth, to swallow, fig. of ground

Genesis 4:11
11 "So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.

Translation:
And now you are a cursed one from within the ground with relationship to it having opened its mouth to swallow of it, the taking of the blood of your brother by your hand.

A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth

Root:

Action: to shake

Concrete: a rattle

Whole word:to shake

This appears to be the higher-frequency version of back and forth movement, of wavering mental instability, indecisiveness, wavering, and uncertainty.

A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth

Second word nood participle

one who wanders aimlessly (a vagabond)

Root: “continue back and forth”

Action: to nod
as a head nods while wandering about

Concrete: a mound
as created by repeated return to toss

This appears to be the lower-frequency version of back and forth movement, of wandering aimlessly thorough the land, a vagabond.

The typical translation of this word is “fugitive,” but this curse is actually worse than that; since a fugitive at least follows what is designed to appear as random movements for some kind of purpose, to evade.

Here is the connection that relates the character of the curse in a manner which corresponds to the character of the action involved in committing the sin:

As for the sin; Cain exercised great self-discipline in controlling his behavior and concealing the truth in a manner that convinced Abel that Cain had fully gotten beyond the rage and his burning desire for vengeance over the “sacrifice incident,” he was thus able to gain Abel’s confidence and to carry out an elaborately cunning and extremely well-focused, and deliberate plan of deceit.

As for the curse; with regard to the offence to the ground, having been forced to swallow innocent blood, God directed the ground to be particularly uncooperative to Cain’s effort to till the ground, by being even more reluctant to yield of its fruit to him, effectively issuing a curse upon a curse.

Then, with regard to the offence involving deliberation, planning, self-control, extreme cunning, and all those kinds of organizational characteristics, God sent out a spirit unto Cain corresponding to these characteristics, but consisting of diametrically opposed denotation, as
an appropriate curse; namely, confusion, lack of control, vulnerability, inability to focus, lack of purpose and direction, frustration, uncertainty, indecision, homelessness, unsettledness, wavering mental instability, and constant aimlessly wandering feet.

Remember the “spirit” that would visit Saul and torment him so and prompt such bizarre behavior?

Genesis 4:12
12 "When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth."

Translation:
Whenever you shall till the ground, let it not cause increase to be given unto you; along that same line, you will become one who wavers mentally and one who wanders about aimlessly upon the earth.

Many will be surprised on the Day of Judgment when they discover that it was just as the Word of God says; only the righteousness of Christ is able to save you.All men are sinners and no one can save himself. God is just, so He must punish sin; but He is also merciful, moreover gracious, and offers His Son as the perfect sacrifice in order to purchase a place for you in heaven, which He offers to you as the free gift of eternal life. As we continue to examine man’s earliest duties with regard to the covenant of works, although they can be categorically divided into two distinct types of classes; one in relationship with God, and the other in relationship with fellow man, all covenant stipulations are expressions of the will of the Lord. The law of the covenant is the law of man’s image-sonship.

Jesus is God Incarnate

In order to pay the debt of our sins, He came from Heaven, having been sent by the Father, where He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father even unto the shameful death upon the cross in order to pay the debt of your sins.This gift must be received by faith, believing that Jesus’ perfect life and Cross Work was His complete and necessary Atonement for your sins, in your behalf.Faith is a gift that comes by the Power of God the Holy Spirit working in a person’s innermost being. The Holy Spirit has the authority and power to quicken your dead spirit, to make it come to life. If you have not done so before this moment, ask Jesus to forgive you your sins, tell Him you’ve stop trying to be your own savior, and ask Him to come into your life right now, and to give you eternal life. Then, in faith believing, thank Him for the gift that He is giving you, the one He paid for in full in your place, in Jesus’ name,AMEN