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3. The Sons of Adam and Eve
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Translations/Interpretations of Cain and Abel Everett Fox, The Five King James Version JPS TANAKH Books of Moses And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. Chapter 3 THE SONS OF ADAM AND EVE GENESIS 4:3–8, 13 THE TORAH’S VERDICT on life outside the Garden is mixed. On the one hand, there’s the fratricide. On the other hand, it didn’t have to be that way. And that possibility, resounding with Divine authority, holds out the hope for a better future. Let’s look in on Cain and Abel through the windows of three translations and two millennia of Jewish interpretation. 72 Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gained a male child with the help of the LORD.” The human knew Havva his wife, She became pregnant and bore Kayin. She said: Kaniti/I-have-gotten A man, as has YHWH! continued Everett Fox, The Five King James Version JPS TANAKH Books of Moses THE SONS OF ADAM AND EVE 73 2 And she again bore his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 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: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? And why is thy countenance fallen? 2 She then bore his brother Abel. Abel became a keeper of sheep, and Cain became a tiller of the soil. 3 In the course of time, Cain brought an offering to the LORD from the fruit of the soil; 4 and Abel, for his part, brought the choicest of the firstlings of his flock. The LORD paid heed to Abel and his offering, 5 but to Cain and his offering He paid no heed. Cain was much distressed and his face fell. 6 And the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you so distressed, And why is your face fallen? 2 She continued bearing —his brother, Hevel. Now Hevel became a shepherd of flocks, and Kayin became a worker of the soil. 3 It was after the passing of days that Kayin brought, from the fruit of the soil, a gift to YHWH, 4 and as for Hevel, he too brought—from the firstborn of his flock, from their fat-parts. YHWH had regard for Hevel and his gift, 5 for Kayin and his gift he had no regard. Kayin became exceedingly upset and his face fell. 6 YHWH said to Kayin: Why are you so upset? Why has your face fallen? continued Everett Fox, The Five King James Version JPS TANAKH Books of Moses 74 TORAH THROUGH TIME 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. 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. 9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? 10 And he said, What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth to me from the ground. 11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; 7 Surely, if you do right, There is uplift. But if you do not do right Sin couches at the door; Its urge is toward you, Yet you can be its master.” 8 Cain said to his brother Abel . . . and when they were in the field, Cain set upon his brother Abel and killed him. 9 The LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 Then He said, “What have you done? Hark, your brother’s blood cries out to Me...