Cain and Abel also appear in a number of other texts, and the story is the subject of various interpretations. The oldest known copy of the biblical narrative is from the Dead Sea Scrolls, and dates to the first century BCE. This theory would make the names descriptive of their roles, where Abel works with livestock, and Cain with agriculture-and would parallel the names Adam ( אדם, ‘dm, 'man') and Eve ( חוה, ḥwh, 'life-giver').
Cain ( qyn) is thought to be cognate to the mid-1st millennium BCE South Arabian word qyn, meaning ' metalsmith'. Abel ( hbl) is thought to derive from a reconstructed word meaning 'herdsman', with the modern Arabic cognate ibil now specifically referring only to 'camels'. It has been proposed that the etymology of their names may be a direct pun on the roles they take in the Genesis narrative.
And the Lord said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother? And he said, "I do not know: am I my brother's keeper?" And He said, "What have you done? Listen! your brother's blood cries out to me from the soil. You can also discuss the Ten Commandments and how rules are enforced in order for our society to function well.And Cain said to Abel his brother, "Let us go out to the field," and when they were in the field Cain rose against Abel his brother and killed him. If you feel this is a topic that will touch your children and will contribute to their development, then I would suggest discussing the importance of rules in the home, the classroom, on the road etc. 'Thou Shall Not Kill' is a clear reflection of a commandment arising from the Cain and Abel story. Later on, The Ten Commandments reinforce these laws, e.g. If the rules are broken then you will be punished. A true act of kindness is in giving up something that you cherish rather than something that you no longer need. I talk to the children about the importance of giving and the difference between giving a broken toy or a toy that we love and have a difficult time giving up. How do you feel when someone rejects your present? We are told that God favored Abel's offering because it was from his heart and he chose the best sheep, whereas Cain who did not choose the best of his crop. When telling this story, I try to gravitate away from the murder and focus the discussion on one of the following topics: God preferred Abel's offerings and that hurt Cain's feelings. God then marks Cain and states that anyone who kills Cain will be punished sevenfold. Fearing that others, upon seeing him, will desire to kill him as retribution for his evil deed, Cain asks God to spare him. God proceeds to curse Cain to wander the earth as a fugitive.ġ0. God the all-knowing asked Cain: "Where is your brother?" and Cain replied: "I know not am I my brother's keeper?" God then asks: "What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto Me from the ground."ĩ. Cain, in a fit of rage, anger, and jealousy, killed Abel in the field.Ĩ.