Lesson Thirteen: The Cain and Abel Narrative

1. In Genesis 3:15, God speaks to the serpent when He says, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” 2. In Christian tradition, Genesis 3:15 is known as the protoevangelium—the first gospel. 3. To Christians, Genesis 3:15 introduces two elements—the curse on humanity because of Adam’s sin and God’s provision for a Savior to fulfill the consequences of sin. 4. In Christian tradition, Jesus takes upon Himself the curse of human sin. 5. Biblical interpreters use Genesis 3:15 to predict the defeat of evil by the victory of

Jesus Christ during the crucifixion episode as recounted in the New Testament gospel narratives. 6. The term “gospel” refers to the episodic narrative of the words and deeds of Jesus. 7. The gospels culminate in the trial and death of Jesus of Nazareth and concludes with various reports of His post-resurrection appearances. 8. The prefix “proto” means first. 9. “Evangelium” means the evangelistic message of salvation. 10. In Genesis 3:15, the phrase, “I will put enmity between you and the woman…,” means that the offspring of Eve and the serpent will become enemies. 11. Eve’s posterity (offspring) includes Jesus. 12. In Christian tradition, the serpent symbolizes (represents) Satan. 13. Genesis 3:15 foreshadows hostility between the “seed” of the woman and the “seed” of the serpent. 14. The writer of this article proposes that Jesus was a distant descendant of Eve. 15. Based on the writer of this article, Jesus, the Messiah, was “bruised” via (by) the crucifixion. 16. The writer of the article asserts that the serpent (devil) will lose the battle between good and evil.

Study Questions:

Video: How Is Jesus Shown in the Book of Genesis? By Josh Moody (ttps://www.christianity.com/jesus/is-jesus-god/old-testament-prophecies/how-is-jesus-shown-inthe-book-of-genesis.html)

Directions:

Based on the video, show whether the following statements are (A) CORRECT or (B) INCORRECT. 1. The speaker suggests that Chapter 3 in the Book of Genesis foreshadows Jesus in the New Testament of Christian Bibles. 2. In Christian tradition, the New Testament (NT) is the second division of the Hebrew Bible. 3. The New Testament in Christian Bibles discusses the teachings and person of Jesus. 4. The protoevangelium is the term used to describe the first mention of the gospel in reference to Genesis 3:15.

5. In Christian tradition, Genesis 3:15, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” is known as the protoevangelium—the first gospel.

For Reflection (1):

How does the description of the serpent in the Book of Revelation 20:2-3 compared to the depiction in Genesis 3:15? Mention the term “protoevangelium.” (Write 5-8 sentences. Edit writing to correct errors. Post your work on the discussion board. Label the post: A Reflection on Genesis 3:15 as a Protoevangelium.) "And the great dragon was thrown down that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan the deceiver of the whole world. -he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”

-Revelation 12:9

For Reflection (2):

Directions: Explain the literal and symbolic meanings of God’s pronouncement of enmity between the serpent and the woman in Genesis 3:15. Discuss the meaning of the term “seed” in the context of this biblical text. (Write 5-8 sentences. Edit writing to correct errors. Post your work on the discussion board. Label the post: A Reflection on Genesis 3:15 as a protoevangelium.)

A Closing Thought:

“Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.”

-Kofi Annan

Lesson Overview:

The historical Hebrew narrative in Genesis, Chapter 4 records the first murder when Cain kills his brother Abel in a fit of angry jealousy. The hostility erupts when God refuses Cain’s grain sacrifice but accepts his brother’s blood offering. The murder of Abel is evil in God’s eyes and results in Cain becoming a vagabond, or homeless wanderer. Showing mercy toward Cain, however, God places a mark on his forehead so that no one can exact vengeance on him. The mark is often alluded to as “the curse of Cain” or “the mark of Cain.” Students will read and analyze the Cain and Abel narrative with a focus on the moral issue of honoring human life. Key Concepts: sacrifices/offerings, human jealousy/anger, sibling rivalry, consequences of behavior, “mark of Cain,” “curse of Cain,” dynamic or static character, personification, sarcasm, synecdoche, motivation, hyperbole

Lesson Objectives:

Students will:

 summarize the main ideas in Genesis, Chapter 4.  explain terminology associated with the literary elements of biblical text.  distinguish between the figurative and literal textual expressions.  author an effective full-length essay on Genesis, Chapters 4.  edit writing to correct errors standard English usage.  participate in class discussions.

Learning Outcomes:

At the end on this lesson, students will be able to:  demonstrate a general knowledge of chapters 4 of the Book of Genesis.  use terminology associated with the literary elements of biblical text.  distinguish between the figurative and literal textual expressions.  author an effective full-length essay on Genesis, Chapters 4.  edit writing to correct errors standard English usage.  participate in class discussions.

Duration: 3-4 hours

Materials:

 Article: “Cain” by Pamela Barmash)

(https://www.bibleodyssey.org/people/main-articles/cain)  Article: “The Cry of Abel’s Blood” by David Carri. (https://www.bibleodyssey.org/en/people/related-articles/cry-of-abels-blood)  Essay: “Cain and Abel in the Bible” by Elie Wiesel (http://home.nwi.net/~clark/library/Cain%20and%20Abel%20in%20the%20Bible.pdf)  Internet access/e-mail/computer editing ability  Notebook/paper/pen

Procedure:

 Read Genesis, Chapter 4 from any Bible translation.  Study the review chart of Genesis, Chapter 4 and respond to the study questions.

Genesis, Chapter 4

Title of Narrative Literary Themes Plot Summary Study Questions

“Cain Murders Abel” Gen. 4:1-16  Sacrifices/Offerings to God  Human Jealousy  Sibling Rivalry  Hatred  Anger  Rebellion  Consequences of

Behavior  Death  God’s Sovereignty  God’s Mercy  God’s Interaction with His Creation  God’s Judgment Cain and Abel are the children of Adam and Eve. Both bring offerings to God, but God does not favor the sacrifice of Cain. As a result, Cain becomes so jealous of his younger brother Abel that he kills him. God punishes Cain by making him a vagabond and a fugitive. He spares his life, however, and places a mark on him as a sign that no one can harm him. True (A) or False (B)? 1. Sibling rivalry is a vital part of the narrative. 2. In Shakespeare’s, Hamlet,

Act 3, Scene 3), Hamlet’s uncle Claudius murders his own brother to become king. He confesses, "Oh, my offence is rank. It smells to heaven. It hath the primal eldest curse upon't, A brother's murder." The “primal eldest curse” is an allusion to the biblical curse of Adam and Eve’s

Cain, who slew his brother Abel. 3. Cain and Abel become vagabonds (wanderers). 4. God’s preference of

Abel’s offering over

Cain’s is a motif (literary pattern or theme) in the

Bible, where the younger child rises above his or her siblings. 5. If the eldest siblings were supposed to protect the

younger brothers and sisters, Cain's response to

God's question is not only sarcastic but ironic when he retorts, "Am I my brother's keeper?" (Gen. 4:8). 6. Abel’s blood calling out to God and implicating his brother as the murderer is an example of personification. 7. " The ground" opening its mouth to receive

Abel’s blood is an example of personification. (Gen 4:11) 8. God sentences Cain to wander over the earth where there is no law or morality. 9. When Cain fears for his life, God shows compassion by giving him a mark on his forehead so that no one will kill him. 10. Cain's lawlessness costs him his family, his livelihood, and his property.

Study Questions

(Article: “Cain” by Pamela Barmash) (https://www.bibleodyssey.org/people/main-articles/cain) Directions: Based on the article, write down whether the following statements are (A) CORRECT or (B) INCORRECT? 1. In the fourth chapter of Genesis, the first son of Adam and Eve kills his only sibling, Abel. 2. The placement of the misdeed early in the narrative depicts the horrendous nature of the act. 3. The narrative explores Cain’s inner life and the nature of the human impulse to sin.’ 4. The biblical text is not explicit in revealing why Cain murders Abel. 5. Jealousy motivates Cain to become angry when God prefers Abel’s sacrifice over his. 6. Abel is more gregarious than Cain.

7. Cain and Abel have different temperaments. 8. In telling the story, the writer of the biblical text moves directly from Cain’s disappointment to Abel’s murder. 9. God responds to Cain’s dismay by warning him about his anger. 10. God tells Cain that he cannot overcome the impulse to sin. 11. God says that Cain can withstand the proclivity to sin. 12. God states that Cain’s jealousy needs not spiral downward into murder. 13. Based on the article, God is responding to Cain’s change in physical appearance and altered personality in the question: “Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen?” 14. “Sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it” (Gen 4:6-7) is a poetic expression that personifies sin. 15. The expression means that Cain’s character has not become so fallen that killing his brother is inevitable. 16. Cain dismisses God’s warning and kills his brother in a field. 17. In biblical times, the field was a dangerous place because of the unlikelihood of discovering and punishing the murderers. 18. The fact that Cain asks his brother to go with him to the field reveals his cunning nature. 19. Cain’s emotional and psychological complexities surface when he responds to God’s question, “Where is thy brother?” (Genesis 4:9). 20. To avoid punishment for his actions, Cain lies to God. 21. Cain is defiant and sarcastic when he asks God, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9). 22. This article focuses on a character’s motivation for his decisions and actions. 23. Cain is a dynamic character. 24. Abel is a static character. 25. Anger and jealousy motivate Cain’s murderous behavior.

Extended Learning Study Questions

Article: “The Cry of Abel’s Blood” by David Carr (https://www.bibleodyssey.org/en/people/related-articles/cry-of-abels-blood) Based on the article, are the following statements (A) CORRECT or (B) INCORRECT? 1. According to the writer, Cain is “cursed from the ground.” 2. The expression “cursed from the ground” means that the earth will become an enemy to him. 3. David Carr proposes that Cain is the first human being on whom God inflicts a curse. 4. The writer suggests that the curse on Cain will arise from the part of the earth previously won and subdued by man. 5. The soil will resist Cain as an enemy by refusing “to yield unto him her strength.” 6. Ironically, the blood of Abel exerts power over Cain after his death in that it prevents Cain from ever settling again to farm the ground.