Parshat Bereishit; Genesis 1:1 – 6:8: By Rabbi Denise L. Eger
The annual cycle of reading of the Torah commences this week as we read Parashat Bereshit, the opening chapters of the book of Genesis. Most of us are familiar with the traditional stories of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. But also a part of this week’s portion is the story of their children, Cain and Abel. These brothers are born after Adam and Eve have been ejected from the Garden of Eden.
Cain is the eldest and is a farmer. Abel is born second and becomes a shepherd. Both bring offerings before God. Cain brings fruit of the land and Abel a firstling of the flock. The text tells us that God favored the offerings of Abel. This begins a trend in our Torah of the youngest being favored over the eldest. We will see this played out again and again when Isaac is favored over Ishmael, Jacob is favored over Esau, Joseph being favored over his elder brothers, and Moses is favored over Miriam and Aaron.
This seeming favoritism by God causes Cain much distress and God even speaks directly to Cain, “Why are you distressed and why is your face fallen? (Gen 4:6). God even reminds Cain that if he will do the right thing he will master goodness and it is implied God’s blessing.
Why should Abel’s offering be taken over Cain’s? Does God prefer meat to vegetables and fruit? Does God prefer the youngest son over the eldest? The detail is in the kind of offering brought. Abel brings the choicest offering. The best of the best for God while Cain’s offering is not described that way at all. God holds out to Cain the possibility of acceptance if he will do the right thing. One way we understand this text is that God demands our best not just as an offering but also our best in the world, our best behavior, our best aspirations, our highest ideals and our highest moral responsibilities. Cain in bringing an offering but not in bringing his best as did his brother Abel, displays an attitude that says I want to appease but not please. I won’t offer the best that I can. Cain’s offering although a gift, is seemingly given without much consideration that this is a gift to God and if he can’t bring the choicest of his harvest to God is there a selfishness that pervades his attitude? These hints of selfishness and not giving to God the proper thanks colors Cain’s personality.
Cain ultimately truly fails the test (and many traditional commentators call this a test of Cain) because his anger and disappointment spill over into the ultimate violence of murder. He kills his brother in a jealous rage. This is a grave sin and God had warned Cain that “sin couches at your door,” (Gen. 4:7). This is further exacerbated because when God again directly asks Cain about his brother’s whereabouts (reminiscent of when God asked his parents, Adam and Eve, where they were in the Garden of Eden.) Cain replies, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper? ” (Gen 4:9). Again, Cain has a chance to take responsibility for his actions and fails to do so by evading God’s direct question.
Posted by Lee at October 16, 2006 09:28 AM
