Great martyr benjamin. Mikhail Shkarovsky

Divine love manifested itself to the ancestors and to all mankind in the fact that immediately after the Fall future savior Who will hit the tempting snake in the head (see: Genesis 3:15). Therefore, the birth of children to Adam and Eve was a very important event in terms of the economy of our salvation. Childbirth begins, which will continue in all generations until the end of the world comes.

Birth firstborn made Eve happy: I got a man from the Lord(Genesis 4, 1). It was named Cain, which in Hebrew means acquisition... However, he betrayed his mother's hopes. Saint Philaret of Moscow explains this by the fact that by the time of Cain's birth he was still fresh poison of sin who entered into the progenitors. Abel was born after a long time during which the parents cleansed themselves repentance and humility.

Cain was a farmer, Abel was a shepherd of sheep. Each of them brought from their labors sacrifice To God. The Holy Apostle Paul says: By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain; by her he received a testimony that he is righteous, as God testified about his gifts(Heb 11: 4) Saint John Chrysostom believes that God looked upon Abel for the fact that he made an offering with a pure heart. The Genesis writer does not tell by what sign or word the Lord showed that He did not accept Cain's offering. God warned him against the crime: sin lies at the door; he attracts you to him, but you dominate him(Genesis 4, 7). According to the interpretation of the holy fathers, sin lay at the door of Cain's heart. He disobeyed the Lord and killed his brother out of envy. By God's definition, he became an exile and a wanderer on earth.

The long biblical history was a period of preparation of the chosen people for the greatest event in the life of mankind - the coming into the world of the Savior. Therefore, many persons and events of the Old Testament history were not only real, but also had a spiritual, symbolic, representative meaning. So, Adam became the ancestor of humanity, but at the same time he was a type of Jesus Christ, who gave rise to spiritual humanity; therefore He is called the New Adam. Abel is also a type of the Savior.

- Abel tended the sheep. Jesus Christ is the Shepherd of the verbal sheep;

- Abel made a sacrifice pleasing to God. The Son of God offered a saving sacrifice on the Cross to His Father;

- Abel became the first martyr. The Messiah died a painful death for our salvation.

The Lord gave the forefathers a third son - Seth... From his birth, a generation of people came who, in contrast to the descendants of Cain, lived virtuously and godly. They began to be called the sons of God.

Turning the pages of the Holy Bible, we learn many interesting and mysterious stories. It is in this sacred book that a crime is first described - fratricide, which was committed by one of the sons of Adam and Eve. So why did Cain kill Abel, and how was he punished later? Despite the fact that this conflict is described in great detail on the pages of the scripture, there are several reasons for what happened.

Adam and Eve, returning from paradise to ordinary earth, were forced to start toil so that they had something to eat and what to dress in. They had sons - Cain and Abel. Each of them chose his own path. Cain began to cultivate the land and grow plants, and Abel liked the occupation of cattle, he became a simple shepherd.

Both of these people were devout and wanted to please God. To appease the Almighty and find his favor, they brought him sacrifices. During one of these sacrifices, Cain made a small fire and put a bundle of ears in it. Abel lit another fire, killed the fattest lamb and put it on the fire in the same way.

But God accepted only the sacrifice of the younger brother Abel, since he was a pious and kind person. He sincerely believed in the Lord and prayed with a pure soul. The elder brother Cain was not noticed by God, because the Almighty saw the falsity of his prayer and offering. Cain made a sacrifice only because it was necessary, and not from the heart.

Seeing that Abel was more fortunate, the proud Cain was outraged by this state of affairs. He was filled with anger and envy. He began to hate his own brother. The Lord tried to inspire him with other thoughts and soften his heart, but he remained adamant. The Lord literally told him that a person who has done something wrong is committing a sin.

But Cain was already on his way to fratricide. He called Abel into the field and in cold blood took his life. No tears and pleas of the victim, no thoughts that he would bring grief to his own parents, did not stop the killer.

Cain believed that not a single living soul noticed his vile deed, but this was not so. The Almighty sees everything. Turning to him, the Lord asked: "Where is your brother?" To which the criminal replied: "How do I know, I am not my brother's keeper!"

Then God decided to punish Cain as follows:

• impose a curse on him;
• send to live in a foreign direction;
• the killer will not find peace and tranquility in any place;
• every hour his conscience will torment him for the innocent blood shed;
• put a special mark on him so that the people he met knew who was in front of them, and did not accidentally kill him.

There is a deep philosophical meaning in this story. We see the reasons that prompted Cain to commit a great sin, we are aware of the responsibility for the actions committed and we understand that for every crime an identical punishment will necessarily follow.

Other murder theories

1. According to one version, a woman became a bone of contention. Despite the fact that the Bible speaks only of 4 people who lived at that time, it is believed that the brothers still had sisters. One of them is Avan - I liked both brothers, and they could not share it in any way. This theory arose due to the fact that it was Cain who later married this woman, founded a new city and gave birth to a son.
   
2. Another theory considers this murder unintentional. In Islam, they say that once, in a rage, Cain grabbed Abel by the chest and asked the Lord: "What can I do with him?" At this time, the devil was nearby, who whispered to him: "Kill!" Unwittingly, the brother killed Abel.
3. The philosopher Yosef Albo puts forward his version of what happened. He says that Cain could not forgive Abel for killing innocent animals. Because of this, they had a scandal that resulted in death.
4. Talmudic books say that a battle took place between the brothers, where Abel was the winner. Wanting to avenge his defeat, Cain went to kill.

But nevertheless, the first version is considered the main version in spiritual literature. Cain was endowed with such vices as malice, indifference, hatred, anger and cruelty, which is why he committed the murder of his blood brother.

Cain was punished according to his own merit. All his life he lived far from his relatives, but even there he could not find peace. As soon as he closed his eyes, the image of his brother Abel in a pool of blood appeared before him. Conscience tormented him constantly, he was afraid of any rustle. As soon as a leaf flew from the tree, Cain rushed to run in panic.

Nevertheless, he continued his favorite business - to cultivate the land. This became the starting point for a new generation of farmers.

Eve grieved and cried for the rest of her life for her murdered son. At first, no one dared to tell her the whole truth about her sons, but the devil brought her this terrible news and told everything in detail. It is from here that the most difficult grief in the world comes - the death of a loved one. But still he took pity on the unfortunate mother and sent her a new son, who was named Seth, which means "foundation." This symbolizes the beginning of a new world in which there should be no anger, indifference and murder.

Human life is given by God, and no one has the right to take it away from a person.

Regardless of why Cain killed Abel, Cain's name became a household name. It is it that designates a person - a murderer, a scoundrel and a sinner. To recognize him, it is enough to look at the face, drooping and distorted with anger. His crime was great and the punishment was worthy.

The Bible does not say specifically who Cain's wife was. The only possible answer is that Cain's wife was his sister or niece. The Bible does not indicate the age of Cain at the time of the murder of Abel (Genesis 4: 8). And since they both tilled the land, they most likely were already adult men and, perhaps, had their own families.

Adam and Eve had other children besides Cain and Abel.

The fact that after the murder of Abel Cain feared for his life indicates that at that time there were other children, and maybe even the grandchildren of Adam and Eve.

1. behold, now you are driving me off the face of the earth, and from your presence I will hide, and I will be an exile and a wanderer on the earth; and anyone who meets me will kill me.

Thus, Cain's wife was Adam's daughter or granddaughter.

1. And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city; And he called the city after the name of his son, Enoch.

Since Adam and Eve were the first (and only) people, their children had to marry each other. God forbade intra-family marriages much later, when there were enough people to eliminate the need for such marriages.

1. No one should approach any relative in the flesh in order to reveal nakedness. I am the Lord.
2. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father and the nakedness of thy mother: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
3. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's wife: it is thy father's nakedness.
4. The nakedness of your sister, your father's daughter, or your mother's daughter, whether born in or outside the home, you shall not uncover their nakedness.
5. The nakedness of the daughter of your son, or the daughter of your daughter, do not uncover their nakedness, for they are your nakedness.
6. The nakedness of the daughter of thy father's wife, born of thy father, she is thy sister by the father, do not reveal her nakedness.
7. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s sister, she is thy father’s half-blood.
8. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister, for she is thy mother's half-blood.
9. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, and thou shalt not approach his wife: she is thy aunt.
10. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter-in-law: she is thy son’s wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
11. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife; it is thy brother's nakedness.
12. Do not uncover the nakedness of your wife and daughter; Take not the daughter of her son, and the daughter of her daughter, to reveal their nakedness, they are her half-blood; it is lawlessness.
13. Do not take a wife with her sister, in order to make her a rival, in order to reveal her nakedness in front of her, during her life.

Incest among people with similar genetics often leads to genetic abnormalities in their offspring. The likelihood of a genetic disorder is increased if the father and mother have the same genetic problem (for example, a sibling). For spouses from different families, the possibility of coincidence of genetic defects is minimal. Over the centuries, the human genetic code has become extremely "polluted", because genetic defects have accumulated, modified and passed from generation to generation. Since Adam and Eve had no genetic defects, this allowed them and the first generations of their descendants to enjoy much better health than we have at one time. The children of Adam and Eve, even if they had genetic defects, were very minor, that is, intra-family marriages were safe for them. It is difficult for us to imagine that Cain's wife was his sister, but at first, since God created one man and one woman, the second generation of people simply had no other choice but to marry brothers and sisters.

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Cain asked: "where is your brother Abel"? Cain replied: “I don’t know; Am I my brother's keeper "? But God said, “What have you done? the voice of your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. Cursed are you from the earth, which received your brother's blood from your hand. When you cultivate the land, it will no longer give its strength to you: you will be an exile and a wanderer on the earth. " Cain said: “My punishment is greater than it can be borne. Behold, I will roam the earth; everyone who meets me will kill me. " He said to him: "Whoever kills Cain will be avenged by seven." And God made a sign for Cain so that no one would kill him. And Cain went with his wife from the place where he appeared to people as their father, and settled east of Eden, built a city and named it Enoch after the name of his son.

From Cain came a tribe of wicked people who were called the sons of men. They only cared about the safety, comforts, and pleasures of earthly life.

One of Cain's descendants, Lamech, was the first to marry two wives. From him were born: Jabal, who first began to live with flocks in tents; Jubal, inventor of musical instruments; Tuvalkain (Fauvel), the inventor of blacksmithing, and Noem.

Mixing of tribes. Corruption of people. Noah. The Flood (2262 from the creation of the world, 3247 BC). Salvation of Noah with his family. His sacrifice. God's blessing to Noah and God's covenant with him

When people multiplied on earth, the sons of God (the descendants of Seth) began to be seduced by the beauty of the daughters of men (the daughters of the descendants of Cain) and took them as their wives. From this all people have become corrupted. Then he said: “It is not forever for people to despise my Spirit; they lost their way and became carnal. I will give them a term of 120 years for repentance. "

At that time there were giants on earth (giants, attackers), who especially began to be born from the time when the sons of God began to marry the daughters of men. They have further increased the wickedness, corruption, and wickedness of the earth. When he saw that the corruption of people was great and that the earth was filled with atrocities from them, he grieved and set out to destroy people, and with them cattle, and creeping things, and birds.

At this time there was a righteous and blameless man, Noah. He had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. said to Noah: “The earth was filled with atrocities by men. I will destroy them from the earth. Make yourself an ark, with a hole at the top and a door on the side. Arrange the lower, second and third dwellings in it. Resin it with pitch inside and out. Here I will bring a flood of water on the earth, in order to destroy every living creature on the earth. But with you I will establish My covenant: and you will enter the ark, you and your sons, and your wife, and your sons' wives with you. Bring in also into the ark animals of all kinds, clean by seven, male and female, and unclean by two, male and female. Stock up on all kinds of food. " And Noah did everything that God commanded him.

At the end of the six hundredth year of his life, Noah, with his family and animals, entered the ark. shut the ark behind them. On the same day a heavy rain poured down on the ground and it poured forty days and forty nights; and the waters of the deep sea rushed to dry land. The water covered all the mountains and rose 15 cubits above the highest mountains. Everyone on earth has died. There remained only Noah and those with him in the ark, which floated on the waters. The waters rose above the ground for 150 days. Then he brought the wind to the ground, and the water began to subside. The ark stopped on the Ararat mountains. The tops of the mountains appeared. 40 days later, Noah opened the window by the ark and released the raven. The raven flew off and flew to the roof of the ark. Seven days later, Noah released the dove. The dove found no dry place and returned to the ark. After another seven days, Noah released the dove again. The dove returned with a fresh oil-leaf in its mouth, and Noah learned that the water had left the ground. After hesitating for another seven days, Noah released the dove for the third time, and it never returned to him. When the earth dried up, God commanded Noah to get out of the ark with everyone who was there with him.

After leaving the ark, Noah built an altar, took from every clean cattle and from every clean bird, and offered a burnt offering to God. This sacrifice was pleasing to God, and He said in his heart: “I will no longer curse the earth for the sins of man, and I will no longer afflict all living. Henceforth, as long as the earth stands, sowing and reaping, summer and winter, days and nights will not stop there. " And he blessed Noah and his sons and said: “Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth. Let all the animals fear and tremble of you, and let them be in your hands. All that moves and lives, let it be for your food, like the green grass; just don't eat blood. I will also seek your blood. Whoever sheds human blood, the same blood will be shed, for man was created in the image of God. " And he made a covenant with Noah and his offspring that there would be no more flood, and as a sign of this covenant he put a rainbow in a cloud. (.)

Noah was a type of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, and the ark was a type of the Church of Christ, in which people are saved alone.

Ham's disrespect for his father. Noah's prophecy about the fate of his children

Upon leaving the ark, Noah began to cultivate the land and planted a vineyard. Once he drank grape wine, not knowing its strength, became drunk and lay naked in his tent. Ham his son saw him and said to his two brothers. Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on their shoulders, went back into the tent, and covered their father without seeing him. When Noah woke up and found out what Ham had done to him, then he prophetically said: "Cursed is Canaan (son of Ham), the slave of his slaves will be with his brothers." Then he continued: “Blessed is the Lord of Shem; Canaan will be his slave. May God expand Japheth, and may he dwell in the tents of Shem; Canaan will be his slave. " With these words, Noah predicted that the descendants of Hamov would be slaves to the descendants of Shem and Japheth; in the offspring of Shem, God will be blessed, true worship of God will be preserved, and from this tribe God will be incarnate; the descendants of Japheth will occupy the largest space of the earth, subjugate the descendants of Shem under their rule and enter into the true one.

From the sons of Noah, very soon people multiplied and began to spread throughout the earth. (ch.)

Babylonian pandemonium, confusion of languages, scattering of people (2793 from the creation of the world, 2716 BC) and the emergence of idolatry

At first, all people spoke one language and one dialect. Spreading over the land, people settled on the plain in the land of Shinar. Here the descendants of Ham were especially strong. Remembering that Noah predicted slavery for them, and not wanting this prophecy to be fulfilled, they said; “Let us build ourselves a city and a tower to the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves (we will be glorified), before we are scattered over the whole earth,” and they began to build. Instead of stones, which are not in the land of Shinar, they began to use bricks, and instead of lime - earthen resin. Many other tribes were also involved in this venture. But he said: "Let us go down and confuse their language so that one does not understand the speech of the other." And the Lord confused their tongues and scattered them over all the earth. The city was named Babylon (confusion). This is how different peoples came into being, speaking different languages.

Having scattered over the earth, people gradually began to forget the true God and began to worship instead of God: the sun, month, stars, people, animals, plants, demons, inventions of their imagination and idols (images of false gods). Belief in the true God was preserved only in the offspring of Simov's son, Arphaxad.

From Arfaxad successively descended the patriarchs who preserved and spread the worship of the true God: Cainan, Sala, Eber, Peleg, Ragav, Serug, Nahor and Terah. They lived less than the antediluvian patriarchs. Noah lived for 950 years, Shem for 600 years, Arphaxad for 465 years, Terah for 206 years. (ch.)