Cain+and+Abel

=Cain and Abel=

Summary:
__**The First Mur**____**der (page 38-39)**__- Adam and Eve have two sons Cain and Abel; Cain being the older of the two. Abel worked with the animals and Cain farms and gardens. When they make their sacrifices to God, Abel's is accepted but Cain's is not. Cain is jealous of Abel and is portrayed as sinful because he kills his brother. The Lord placed a mark on Cain so that he would be protected from any man who would try to murder him in vengeance for his brother's murder. Cain settles in the land of Nod (wandering).

__**Cain (page 41-56)-**__ Cain is farming and his crops are doing well. Abel's daily sacrifice is accepted and he boasts about this to Cain. Cain often says things about God that could be considered disrespectful or accusative. Cain and Abel have a discussion about death and who they think will die first because Cain questions Abel killing the lambs for sacrifice. Because God is not accepting Cain's offerings, it is decided by Abel that he shall live longer than Cain. When Adam and Eve enter, it immediately becomes clear that Adam favors Abel and looks down upon Eve because of their mistake with the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. While eating their evening meal, Cain is not able to partake in eating the meat because Adam "cannot afford to offend the Lord". It also because apparent that Adam blames Eve for being kicked out of the Garden, but Eve puts both herself and Adam at fault. Cain begins to wonder why his offerings are not accepted and wants to know what 'grudge' He has against gardens. When it begins to thunder, Adam, Eve, and Abel seek shelter, but leave Cain there to endure his 'punishment'. During the storm, Cain and God have a conversation in which God says, "Things are as they are until you decide to change them," and Cain begins to see him as the 'will'. After the storm, Cain has possession of Abel's knife and when Abel goes to get it back, he stabs him to death. Again, God and Cain have a conversation, this time about what Cain has done and how God sends him away but will protect him from being murdered by placing a mark on his forehead and says, "Because of My sign, only you can destroy yourself,". Cain leaves and Adam and Eve remain together without either of their sons.

Discussion Questions:
1) Why do you think that God is considered to prefer meat over the plants and vegetables? Can this be related to the Garden of Eden? 2) Describe the relationship between Abel and Cain. How would you feel in the position of either Abel or Cain? Would you murder your own sibling out of jealousy? 3) If you had murdered someone and you were offered a mark of protection, would you accept it or prefer to go unmarked? Why? 4) Do you think that people today would do the same thing as Cain?

Supplementary Material:
1) How does the way Cain is portrayed differ between **__The First Murder__** and **__Cain__**? 2) How is Abel portrayed differently between the two pieces? How do you feel about his murder in both pieces?

Outside Material:
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Study Guide/Quiz Questions:
1) Who where Eve's sons? 2) Where did Cain work? 3) Why did the Lord put a mark on Cain, what did it do, and where was the mark located on Cain's body? 4) On page 51, what did God say to Cain about his secret? 5) On page 53, why was Adam scared of Cain?