Difference between revisions of "Category:Mourning for Abel (event)"

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According to Jewish (Christian, and Islamic) traditions, Abel was the son of Adam and Eve, and was murdered by his brother Cain.

< Cain & Abel -- Mourning for Abel >

Overview

Little is said in the ancient tradition of Israel about Abel apart from his role as victim of murder by his own brother Cain. Abel is introduced by the Book of Geneses as the second son of Adam and Eve, and a shepherd whose sacrifice pleased God. The Genesis narrative does not further elaborate on the righteousness of Abel, nor on the motives of Cain's action, as later texts would do.

The episode of the Mourning for Abel by his parents is introduced by the Book of Jubilees.

In the Testament of Abraham, Abel acts in heaven as one of the judges of the dead.

Abel in ancient sources

Book of Genesis

Genesis 4:1 (NIV) -- [1] Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain... [2] Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil... [4] Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering... [8] Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. [9] Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?"...

Genesis 4:25 (NIV) -- Adam lay with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, "God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him."

Book of the Watchers

1 Enoch 22 -- [4] " ...I saw (the spirit of) a dead man making suit, [5] and his voice went forth to heaven and made suit. And I asked Raphael the angel who was [6] with me, and I said unto him: 'This spirit which maketh suit, whose is it, whose voice goeth forth and maketh suit to heaven ' [7] And he answered me saying: 'This is the spirit which went forth from Abel, whom his brother Cain slew, and he makes his suit against him till his seed is destroyed from the face of the earth, and his seed is annihilated from amongst the seed of men.'

4 Maccabees

4 Macc 18:11 -- [The mother of seven sons said to her children: "Your father] read to you about Abel slain by Cain...

Testament of Abraham

TestAbr 13 -- ...Do you see, most holy Abraham, the terrible man sitting upon the throne? This is the son of the first created Adam, who is called Abel, whom the wicked Cain killed, and he sits thus to judge all creation, and examines righteous men and sinners...

Gospel of Matthew

Matthew 23:35 (NIV) -- And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

Gospel of Luke

Luke 11:51 (NIV) -- ...from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.

Letter to the Hebrews

Hebrews 11:4 (NIV) -- By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

Hebrews 12:24 (NIV) -- ...to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Abel in literature & the arts

• Abel (arts) -- survey of fictional works

References

• Cain and Abel / Johannes Tromp / In: The Eerdmans Dictionary of Early Judaism (2010 Collins / Harlow), dictionary, 456-457

• Abel / Richard S. Hess / In: The Anchor Bible Dictionary (1992 Freedman), dictionary, 1:9-10

External links

• Wikipedia

Jubilees 4:7 -- ...And Adam and his wife mourned for Abel four weeks of years