Cain said to Abel, his brother, “Let’s go into the field.” While they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 8. Let us go forth abroad. These words are now wanting in the Hebrew; being omitted, according to Kennicott, since the days of Aquila 130; they are found in the Samaritan copy and version, in the Septuagint and so forth Bible.—The Masorets place a mark, as if something were defective here, and in 27 other verses, or in 25 at least. Bible.—Abel’s violent death was a figure of that of Jesus Christ, inflicted for the like cause. See Hebrews 12:2. Calmet.—In consequence of these crimes, Cain separated from the Church, and the Jews became no longer God’s people: both Cain and the Jews became vagabonds. Bible.—The Targum of Jerusalem observes, that Cain talked against God’s providence and the future world, which Abel hearing with marked indignation, Cain took occasion to kill him. Worthington.