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Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - Genesis 4:13-14

Genesis 4:13-14My punishment is greater than I can hearCain’s despair1.Behold, Thou hast cast me out this day from (or from upon)the face of the ground. Thou hast driven me! He sees it to be Jehovah’s own doing. He who drove Adam out of paradise, now drives Cain out of Eden. Adam’s sin brought expulsion from the inner circle, Cain’s from the outer. He is to be cast out from the land where he had been born, where was his home; from the ground which he had tilled. He was now doubly banished;... read more

Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - Genesis 4:15

Genesis 4:15The Lord set a mark upon Cain.The mark upon CainWhat this mark was we cannot tell. It might be his name affixed by the pen of the lightning in red characters upon his brow, or it might simply be the stain of his brother’s blood left by his own fingers, which he had raised up while yet wet and reeking to cover his forehead, rendered miraculously indelible; or it might be some general aspect of grief and guilt, which told too plainly that he had become the first murderer; or, perhaps,... read more

Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - Genesis 4:16-17

Genesis 4:16-17Cain went out from the presence of the LordThe future of a God-forsaken lifeI.THAT A GOD-FORSAKEN MAN IS NOT CUT OFF FROM THE MITIGATING INFLUENCES OF DOMESTIC LIFE. 1. Here the future of the cursed life has some relief. Cain had his wife to share his sorrow, and, for all we know, to help him in it. The domestic relationship is a great relief and comfort to a sad life. When all goes wrong without, it can find a refuge at home. 2. The children of a cursed life are placed at a... read more

Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - Genesis 4:17-24

Genesis 4:17-24Built a cityThe first cityIt was a very decided step towards civilization, when the idea of building a city was first conceived and realized.The roaming life of the homeless savage was abandoned; social ties were formed; families joined families, and exchanged in friendly intercourse their experience and observations; communities arose, and submitted to the rule of self-imposed laws; the individuals resigned the unchecked liberty of the beasts of the forest, and felt the delight... read more

Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - Genesis 4:25

Genesis 4:25Another seed, instead of AbelSethTo Eve is born a third son; and he comes to them as the gift of love and the pledge of hope.Eve names him Seth, which means “set” or “placed” or “appointed,” as being expressly given to her in room of Abel, whom Cain slew. In this her faith shows itself again; for in the ease of her three sons it is she herself who gives the names, and in them displays her faith. In Cain, it was simple and triumphant faith, that had not yet entered into conflict, nor... read more

Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - Genesis 4:26

Genesis 4:26Then began men to call upon the name of the LordPrayerPrayer is speaking to God--on any subject, with any object, in any place, and in any way.I. PRAYER SO REGARDED IS AN INSTINCT. It seems to be natural to man to look upwards and address himself to his God. Even in the depth of lost knowledge and depraved feeling, the instinct of prayer will assert itself. A nation going to war with another nation will call upon its God for success and victory; and an individual man, from the... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:1

Gen 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. Ver. 1. I have gotten a man from the Lord. ] Or, that famous man, the Lord; as if she had brought forth the man Christ Jesus. These were words of hope not of substance verba spei, non rei ; for "Cain was of that wicked one," the devil, 1Jn 3:12 as all reprobates are. 1Jn 3:10 Cain the author of the city of the world, saith Augustine, a is born first, and called Cain, that is, a... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:3

Gen 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. Ver. 3. In process of time. ] That distance of time between the creation and the general flood, Varro, the most learned of the Romans, calleth ‘ Aσηλον , obscure or unknown, because the heathen had no records of that which we now clearly understand to have been then done, out of the Holy Scriptures. Cain brought of the fruit. ] They brought their sacrifices to Adam, the... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:4

Gen 4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: Ver. 4. Of the firstlings of his flock. ] He brought the best of the best; a not anything that came next to hand, as Cain seems to have done, holding anything good enough, as did those rich wretches that cast brass-money b into the treasury. "But cursed be that cheat who has a male in his flock, and offers to God a corrupt thing." "Offer it now to... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:5

Gen 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. Ver. 5. But to Cain and his offering, &c. ] Because he brought not the person but the work of a person non personam, sed opus personae, as Luther a hath it; who also calls those Cainists that offer to God the work done, but do not offer themselves to God. Works materially good may never prove so, formally and eventually. That which is fair to men, is abomination to God. Luk... read more

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