Genesis 4

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Genesis 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.In process of time — At the end of days, either at the end of the year when they kept their feast of in-gathering, or at the end of the days of the week, the seventh day; at some set time Cain and Abel brought to Adam, as the priest of the family, each of them an offering to the Lord; for which we have reason to think there was a divine appointment given to Adam, as a token of God's... read more

John Wesley

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Genesis 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:And the Lord God had respect to Abel and to his offering, and shewed his acceptance of it, probably by fire from heaven but to Cain and to his offering he had not respect. We are sure there was a good reason for this difference: that Governor of the world, though an absolute sovereign, doth not act arbitrarily in dispensing his smiles and frowns1. There was a... read more

John Wesley

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Genesis 4:5

But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.And Cain was wroth, and his countenance fell - Not so much out of grief as malice and rage. His sullen churlish countenance, and down-look, betrayed his passionate resentment. read more

John Wesley

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Genesis 4:7

If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.If thou dost well, shalt thou not be accepted? — Either, 1. If thou hadst done well, as thy brother did, thou shouldest have been accepted as he was. God is no respecter of persons; so that if we come short of acceptance with him, the fault is wholly our own. This will justify God in the destruction of sinners, and will aggravate... read more

John Wesley

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Genesis 4:8

And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.And Cain talked with Abel his brother — The Chaldee paraphrast adds, that Cain, when they were in discourse, maintained there was no judgment to come, and that when Abel spoke in defence of the truth, Cain took that occasion to fall upon him. The scripture tells us the reason wherefore he slew him, because his own works were evil, and his brother's... read more

John Wesley

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Genesis 4:9

And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? — God knew him to be guilty; yet he asks him, that he might draw from him a confession of his crime; for those who would be justified before God, must accuse themselves.And he said, I know not — Thus in Cain the devil was both a murderer, and a liar from the beginning. Am I my Brother's keeper? - Sure he is old enough to take care of... read more

John Wesley

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Genesis 4:10

And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.And he said, What hast thou done? — Thou thinkest to conceal it, but the evidence against thee is clear and uncontestable, the voice of thy brother's blood crieth - He speaks as if the blood itself were both witness and prosecutor, because God's own knowledge testified against him, and God's own justice demanded satisfaction. The blood is said to cry from the ground, the earth, which is said,... read more

John Wesley

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Genesis 4:11

And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;And now art thou cursed from the earth — 1. He is cursed, separated to all evil, laid under the wrath of God, as it is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men2. He is cursed from the earth. Thence the cry came up to God, thence the curse came up to Cain. God could have taken vengeance by an immediate stroke from heaven: but he chose to make the earth... read more

John Wesley

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Genesis 4:15

And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.Whosoever slayeth Cain vengeance shall be taken on him seven - fold — God having said in Cain's case Vengeance is mine, I will repay; it had been a daring usurpation for any man to take the sword out of God's hand.And the Lord set a mark upon Cain — To distinguish him from the rest of mankind. What the mark was, God has... read more

John Wesley

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Genesis 4:16

And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt on the east of Eden — Somewhere distant from the place were Adam and his religious family resided: distinguishing himself and his accursed generation from the holy seed; in the land of Nod - That is, of shaking or trembling, because of the continual restlessness of his spirit. Those that depart from God cannot find rest any where else.... read more

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Genesis 4:3

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Genesis 4:4

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Genesis 4:5

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Genesis 4:7

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Genesis 4:8

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Genesis 4:9

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Genesis 4:10

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Genesis 4:11

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Genesis 4:15

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Genesis 4:16

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