Genesis 4:4 - Exposition

And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock . Either the firstborn, which God afterwards demanded ( Exodus 13:12 ), or the choicest and best ( Job 18:13 ; Jeremiah 31:19 ; Hebrews 12:23 ). And the fat thereof. Literally, the fatness of them , i.e. the fattest of the firstlings, "the best he had, and the best of those best"; a proof that flesh was eaten before the Flood, since "it had been no praise to Abel to offer the fatlings if he used not to eat of them" (Willet), and "si anteposuit Abel utilitate" suae Deum, non dubium quid solitus sit ex labore suo utilitatem percipere" (Justin). And the Lord had respect. Literally, looked upon ; ε ̓ πει ͂ δεν , LXX . (cf. Numbers 16:15 ); probably consuming it by fire from heaven, or from the flaming sword (cf. Le Genesis 9:24 ; 1 Chronicles 21:26 ; 2 Chronicles 7:1 ; 1 Kings 18:38 ; Jerome, Chrysostom, Cyril). Theodotion renders ε ̓ νεπυ ì ρισεν , inflammant ; and Hebrews 11:4 , μαρτυρου ͂ ντος ε ̓ πι Ì τοι ͂ ς δω ì ροις , is supposed to lend considerable weight to the opinion. Unto Abel and his offering. Accepting first his person and then his gift (cf. Proverbs 12:2 ; Proverbs 15:8 ; 2 Corinthians 8:12 ). "The sacrifice was accepted for the man, and not the man for the sacrifice" (Ainsworth); but still "without a doubt the words of Moses imply that the matter of Abel's offering was more excellent and suitable than that of Cain's," and one can hardly entertain a doubt that this was the idea of the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews". Abel's sacrifice was πλει ì ονα , fuller than Cain's; it had more in it; it had faith, which was wanting in the other. It was also offered in obedience to Divine prescription. The universal prevalence of sacrifice rather points to Divine prescription than to man's invention as its proper source. Had Divine worship been of purely human origin, it is almost certain that greater diversity would have prevailed in its forms. Besides, the fact that the mode of worship was not left to human ingenuity under the law, and that will-worship is specifically condemned under the Christian dispensation ( Colossians 2:23 ), favors the presumption that it was Divinely appointed from the first.