旧约 - 创世记(Genesis)第4章

Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man."
Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.
In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD.
But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
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.
Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?"
The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground.
Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth."
Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is more than I can bear.
Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me."
But the LORD said to him, "Not so; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over." Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.
So Cain went out from the LORD'S presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
Cain lay with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch.
To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech.
Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.
Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock.
His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute.
Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain's sister was Naamah.
Lamech said to his wives, "Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me.
If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times."
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."
Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to call on the name of the LORD.
创世记第四章   第 4 章 

  夏娃 

  亚伯 

  该隐 

  创 4:1> 神创造人,照顾了人全面的需要,我准备好遵行神全部的旨意吗? 

  4:1 “同房”这个词直译为“认识”,意思是“发生性关系”。两性的结合是二人合而为一,完全了解对方的意思。性交是两性之间最亲密的行动,确定双方在社会中、肉体上和灵性上的关系,所以神只许人在婚后这样行。 

  创 4:3-5> 我向神所奉献的一切是否甘心乐意? 

  4:3-5 圣经没有说明神为何不接受该隐的献祭,也许因为该隐的态度不正确,或是他所献的祭物不符合神的标准。箴言上说“恶人的祭物是可憎的,何况他存恶意来献呢?”(箴 21:27 )神既衡量所献上的东西,也衡量我们的动机。当我们奉献给神、或馈送别人时,应该为自己能有所献而满心欢喜。我们不应记挂自己的损失,因为万物都是由神而来;我们乃要欢欢喜喜地将我们的时间、金钱、财产和才能尽量献给神。 

  创 4:6-7> 忠言总是逆耳──面对别人对我的提醒,我总想逃避不听…… 

  4:6-7 当有人指出你做了错事的时候,你会怎样反应呢?是将它改正过来,还是不肯认错呢?当该隐献祭被拒绝后,神给他一个改正错误、从头再做的机会,甚至鼓励他,他却拒绝了,他的余生就成为不肯认错的人的鉴戒。如果有人指出我们的错误,我们就要忠实地检讨自己。走神的道路,而不要走该隐的路。 

  创 4:7> 信主的人,总要面对一生向罪宣战的挣扎,人在其中,可靠什么得胜? 

  4:7 该隐要胜过伏在他私欲门口的罪恶,就要放弃由嫉妒而来的恼怒,叫罪不能在他的生命中立足。罪现在仍然伏在我们的门口,如果我们不能胜过它的话,就会像该隐一样被它所胜。仅靠自己的力量是不能胜过罪的,我们必须转向神,领受神所赐的信心和能力;并接受信徒的帮助,来面对这场终生的战事。圣灵会帮助我们制伏罪,直到我们与基督面对面时,这场争战才会结束。 

  撒但的诡计 

  创 4:8-10> 我是否尊重生命的权利,包括自己和别人的? 

  4:8-10 这是第一宗谋杀事件。血代表生命(参利 17:10-14 ),活物没有血就会死。生命是神所创造的,只有祂才能收回生命。 

  创 4:8-10> 我是否留有一些小罪,正拖着我的脚步迈向更大的罪中? 

  4:8-10 亚当夏娃的不顺服将罪带进全人类中。他们也许认为自己的罪只是吃了一个果子,不算什么。但要留意,他们犯罪的本性很快就传给下一代了。简单的不顺服神很快就堕落为谋杀之罪。亚当夏娃只是得罪神,而该隐既得罪神又得罪人。一丁点儿的罪都会愈演愈烈。所以我们要让神帮助我们胜过“小罪”,以免酿成悲剧。 

  创 4:11-15> 神的管教是出于爱,我是以此理解今天神对我的管教吗? 

  4:11-15 该隐的谋杀罪受到神的严厉处罚。神审判人的一切罪,并且适当地惩罚,这并不是出于愤怒或报复,乃是要改正我们,恢复我们与祂的关系。不要怨恨神改正我们,要藉此机会改变与神的关系。 

  创 4:14> 罪所带来的恶果,有否使我震撼不已? 

  4:14 至此圣经只提到四个人──亚当、夏娃、该隐和亚伯,有两个问题等待回答:该隐为什么害怕被别人杀害?他的妻子从何而来( 4:17 )?明显地,亚当夏娃有许多儿女;神要人类“生养众多,遍满地面”( 1:28 )。该隐因杀了自己兄弟而深感恐惧,他可能害怕自己的家人报复。他既然能杀人,别人也可以杀他。他的妻子可能是他的妹妹或侄女、甥女。初期人类的遗传基因仍然是纯洁的,所以不怕近亲结婚会带来不良的后果。 

  创 4:15> 仇恨报复的心是出于罪,我有否被这种心态所感染? 

  4:15 “必遭报七倍”这句话的意思是,杀该隐的人所要受到十足的、彻底的刑罚,比该隐所受的更严重。 

  创 4:19-26> 人类历史证实,文明增长,罪恶亦增加。作为一个信神的人,我有什么回应? 

  4:19-26 神让人自行其是,人不但没有改善,反而每况愈下。从对拉麦家族的概述中,我们看到神赐人多方面的才华和能力,也看到罪恶与日俱增。当时又发生一宗可能出于自卫的杀人事件,暴力事件在上升,对此人有两种截然不同的态度:( 1 )对罪恶漠不关心;( 2 )求告上主之名,如塞特的后裔( 4:26 )。塞特代替亚伯,作神忠信子民的祖先。──《灵修版圣经注释》