Cain and Abel represent the competition over land resources arising out of the domestication of farm animals and the use of large swathes of land for agriculture. God's preference for Abel over Cain suggests the beginning of class conflict that continues to plague human existence.
Henry & Scott's (1835) interpretation is awash in inferences and jugements that have no basis in sincere scholarship. The authors note, "Cain was wicked and led a bad life, under the reigning power of the world and the flesh; and therefore his sacrifice was an abomination...God had no respect to Cain himself, and therefore none for his offering," (p. 40). The authors imply that Cain's agricultural work symbolizes sin because of the proximity of the man with earth. Earth, representing the pleasures of the flesh, is somehow representative of original sin and possibly evocative of the serpent that tempted Cain's mother. This interpretation is tempting to make, but the Bible does present dominion over all the earth as extending to animal husbandry as well. Thus, tending the earth and herding sheep are qualitatively similar in God's eyes.
References
Carmy, S. (1996). Cain, Abel, and the fairness of God. Project Genesis. Retreived online: http://www.torah.org/projects/genesis/topic1.html
Henry, M. & Scott, T. (1835). The Comprehensive Commentary on the Holy Bible: Genesis-Judges. Fessenden & Co.
Waltke, B.K. (1986). Cain and his offering. Westminster Theological Journal 48(1986): 363-372.
Walton, J.H., Matthews, V.H. & Chavalas, M.W. (2004). The IVP Bible Background Commentary. InterVarsity…
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