Genesis - 13 - Gen. 4:9 - my brother - am I responsible for him??

 

God asks Cain where Abel was?  He was not around?  Something had happened.  We know that something happened when we read ... "Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him." (Gen 4:8)  This was the first murder recorded in the Torah.  And we know that it says that ... "You shall not murder." (Exo 20:13).  The King James got it wrong when it says thou shalt not kill.  The Hebrew word is תרצח H7523 pronounced "tretzach" which does not mean kill but murder in the Gesenius Lexicon.   And later in Exod. 21:12-14 we read ... "He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death. But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint you a place to which he may flee. If, however, a man acts presumptuously toward his neighbor, so as to kill him craftily, you are to take him even from My altar, that he may die." (Exo 21:12-14) But, if God wants murderers executed why was Cain kept alive?  Shouldn't have Cain been killed by God to maintain unity of His law and commands?  Interesting.  Let's go and explore this event in its historical context and in the Hebrew and not the English. 

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - click here for the teacher's background