Cain killed Abel because of jealousy. During the course of the biblical story, Cain becomes so frustrated with God that he kills his brother. This first case of sibling rivalry has serious consequences. It is also the first case where the biblical text offers no explanation. While some commentators speculate that Cain was the victim of depression, the fact that the murder occurred is still mysterious.
One explanation is that Cain lacked faith. He believed that he would never be enough for God. This made him a restless wanderer on the earth. He felt that he was inferior to his brother, even after both offered sacrifices. However, this explanation fails to explain why he killed Abel.
Another possibility is that Cain lacked the capacity to resist sin. He was impulsive and had a tendency to commit sin. This could have contributed to his jealousy. But this is not the only reason he killed Abel. Some suggest that Cain was trying to live his punishment. Others claim that he was simply trying to evade God.
Finally, there is the theory that Cain killed Abel because he was jealous of Abel’s relationship with God. If he had a stronger relationship with God, he wouldn’t have been so envious of his brother. This idea is supported by several midrashim that illustrate Cain’s actions. These texts include the Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, which describes a dialogue between the brothers.
Other commentators argue that Abel’s death was caused by the jealousy and anger of Cain. Although Abel brought the best offering of his flock, Cain was envious of his brother’s ability to bring God to the people. In other words, Abel is the herdsman and Cain is the tiller of the soil. The difference in temperaments could explain why Abel’s sacrifice was more exemplary than Cain’s.
The Cain-Abel story is a frustratingly brief one. It is not recorded what Abel told Cain before the murder. Therefore, we are left with a barebones picture of the incident. In addition, the biblical text offers no explanation for why Abel was murdered.
The Cain-Abel story raises many questions. In particular, it doesn’t tell us why Cain killed Abel. It doesn’t explain how Abel was murdered, or why the corresponding offering was rejected. Moreover, it does not describe how Cain reacted to Abel’s death. And there’s little evidence that Cain’s murder was motivated by a lustful desire.
The Cain-Abel story also provides the first case of sibling rivalry. If Cain had been able to resist his enviousness and anger, he could have avoided Abel’s death. In other words, he could have chosen the bride of his choice. This may have been the cause of his depression.
There are a lot of theories that attempt to explain why Cain killed Abel. Most of them state that he acted because he was jealous. Some also believe that he was acting as a devil’s disciple, since he was the first to commit murder. Other explanations hold that Cain murdered Abel because he was angry at God. Regardless of why he killed Abel, his actions were tragic.