Mad as Hell

S. M. Hutchens on the Sixth Commandment

Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the soil. In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord accepted Abel and his offering, but Cain’s he did not accept. So Cain was very angry, and his face and bearing were altered. The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? What is this change in you? If you do well, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.”

Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go into the field.” And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength; you shall be a fugitive and wanderer on the earth (Gen. 4:2–12).