Cain and Abel in Syriac and Greek Writers (4th-6th Centuries)

Johannes Bartholdy Glenthøj, Jb Glenthoj

Peeters Publishers, 1997 - Language Arts & Disciplines - 326 pages

The main part of this work is a detailed inventory of interpretations of Gen. 4.1-17. The exegesis related to each verse is presented quoting sources century by century, first Greek, then Syriac texts. The book introduces early Jewish, Christian and Gnostic exegesis, and on the basis of the inventory, it studies selected themes in the two genres: commentaries and homilies; Greek as opposed to Syriac exegesis, the use of speeches, especially fictive speeches in the dramatized homilies, main themes related to the character of Cain, and the interrelationship of sources. The book will be of interest for students of theology, history of religion, as well as for anyone studying the history of exegesis, art and literature.

Contents

• A Scope and method: 1
• U Between verses 8 and: 9
• Early Christian and Gnostic sources: 10
• Main sources from the fourth to the sixth centuries: 33
• E The biblical text: 51
• A Before verse l: 57
• Cain in relation to the rest of humankind: 64
• Role of Adam and Eve: 65
• Eves attitude towards God: 67
• E Verse 2a 1 Etymology of Abel: 68
• Twins or difference in age: 69
• F Verse 2bc: 70
• Cains character in relation to his occupation: 72
• Age: 73
• Typological interpretation: 74
• Marriage: 75
• Adams speech to his sons: 76
• Adam and Eve in relation to the sacrifices: 78
• Reaction to Adams command: 79
• Cause of the offerings: 80
• Presence of family at the offerings: 81
• J Verse: 90
• Verse: 101
• Rejection: 105
• Purpose of the rejection: 106
• N Verse 5b 1 Adam as subject: 107
• The reaction of Cains family to his rejection: 110
• Medical language Ill 3 Purpose of the questions I11 4 Reproach: 112
• Division of the offering: 113
• Exhortation to remain still: 114
• God does not punish at this point: 115
• Allegorical interpretation: 116
• You shall rule by means of it: 117
• Sins activity: 119
• Development of the narrative: 120
• Cains reaction in relation to Abel: 121
• Cains inner state: 122
• Gods response to Cain: 123
• Abels reaction to Cain on meeting him: 125
• S Verse 8a 1 Habitation of the brothers: 126
• Cains appeal to Abel to come with him and Abels response: 127
• On the way: 131
• A new sacrifice: 132
• Cain in relation to God: 133
• Typological interpretation: 134
• Abels reaction to Cains intention to kill him and Cains response: 135
• Themes in the dialogue: 137
• Age at the time of the murder: 145
• Cains attitude: 148
• Weapon: 149
• The novelty of murderdeath: 150
• The murder is beyond forgiveness: 151
• Death of just martyrs like Abel: 152
• Allegorical interpretation: 153
• Cain and the corpse: 154
• Cains thoughts after his act of murder: 155
• Cain in relation to his parents: 156
• Witnesses: 158
• Gods dwelling place: 159
• Cains future life: 160
• Typological interpretation: 161
• Contrast between lovemercy and angerjustice: 162
• Contrast between ignorance and knowledge: 163
• The attitude of God towards Cain: 164
• Verse 9b 1 Cains inner state: 166
• Gods relationship to Cain and Abel: 168
• Development of speech and narrative: 169
• Typological interpretation: 170
• Y Verse l0 1 God as judge: 171
• The question: 172
• Cains reaction: 173
• Innocence: 174
• Witnesses: 175
• Description of the curses: 176
• The purpose of the curse: 177
• The curse in relation to the earth: 178
• Typological interpretation: 179
• Produce: 180
• The reason why Cain was trembling: 182
• Development of narrative: 183
• Forgiveness: 185
• Cains answer in relation to punishment and death: 186
• Removal from the earth: 187
• Cains relationship to death: 188
• Who might kill Cain?: 189
• Gods answer in relation to the length of Cains life: 190
• FF Verse: 193
• Where did Cain find a wife?: 223
• KK Verse l7b 1 City in contrast to other forms of habitation: 224
• The name of the city: 225
• A Commentaries: 226
• Cains killer: 227
• B Common themes: 228
• Events prior to the offerings: 229
• Cains trembling: 230
• Cains sins and punishments: 231
• Typology: 232
• Cains family: 233
• Events prior to v34a: 235
• Medical imagery: 236
• Witnesses to the murder: 237
• A Greek exegesis: 239
• Syriac exegesis: 249
• A Exegetical development of speeches in Gen 4: 256
• Parents and Cain before the offerings at v3 or v7: 259
• Cain to himself after the rejection of his sacrifice: 261
• The second dialogue between Cain and Abel on the jour ney and at the scene of the murder v8: 263
• Abel to nature natures lament and curse of Cain: 265
• Satan and his entourage at the prospect of Abels death: 266
• Cain his parents and Abel after the murder: 267
• Angels: 271
• Types of speeches: 272
• Fictive speeches without dialogue ethopoiia: 273
• Speech of a deceased person: 274
• Personifications: 275
• A Cains character: 277
• The will of Cain: 278
• Cains relationship with Satan: 279
• Cains relationship with nature: 281
• B Individual sins: 283
• Envy: 284
• Deceit: 286
• Reconciliation and forgiveness: 288
• Repentance: 289
• Forgiveness: 290
• CONCLUSION: 294
• CONTENTS: 315

Bibliographic information

• Title: Cain and Abel in Syriac and Greek Writers (4th-6th Centuries); Volume 567 of Corpus Scriptorum Christianoru; Corpus scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium, [Corpus scriptorum Christianorum orientalium, ISSN 0070-0444
• Authors: Johannes Bartholdy Glenthøj, Jb Glenthoj
• Publisher: Peeters Publishers, 1997
• ISBN: 9068319094, 9789068319095
• Length: 326 pages
• Subjects: Language Arts & Disciplines / General; Religion / Biblical Studies / Old Testament; Religion / Christianity / History