10/24/2015

Parashat 1 Portion 3 Ber/Gen 4:1-26 Yer/Jer 1:1-19 Rom 3:1-24


In this week’s short Torah portion we will examine the life of Qayin and seek to understand his influence over people and nations.
We know that Qayin was the first murderer recorded in the Torah, but we also see that there were righteous men who came from him for example – Noach and Yitro.
This once again affirms the fact that we cannot blame the evil in people on their genetic inheritance or even in the environment in which they were raised. YHVH has allowed righteous choices of individuals to play an extremely critical role as to the outcome of their lives. Without choice we are not able to love YHVH with all our hearts, beings and increase.
The spirit of Qayin is alive and well on planet earth – even within the Messianic restoration.
Jud 1:11  Woe to them! Because they have gone in the way of Qayin …… today a brother or sister may not be able to kill you with a spear instead some will try to destroy your reputation through slander.
Torah portion:
Gen 4:1  And Aḏam knew Ḥawwah his wife, and she conceived and bore Qayin, and said, “I have gained a man from יהוה.”

א  וְהָאָדָם, יָדַע אֶת-חַוָּה אִשְׁתּוֹ; וַתַּהַר, וַתֵּלֶד אֶת-קַיִן, וַתֹּאמֶר, קָנִיתִי אִישׁ אֶת-יְהוָה.

Rashi claims that because the Hebrew verbs are in the past perfect tense – it follows that the conception and birth of Cain had occurred before the sin and expulsion of Adam and Chava from the garden – “Adam had known his wife and she did conceive and she did give birth….”
The sages believe that because Qayin was the first born Chava decided to dedicate him to the service of YHVH – the root word “kana” can also mean “acquired or gained,” (see S 7069) This word can also imply that Chavah gained a man to serve her own agenda of defiance against YHVH – we see this pattern repeated in the account of Nimrod, also one of Qayin’s offspring.
We also see here the beginning of a pattern where YHVH does not always choose the first born for His purposes.
We also see here how this spirit of Cain has influenced future generations.

Jud 1:11  Woe to them! Because they have gone in the way of Qayin, and gave themselves to the delusion of Bilʽam for a reward, and perished in the rebellion of Qoraḥ.

The name “Qayin” has roots in the languages and culture of the ancient Semitic world.
In Arabic this name refers to someone who works with iron – “a Smith” – implying someone who forges or changes the shape of iron – The implication that such people don’t accept the way things should be and forcibly set out to reshape things for their own purposes see Strongs 7014 – “Smiths”.
Moshe’s father in law Yitro was related to the ancient Kenite tribe, who were known to be workers with iron. The ancient Nabatians are also known to have come from this Kenite tribe and who were also responsible for building the ancient desert fortress of Petra. In Judges 4:11. Here we see that Yitro also called “Chovav” is connected to the Kenite tribe who were known to be “smiths”.

Yet in spite of all these connections with Qayin – Yitro is the name given to Parashat 17 – Matan Ha Torah – the giving of the  Torah – perhaps one of the most important Torah portions.

“According to the critical interpretation of the Biblical data, the Kenites were a clan settled on the southern border of Judah, originally more advanced in arts than the Hebrews, and from whom the latter learned much. In the time of David the Kenites were finally incorporated into the tribe of Judah (I Sam. xxx. 29; comp. ib. xxvii. 10). Their eponymous ancestor was Cain (Kain), to whose descendants  in Gen. iv. attributes the invention of the art of working bronze and iron, the use of instruments of music, etc. Sayce has inferred (in Hastings, "Dict. Bible," s.v.) that the Kenites were a tribe of smiths—a view to which J's statements would lend support.”

http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/9279-kenites

The same spelling as Qayin can also mean “spear” Strongs 7013 see 2Sam 21:16.

The spear was the assumed instrument of choice for the first murderer of Hevel by his brother Qayin. This same spirit continues to manifest itself against those chosen by YHVH –

Note the context of how Qayin is referred to in this Apostolic Scripture/Second Writings (wrongfully called New Testament):

1Jn 3:1  See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of Elohim! For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
1Jn 3:2  Beloved ones, now we are children of Elohim. And it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
1Jn 3:3  And everyone having this expectation in Him cleanses himself, as He is clean.
1Jn 3:4  Everyone doing sin also does lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.
1Jn 3:5  And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.
1Jn 3:6  Everyone staying in Him does not sin. Everyone sinning(continually practicing lawlessness or Torahlessness) has neither seen Him nor known Him.1 Footnote: 1See 2:4 & 3 John v. 11.
1Jn 3:7  Little children, let no one lead you astray. The one doing righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.1 Footnote: 1See 2:29.
1Jn 3:8  The one doing sin is of the devil, because the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of Elohim was manifested: to destroy the works of the devil.1 Footnote: 1See Titus 2:14.
1Jn 3:9  Everyone having been born of Elohim does not sin, because His seed stays in him, and he is powerless to sin, because he has been born of Elohim.
1Jn 3:10  In this the children of Elohim and the children of the devil are manifest: Everyone not doing righteousness is not of Elohim,1 neither the one not loving his brother. Footnote: 1See 3 John v. 11.
1Jn 3:11  Because this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,
1Jn 3:12  not as Qayin who was of the wicked one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because his works were wicked but those of his brother were righteous.
1Jn 3:13  Do not marvel, my brothers, if the world hates you.1 Footnote: 1See John 15:18-19, John 17:14.
1Jn 3:14  We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. The one not loving his brother stays in death.
1Jn 3:15  Everyone hating his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has everlasting life staying in him.
1Jn 3:16  By this we have known love, because He laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

Gen 4:2  And again, she gave birth to his brother Heḇel. And Heḇel became a keeper of sheep, but Qayin became a tiller of the ground.

“Abel or “Havel” means “breath” and he was a shepherd – “ro eh” Like the patriachs, Moshe and Dawid who chose a profession that permitted them to spend more time in solitude and contemplation of spiritual matters. Qayin chose an occupation though essential, could lead its practitioners to worship nature and enslave others to do the hard work on the fields” – Hirsch.
The cultivation of the fields seems best when done in harmony with YHVH’s redemptive appointments – moadim and commandments of Torah – (Shmitah and leaving gleanings for the poor)

Gen 4:3  And it came to be, in the course of time, that Qayin brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to יהוה.
Gen 4:4  And Heḇel also brought of the first-born of his flock and of their fat. And יהוה looked to Heḇel and his offering,
Gen 4:5  but He did not look to Qayin and his offering. And Qayin was very wroth, and his face fell.

This gives rise to the question as to how we should worship YHVH and what kind of worship is acceptable to Him and what is not. Nowhere does YHVH give us the specifics as to how to conduct a worship service - except that we should gather together on Shabbat and other appointed times, bringing psalms and hymns and instruction in YHVH’s Word.

1Co 14:26  What then is it, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all be done for upbuilding.
1Co 14:27  If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.
1Co 14:28  And if there is no interpreter, let him be silent in an assembly, and let him speak to himself and to Elohim.
1Co 14:29  And let two or three prophets speak, and let the others discern.
1Co 14:30  And if there should be a revelation to another who sits by, let the first be silent.
1Co 14:31  For you are all able to prophesy one by one, so that all learn and all be encouraged.
1Co 14:32  And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
1Co 14:33  For Elohim is not Elohim of disorder but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the set-apart ones.

Yahshua gave us some insightful instruction as to how to worship YHVH.

Joh 4:23  “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father also does seek such to worship Him.
Joh 4:24  “Elohim is Spirit, and those who worship Him need to worship in spirit and truth.”

Perhaps Qayin’s worship required more effort and organization and so he decided for himself what was acceptable to offer to YHVH.  Havel’s worship was spontaneous but he wanted to offer up to YHVH what was acceptable in YHVH’s Eyes.

Shaul also gives us instruction about the true kind of worship.

Rom 12:1  I call upon you, therefore, brothers, through the compassion of Elohim, to present your bodies a living offering – set-apart, well-pleasing to Elohim – your reasonable worship.
Rom 12:2  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim.

The evidence of true worship is knowing the perfect will of the Father.

Ultimately true worship will release the fragrance of Messiah.

2Co 2:14  But thanks be to Elohim who always leads us on, to overcome in Messiah, and manifests through us the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
2Co 2:15  Because we are to Elohim the fragrance of Messiah among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
2Co 2:16  To the one we are the smell of death to death, and to the other the fragrance of life to life. And who is competent for these?
2Co 2:17  For we are not, as so many, adulterating the Word of Elohim for gain – but as of sincerity, but as from Elohim, in the sight of Elohim, we speak in Messiah.

Gen 4:6  And יהוה said to Qayin, “Why are you wroth? And why is your face fallen?
Gen 4:7  “If you do well, is there not acceptance? And if you do not do well, sin1 is crouching at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should master it.” Footnote: 1Sin (transgression of the law) was already then known, as we also read in 39:9.
Gen 4:8  And Qayin told Heḇel his brother. And it came to be when they were in the field, that Qayin rose up against Heḇel his brother and killed him.
Gen 4:9  And יהוה said to Qayin, “Where is Heḇel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s guard?”
Gen 4:10  And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.
In the Hebrew original, the words for "blood" and "cries" are written in the plural form, Why? Because this sad pattern would repeat itself again and again in history.
Gen 4:11  “And now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
Gen 4:12  “If you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”
Gen 4:13  And Qayin said to יהוה, “My punishment is too great to bear!
Gen 4:14  “See, You have driven me from the face of the ground today, and I am hidden from Your face. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and it shall be that anyone who finds me kills me.”
Gen 4:15  And יהוה said to him, “Well, if anyone kills Qayin, vengeance is taken on him sevenfold.” And יהוה set up a sign for Qayin, lest anyone finding him kills him.
Gen 4:16  So Qayin went out from the presence of יהוה and dwelt in the land of Noḏ (Heb – wondering) on the east of Ěḏen.
Gen 4:17  And Qayin knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Ḥanoḵ. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son, Ḥanoḵ.
Gen 4:18  And to Ḥanoḵ was born Iraḏ. And Iraḏ brought forth Meḥuya’ĕl, and Meḥuya’ĕl brought forth Methusa’ĕl, and Methusa’ĕl brought forth Lemeḵ.
Gen 4:19  And Lemeḵ took for himself two wives, the name of one was Aḏah, and the name of the second was Tsillah.
Gen 4:20  And Aḏah bore Yaḇal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents, with livestock.
Gen 4:21  And his brother’s name was Yuḇal. He was the father of all those who play the lyre and flute.
Gen 4:22  As for Tsillah, she also bore Tuḇal-Qayin, a smith of all kinds of tools in bronze and iron. And the sister of Tuḇal-Qayin was Naʽamah.
Gen 4:23  And Lemeḵ said to his wives, “Aḏah and Tsillah, hear my voice! Wives of Lemeḵ, listen to my words! For I have killed a man for wounding me, even a young man for hurting me.
Gen 4:24  “For Qayin is avenged sevenfold, and Lemeḵ seventy-sevenfold.”
Gen 4:25  And Aḏam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Shĕth, “For Elohim has appointed me another seed instead of Heḇel, because Qayin had slain him.”
Gen 4:26  And to Shĕth, to him also a son was born. And he called his name Enosh. Then it was begun to call on the Name (Strongs 2490 – Heb “chalal” or profane” of יהוה1. Footnote: 1The first record of “calling on the Name of יהוה

Midrash:

Qayin’s descendents had and continue to have a major impact in the world.
Let’s look at Canaans descendants:

Ham had four sons – Cush, Mizraim, Put and Canaan.

Cush – perhaps the most notorious descendent of Cush was Nimrod. The commentators tell us that before Nimrod there were neither wars nor Monarchs. Nimrod subjugated the Babyolonians until they crowned him, after which he went to Assyria and built large cities. The Torah calls him a mighty hunter, which many believe must be interpreted figuratively. Nimrod ensnared men with his words and incited them to rebel against Elohim. He was the forerunner of the hypocrite who drapes himself in  robes of piety in order to deceive the masses (Hirsh).  His first conquest, which laid the basis for his subsequent empire building, was Babel, which became the center of Nebuchadnezzars Babylonian Empire – see also Gen/Ber 10:8-12.

“Genesis 4:16-24 is a record of Cain's descendants who were as carnally and intellectually minded as Cain. The Bible records that they were either great builders of BIG or PROMINENT monuments and cities, or great artificers and inventors of BEAUTIFUL metal objects, musical instruments, tools and weapons. They were also as RELIGIOUS as they could be.
As such, it is indeed absurd to say that the Sethites only began to worship YHVH after Enosh was born. As it was only a short span of time between the two generations of Adam and Seth, how could they have forgotten how to worship YHVH? True worship could not have begun only after Enosh was born. It began when Adam was created and has continued ever since. Ancient Jewish records rendered that the “men” refers to the Cainic race who “began profanely to call upon the name of  YHVH”. See S2490
After the Flood the serpentine nature was more markedly manifested in Ham and his descendants. One of them was Nimrod, a son of Cush. Nimrod was the builder of Babylon and the Tower of Babel (a name which means `the gate of the god' and also `confusion'). He was also the one who introduced the worship of Baal.
Enosh' name, in itself, was a revelation that the Cainites were spiritually 'incurable, sick, frail and weak', especially when they profaned the Name of YHVH. Seth gave his son that name 'Enosh' as a witness to that generation of evil people. Moreover, Enoch, the seventh from Adam, was raised up to prophesy of YHVH's judgment upon their unrighteousness (Jude 14,15.) “
“ Cain's MARK was his ability to deceive the people spiritually, making them religious. Always bear in mind that Cain was of the Evil and Wicked One, the Adversary of YHVH and His people. Satan has always been a DECEIVER. He is good at transforming himself into an angel of Light to hoodwink the spiritually weak worshippers. For those who enjoy sweet talk, he is a great guy. He is good at tickling those who have itchy ears, too. “
Parallel to Ham's incest with his mother was Nimrod's marriage to his own mother, Semiramis. According to historian Alexander Hislop, author of 'The Two Babylons', Nimrod was killed by his great uncle, Shem, who could not tolerate his evil practices of the occult and baby sacrifice. Then his evil mother-wife deified him. In fact, he was the first human to be deified. Hislop stated “that Nimrod was the actual Father of the gods, as being the first of deified mortals”. His mother was later deified based on the argument that if Nimrod was a god, then his mother-wife must also be a goddess. “
That was how Papal Rome founded their worship of mother Mary and child Jesus.
Hence, we see the same Mark of Cain upon the Hamites: big physically, great intellectually. And their religion? As 'great' and 'beautiful', but full of deceit, evil and wickedness to the core.”
The Talmudic definition of a “Qayin” Someone with large genitals.


Conclusion.
May YHVH give us the discernment to discern when the spirit of Qayin is manifesting itself through us. If we are bound by some form of iniquity may we find and receive help to be free of this spirit.

Next week’s Torah portion contains a hidden code in the genealogy of the messianic people and their Messiah.

‘Man is placed in a mortal condition. The one whom Eloha praises went down, he teaches man. His death sends the despairing one comfort’.



Please note these notes are under construction and are subject to correction and are in no way a final authority on any subject