Angels, Women, Sex and the Occult - William F.

Page 38 of 86

Page 38 of 86
Angels, Women, Sex and the Occult - William F.

Page Content (OCR)

38 And why, also, does she say that she got him "from the LORD"? And why did she name him "Cain," meaning "acquired," "possession," "get," by translation into English? Josephus, the Jewish historian, tells us in his Antiquities of the Jews, about the story of Cain and Abel. He writes: "Adam and Eve had two sons. The elder of them was named Cain, which name, when it is interpreted, signifies a possession; the younger was Abel, which signifies sorrow. They had also daughters. Now, the two brethren were pleased with different courses of life; for Abel, the younger, was a lover of righteousness, and, believing that God was present at all his actions, he excelled in virtue, and his employment was that of a shepherd. But Cain was not only very wicked in other respects, but was wholly intent upon getting, and he first contrived to plough the ground" (Book 1, II, 1). Josephus goes on to tell us of how Cain murdered his brother Abel in a jealous rage and fit of violent anger. Notice: "He slew his brother on the occasion following: -- They had resolved to sacrifice to God. Now Cain brought the fruits of the earth, and of his husbandry; but Abel brought milk, and the first-fruits of his flocks; but God was more delighted with the latter oblation, when he was honoured with what grew naturally of its own accord, than he was with what was the invention of a covetous man, and gotten by forcing the ground: whence it was that Cain was very angry that Abel was preferred by God before him [the first-born]; and he slew his brother, and hid his dead body, thinking to escape discovery. But God, knowing what had been done, came to Cain, and asked him what had become of his brother, because he had not seen him of many days, whereas he used to observe them conversing together at other times. But Cain was in doubt with himself, and knew not what answer to give to God. At first he said that he himself was at a loss about his brother's disappearing; but when he was provoked by God, who pressed him vehemently, as resolving to know what the matter was, he replied that he was not his brother's guardian or keeper, nor was he an observer of what he did. But in return, God con- victed Cain as having been the murderer of his brother, and said: 'I wonder at thee, that thou knowest not what is become of a man whom thou thyself hast destroyed.’ God therefore did not inflict the punishment [of death] upon him, on account of his offering sacrifice, and thereby making supplication to Him not to be extreme in his wrath to him; but He made him accursed, and threatened his posterity in the seventh generation. He also cast him, together with his wife, out of that land" (ibid.). Josephus goes on to describe how God "set a mark" upon Cain, identifying him, that he might be known to whomever he encountered, so that they would not kill him. And Cain departed and traveled over many countries, and finally built the first city, called Nod, where they eventually settled down, and had children. Josephus continues: "However, he [Cain] did not accept of his punishment in order to amendment [repentance and changing his evil course of life], but to increase his wickedness; for he only aimed to procure EVERYTHING that was for his own bodily pleasure, though it obliged him to be injurious to his neighbors. He augmented his household substance with much wealth, by rapine and violence; he excited his acquaintance to procure pleasures and spoils by robbery, and became a great leader of men into wicked courses. He also introduced a change in that way of simplicity wherein men lived before; and was the author of measures The Antiquities of the Jews