“But Cain was a tiller of the ground.” The word _tiller_ is translated
from the same word used as a noun, _a slave of the ground_, having
reference to its cultivation for his support and sustenance. And here we
see the peculiar propriety of the language of the Psalmist: “He causeth
the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the _service_ of man,
that he may bring forth food out of the earth.” _Ps._ civ. 14. In this
instance, “service” means slavery, and is translated from the same word,
לַֽעֲבֹדַ֣ת _la avodath_. “He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle,
and herb for the slavery of man, that he may bring forth food out of the
earth.”
But we are directly informed that the Lord had no respect for the
offering of Cain; that Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell;
and the Lord reasoned with him and said, “If thou doest well, shalt thou
not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door;”
also promising him, if he would do well, he should have rule over his
younger brother! All this shows that Cain’s progress in sin had become
very considerable, notwithstanding the mild yet unavoidable slavery
already imposed. But, like many other sinners, he ran his race rapidly,
until his hands were dyed in his brother’s blood.
“When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee
her strength: a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.”
_Gen._ iv. 12. Here _tillest_ is also translated from the same word, and
means “when _thou slavest the ground_,” showing most clearly that the
slavery imposed on Adam was attached to Cain, with the additions, that
the earth should not yield unto him her strength,—that he should be a
fugitive and a vagabond,—and a mark was placed upon him. The expression
that the ground should not yield unto him its strength, may be
understood to mean that it should not be as productive, or, that some
other person should enjoy a portion of the benefit of his labour, or in
fact both: his labours were to be in some measure fruitless. And let us
notice how this portion of his sentence compares with other
announcements of Jehovah:
“Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivereth
from death.”
“The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish, but he
casteth away the substance of the wicked.”
“The hand of the diligent shall bear rule, but the slothful shall be
under tribute.”
“Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuses instruction, but he that
regardeth reproof shall be honoured.”
“A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children, but the
wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.”
“The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of
the wicked shall want.” _Proverbs._
“He should be a fugitive and a vagabond.”
“The wicked flee when no man pursueth; but the righteous are bold as a
lion.” _Prov._ xxviii. 1.
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor
standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and his law doth he meditate
day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of
water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall
not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not
so, but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the
ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation
of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous; but the
way of the ungodly shall perish.” _Ps._ i.
And again: “Set thou a wicked man over him; and let Satan stand at his
right hand. When he shall be judged, let him be condemned; and let his
prayer become sin. Let his days be few, and let another take his office.
Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. Let his children
be continually vagabonds and beg; let them seek their bread also out of
their desolate places. Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and
let the strangers spoil his labour. Let there be none to extend mercy
unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children.
Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their
name be blotted out. Let the iniquities of his fathers be remembered
with the Lord, and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.” _Ps._
cix. 6–14.
Such is the prospect of the desperately wicked: “The curse of the Lord
is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the
just.” _Prov._ iii. 33.
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