Abel
The second son of Adam and Eve, a shepherd whose offering pleased God; murdered by his brother Cain.
What we know — and how we know it
Scan by NYPL — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
Ancient writersJosephus narrates Abel's righteousness and his murder by Cain in the Antiquities of the Jews (Book 1).
Where in scripture
GenesisMatthewLukeHebrewsAgain she gave birth, to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Genesis 4:2 — A keeper of sheep
Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering,
Genesis 4:4
Cain said to Abel, his brother, “Let’s go into the field.” While they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him.
Genesis 4:8 — Killed by Cain
Yahweh said to Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?” He said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Genesis 4:9
Adam knew his wife again. She gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, saying, “for God has given me another child instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.”
Genesis 4:25
that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar.
Matthew 23:35
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.’ Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation.
Luke 11:51
By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.
Hebrews 11:4
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
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