Biblical and Theological Dictionary

Annotation

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. A'bel, or he'bel, grief or mourning, the second son of Adam, a shepherd. At the end of days, that is, on the Sabbath, or at the beginning of the year, he offered unto God the best of his flock, which pleased the Almighty, as according with his appoint ment, and indicating faith in the sacrifice that was to be offered, Heb. 11: 4. He marked his ap probation by seme visible token, probably consuming the sacrifice by fire, as 1 Kings 18: 38. No such honor being done to Cain, he hated Abel, and rested not till he slew him in the field. The blood of Abel, Heb. 12 24, means, not the blood of his person shed by Cain, but that of his sacrifices, put by metonymy for the blood of sacrifices generally, which spoke good things, but Christ's blood speaks better.