Holly Bible - KJV with Concise Commentaries by Z Selam - HTML preview
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estate Abel--vanity. Let us labour to see both ourselves and others so. Childhood and youth are vanity.
2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of
sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
The employments of Cain and Abel. Observe,
1. They both had a calling. Though they were heirs apparent to the world, their birth noble and their possessions large, yet they were not brought up in idleness. God gave their father a calling, even in innocency, and he gave them one. Note, It is the will of God that we should every one of us have something to do in this world. Parents ought to bring up their children to business. "Give them a Bible and a calling (said good Mr. Dod), and God be with them."
2. Their employments were different, that they might trade and exchange with one another, as there was occasion. The members of the body politic have need one of another, and mutual love is helped by mutual commerce.
3. Their employments belonged to the husbandman's calling, their father's profession--a needful calling, for the king himself is served of the field, but a laborious calling, which required constant care and attendance. It is now looked upon as a mean calling; the poor of the land serve for vine-dressers and husbandmen, Jer 52:16. But the calling was far from being a dishonour to them; rather, they were an honour to it.
4. It should seem, by the order of the story, that Abel, though the younger brother, yet entered first into his calling, and probably his example drew in Cain.
5. Abel chose that employment which most befriended contemplation and devotion, for to these a pastoral life has been looked upon as being peculiarly favourable. Moses and David kept sheep, and in their solitudes conversed with God.
Note, That calling or condition of life is best for us, and to be chosen by us, which is best for our souls, that which least