Abel

(Gen. 4:2), in Hebrew Hevel — a breath, a vapor, and hence — vanity, nothingness, or something fleeting — was the second son of Adam and Eve. “And Abel was a keeper of sheep,” says the writer of Genesis, “but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering” (perhaps by sending down fire from heaven), “but unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect.

And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell… And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him” (Gen. 4:2–8). The grave of Abel is still pointed out not far from Damascus. The greatness and superiority of Abel’s sacrifice over Cain’s is ascribed by the Apostle Paul to his faith (Heb. 11:4): “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain,” he says. In the New Testament the Savior Himself speaks of Abel as the first martyr, distinguishing him with the title of “righteous” (Matt. 23:35).

In the Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Hebrews (ch. 11), Abel, together with the rest, is numbered among the host of ancient Old Testament righteous ones, “who obtained a good report through faith.” The Gnostics made of Abel an aeon, and the sect of the Abelites, holding that Abel, though married, died a virgin, imitated him by abstaining from the fulfillment of marital duties.