Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/93

 75

Cahi and Abel

which has absolutely no connection with the Cain and picture of Cain, living with his wife and begetting children, and even l)uilding the first city, and consequently dwelling among men, accords but ill with the preceding picture of Cain, the child of the first pair of mortals, and the murderer of his brother, who was driven out by God from association with other men. It is in

character,

Abel

The

story.

patent

that

these

come from some

verses

different

They

source.

have a decided cultural interest in that they seek to account in true folkloristic manner, for the origin of three of the most primitive occupations

or

modes of

life,

viz.* the

nomad

musicians,

graziers,

and blacksmiths. The mention of just these three occupations, and the silence of the passage as to all other occupations, are interesting and significant. Clearly the traditions recorded in these verses sprang from a social environment in which these were the chief modes of life, and other occupations were either unknown, or of altogether minor importance. Unquestionably this was the desert, nomad environment, from which, we have learned, the folk-tales of the garden of Eden and Cain and Abel stories also sprang. Among the Beduins of the Arabian Desert, still today as in ancient times, herding of camels, sheep, and Furthermore they frequently goats IS the chief source of livelihood. have clan or tribe bards or rhapsodists, who, on every suitable occasion, sing or chant the heroic deeds of the tribe.

intervals there

come

to

bers of outcast tribes of

metal

or

utensils,

even

them ill

And

at

frequent

itinerant blacksmiths or tinkers,

repute,

make new

who mend ones,

in

mem-

their kettles or other

return

for

food

or

other similar compensation.

V. east

16.

of

Since, according to this verse, the land of

Eden,

it

follows that here also

Eden

is

Nod

located

in

is

to

the

the

ex-

treme west; cf. note to HI, 24. Vv. 23f. These verses contain a fragment of a very ancient poem, sometimes known as "The Song of the Sword". The meaning Many interpretations have been sugof the verses is very obscure. gested, but all purely hypothetical and fanciful, and without the

The verses probably refer to some old tribal slightest basis of fact. myth or legend which has otherwise been lost entirely. V. 26. "Then men began to call upon the name of the Lord"; these words imply that with the first generation after creation the the God of Israel under His own proper name Other and contradictory accounts of the time and manner of the beginning of the worship of the God of Israel are found in other parts of the Bible.

true

worship

actually began.

of