But we are directly informed that the Lord had no respect for the offering of Cain; that Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell; and the Lord reasoned with him and said, “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door;” also promising him, if he would do well, he should have rule over his younger brother! All this shows that Cain’s progress in sin had become very considerable, notwithstanding the mild yet unavoidable slavery already imposed. But, like many other sinners, he ran his race rapidly, until his hands were dyed in his brother’s blood.
“When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength: a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.” Gen. iv. 12. Here tillest is also translated from the same word, and means “when thou slavest the ground,” showing most clearly that the slavery imposed on Adam was attached to Cain, with the additions, that the earth should not yield unto him her strength,—that he should be a fugitive and a vagabond,—and a mark was placed upon him. The expression that the ground should not yield unto him its strength, may be understood to mean that it should not be as productive, or, that some other person should enjoy a portion of the benefit of his labour, or in fact both: his labours were to be in some measure fruitless. And let us notice how this portion of his sentence compares with other announcements of Jehovah:
“Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivereth from death.”
“The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish, but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.”
“The hand of the diligent shall bear rule, but the slothful shall be under tribute.”
“Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuses instruction, but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.”
“A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.”
“The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked shall want.” Proverbs.
“He should be a fugitive and a vagabond.”
“The wicked flee when no man pursueth; but the righteous are bold as a lion.” Prov. xxviii. 1.