Is the story of Cain and Abel a metaphor about the clash of herding tribes with agricultural tribes?

Question

In ancient times when herding tribes moved into areas where farming people lived, conflict must have resulted. Does Abel represent the herders (who were writing the story, and therefore favored), and does Cain represent the agricultural people who were displaced?

Answer 1

All stories can have layers of meaning and metaphor. We certainly could use your theory for further study of the text and its history. Thought-provoking and likely controversial amongst the literalists in fundamental Christianity.

Oddly enough, the Jewish scholars would take your idea and enjoy discussion and not be threatened at all by it.

Answer 2

Yes, the Cain-and-Abel story is about the land-use conflict between grazers and growers, This is an ancient clash which has never ceased. In our time, it emerges in the quarrel of vegetarianism with animal husbandry.

Likewise, the Adam and Eve story is allegory. The snake represent the reptiles. The Age of Reptiles is ended and the Age of Mammals has begun.

Moses and the Golden Calf story is astrological. The Age of Taurus (the bull or calf) is ending, and the Age of Aries has begun, so Moses sacrifices a ram.

Then Jesus came along as the Age of Aries was ending. He said he was the Lamb who must die. The Age of Pisces was dawning, so Jesus selects fishermen to go with him and make fishers of men. The new religion soon selects the "ichthe" fish (NOT the cross) as its symbol.

The Bible is very rich in allegory, and the fundies miss so much of beauty and value by trying to use the words as a textbook of science and history, rather than a book of poetry and drama.

Answer 3

The story of Cain and Abel is found in Genesis the book of beginnings. The Bible must be taken literal unless the Bible lets know differently. The Bible is written simply enough that a child should understand. So when God created the world in seven days that is what is meant. We often complicate things by trying to find "the hidden sign" when we need to take Scripture at face value. There is no where you can back up with facts that this was a clash between tribes.

Answer 4

No, I don't believe it's a metaphor. There were two brothers, one killed the other, the murderer was banished. Adam and Eve had Seth and a few dozen other brothers and sisters after that. In fact, they probably gave birth to daughters who were Cain and Abel's contemporaries because Cain took a wife with him when he was banished to Nod.

Answer 5

Daniel Quinn analyzes that very question in "Ishmael". Quinn actually sees Abel as the agriculturalists- peaceful, homebound- and Cain as the herders- nomadic raiders. His analysis, while instrinsic to his philosophical cultural propositions, does put an interesting spin on the biblical tale of sibling rivalry.

Answer 6

No, Cain and Abel is a true story about two brothers. one was respectful to God and the other was not. Cain and Abel do not represent conflict between tribes but teaches a lesson about how jealousy and anger can lead you to do horrible things. and that we should not hate others, but be happy for others and there accomplishments.

Answer 7

No. i beleive there were far fewer people at that time, in Adam and eves lives. cain and abel had different dads. one was of the lambs , one was of the feilds (earthy). only Gods accepted way was then acceppted. up sprung jealousy.

Answer 8

A person might say that the Hebrew God opened the equivalent of Pandora's when he created Satan and used evil to test humans.

Answer 9

that certainly makes much more sense than a literalist interpretation.

thank you for actually providing food for thought here; many posts here get quite inane.