בראשית ד:ב
וַתֹּ֣סֶף לָלֶ֔דֶת אֶת־אָחִ֖יו אֶת־הָ֑בֶל וַֽיְהִי־הֶ֙בֶל֙ רֹ֣עֵה צֹ֔אן וְקַ֕יִן הָיָ֖ה עֹבֵ֥ד אֲדָמָֽה׃
She then bore his brother Abel. Abel became a keeper of sheep, and Cain became a tiller of the soil.
In this passuk we learn about the specific jobs Kayin and Hevel had. Why did they have these specific jobs? Is it better to be a farmer or a shepherd? Why didn't they do the same thing? Why do we care what their jobs were?
Rashi says that Hevel chose to be a shepherd instead of a farmer because he didn't want to work the land that had been cursed because of Adam's mistake.
What are other approaches to these questions?
The reason Kayin and Hevel had different jobs according to the Radak is because they each had different needs and they each supplied themselves with those needs as the Radack states that “They restricted themselves to these vocations, seeing that G’d had not permitted the eating of meat but only grass, fruit of the trees, and bread after backbreaking labour, as we have explained.” so each of them chose what they wanted to do and I find that it shows who they are as a person when it says what they chose. Layla Jacobson
ReplyDeleteQuestion: why did they have these specific jobs?
ReplyDeleteSforno says Hevel specifically chose to be a shepherd because it required more intelligence and mental activities more then farming like kayin. I think hevel wanted to show that he was smart and capable of having a harder working job and for Hashem and his parents to appreciate all his work more then they would with an easier job
Ariella c
According to Sforno, the reason Kayin and Hevel didn't work the same job was that Hevel chose being a shepherd over working the land because it consisted of more mental work and using intelligence.
ReplyDeleteNames are important in the Torah הבל means vapor, because he was soft and gentle. He uses his gentle nature to take care of the animals and become a Shepard. While קין could mean spear and how he worked the ground with his tools and became a farmer.
ReplyDeleteSource: https://arza.org/the-tree-of-life-in-the-middle-of-the-garden/
Tamar F
Radak says they grew up to choose their occupation based on their respective needs. Abel became a shepherd because he was interested in eating dairy products from the sheep and goats. He was also able to use the wool from the goat and sheep. (They were not allowed to eat meat yet). H’ only permitted eating grass, fruits from trees, and bread. I would like to add that Kayin seemed to choose the job that goes with what H’ permitted. It doesn’t seem to say that they are allowed to eat. Which says a lot about their personalities.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: why did they have these specific jobs?
ReplyDeleteKayin and hevel jobs were different because they reflected off of their names. Rav hirsch says that kayin was a farmer because his name means acquisition and working the land means acquiring wealth. Farming requires a lot of physical strength and manual labor,which shows he was more focused on physical appearance. However the shepherd's life is completely the opposite because you mostly rely on the sheep being alive which is hashem's job. Hevels name means spirit and breathing. This shows that hevel was a more elevated and spiritual person.
-eden
Sforno states that Hevel chose to become a shepherd because it required more intelligence and
ReplyDeletethought. I think that this reflects on hevels personality. Being a shepherd meant that he had to
be clever and work hard in all adverse weather.
-rebecca