Chapter I.
In the next book, there is a discussion of the transition from the birth of Cain and Abel; and through them, as well as through Esau and Jacob, it is shown that two opposing human sects are being foreshadowed.
1. In the higher realms, we have, to the best of our ability, apprehended the sense of what the Lord has revealed and have arranged it in a manner in which the fall of Adam and Eve can be understood. Now, since the fault does not lie with them, but rather, what is worse, a more wicked heir has been found, we shall now continue with the following history and proceed with the divine events that are connected according to the Scriptures, in our work.
2. But Adam knew Eve his wife, who conceived and bore Cain, and said: I have acquired a man with the help of God (Gen. IV, 1). What we acquire, how, and by whom we acquire it is commonly considered: how, as from matter; by whom, as the author; by what, as through some instrument. Does he say this here: I have acquired a man with the help of God, so that you understand God as the instrument? Certainly not: but so that you understand God as the author and operator. Where he attributed more to God, since he said: I acquired man through God, so that we should defer all successful outcomes more to God than arrogate them to ourselves.
3. And he added to obey Abel (Ibid. 2). When something is added, what was before is taken away. And this is gathered from the parts of arithmetic, or the thoughts of the mind: for when a number is added, another number is made, the higher one is abolished: and the new thought that approaches excludes the previous one. Therefore, when Abel is added, Cain is taken away. Which is more fully understood by the interpretation of the names. For Cain is called acquisition, because he acquired everything for himself: Abel, who with devout attention of a pious mind referred everything to God, arrogating nothing to himself like the older brother, but giving everything to the creator that he had received from him.
So there are two sects under the name of two brothers fighting against each other, and opposed to each other. One which attributes everything to its own mind as the principal, and as it were to a certain thought, and the author of all sense and movement; that is, which ascribes all inventions to human genius. The other which ascribes everything to God as the operator and creator of all things, and subjects everything to the helm of God as its parent and ruler. The former is signified by Cain: the latter is called Abel. There are two sects which one soul gives birth to, and they are called sisters, because they are founded in one womb. But they are contrary, because it is necessary for them to be divided and separated when they have been brought forth with a certain birth of the soul. For two combatants cannot forever inhabit one dwelling. Finally, when Rebecca was giving birth to two natures of human character, one of evil and the other of good, and she felt them struggling within her womb (for Esau was a figure of wickedness, while Jacob portrayed goodness), she wondered what this conflict that the conceived offspring displayed might be, and she sought advice from God in order to reveal the suffering and to provide a remedy. Therefore, in response to the prayer, the following answer is given: Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples shall be separated from your body (Gen. XXV, 23). If you refer this to the soul, you will understand that it is the same mother of good and evil, because both flow from the same source of the soul. But this requires sober and true judgment, so that, having rejected evil, it may nourish what is good and strengthen it. Therefore, before it gives birth to what is good, that is, reverence owed to God, may it offer everything to Him and not prefer itself. But when it has given birth to the confession that is offered to God, it lays aside the swelling of its heart. Therefore, God added the good doctrine of the soul to Abel and took away the wicked doctrine from Cain.