East of Eden

'Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” And again, she bore his brother Abel.'

This starts off somewhat promising: It sounds like Adam and Eve are being fruitful and multiplying.

But the name of their second son suggests that something is not quite right. It is somewhat curious that most translations will have a footnote saying that Cain's name sounds like the Hebrew for “gotten” – but they don't bother saying what Abel's name means!

Abel (or hebel) means “breath” or “vanity.” It is the word used in Ecclesiastes 1 – Vanity, vanity, everything is vanity. Think about what this does for the one listening to the opening of Ecclesiastes: Abel, Abel, everything is Abel. Everything is but a breath that passes away.

Why is he named Abel? We do not know Adam and Eve's rationale – but certainly Abel passes away likea breath. He has no children, but dies in futility.

The vanity of life under the sun is demonstrated even here.