For thus it is written : " And it came to pass
after certain days, that Cain brought of the fruits
of the earth a sacrifice unto God ; and Abel also
brought of the firstlings of his sheep, and of the
fat thereof. And God had respect to Abel and
to his offerings, but Cain and his sacrifices He
did not regard. And Cain was deeply grieved,
and his countenance fell. And God said to
Cain, Why art thou grieved, and why is thy
countenance fallen? If thou offerest rightly,
but dost not divide rightly, hast thou not sinned ?
Be at peace : thine offering returns to thyself, and
thou shalt again possess it. And Cain said to
Abel his brother. Let us go into the field. And
it came to pass, while they were in the field,
that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and
slew him." * Ye see, brethren, how envy and
jealousy led to the murder of a brother. Through
envy, also, our father Jacob fled from the face of
Esau his brother.s Envy made Joseph be per-
secuted unto death, and to come into bondage.^
Envy compelled Moses to flee from the face of
Pharaoh king of Egypt, when he heard these
words from his fellow-countryman, "Who made
thee a judge or a ruler over us ? wilt thou kill
me, as thou didst kill the Egyptian yester-
day? " 7 On account of envy, Aaron and Aliriam
had to make their abode without the camp.^
Envy brought down Dathan and Abiram alive to
Hades, through the sedition which they excited
against God's servant Moses. ^ Through envy,
David underwent the hatred not only of for-
eigners, but was also persecuted by Saul king of
Israel.'"