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Bible Dictionaries
Abel
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
or 1. The second son of Adam and Eve. He became a shepherd, and offered to God a sacrifice from his flocks, at the same time that Cain his brother offered the fruits of the earth. God had respect to Abel's sacrifice, and not to Cain's; hence Cain in anger killed Abel, Genesis 4:1-26 . It was "by faith" that Abel offered a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain; that is, his heart was right towards God, and he worshipped Him in trustful obedience to the divine directions. His offering, made by the shedding of blood, was that of a penitent sinner confiding in the atonement ordained of God; and it was accepted, "God testifying of his gifts," probably by fire from heaven; "by which he obtained witness that he was righteous," that is, justified, Hebrews 11:4 . "The blood of Abel" called from the ground for vengeance, Genesis 4:10; but the blood of Christ claims forgiveness and salvation for his people, Hebrews 12:24 1 John 1:7
2. Abel is also a prefix in the names of several towns. In such cases it signifies a grassy place or meadow.
These files are public domain and are a derivative of the topics are from American Tract Society Bible Dictionary published in 1859.
Rand, W. W. Entry for 'Abel'. American Tract Society Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ats/a/abel.html. 1859.
