1)

What are the implications of ?Vayavei Kayin mi?Peri ha?Adamah??

1.

Rashi: Refer to 4:4:1:1 for three explanations. 1

1

See Sifsei Chachamim.

2)

Regarding Noach, the Torah writes in Noach, 8:20 ?Vaya?al Olos ba?Mizbe?ach?. Why here does the Torah call Kayin?s Korban ?Minchah??

1.

Oznayim la?Torah: This goes well with Rashi, who writes, in Emor Vayikra, 24:9 that whatever comes from produce (that grows from the ground) falls under the category of Minchah. 1

1. 1

Oznayim la?Torah: And having called Kayin?s Korban ?Minchah? it also refers to the Korban of Hevel as ?Minchah?. See Oznayim la?Torqah.

QUESTIONS ON RASHI

3)

Rashi writes: "'From the fruit of the earth' - of the worst quality?. How is this derived from the Pasuk?

1.

Gur Aryeh: The Pasuk adds the term "from the produce;" meaning a distinct subset of it (in this case, in terms of its inferiority). 1

2.

Sifsei Chachamim: Because otherwise, the Torah should have inserted the word ?me?Reishis P?ri ha?Adamah?. 2

1

Refer to 4:4:1:1* as to why Chazal do not interpret the same way about Hevel's sacrifice.

2

In the same way as it adds ?mi?Behoros Tzono u?me?Chelveihen? in connection with the Korban of Hevel.

4)

Rashi writes: "[Kayin brought] of the worst quality." If Kayin wanted to bring a Korban of his own initiative, why did he choose his worst produce? The entire world was at his disposal!

1.

Gur Aryeh #1: Kayin's personal trait was Ayin Ra'ah (jealousy, stinginess). Through his inferior Korban, he aimed to strengthen his personal trait, and to use it to overpower Hevel.

2.

Gur Aryeh #2 (later in this verse): Kayin wanted to bring the opposite of Hevel's offering, as a reflection of himself - and even if that poor offering would reflect the earth's curse, so be it.

5)

Rashi writes: "A Midrash says that it consisted of flax-seed?. What is the source for this in the Pasuk?

1.

Mizrachi: If one spells out the letters of the word "Korban?, 1 the last letters of each name spell "Pishtan?, flax.

2.

Gur Aryeh: There is nothing further away from Hevel's wool than linen (which the Torah would later forbid to mix). 2 Kayin's goal was to highlight his own identity, and distinguish himself from Hevel to the greatest degree possible. 3

1

Kuf, Reish, Beis, Nun.

2

See also Sifsei Chachamim.

3

Gur Aryeh: Hevel responded in kind, and rather than offering a bull, he specifically offered a wool-producing sheep. Because Hevel re-enforced the rift between them, the merit of the Korban did not protect him from his brother's attack.

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