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([[Hebrew language (EBD)|Heb]]. Hebhel), a breath, or vanity, the second son of [[Adam (EBD)|Adam]] and [[Eve (EBD)|Eve]]. He was put to [[Death (EBD)|death]] by his [[Brother (EBD)|brother]] [[Cain (EBD)|Cain]] (Gen. 4:1-16). Guided by the instruction of their [[Father (EBD)|father]], the two brothers were trained in the duty of worshipping [[God (EBD)|God]]. "And in process of time" (marg. "at the end of days", i.e., on the [[Sabbath (EBD)|Sabbath]]) each of them offered up to God of the [[First-fruits (EBD)|first-fruits]] of his labours. Cain, as a [[Husbandman (EBD)|husbandman]], offered the [[Fruit (EBD)|fruits]] of the field; Abel, as a [[Shepherd (EBD)|shepherd]], of the firstlings of his flock. "The [[Lord (EBD)|Lord]] had respect unto Abel and his [[Offering (EBD)|offering]]; but unto Cain and his offering he had not respect" (Gen. 4:3-5). On this account Cain was angry with his brother, and formed the design of putting him to death; a design which he at length found an opportunity of carrying into effect (Gen. 4:8,9. Comp. 1 John 3:12). There are several references to Abel in the [[New Testament (EBD)|New Testament]]. Our [[Saviour (EBD)|Saviour]] speaks of him as "righteous" (Matt. 23:35). "The blood of sprinkling" is said to speak "better things than that of Abel" (Heb. 12:24); i.e., the [[Blood (EBD)|blood]] of [[Jesus (EBD)|Jesus]] is the reality of which the blood of the offering made by Abel was only the type. The comparison here is between the [[Sacrifice (EBD)|sacrifice]] offered by [[Christ (EBD)|Christ]] and that offered by Abel, and not between the blood of Christ calling for [[Mercy (EBD)|mercy]] and the blood of the murdered Abel calling for vengeance, as has sometimes been supposed. It is also said (Heb. 11:4) that "Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain." This sacrifice was made "by faith;" this [[Faith (EBD)|faith]] rested in God, not only as the Creator and the God of [[Providence (EBD)|providence]], but especially in God as the great [[Redeemer (EBD)|Redeemer]], whose sacrifice was typified by the sacrifices which, no doubt by the divine institution, were offered from the days of Adam downward. On account of that "faith" which looked forward to the great atoning sacrifice, Abel's offering was accepted of God. Cain's offering had no such reference, and therefore was rejected. Abel was the first [[Martyr (EBD)|martyr]], as he was the first of our race to die.