Abel's Flocks?

[Rom831]

Genesis 9:3 "Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant."

Ok, so after the flood, God gave man animals to eat for food as well as plants. So, if before this man was not allowed to eat animals, why did Abel keep flocks (Genesis 4:2)?

Bless...ArtS

 

[MizDoulos]

Welcome to the fellowship, <font color="387c44"><b>Rom831</font></b>!
Your question is an interesting one. I've never thought of it before.


Some scholars believe that since the global flood caused many alterations depleting the supply of fruits and vegetables, God made available animals for food at that point. That certainly makes sense to me.

Blessings to you.

 

[Rom831]

And I would agree. But why then did Abel keep flocks?

Bless...ArtS

 

[MizDoulos]

<i><b>Ok, so after the flood, God gave man animals to eat for food as well as plants. So, if before this man was not allowed to eat animals, why did Abel keep flocks (Genesis 4:2)?</i></b>

Hi, Art ~ I would think Abel kept flocks for the wool to make garments. The larger animals were probably used to help move heavier items like wood or bags of grain from one place to another.

I'm not familiar with the particulars of life in Abel's day, so these are just my own thoughts. This would be a good subject of study.

Blessings to you,

Pat

 

[Christopher]

I think the reply's are great..but they are still not ansewring the whole of the situation regarding Abel's sheep... the bible says that Abel offered a sacrifice..which means he cooked the meat. Now that doesn't say he ate it...but it certainly implies it, especially when you consider that the sacrificila system of the law was ordained by God with instructions on how to part the meat for consumption purposes. The to consider that God said to Noah to bring clean and unclean animals on the ark... and you come to understand that there was an evident sacrificial system in place before the flood from the days of Abel...even from the time of Adam, before children... but nesecarily post-fall. God himself made the 1st sacrfice by providing clothing from the skins of animals...which leads one to the shedding of blood. So , I feel based on what is presented, that from the time that God took the skins of animals,shed blood, that man began to sacrfice...and then of course by dictate of the nature of all the sacrifices God oradined, partook of the sacrifice, or ate from it. So man evidently had the ability, and precedent, to eat meat post fall...which would include Abel and Cain and all the rest of man up to Noah and the flood.


Christopher

 

[Rom831]

Guess I'm not sure how to make the assumption that because animals were sacrificed to God, that men ate animals? Didn't other religons sacrifice humans? Do we then assume they also ate humans?

Bless...ArtS