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Ikkesh and Ymir just before the Flood.
    The children watched their grandfather in awe.
    “In the beginning,” Noah said, “the first father and mother had two children, Cain and Abel. They taught their boys to honor Jehovah and to sacrifice an unspotted lamb in blood atonement for sin. The blood of animals couldn’t take away sin, but it was and is a symbol of the One, the Redeemer, who by His blood will someday take away mankind’s sins and allow us a way back to Jehovah. Cain and Abel were to take the offering to the fiery sword waving back and forth in front of the Garden of Eden, the one wielded by an invisible cherub who guarded the way to the Tree of Life. The offering wasn’t to the cherub, the sword or even to the Tree of Life, but done near Jehovah’s representative of judgment, the one who had driven humanity from Eden lest they eat the fruit of the Tree of Life and live forever in their sins.
    “ Cain and Abel grew strong just as you children are growing stronger and wiser.”
    The children squirmed under Noah ’s gaze.
    “ Cain became a farmer, just like some of you boys: Kush, Elam and Gomer. Cain worked hard, and the ground burst forth with its goodness. His brother Abel was a shepherd, with flocks and hounds to help guard them—just as you, Assur, Magog and Menes, run after the sheep and watch over the goats and cattle. Abel worked hard, and many sheep were born to his herd.
    “ Then one day, when they were grown men, Cain brought a basket of his best fruit to Jehovah. He beamed at the work of his hand. Oh, how he had sweated to grow such fine apples, oranges, mangoes and pineapples. They were huge pieces of fruit, spotless and wholesome. Cain was certain Jehovah would enjoy such bounty. By the sweat of his brow, he’d weeded every day so that this basket could be filled. Out of the cursed ground had grown each piece of fruit and sheaf of wheat.
    “ Abel tugged a small young lamb, pure and spotless as Jehovah had commanded them to bring. Abel butchered the lamb and put the blood and fat of the beast on the altar. It was messy, bloody and it stank, just as it does today when we do such things. But there is a reason for that. It shows us that sin is costly. Someone must lose his life for it. Jehovah hates sin. It fires His wrath, which is holy, just and pure. So, to keep His wrath at bay, to bring justice to the world, blood must be shed. Eventually, Jehovah Himself will send His perfect lamb to die for man. And then it, too, will be bloody and messy and no doubt, not smell very nice. Then all of mankind’s sins will be swept clean by the blood of the Most High. So Jehovah wished then and now to show us this truth by the sacrificing of lambs to Him.
    “ Abel obeyed Jehovah. He did exactly as Jehovah had taught him through his parents. But Cain, ah, he had become proud and thought he knew a better way. He thought he could work his way to Jehovah. But no one can do that. Only if a person was perfect could he or she approach Jehovah. But no one is perfect, so only by the blood of an innocent, in payment for what the sinner can never pay, can any approach a pure and holy Jehovah.
    “ From heaven, Jehovah watched, and fire consumed the lamb but left the fruit. With his head bowed, Abel turned and left, glad in his heart that he had obeyed Jehovah, but fearing for his proud brother.
    “ And fear he should. For Cain grew angry with Jehovah and even angrier with his brother. He had worked as hard, maybe harder, and he was firstborn. Finally, Jehovah spoke to Cain. ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.’
    “ Cain left Jehovah and approached his brother, saying, ‘Let us go out to the field.’
    “ Abel did, and he counseled Cain to beg for Jehovah’s forgiveness.
    “‘ Why should I?’ Cain asked.
    “‘ You tried to work