Abel of Adam
Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering - Genesis 4:4
A keeper of sheep. He was the second son of Adam and Eve whose offering of his firstborn of his flock was accepted by the LORD. Cain murdered him, but God appointed Seth as another offspring for Eve.
By her husband Adam, Eve conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD." She also bore his brother Abel.
Abel was a keeper of sheep. In the course of time, Abel brought an offering of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions to the LORD, and the LORD had regard for it though He had no regard for Cain's offering of the fruit of the ground.
Cain spoke to Abel, then when they were in the field, he killed Abel. The LORD asked, “Where is Abel your brother?” He retorted, “I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?” So the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”
Adam knew his wife again, and she bore Seth, for "God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him."
(Genesis 4)
Cosmology
Cain embodies humanity in the context of earth, and Abel embodies humanity in the context of heaven. These are specializations of Adam’s cosmic role as mediator between heaven and earth.
Abel is the prototype of a heavenly authority and priesthood at the communal level. He is concerned with spiritual matters and the higher meaning of reality. Cain is the prototype of earthly power and kinghood at the communal level, concerned with possessing the land and dealing with its practical realities.
God accepts the offering of Abel rather than Cain because one is higher than the other in the vertical space of this cosmology (Intangible Meaning - Spiritual – Animal – Vegetable – Mineral – Meaningless Matter).
Abel was responsible for lowering the spiritual into the animal and raising the animal into the spiritual. He was a prototype of the priest who specializes in offering refined flesh to God. His name means “breath” or “bodiless meaning” for his lofty ideas without concrete facts.
Cain was responsible for lowering the vegetable into the mineral and raising the mineral into the vegetable. Thus, Cain and his offspring are prototypes of builders and smiths who specialize in making tools and vessels from refined minerals. “Cain” is connected to “nest” after his function to build a stable physical reality to host a higher spiritual identity.
In a perfect world, Cain and Abel would reach an agreement by which spiritual and material realities would have been joined correctly. Abel would cover Cain with spiritual meaning from heaven, and Cain would support Abel with physical power from the earth. Authority and power did not reach an agreement, though.
(The Language of Creation: Cosmic Symbolism in Genesis - A Commentary by Matthieu Pageau, 2018. Pages 89-92)
Abel of Beth-maacah
“They used to say in former times, ‘Let them but ask counsel at Abel,’ and so they settled a matter. - 2 Samuel 20:18
A place where a wise woman lived. Joab's men besieged it while pursuing Sheba.
Joab besieges Abel and a wise woman resolves the siege by sending Sheba's head over the wall
Sheba led a rebellion against King David and holed up in Abel of Beth-maacah. Joab and Abishai pursued him, and all the men who were with Joab came and besieged him. They cast up a mound against the city, and it stood against the rampart, and they were battering the wall to throw it down.
A wise woman called out from the city, "Listen! Listen! Tell Joab, ‘Come here, that I may speak to you.’” Joab drew near, and she asked, "Are you Joab?” He answered, “I am.” Then she told him, "Listen to the words of your servant.” He replied, “I am listening.” She said, "They used to say in former times, ‘Let them but ask counsel at Abel,’ and so they settled a matter. I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the heritage of the Lord?” He said, “Far be it from me, far be it, that I should swallow up or destroy! That is not true. But a man of the hill country of Ephraim, called Sheba the son of Bichri, has lifted up his hand against King David. Give up him alone, and I will withdraw from the city.” The woman said, “Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall.” Then she threw the head out to Joab.
He blew the trumpet, and the soldiers dispersed.