1. Genesis 4:2 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why is Abel mentioned?

Genesis 4:2 (ESV)

2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.

Another son is in the spotlight. Not because of his masculinity. Rather the opposite. His name means mist, breath, breath of wind (in strong form, his name becomes a chorus in the book of Ecclesiastes: habel (vanity), see e.g., Ecclesiastes 1:2). He is not valued. It does not say who gave him his name. It was probably Eve (see Genesis 4:1). She saw nothing in the child Abel: a gust of wind blowing away… He does receive special attention though because the Lord gives attention to him.