What were the characteristics of Abel?

Answer 1

Jewish tradition states that Hevel (Abel), like his brother Qayin (Cain), was not the best of people. The third son, Sheit (Seth) was spiritually superior to both of them. Their other siblings (Genesis ch.5) are not named.

One of Cain's good points was that he took the initiative: he brought the first offering mentioned in Scripture. However, he brought whatever came to hand (Rashi commentary to Genesis ch.4), while Abel took the effort to bring only the best as an offering: he showed a greater desire to please God.

The midrash (Breishith Rabbah 22:7) relates that Abel and Cain got into an argument about the laws of inheritance, though Cain's jealousy concerning the non-acceptance of his sacrifice certainly played a role.

Hevel's (Abel's) name hints (in Hebrew) that he may not have been down-to-earth enough. Had he been more practical, he would have realized that Cain's nature made it dangerous to argue with him.

Another answer:

Jewish tradition can play an insightful role in getting a grasp on the biblical past. But the New Testament sheds a somewhat different light on Abel from the traditional concept.

That "Seth" was "spiritually superior" to Cain and Abel is not corroborated in the book of Hebrews, 11th chapter, which is called by some the "Faith Chapter." Reading down through its chronological list of "God's Faithful"... Abel is named; not Seth!

"By Faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that HE WAS RIGHTEOUS, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh." (Heb.11:4 KJV)

Abel was the first man to offer "blood sacrifices" unto the LORD. Sacrifices that "pointed to the coming Messiah" from all the way back in mankind's beginnings, before there were any Jews around. This is what the LORD saw and regarded as "more excellent" than Cain's "grain offerings" [for he was a farmer].

Even Jesus tesifies to Abel's Righteousness... not Seth's... in His condemnation of the Pharisees in the days of His brief ministry on earth:

"Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the Judgment of hell [Gehenna]? I will send you prophets and wise men and teachers of religious law. You will kill some by crucifixion and whip others in your synagogues... As a result, you will become guilty of murdering all the godly people from RIGHTEOUS ABEL to Zechariah son of Barachiah..." (Matt.23:33-35 NLT New Living Translation).

We find Abel as a Faithful minister of the "blood sacrifice" to God at the very beginning of the generations of man. Sacrifices that have always pointed to Christ. Moreover... we discover that Abel's Righteous character through his Faith resulted in him becoming the first HUMAN sacrifice through the shedding of his own blood. And the "blood sacrifice" has always pointed to Christ:

"You have come to the assembly of God's firstborn Children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God Himself, who is the Judge of all people... You have come to Jesus, the One who mediates the New Covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which graciously forgives instead of crying out for vengeance as the blood of Abel did." (Heb.12:23-24 NLT)

That's how we find Abel's character in The Bible; Converted, Righteous and Faithful in the eyes of God. As the Jewish tradition tells it, Abel was indeed NOT down-to-earth, as is the majority of mankind. He was a Godly man, "called OUT OF THE WORLD!"

"The world would love you if you belonged to it, but you don't. I chose you to COME OUT OF THE WORLD, and so IT HATES YOU." (John 15:19 NLT)

Jewish tradition sees Abel as "impractical" in the ways of the world. If he had been more "worldly" and feared his violent brother more than God... he would have denied his Faith and Testimony in Christ [the WORD of God; the Creator God of the Old Testament - John 1:3 & 10]. And he would not be, today, one of the first slated to be resurrected as one of the dead-in-Christ when He returns.

Faithful Abel had Righteous strength of character... and he died at the hands of his down-to-earth, practical brother for his convictions.

"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the Commandments of God, and the Faith of Jesus." (Rev.14:12 NLT)

[Please see the Discussion Section in regards to this argument.]