First Epistle to the Corinthians
Chapter 4: Many Problems Have Already Emerged from This Source in the Past
For thus it is written: "And it happened after some days that Cain brought an offering to God from the fruits of the earth; and Abel also brought an offering from the firstborn of his sheep and their fat. And God showed favor to Abel and his offerings, but He did not regard Cain and his offerings. Cain was deeply grieved, and his face fell. And God said to Cain, Why are you grieved, and why has your face fallen? If you offer rightly but do not divide rightly, have you not sinned? Be at peace: your offering returns to you, and you shall possess it again.
And Cain said to Abel his brother, Let us go into the field. And it happened that while they were in the field, Cain attacked Abel his brother and killed him.” You see, brothers, how envy and jealousy led to the murder of a brother. Through envy, our father Jacob fled from Esau his brother. Envy made Joseph be persecuted to the point of death and brought into slavery. Envy compelled Moses to flee from Pharaoh, king of Egypt, when he heard these words from a fellow Israelite, "Who made you a judge or ruler over us? Will you kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?" Because of envy, Aaron and Miriam had to stay outside the camp.
Envy caused Dathan and Abiram to be taken alive to Hades, due to the rebellion they incited against God’s servant Moses. Through envy, David suffered hatred not only from foreigners but was also persecuted by Saul, king of Israel.