The author of Hebrews teaches that beginning with Abel men of faith have had their hope in heaven, not in earth (Heb 11:13–16), that they, like Abraham, have been called out from the earthly Ur to tabernacle as strangers seeking the heavenly Salem. Beginning with Cain, however, faithless men have put their hope in earth, erecting visible cities. Consequently, it is the pattern for the wicked to be the city builders, not the righteous.51 These cities of man portrayed in Genesis are but parodies of
Page 54