Reading Notes: Adam and Eve, Part A

Adam and Eve

The Punishment: (Story source: The Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg (1909): Book 1, Chapter 2 Adam)

• The punishment follows the fall of Adam and Eve to temptation
• Adam stood naked and was afraid of God, so both Adam and Eve covered themselves with fig leaves (they were not previously ashamed to be naked)
• Adam heard the angels talk about his punishment and were shocked that he was not dead after acting against God
• Rather than dying immediately, God told Adam that he would die in 930 years
• When God approached Adam and Eve, they hid in the trees and were afraid
• This was now possible because Adam's height decreased after the fall
• God's question, "Where art thou?" has many meanings in this context
• It was meant to show Adam the difference in himself after the fall
• Show his change in height
• Show the difference between the previous lordship of God over him and the lordship of the serpent over him
• God wanted to give Adam the opportunity of repenting, however Adam declined it and cursed God
• When God asked Adam if he had eaten from the forbidden tree, Adam denied and accused Eve of tempting him
• Eve acted in the same way as Adam, denying the sin
• God gave both of them the opportunity to confess their sins without punishment, however, both of them shifted the blame, leading to their punishment
• Rather than giving the serpent an opportunity to repent, he immediately punished him 
• His mouth was closed (power of speech taken away)
• Hands and feet were cut off
• His skin was sloughed off
• People seek to kill him 
• The pregnancy of the female serpent is seven years long
• God tells the serpent that he initially created him to be above all of the animals and eat the same food as humans, however because of his actions, he will forever eat dust 
• "He who lusts after what is not his due, not only does he not attain his desire, but he also loses what he has!"

I think this story is unique in the way that it is formatted. Each dialogue is surrounded by text, explaining the details of the story. This version of the punishment is also interesting and is more detailed than the story from Genesis. 

(The Rebuke of Adam and Eve. Source: Wikimedia)