Genesis 3 Revisited Notes

                 Genesis 3 Revisited Notes 

The Serpent , not Satan (accuser/opposer/challenger) is introduced into the story. They function in a similar manner, but they should not be conflated. We got to be careful not to blend Ancient Near Eastern literature with Greek literature categories. This entity serves as a personification of choice and testing, which is a common literary device in Ancient Near Eastern literature. It comes from the wilderness to test the hearts of covenant mankind. It is not a literal or supernatural entity. The Serpent has infiltrated the garden (Intruder imagery). Because the snake has a reputation in the Levant region as a creature of wisdom (inverted King Solomon imagery), it makes sense it would blend in with the rest of the animals. In Hebrew, the serpent can be alternately translated as shining one. For me, it can be rendered as the enlightened one. See Revelation 2:24, Deuteronomy 18:1-18. God gave dominion to Adam, the Covenant King of the Land as a gift. Romans 11:29.  

The Serpent comes to the Woman and puts God's commandment(s) into question, sowing seeds of doubt. She states that God told her not to eat AND not to touch the Tree of Knowledge, which isn't true. She added "not to touch" to God's commandment. Also, The Serpent does not refer to God as Lord God, displaying a lack of reverence. The Woman is enticed about the secret, forbidden knowledge offered to her. She is convinced that this knowledge may offer her the ability to bring order (her way). Both Trees in the garden: knowledge and life were a double portion inheritance for sonship. If Adam and the Woman would have waited for the appointed time, God would remedy their moral infancy by giving them both trees at the same time as well as clothe them with a greater glory of light . See Hebrews 3:3; 2 Corinthians 3:11. 

 At the appointed time, the Tree of Knowledge would have given them Godly wisdom like King Solomon (greater wisdom written on the heart) and Covenant Life from the Tree of Life. Covenant Life consisted of Adam receiving a greater garment as an exalted king (not remained naked), abundant life in the garden-permanent access to God, abundant provision of resources, kingship over the nations as slaves(vassal/suzerain ), God's presence would always remained in the garden, having many descendants, and peace from their enemies. It's not the Greek concept of immortal life. Adam and the Woman would have naturally died if they had obeyed. Physical Death was always part of the creation. Furthermore, it is silly to think that Adam and the Woman were not sinning before the "The Fall." They just didn't commit a high handed sin until the restriction was placed and then later broken. 

The Woman and Adam partook in the Serpent's request. Their new found knowledge viewed their nakedness as shameful. Their physical condition was an expression of their internal state. Adam and Eve were initially clothed with the light of God's glory covering their bodies.  To be in God's presence is to carry his light. See Exodus 34:9-25. Their initial nakedness was God honoring. When they sinned against God, the glory left them similar to the Ark of the Covenant leaving Israel, the Shekinah glory leaving the Temple, King Saul losing the Holy Spirit, and Samson losing the Holy Spirt. See 1 Samuel 4:21, Ezekiel 8-10,1 Samuel 16:14, Judges 16:20-21, Jeremiah 52:1-3, Psalm 51:11. Remember the priests (Exodus 20:26, 28:42-43), David (2 Samuel 6:4), King Saul (1 Samuel 19:23-24), Noah (Genesis 9:22), Peter (John 21:7), and Isaiah (Isaiah 20:1-4) were considered naked. However, these men were either wearing undergarments or an outfit outside of cultural etiquette (David). It depends on the context. Therefore, Adam and Eve's nakedness was covered with a garment of light that was later removed from them. They became vessels of shame and dishonor-physically exiled out of the garden (Promise Land imagery). 

As a result, they were covenantally dead. This consisted of losing the glory of God, losing access to the Tree of Life, and being separated from God's presence. Now, remember, The Christ came only to reverse what Adam broke (Covenantal Death, not Physical Death). People still die every day. Therefore, Christ redeemed the House of Israel from Covenantal Death. Otherwise, He failed His mission. When Adam and the Woman transgressed the covenant, they died covenantally that very day. To be outside the Promise Land was to be dead and not in God's presence. See Ezekiel 37 about the dry bones.

Because The Woman and Adam obeyed The Serpent through deception, it placed them in a state of slavery and indebtedness to it. Romans 6:16, John 8:34,44, Ephesians 2:2, 1 John 3:4. Covenant Mankind's dominion was transferred to The Satan-Another Serpent like figure or Son of the Serpent. John 13:16, Matthew 4:1-11, and Luke 4:1-13 (Satan really owned these kingdoms.  Although in context, Exodus 22:3 is about a thief, in principle, it states that Adam needed to make full restitution if he owned nothing, which was the case.  See also Matthew 18:25,2 Kings 4:1, and Nehemiah 5:5. In this case, the debt was so high, that Adam, the Woman, and their descendants had to sell themselves as slaves to sons of the Serpent. See Romans 5:19. Similarly, Jacob ripped off Esau by stealing his inheritance. In Isaac's eyes, Esau was destined to be Jacob's master, but that was not case. Genesis 25:23, 27:29. The first event occurs in Genesis 25:23-34. We see Jacob trick Esau into giving his birthright in exchange for forbidden food. The second event occurs in Genesis 27:1-46. This is when Jacob comes dressed as Esau (wearing pieces of goat hair) in front of a blind Issac. As a result, Issac then accidentally blesses Jacob. This is  irreversible. Interestingly, Jacob and The Satan parallel is further strengthen by the connection with the heel. 

In Genesis 3:15, The Sons of the Serpent would have a temporary victory over the Sons of Israel. This is expressed as the snake wounding the heel of Israel-attributed later to Jesus. In regards to Jacob, his name in Hebrew means heel catcher. A heel catcher is a scammer/con artist, which are both demonstrated in the characters of The Serpent and Jacob.

Adam and The Woman attempt to cover their nakedness with sewn fig leaves. God enters the garden, but notices something different. God then gives both individuals a chance to present their case in a covenant courtroom scene-entrance at the garden perhaps. Here, we notice that both individuals fear God's presence and the shift from "we" to "I". This is an "every man for themselves" mentality here. Adam then blames God for bringing the Woman into his life. God presents a curse to The Serpent (End of Testing God's People). It will ultimately be defeated by the seed of the Woman-New Israel/Christ. Not seed of the man. The Serpent and its descendants will eat dust. Although, later on, it appears that The Satan will be victorious over Christ on the Cross, Christ will triumph at the end of the Old Covenant age.

In verse 16, notice that the Woman's birth pains will be multiplied, not brought forth. That means pain was pre-existent before the Fall. This is not about God supernaturally increasing the Woman's birth pangs out of punishment. That didn't happen. As a consequence, her family line and the Serpent's family will cause conflict and sorrow. This includes the situation with Cain, Abel, and the events of the flood. It brought the Woman much heartache to see one son murdered and the other one exiled. See Luke 2:35, Genesis 25:22-24, and alternate translations below.

Douay-Rheims (1609, Catholic)

"To the woman also he said: I will multiply thy sorrows, and thy conceptions: in sorrow shalt thou bring forth children.

NOTE:Two pregnancies and the other kids leading to the flood.

Webster’s Bible (1833)

"I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children..."

Concordant Literal Version

"To the woman He says, I shall increase, yea increase, your grief and your pregnancy. With grief shall you bear sons..."

Julia E. Smith Translation (1876)

"I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children..."

Furthermore, The Woman will desire to be close to her husband for intimacy, safety, and resources. However, because she offered him the fruit, he will  show resentment towards her.

Now, God presents the second curse on the Land of Eden, not on Adam. This is not the literal creation of thistles and thorns. This is figurative language for outside obstacles. Because Adam wanted the forbidden fruit so much, he will have immense difficulty farming the Land of Eden. It will not be easy like in the garden. Adam will eat plants like an animal and bread like a homeless person. The Land of Eden will be a fruitless wilderness/desert. Covenant Man and his offspring will not be able to successfully plant their own garden-vineyard in the wilderness. They won't experience how it feels to drink and profit from their hard work. See Deuteronomy 28:30, 39. Environmental conditions-weather, social conditions-thieves, and pests will make it burdensome. 

Interestingly, in this passage, this is where many believers make the claim about original sin, animals becoming predatory, and the brokenness of the whole creation. However, the only thing that is cursed is the Serpent and the Land of Eden-where Adam and the Woman were exiled to after the Garden. Anything else is reading tradition into the text.

Adam names the Woman Eve after "the Fall." This name is used as a prophetic message of hope in bringing covenantal life to their descendants. Eve is not the mother of all living creatures. She is not mother of Adam, animals, plants, bacteria, viruses, etc. A similar usage can be found in Genesis 4 with Cain's sons.

God provides a covering for their nakedness.  Here he serves as their high priest. God has removed the agents of chaos from the garden and brought back order. Unfortunately, Adam failed to emulate God's actions. He chose to be a slave to his desires instead of a son of God. 

The Tree of Life is now withheld from Adam and Eve. They are then exiled out of the Garden of Eden into the Land of Eden wilderness. A cherubim with a flaming sword is placed in front of the Garden to protect the Tree of Life. This resembles the cherubim on the ark of the covenant's mercy seat located in the Holy of Holies. Adam and Eve's clothes function as a symbolic barrier to God. They have become walking curtains. Similar to the curtains of the Holy Place and Holy of Holies. In conclusion, God wanted to test the hearts of The Serpent, Adam, and Eve. All three failed. Serpent chose deception, Eve chose desire, and Adam chose indifference.