The Second Creation Story Part 2[i]

A continuation of the story of Adam, Eve and the Serpent from Introduction to Hebrew Bible

Gen. 2:18  ‘ezer  kenegdo = helper over against  him/it, counterpart

• To be an equal counterpart
• God creates the animals out of the ground but the animals are unable ha’adams (Adam’s) counter part
• During this time ha’adam names the animals

Gen. 2:21 tsel’a = side, usually of a building or animal

• The woman was made out of Adam’s side not only his Rib

Gen. 2:23 ‘ish/’isshah = man/woman,  sex specific

• The word man and woman appear for the first time
• Man expresses a joyful surprise
• Man and Woman were given their names at the same time

Gen 2:25 arumim = naked

‘arum = subtle, shrewd, clever

Word play with ‘arumim, Gen. 2:25

There is an absence of time… the writer contrasts the words arumim and arum showing that there may have not been a long period of time between chapter 2 and 3

Genesis 3: Where is the snake?

• In the early Hebrew Bible good and evil is portrayed to come from God
• There is no word for sin in chapter 3
• Phyllis Treble states that the woman is the smart one who the snake went for
• The snake raises a question of doubt “Why would God keep anything from us?”
• The woman doesn’t ask man’s permission to eat the fruit
• The commandment was given to ‘ha-adam’  who was later split
• The man was with her but said nothing
• The relationship is disrupted on 3 levels
  • The man and the women
  • Humans and God – fear now characterizes
  • Human couple and creation
  • Adam blames God and the woman

Punishment

• Only the snake is cursed
• The woman will have pain in child bearing and become slave to the man
• The man is cursed from the ground meaning he will have to work
• The Judgments are culturally conditioned
• Man – work; Woman – childbearing

[i] Partial Notes from Introduction to Hebrew Bible BI-101-A Introduction to Hebrew Bible 1 Denise Hopkins (Notes Taken at Wesley Theological Seminary by Terrell Harris)