The temptation of Eve 3:1-5As in chapters 1 and 2, the word of the Lord is very important in chapter 3. Here Adam and Eve doubted God’s integrity. This pericope also has something to teach about the acquisition of wisdom. Chapter 2 anticipated God’s gift of the Promised Land to the original readers, and chapter 3 anticipates their exile from it. [Note: Idem, "Genesis," pp. 48-49.] read more
Eve was vulnerable to this suggestion because she distorted the word of God. She added to it "or touch it" (Genesis 3:3)."In her reply to [the serpent’s] question, she perverted and misquoted three times the divine law to which she and Adam were subject: (1) She disparaged her privileges by misquoting the terms of the Divine permission as to the other trees. (2) She overstated the restrictions by misquoting the Divine prohibition. (3) She underrated her obligations by misquoting the Divine... read more
The Temptation and the Fall of ManThis chapter describes how ’by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin’ (Romans 5:12). Although there is here no ambitious attempt to search out the origin of evil in the universe, the biblical account of the Fall pierces the depth of the human heart, and brings out the genesis of sin in man. The description, as already said, is true to life and experience.There is no certain Babylonian counterpart to the biblical narrative of the Fall.1. The... read more
EXCURSUS C: ON THE DURATION OF THE PARADISIACAL STATE OF INNOCENCE.The Bereshit Rabba argues that Adam and Eve remained in their original state of innocence for six hours only. Others have supposed that the events recorded in Genesis 2:4 to Genesis 3:24 took place in the course of twenty-four hours, and suppose that this is proved by what is said in Genesis 2:4, that the earth and heavens, with Adam and the garden, were all made in one day, before the end of which they suppose that he fell.... read more
The Fall Genesis 3:0 Moral evil cannot be accounted for by referring it to a brute source. Vitally important truths underlie the narrative and are bodied forth by it. But the way to reach these truths is not to adhere too rigidly to the literal meaning, but to catch the general impression. I. Variety of interpretation in details is not to be lamented. The very purpose of such representations as are here given is to suit all stages of mental and physical advancement. II. The most significant... read more
THE FALLGenesis 3:1-24PROFOUND as the teaching of this narrative is, its meaning does not lie on the surface. Literal interpretation will reach a measure of its significance, but plainly there is more here than appears in the letter. When we read that the serpent was more subtile than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made, and that he tempted the woman, we at once perceive that it is not with the outer husk of the story we are to concern ourselves, but with the kernel. The... read more
CHAPTER 3 The Fall of Man 1. The serpent and the woman (Genesis 3:1-5 ) 2. The fall and the immediate results (Genesis 3:6-7 ) 3. Jehovah Elohim questions Adam (Genesis 3:8-12 ) 4. His question to the woman (Genesis 3:13 ) 5. The curse upon the serpent (Genesis 3:14-21 ) 6. The first prophecy (Genesis 3:15 ) 7. The sentence upon the woman (Genesis 3:16 ) 8. The sentence upon the man (Genesis 3:17-19 ) 9. The faith of Adam and God’s answer (Genesis 3:20-21 ) 10. The expulsion... read more
THE FALL OF MAN The serpent is introduced in this chapter as being more cunning than all other beasts. This was evidently so just by the fact of Satan's using the serpent for his mouthpiece. It is not likely that the woman had heard any other animal speak, and when the serpent spoke to her, she ought to have been doubly on her guard. God has never allowed Satan to appear to mankind as he is in his own person, except in his temptation of the Lord Jesus (Matthew 4:3-11). Satan's awesome dignity... read more
THE INTRODUCTION OF SIN THE TEMPTATION (Genesis 3:1-5 ) That more than the serpent was present is suggested by the speech and reasoning powers displayed, but is rendered certain by a comparison of Revelation 12:9 ; Revelation 20:2 , where the serpent is identified with Satan. Some think the serpent originally stood upright and was very beautiful to look upon, which, if true, would contribute to its power over the woman and further explain why Satan employed it as his instrument.... read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 3:2
2. the woman said, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden—In her answer, Eve extolled the large extent of liberty they enjoyed in ranging at will amongst all the trees—one only excepted, with respect to which, she declared there was no doubt, either of the prohibition or the penalty. But there is reason to think that she had already received an injurious impression; for in using the words "lest ye die," instead of "ye shall surely die" [ :-], she spoke as if the tree had been... read more