Last week, we looked at a couple of references that hinted at a deeper complexity to the story of Adam and Eve.
So lets look at little deeper at the couple.
They are not like the average couple and these things are pointed out in the account.
First up there is the matter of Eve being taken out of Edam and being called Woman (not yet Eve in the biblical account)
21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Verse 23 begs this observation.
Typically we, these days, refer to close relatives of our direct line as blood relatives. In this instance there is no mention of blood, only flesh and bone. Adam only sees Woman as bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh.
Verse 24 is intriguing.
Is this Adam still speaking, about a man leaving his father and his mother(which he is not supposed to have had), or is it an observation of the author of the account, inserting his own commentary, or perhaps explaining the purpose of framing this portion of the account in this way?
Next we find:
- the couple are both naked and not ashamed
- the are already referred to as the man and his wife
- the are in a specially prepared garden where all needs are catered for
- their duty is to dress it and to keep it
- the possess a degree of innocence (insufficient knowledge of good and evil)
- (their eyes are not yet opened, but they aren't bumping into trees)
We learn, as a consequence of the fall, that other things were operating in the "Garden"
- death was yet to come
- work and child bearing and raising responsibilities were yet to come
- The walked and talked with God as a parent-like figure.
When we lump all these conditions together and ask ourselves the following questions, something interesting emerges.
When were we able to run round naked and not feel ashamed?
When were most of our needs taken care of, in a safe environment, with a relatively care-free existence?
When were we innocent and our eyes not yet opened?
When was potential endless and mortality the last thought on our minds?
When were we without major responsibilities?
When were or parents ever present?
These can all be summed up to encapsulate a definition of most ordinary peoples childhood.
We all spent a couple of years naked and unashamed in the paradise of childhood with its relatively few cares and responsibilities. Untainted by hard years and experiences.
Life for us started with a few years as an Adam or an Eve in or own little Eden created by loving parents where time seemed to be endless, an hour an eternity and life would go on forever.
Next week will will look at how our little Eden all came to an end, for each of us.
Previous parts of this Series.
Were the seven days of creation in Genesis seven twenty four hour periods? - Delving a little deeper
Were the seven days of creation in Genesis seven twenty four hour periods? - Into the detail
Were the seven days of creation in Genesis seven twenty four hour periods? - Some conclusions
Were the seven days of creation in Genesis seven twenty four hour periods? - Some more conclusions
Were the seven days of creation in Genesis seven twenty four hour periods? - The implications.