More Things 6
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Trouble in Paradise
Trouble in Paradise
The story of the Fall of humanity in Genesis 3 seems straightforward, perhaps because we’ve heard it told so many times. The truth is that this passage presents a lot of interpretive questions. We’ve covered some of those earlier, but now it is time to look at one of the main characters in the text, the serpent. Once again, there is more going on here than meets the eye.
One of the things that always bothered me about the story was why Eve wasn’t scared witless when the serpent spoke to her. There is no indication that she thought the incident unusual. I’ve heard some odd explanations for that, such as, “Maybe animals back then could walk and talk.” That sort of speculation is aimed at preserving an overliteralized view of the text, and it’s often accompanied by an appeal to science - a claim that snake anatomy shows snakes once had legs. It’s a bit misguided when someone tries to defend biblical literalism by appealing to the evolutionary history of snakes. And the whole approach misses the point. It also presumes that the villain was an animal — he wasn’t.
The truth is that an ancient reader would not have expected Eve to be frightened. Given the context - she was in Eden, the realm of YHWH and his elohim council - it would have been clear that she was conversing with a divine being. The biblical author has telegraphed that Eve was on divine turf.
Genesis three in context
Genesis three in context
In ancient Near Eastern literature of the Old Testament world, animal speech is not uncommon. The context for such speaking is that of magic, which of course is tied to the world of the gods, or direct divine intervention. No Egyptian, for example, would have presumed that the animals they experienced in their normal lives could talk. But when the gods or magical forces were in view, that was a different story. Animals were often the vehicle for manifesting a divine presence or power in a story. The kind of animal would often depend on characteristics associated with that animal, or on the status of that animals in a cultures religion.
Consequently, the point of Genesis 3 is not to inform us about ancient zoology or a time when animals could talk. We are not in the realm of science by design. Genesis telegraphs simple but profound ideas to Israelite readers: the world you experience was created by an all-powerful God; human beings are his created representatives; Eden was his abode; he was accompanied by a supernatural host; one member of that divine entourage was not pleased by God’s decisions to create humanity and give them dominion. All that leads to how humanity got into the mess it’s in.
In some respects, we know that the Genesis “serpent” wasn’t really a member of the animal kingdom. We have other passages to help us grasp that point, particularly in the New Testament. We understand that, even though the New Testament writers refer to the serpent back in Eden, they are really referring to a supernatural entity - not a mere member of the animal kingdom.
But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.
And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
This is how we need to think about the story of Gen. 3. An Israelite would have known that the episode described interference in the human drama by a divine being, a malcontent from within YHWH’s council. The vocabulary used by the writer reveals several things about the divine enemy that has emerged from the council. If we are only thinking of a snake we will miss the meaning.
My task today is to help you think beyond the literalness of the translated english language. If it’s true that the enemy in the garden was a supernatural being - -then he wasn’t a snake.
But it is also true that the story is told as it is for a reason. As odd as it sounds, the vocabulary and the imagery are designed to alert readers to the presence of a divine being, not a literal snake. We will compare Gen. 3 to other Old Testament passages. And we should be able to see that they are conceptually linked to Gen 3. But we need to remember some of the things we have learned
The two sources for this episode are Gen 3 and
“Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord God:
“You were the signet of perfection,
full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
You were in Eden, the garden of God;
every precious stone was your covering,
sardius, topaz, and diamond,
beryl, onyx, and jasper,
sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle;
and crafted in gold were your settings
and your engravings.
On the day that you were created
they were prepared.
You were an anointed guardian cherub.
I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God;
in the midst of the stones of fire you walked.
You were blameless in your ways
from the day you were created,
till unrighteousness was found in you.
In the abundance of your trade
you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned;
so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God,
and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub,
from the midst of the stones of fire.
Your heart was proud because of your beauty;
you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.
I cast you to the ground;
I exposed you before kings,
to feast their eyes on you.
We covered this in Ezekiel but to review… the prince of Tyre considers himself a god (el) who sits in the seat of the gods, a term associated with the divine council. (these are verses in Ezekiel 28) The prince called himself El…it means god.... the Phoenician religion had a divine counsel led by El, who was also called elyon (most high) and consider the creator of the earth.
For biblical writers this idea is offensive. YHWH is the Most High — the true king of all the gods and creator of heaven and earth. the arrogance of the prince of Tyre is an affront to the God of Isreal.
God deals with the prince … “will you say I am god before the face of your killers?”
You will die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers (v 10) BUT the prince is an uncircumsized gentile anyway --- seems to be incoherent. But later … Sheol calls him the place of these people… but then we get the text on the screen… fall on the earth and under the earth… Questions == prince not in Eden…an older story is used. This being is not Adam … it can only be the scene in Gen 3 a divine shining rebel among the stones of fire.
“Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord God:
“You were the signet of perfection,
full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
signat is troubling … (most troubling in fact) … the word there is “perfect model” or “signet ring” is the crux of the issue… it is a participle as a such means the sealer.... it is not an object but a person.
lumnious
adorned can mean divine
cast out of Eden …stones of fire are the mountainous dwelling of God and the council
divine being are also noted as stars… stones of fire
ALSO… the word sealer where it is used … sometimes a letter is silent and if so =serpentine..now
you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon:
“How the oppressor has ceased,
the insolent fury ceased!
a taunt or comparative parable … who is the king of Babylon being compared to?
The whole earth is at rest and quiet;
they break forth into singing.
The cypresses rejoice at you,
the cedars of Lebanon, saying,
‘Since you were laid low,
no woodcutter comes up against us.’
Sheol beneath is stirred up
to meet you when you come;
it rouses the shades to greet you,
all who were leaders of the earth;
it raises from their thrones
all who were kings of the nations.
All of them will answer
and say to you:
‘You too have become as weak as we!
You have become like us!’
Your pomp is brought down to Sheol,
the sound of your harps;
maggots are laid as a bed beneath you,
and worms are your covers.
like in Ezekiel 28 this guy goes to Sheol underworld — the shades that are waiting are Rephaim — dead warrior kings … then Isa goes
“How you are fallen from heaven,
O Day Star, son of Dawn!
How you are cut down to the ground,
you who laid the nations low!
You said in your heart,
‘I will ascend to heaven;
above the stars of God
I will set my throne on high;
I will sit on the mount of assembly
in the far reaches of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.’
But you are brought down to Sheol,
to the far reaches of the pit.
the divine council is transparent .. the king of Babylon is compared to the fallen Day Star son of the dawn… literally means shining one, son of the dawn … remember Job where they were called morning starts… this being enamored of himself… declared above stars of God — other members of council
sit on the mount of assembly/// “the north” … this guys wanted to be like God .. this being ...
punishment to live in the realm of the dead, the pit, brought to earth...
The Nachash of Genesis 3
The Nachash of Genesis 3
This word is both plain and elastic. no vowels … so if these vowels it means serpent or serpentine… but if other vowels the noun is a verb and means “diviner” foretold oracles .. or an alternative noun used like adjective … bronze .... shining one..
like running in english … exercise, diesal paint
The use of Nachash here is more complicated it points to all three meanings.. This is a divine being, serpentine and diviner that shines like bronze…he gives an oracle an omen … you won’t really die, you will be like god.. we all represent the creator don’t we....
This does not excuse the primal pair. they are judged .. entire libraries on this so I am selective
The curse leveled at Adam
And to Adam he said,
“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
and have eaten of the tree
of which I commanded you,
‘You shall not eat of it,’
cursed is the ground because of you;
in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
and you shall eat the plants of the field.
By the sweat of your face
you shall eat bread,
till you return to the ground,
for out of it you were taken;
for you are dust,
and to dust you shall return.”
did not supersede the mandate to subdue the earth and take dominion.. It did make it harder.. it turned a glorious mission into mundane drudgery (and too often churches do the same)… We are to continue the task! We have an inner sense of the need to restore something lost, but Eden cannot return on human terms — need a savior.
To the woman he said,
“I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;
in pain you shall bring forth children.
Your desire shall be contrary to your husband,
but he shall rule over you.”
Eve … look already had pain… but she must still bear children since her decedents would have something to do with the nachash
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.”
this wording, like all messianic prophecy is veiled… by intent … an heir will come and undo the damage done by the nachash...
This threat is fitting! The seduction to sin means God must keep his word and humanity must die. The nachash counted on this to eliminate his rivals. God was just in this regard. Sin did mean death, but not immediate annihilation.
It’s going to get worse before it gets better
Questions?