“They were both naked, the man and his wife, and they were not ashamed” (Genesis 2:25). “They were both naked” – Rabbi Eliezer said: There are three cases where people did not spend six hours in peace and tranquility, and they are: Adam, Israel, and Sisera. Adam, as it is stated: “and they were not ashamed [velo yitboshashu]” – not even six [shesh] hours passed with him being in peace and tranquility.52He sinned and was driven from the Garden before he had lived six hours.
Israel, as it is stated: “The people saw that Moses tarried [boshesh]” (Exodus 32:1) – six [shesh] hours had passed,53Of the fortieth day after Moses’ ascent, the day on which he had told them he would return. and Moses had not come. Sisera, as it is stated: “Why does his chariot tarry [boshesh] to arrive” (Judges 5:28) – every day he was accustomed to come home during the third hour or fourth hour [of the day], but now the sixth [shesh] hour had passed and he had not come.
That is the meaning of “velo yitboshashu.” “The serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman: Did God actually say: You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?” (Genesis 3:1). “The serpent was…cunning” – the verse [after this one] should have said only: “The Lord God made for Adam and for his wife [garments]… (Genesis 3:21)”54That would seem to be what should be written after we are told that they were naked.
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa said: It is to inform you what misdeed prompted that evil one [the serpent] to assail them. It is because it saw them engaging in the way of nature55Intercourse. [in the open], and it lusted for her. Rabbi Yaakov of Kefar Ḥanin said: It was in order not to conclude the section with the passage of the serpent.56That is why the verse about God clothing Adam and Eve was placed at the end of the passage and not here.