Where Was Adam When Eve Spoke to the Serpent

“The woman said to the serpent: From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat” (Genesis 3:2). “The woman said to the serpent” – where was Adam at that time?10Why was it not speaking with Adam? Abba bar Korya said: He had engaged in the way of nature11He had had relations with Eve. and he was sleeping. The Rabbis say: The Holy One blessed be He was taking him and circulating throughout the entire world [telling him]: ‘This is a good place to plant, this is a good place to sow.’

That is what is written: “In a land that no man has ever crossed, and where no person [adam] has ever dwelled” (Jeremiah 2:6) – Adam the first man did not dwell there.12This was a land that Adam had been told was not fit for settlement. “But from the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, God said: You shall not eat of it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die” (Genesis 3:3). “But from the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden…nor shall you touch it” – that is what is written: “Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you will be found to be false” (Proverbs 30:6).

Rabbi Ḥiyya taught: [This teaches] that you should not make the fence [around an orchard] taller than the main object [being protected], so it should not fall and sever the saplings.13A fence is needed, but it should not be made in a way that it might harm what it is protecting. So, the Holy One blessed be He said [merely]: “As on the day that you eat of it [you shall die]” (Genesis 2:17). But she did not say that, rather [she added on to it14Constructing a fence, as it were, to guard against the actual prohibition. and said:] “God said: You shall not eat of it, nor shall you touch it.”

When it saw her passing before the tree, it took hold of her and pushed her onto it. It said to her: ‘See, you did not die. Just as you did not die from touching it, so you will not die from eating of it. Rather [the real reason God forbade you to eat of it is:] “for God knows that on the day [you eat from it…you will be as God, knowing good from evil]”’ (Genesis 3:5).