We often think of it as just a snake, but according to the Legends of the Jews, as retold by Louis Ginzberg, this serpent was something truly extraordinary.
It wasn't just any animal. It possessed exceptional qualities, even resembling humans in some ways. Imagine, it could stand upright on two feet, and was as tall as a camel! Ginzberg elaborates that before the "fall," a single pair of these amazing serpents could have handled all of humanity's work, and even provided us with treasures like silver, gold, gems, and pearls.
But here's the tragic twist: the serpent's very intelligence became its downfall, and ours too. Its superior mental gifts, according to the tale, led it to infidelity – a rejection of faith. And even more potent, it developed a deep envy for humankind, especially for Adam's relationship with Eve. This envy fueled its desire to bring about Adam's demise.
Knowing Adam wouldn't be easily swayed, the serpent targeted Eve, believing women were more susceptible to deception. It began the conversation with a calculated question, "Is it true that God hath said, Ye shall not eat of every tree in the garden?" Eve, perhaps innocently, replied that they could eat from any tree except the one in the middle, which they were forbidden to even touch, lest they die.
Now, here's a crucial detail. God only forbade eating the fruit, but Adam, in his zeal to protect Eve, added the prohibition against touching the tree. This exaggeration, the story implies, created an opening for the serpent. As the proverb says, "Better a wall ten hands high that stands, than a wall a hundred ells high that cannot stand."
The serpent seized the opportunity. It pushed Eve against the tree, saying, "See, touching it hasn't killed you! Eating it won't either. God is only keeping you from becoming like Him, creators and destroyers of worlds!" It even claimed God ate the fruit first to create the world. "Artisans of the same guild hate one another," it argued.
The serpent continued its manipulative arguments, suggesting that each creation rules over the one before it, and that humans, being the last creation, should eat the fruit to avoid being ruled by future creations. To prove its point, the serpent shook the tree, ate the fruit, and declared, "As I do not die of eating the fruit, so wilt thou not die."
Eve, now questioning Adam's commands, compromised. She ate only the skin of the fruit at first. When she didn't die, she ate the fruit itself. Immediately, she saw the Angel of Death and, fearing her own demise, decided to bring Adam down with her, lest he find another wife.
Through tears and lamentations, she convinced Adam to eat the forbidden fruit. But she didn't stop there. She offered the fruit to all living beings, condemning them to mortality as well. All ate, except for one, the bird malham.
The malham refused, declaring, "Is it not enough that ye have sinned against God, and have brought death to others?" For this act of defiance and loyalty, a heavenly voice declared that the malham and its descendants would live forever in Paradise, never tasting death.
After eating the fruit, Adam and Eve's eyes were opened, and they realized they were naked. Before, they were covered in a horny skin and enveloped in a cloud of glory. But now, those coverings were gone, leaving them exposed and ashamed.
As Adam and Eve sought leaves to cover themselves, most trees refused, calling Adam a thief who deceived his Creator. Only the fig tree, the tree of the forbidden fruit itself, offered its leaves. The text draws a parallel to a prince seduced by a servant; when the king finds out, only the servant who caused his disgrace will offer him refuge.
What does this story tell us? It's a complex narrative about temptation, deception, and the consequences of disobedience. But perhaps, at its heart, it's a story about the dangers of both blind obedience and unchecked ambition. It reminds us to question, to discern, and to consider the long-term impact of our choices, because even the smallest deviation from truth, like Adam's added prohibition, can have devastating consequences. As we reflect on the story of the "Fall," let's consider the ways in which we, too, might be susceptible to the serpent's whispers, and strive to choose wisdom and righteousness in our own lives.