According to the Legends of the Jews, compiled by Rabbi Louis Ginzberg, the pronouncement of the serpent’s doom wasn't a solitary act. God convened a Sanhedrin – a court – of seventy-one angels to sit in judgment. Think of it: a heavenly court, deciding the fate of the creature who brought about humanity's fall.
And the execution of that judgment? That, too, was entrusted to angels. Can you picture them descending from heaven, carrying out the divine decree? They chopped off the serpent's hands and feet. The suffering was immense. So great, in fact, that his cries of agony echoed across the entire world. A truly epic moment of divine justice.
But what about Eve? What was her fate?
The verdict against Eve, we are told, consisted of ten curses. These weren't just words; they were pronouncements that shaped the very essence of womanhood, impacting her physical, spiritual, and social existence, even down to this very day. It's a heavy thought, isn't it?
Interestingly, the Legends of the Jews tells us that God didn't speak directly to Eve. The only woman God ever addressed directly was Sarah, Abraham's wife. In Eve's case, He used an interpreter. Why? We can only speculate. Perhaps it highlights the gravity of her transgression, or perhaps it reveals something deeper about the relationship between the divine and humanity. Either way, it adds another layer of complexity to this foundational story.