Mark

Pinklight,

I am not saying that it is not theoretically possible that God gave a new prohibition to Adam and Eve. As i quoted Richard Hess, we don’t know. My point though is quite simple, we do only have 1 recorded prohibition given to Adam only, therefore exegetically this is the prefered option. Yours (and Cheryl’s) relies on speculation rather than biblical proof. It is safer therefore to go with what we have, not with what we don’t have.

If Eve was correct in quoting God, why don’t her and Adam die when they ‘touch it’? The text explicitly states that their eyes are open after they ‘eat it’ and this is when they die, which is exactly what is for-warned by God to Adam in Gen 2. I hope you have an answer to this one?

Why does Eve ‘covet’ for the fruit? All these little details are important.

Why is Yahweh ommitted? The relational name of God? Is it not because it is his relations with the humans which is being questioned? Again important little insights.

Frankly, your view is exegetically weak. It relies on a non-recorded prohibition. It ignores the hebrew details, and simply speculates more than exegetes.