Mark

Cheryl,

Just cam across some interesting information while do some study for a philosophy exam…thought you might be intereseted and could comment. It is in regards to Eve’s conversation with the serpent.

“First, she exaggerates the prohibition. God never commanded that they not touch the fruit (3:3). Second, she omits the name of the tree, that is, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Third, she adds to the commandment by giving the location of the tree “in the middle of the garden”. Fourth, the woman minimizes the penalty by saying “lest you die”, when in fact God had said “you shall surely die” (there is a double verb in Hebrew not present in the woman’s statement). And, finally, she minimizes her privileges by proclaiming “we may eat” of the fruit of the trees; God had said that they “may eat freely” from the trees (again a double verb appears for emphasis).”

continuing on “He (serpent) saids “you will surely not die!” (3:4; note that the serpent uses the double v