Bible Genesis 3 Flash Cards

Front 1

Focusing on the end of the Serpent's dialogue, what might be the deeper sin of Gen 3? What are three ways that G-d countered adam and Chavah's attempt by making a larger gap between humans and G-d?

Back 1

The deeper sin of Gen. 3 is trying to become G-d/gods. G-d deprived us of three things-
1) immortality- G-d never dies, humans do. Our curse is death.
2) power- G-d is omnipotent, and humans power is limited. Our curse is that man has pain in working for food.
3) creativity- G-d creates efortlessly, out of nothing. Our curse is that women have main in child bearing.

Front 2

What fourth way did G-d leave open? Based on this availability, wat is the deeper moral or lesson of the entire story?

Back 2

G-d gives us knowledge. G-d is omniscient, and human knowledge is limited. Knowledge is left open. We can become like G-d by acting morally.

Front 3

What are two ways that GEnesis 3 is similar to each of the Mesopotamian "quest stories" Gilgamesh and Adapta? What is the main difference, and what does this difference reveal about the goals and values of ancient Israelites?

Back 3

Similarities to:
-Gilgamesh:
1) Knkindu gained wisdon/knowledge and became like a G-d through sex
2) Plant of life=tree of life
3) Snake/serpent ruins humanity's chance to gain immortality
-Adapa:
1) Bread and water of life=tree of life
2) Both G-d/Ea says they cannot eat on penalty of death
3) Both G-d/Ea was lying- they wouldn't actually die.
4) Both G-d/gods give Adam/Adapa wisdom and clothing.
Main differences:
-Mesopotamia:
Goal: Become G-ds by gaining immortality- MISSION IMPOSSIBLE
-Israelite:
Goal: Become like G-d by gaining mortality. MISSION IS POSSIBLE.

Front 4

Why is Chavvah named that, and why there? What are two problems in Chavvah's naming, and how is each one solved through a closer look at the text's structure and Chavvah's name? What might this reveal about Chavvah?

Back 4

She is named Chavvah because she became the mother of all living.
Two problems:
-Timing:
Chavah is called "mother of all life" when
a) she is not a mother until 4:1
b) she just caused death, not life.
Solution:
In the chiasmus, Chavvah's intro is parallel to the Nachash's intro, which shows that they are being comparted.
Problem:
-Spelling: The name should be Chayah instead of Chavah because it says 'am colchay'.
Solution:
Chavan (with two vuvs)=serpent in Aramaic. Nachas and Chavah are connected.

Front 5

Give two arguments from the text to prove why each of the four characters in Gen 3 (Serpent, Chavvah, Adam, and G-d) are to blame for the sin.

Back 5

Serpent:
-Tricked Chavvah into disobeying G-d.
-Tried to get Chavvah and Adam in trouble.
Chavvvah:
-She trusted the serpent over G-d
-She was the first to eat the fruit.
Adam:
-G-d told him personally not do eat from the tree, and he did it anyway.
-Did not ask, or even think before eating.
G-d:
-Should have told everybody not to eat from the tree, not only Adam.
-Made the tree look delicious.

Front 6

In their dialogue, how do the Serpent and Chavvah each change G-d's command, and what does that reveal about each one's qualities and intentions?

Back 6

Serpent-
-Clever:
-Uses G-d's exact words, but flips G-d's intentions to mean te opposite.
-Never tells Eve directly to eat.

Chavvah:
-Already leanig towards disobeying.
-Makes G-d look less generous, more strict and rediculous
Makes command into vague statement
-Makes punishment only a maybe.

Front 7

What are six possibilities for what the sin might be? For each, point out who the sinner(s) are in that case, and give two arguemtns from the text to support it.

Back 7

1) Disobediance of G-d's command.
-Sinner: Adam
-Support:
a. G-d commanded Adam not to eat in 2:16-17, but Adam ate anyway.
b. G-d gets angry at Adam specifically for disobeying him.
2) Not accepting responsibility/blaming
-Sinner: Adam, Chavah, G-d
-Support:
a. Adam blames G-d for 'giving' him Chavvat
b. G-d blames and curses everyone.
3) Lying/deception
-Sinner: Serpent, Chavah, Adam, G-d
-Support:
a. Serpent changes G-d's words to mean the opposite.
b. G-d did not kill everyone as he had said he would.
4) Taking things for granted/greed
-Sinner: Adam, Chavah
-Support:
a. G-d willingly gave them a lot of trees to eat from and they did not appreciate it.
b. Punishment fits: now men must work painfully for the food he origionally got easily.
5) Desires/temptation/curiousity
-Sinner: Chavvah
-Support:
a. Chavah ate because the truit was 'desiarable'
b. Punishment fits: Chavvah now must have urge/desire for her husband.
6) Improper social structire (woman superior to man)
-Sinner: Chavvah (Adam)
-Support:
a. Chavvah gives to Adam and he subnmits and eats.
b. G-d punishes Adam for 'listening to his wife'
6) Sex
-Sinner: Adam, Chavvah
-Support:
a. 'tree of knowledge'=know=sex
b. Start out naked, gain shame.

Front 8

According to the Midrash, how might Adam be blamed for chavvah's 'strething' of G-d's command? Why did Adam do what he did, and how did it backfire- how did the Serpent use that to its advantage?

Back 8

Adam stretched G-d's command to put a fence around it. In other words, he did it to be sure that Chavvah would not eat the fruit on the tree. The Serpent touched the fruit, and told Chavvah that he was allowed to touch it, and Chavvah assumed she was allowed to eat it since she was allowed to touch it.