The life of Adam and Eve after expulsion from paradise
Adam (translated from Hebrew as “son of the earth”, “man”) and Eve (“giver of life”) were created by God and lived in paradise (Gen. 2:15). The Lord gave them a commandment: not to eat fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. But Eve, succumbing to the tricks of the serpent (devil), violated God’s prohibition and gave fruit to Adam. Both were expelled from heaven. Eve and all female descendants must “bear children in sickness” and be subject to her husband. Adam and the male race were destined to labor in sorrow on the earth, which was “cursed for his sake.” The curse of the earth was expressed in the impoverishment of its fertility. This affected a person's life. After all, this doomed him to hard work for food (interpretation by Professor A.P. Lopukhin). The children of Adam and Eve, like their parents, lost the gift of immortality.
Children of Adam and Eve: the story of Cain and Abel (medieval bas-relief)
After being expelled from paradise, Adam and Eve had their first son, Cain (translated from ancient Hebrew as “to create”). Then the second son - Abel (means “breath”, “breath”, “nothing”). The Bible tells about the birth of the third son of Seth (that is, “foundation”, “establishment”) when the first parents were 130 years old. The daughters of Adam and Eve are also known, but their names are not mentioned in the Bible. “The days of Adam after he begat Seth were eight hundred years, and he begat sons and daughters” (Gen. 5:4). Adam died at the age of 930. How many years Eve lived is not directly stated in the Bible. However, the apocryphal “Life of Adam and Eve” says that she outlived Adam by only 6 days.
Adam, Lilith and Eve
Deciding to give Adam a girlfriend so that he would not be lonely, God put him into a deep sleep, took one rib out of his chest, made a woman out of it and closed the wound. When Adam woke up, he said: “She will be called woman, for she was taken from [her] husband... and the [two] will become one flesh.” The name he gave her was Eve, that is, “Mother of All Living.”
Some believe that God created man and woman in His own image on the sixth day, giving the whole world to their care; but Eve was not yet there. So, God ordered Adam to give names to all animals and birds and all living creatures. When they passed in front of him in pairs, Adam - already like an adult man - became jealous of them, and although he tried to copulate with all the females in turn, he did not find pleasure in it. Then he exclaimed: “Every creature except me has a friend like him!” And he began to pray to God to correct this injustice.
Then God created Lilith, the first woman, just as He created Adam, except that He used dirt and silt instead of pure dust. From the union of Adam with this demoness and with another similar to her, named Naamah, the sister of Tubalcain, Asmodeus and many other demons were born, who still plague humanity. Many, many years later, Lilith and Naamah came to Solomon’s judgment, hiding under the guise of Jerusalem whores.
Adam and Lilith could not get along together; when he wanted to lie down with her, she was offended if he asked her to lie down below. “Why should I lie under you? she asked. “I was also created from dust, so I am your equal.” When Adam tried to force obedience from her, Lilith, in a rage, uttered the secret name of God, flew into the sky and disappeared.
Adam complained to God: “My girlfriend left me.” God immediately sent the angels Senoi, Sansenoi and Semangelof to return Lilith, and they found her on the shores of the Red Sea, where there were many lustful demons and where she gave birth to more than a hundred lilims a day. “Return to Adam without delay,” said the angels, “or we will drown you!” But Lilith asked: “Can I return to Adam and become an honest wife again after my life on the Red Sea?” “To refuse is to die!” - answered the angels. “Can I die,” Lilith asked again, “if God gave all newborn children at my disposal: boys until the eighth day, that is, before circumcision, and girls until the twelfth day? However, if I ever see your three names or your images on an amulet over a newborn baby, I promise not to touch it.” They agreed on this, and God punished Lilith by having one hundred demonic babies born to her die every day; and if she could not harm a human baby because of the angelic amulet, then she turned her hatred on her own offspring.
Lilith is said to have been a queen in Zmargad and possibly Sava; and she is the same demoness who tormented the sons of Job. Yet she, unlike Adam, escaped death, since they separated long before the Fall. Lilith and Naamah not only strangle babies, but also seduce sleepy men, of whom anyone sleeping alone can become their victim.
Not disheartened by Adam's first failure to find a girlfriend, God gave it a second try and allowed Adam to watch as He created a woman from bones, tendons, muscles, blood and glands, and then covered it all with skin and added hair where needed. . This sight aroused such disgust in Adam that when the First Eve stood before him in all her glory, he felt an irresistible disgust. God realized that he had failed again and took the First Eve away. Where He took her, no one knows exactly.
God made a third attempt, but this time he acted more carefully. Having put Adam to sleep, He took a rib from him and created a woman from it, then attached her hair, adorned her like a bride with twenty-four jewels, and only after that he woke Adam up. Adam was delighted.
Some believe that God created Eve not from Adam's rib, but from a tail with a sting at the end, which Adam originally had. God cut off the tail, and the stump - a useless tailbone - still remains with the descendants of Adam.
And others say that God originally intended to create two people: a man and a woman, but instead He planned one person with a male face in front and a female face in the back. Then he changed His mind again and, removing the woman’s face, made a woman’s body for him.
But some are still sure that Adam was originally created as a bisexual creature with female and male bodies, as if stuck back to back. Since this made movement and conversation very difficult, God divided the androgen into two people, whom He placed in Eden and forbade them to copulate.
Note
The traditional opinion is that a man’s first sexual experience was with animals, and not with a woman, as, by the way, in Arab folklore. Solomon suspected that the Queen of Sheba was Lilith because of her hairy legs. His trial of two harlots is reflected in 1 Kings III, 16 ff. According to Isaiah XXXIV, 14-15, Lilith lives in the desolate ruins of the land of Edom among satyrs, buffalos, pelicans, owls, jackals, ostriches, snakes and kites. Lilith's children are called lilim. In the Targum Yerushalmi, the priestly blessing from Numbers VI, 24 begins: “May the Lord bless you and keep you from Lilith!” Commentator of the 4th century. n. e. Jerome identifies Lilith with the Greek Lamia, the Libyan queen who was abandoned by Zeus and whose children were destroyed by Hera. So she began to take revenge, taking children from other women.
The lamias, who seduced sleeping men, drank their blood and ate their flesh, as Lilith and other demonesses did, were also known by the names Empusae, "squeezing ones," or Mormolyceia, "frightening she-wolves"; the Hellenes considered them “children of Hecate.” A bas-relief from Hellenic times shows a naked Lamia straddling a man sleeping on his back. This is very interesting for a civilization in which women were considered chattel and therefore had to take the place below during intercourse, which Lilith refused. The Greek witches who worshiped Hecate occupied the highest position, as we know from Apuleius; and we find the same thing in the Sumerian description of sexual intercourse, but not in the Hittite one. Malinowski writes that Melanesian girls laugh at what they call the “missionary position,” which requires them to lie still.
The name Haamah, "pleasant," is explained as "a demoness who sings pleasant songs to idols." Zmargad, possibly smaragdos, semi-precious aquamarine; a hint of her underwater home. There is a demon named Smaragos in Homer's Epigrams.
The creation of Eve from Adam's rib, a myth that affirms male superiority and denies Eve's divine origin, has no parallel in Mediterranean or Middle Eastern mythologies. The subject may have been taken iconotropically from an ancient bas-relief or other image in which the naked goddess Anath, poised in the air, watched her lover Mot kill her twin brother Alian; Mot (mistaken by the mythographer for Yahweh) plunged a curved dagger under Alian's fifth rib, without intending to pull out the sixth rib. There was also a pun on the word tsela, the Hebrew "rib": Eve, although intended as Adam's friend, was in fact tsela, "mistake," "misfortune." The creation of Eve from Adam's tail is an even stranger myth; it may be based on children born with residual tails, which happens relatively often.
The story of Lilith's flight to the East and Adam's marriage to Eve, oddly enough, may reflect a long-standing historical incident: nomadic shepherds, admitted to the Canaanite kingdom of Lilith as guests (see 16.1), suddenly gain strength and, when the royal court flees , occupy the second kingdom, which is subjugated to the Hittite goddess Hebe.
The meaning of the name "Eve" is unclear. Hawwah is explained in Genesis III, 20 as "the mother of all living"; but it may also be a modified form of the sacred name Heba (Heba), Nebat, Hebat, Hiba, that is, the name of the wife of the Hittite storm god. She is sculpted riding a lion in Hattusas (equating her with Anath), and she is described as Ishtar in Hurrian texts. She was worshiped in Jerusalem. Her Greek name is Hebe (Hebe), and she was the divine wife of Hercules.
Quote by: R. Graves. Jewish myths
Symbolism of the names of Adam and Eve
In biblical texts, the word “Adam” has several meanings. This is not only the name of the first person. The word “Adam” is used in Genesis as “man” (Gen. 5:2). In other books of Holy Scripture, “Adam” is interpreted as “man” (Eccl. 7:28), “everyone” (Num. 19:14), “every one” (Zech. 13:5), “people” (Judg. 16 :7), “the first man” (Job 15:7). Most often the Hebrew word adam in the first chapter of Genesis is used in the general sense of “man.” And only after expulsion from paradise does it become the name of the first man.
Eva did not receive her name right away. The Bible talks about the creation of woman. Adam calls her wife (Gen. 2:23). But after the violation of God’s commandment, the Fall, “Eve” becomes the name of the first woman. Translated from Hebrew, hawwa means “life” or “life-giving.”
Adam and Eve's first children: Cain and Abel
The sons of Adam and Eve are the founders of the main activities of the first people. The eldest son Cain cultivated the land. The second son Abel became a cattle breeder. When the time came to make offerings to God (the results of one’s labors), Cain’s gift was not accepted by the Lord. The Bible does not indicate why God chose Abel over Cain.
Saint John Chrysostom said about this:
“Look how Scripture shows us Abel’s God-loving intention and what he brought not just from the sheep, but from the “firstborn,” that is, the dear, chosen ones: further - what is most precious from these chosen ones: and “from the fat” it is said , i.e. from the most pleasant, the best. Scripture does not notice anything like this about Cain, but only says that he brought a sacrifice from the fruits of the ground, which, so to speak, came across, without any effort or analysis.”
Cain killed his brother Abel out of envy. For this crime, God cursed Cain:
“Cursed are you from the land, which received your brother’s blood from your hand. When you till the earth, it will no longer yield its strength for you; you will be an exile and a wanderer on the earth” (Gen. 4:11-12).
Cain and his wife left their native place and moved east of Eden. There he builds the city of Enoch in honor of his son.
“This is who was the first city planner on earth - Cain, cursed from the earth! Ancient cities are fortresses. And Cain, overcome by fear for his life, builds a fortress for himself. He doesn't want to learn humility. He wants to defend himself and continues to become bitter. And by calling the city after his son, he more and more shows his alienation from God, his self-sufficiency” (Archpriest Oleg Stenyaev).
The descendants of Cain were born vicious, immoral people. They cared only about their benefits and pleasures. The descendants of Cain formed a phenomenon that in our time is called “civilization.” So, Jubal laid the foundation for playing the harp. Tubalcain forged metal tools. Nothing is mentioned in the Bible about Cain's later life.
Seth - third son of Adam and Eve
Despite the tragedy, the children of Adam and Eve continued the human race. Their third son was sent by God to replace the murdered Abel. When Seth was 205 years old, his first son was born from his sister, Enos. For more than 700 years, Seth gave birth to sons and daughters. His family grew and prospered. Seth was instructed by his father never to marry the corrupt descendants of Cain. The family of Seth lived righteously and tried to please God in everything.
Archpriest Nikolai Popov wrote:
“From Seth came a tribe of pious people who were called the sons of God. From him came the antediluvian patriarchs Enosh, Kaivan, Maleleel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech and Noah. Of these, the most remarkable are: Enoch, Methuselah and Noah (the Comforter).”
Seth died at the age of 912, leaving behind worthy and pious descendants.
Archpriest Oleg Stenyaev writes about the family of Cain and the family of Seth:
“Here are two ways. One is the path of materialists seeking happiness in this life, tangible happiness, well-being that can be seen and touched. Another path is the path of those who do not seek happiness in this life, but perform spiritual deeds. The main purpose of their life is the spiritual city, the New Jerusalem, which came down from heaven.”
How many children did Adam and Eve have
All of Adam and Eve's children are not listed in the Bible. Likewise, the Book of Genesis does not detail Adam's entire genealogy. After all, the meaning of the biblical narrative is not statistical data about who gave birth, when and to whom. The point is to reveal God's plan for humanity. Archpriest Andrei Efanov explains:
“The Book of Genesis does not describe the entire genealogy of Adam, but only briefly notes: and he begat sons and daughters (Gen. 5:4). This book was not intended to be a display of statistical data about the life and population of the first people. What its author draws our attention to – be it names, events or the words of God Himself – always concerns directly our soul and our true understanding of the Creator’s plan for the world and humanity.”
Some information about the genealogy of Adam and Eve can be found in the apocryphal Book of Jubilees. It says that after Cain and Abel, the daughter Avan was born. After the murder of Abel, Sif is born, and after him the daughter Azura. The philosopher and historian Josephus claimed that Adam had 33 sons and 23 daughters.
The Bible does not specifically say who Cain's wife was. The only possible answer is that Cain's wife was his sister or niece. The Bible does not indicate Cain's age when he killed Abel (Genesis 4:8). And since they both cultivated the land, they were most likely already adult men and, possibly, had their own families.
Adam and Eve had other children besides Cain and Abel.
Genesis 5:4
The days of Adam after he begat Seth were eight hundred years, and he begat sons and daughters.
The fact that Cain feared for his life after killing Abel indicates that there were other children, and perhaps even grandchildren, of Adam and Eve at this time.
Genesis 4:14
behold, You are now driving me from the face of the earth, and I will hide from Your presence, and I will be an exile and a wanderer on the earth; and whoever meets me will kill me.
Thus, Cain's wife was the daughter or granddaughter of Adam.
Genesis 4:17
And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch. And he built a city; and he named the city after the name of his son: Enoch.
Since Adam and Eve were the first (and only) humans, their children had to marry each other. God prohibited intra-family marriages much later, when there were enough people to eliminate the need for such marriages.
Leviticus 18:6–18
No one should approach any relative according to the flesh in order to reveal nakedness. I am the Lord. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father or the nakedness of your mother; she is your mother; you shall not uncover her nakedness. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife; it is the nakedness of your father. The nakedness of your sister, your father's daughter, or your mother's daughter, whether born in the house or outside the house, you shall not uncover their nakedness. The nakedness of your son's daughter or your daughter's daughter, do not reveal their nakedness, for they are your nakedness. The nakedness of the daughter of your father's wife, born of your father, she is your sister by father's side, do not uncover her nakedness. Do not reveal the nakedness of your father’s sister, she is your father’s half-blood. Do not reveal the nakedness of your mother’s sister, for she is your mother’s half-blood. Do not reveal the nakedness of your father's brother, and do not approach his wife: she is your aunt. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law; she is your son’s wife; you shall not uncover her nakedness. Do not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife, it is your brother's nakedness. Do not reveal the nakedness of your wife and daughter; Do not take her son's daughter and her daughter's daughter to reveal their nakedness, they are her half-blood; this is lawlessness. Do not take a wife along with her sister, to make her a rival, to expose her nakedness in her presence, during her lifetime.
Incest of people with similar genetics often results in genetic abnormalities in their offspring. The likelihood of genetic abnormalities increases if the father and mother have the same genetic problems (for example, a brother and sister). For spouses from different families, the possibility of the same genetic defects is minimal. Over the centuries, the human genetic code has become extremely contaminated as genetic defects accumulate, mutate, and pass on from generation to generation. Since Adam and Eve had no genetic defects, this allowed them and the first generations of their descendants to enjoy much better health than we currently enjoy. The children of Adam and Eve, even if they had genetic defects, were very minor, that is, intra-family marriages were safe for them. It is difficult for us to imagine that Cain's wife was his sister, but at first, since God created one man and one woman, the second generation of people simply had no choice but to marry their brothers and sisters.
Marrying your own sister: sin or coincidence
From a Christian point of view, the marriage of Seth with his own sister is incest. But is this so in the realities of life of the first people? The entire human race came from Adam and Eve: Cain, Abel, Seth and their sisters were born. Accordingly, men could marry either their own sisters or nieces. Saint John Chrysostom explains it this way:
“And in the present case, we can believe that Eve, after Cain and Abel, gave birth to a daughter, whom Cain took as his wife. Since this was in the beginning, and meanwhile the human race needed to multiply, it was allowed to marry sisters.”
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Other descendants of the ancestors
The Bible does not mention other children of the first people, but apocryphal texts give several versions that speak of the existence of a large number of offspring among the first people.
- The apocrypha “Life” says that after the birth of Seth, Adam and Eve had 60 more male and female children. By entering into marriage relations with each other, they populated the earth.
- Jewish researchers, interpreting the first verses of the book of Genesis, argue that, while wandering the earth after the Fall, Adam and Eve had relationships with spirits, from whom children were born who populated the earth. Perhaps it was they who inhabited the country of Nod, where Cain settled.
- Before Eve was created, Adam was married to Lilith. According to various sources, she was either a woman created from clay who rebelled against the will of the creator, or a female demon. Their descendants, who settled throughout the world, carried within them the stamp of evil, which, as a result of marital unions, was passed on to the offspring of Adam and Eve.
Interesting: some sources voice the opinion that the family of Adam and Eve was only one of the few created by the Lord. They stood out from the crowd by committing the Fall. Therefore, Cain and Abel were not limited in their choice of spouse by the boundaries of their clan.
