3:1-24. The Fall.

J2  E  1-5. The Nachash: procuring man's death, in 
             Adam.
     F  6. The Tree of knowledge. Eating of it.
      G  f  7-. Effect on both: Adam & Eve.
          g -7. Human provisions: man-made aprons.
           H  8-12. God's inquiry of Adam.
            I  13. God's inquiry of Eve.
             K  14. Sentence of the Nachash.
             K  15. Promise of the Seed. 
            I  16. God's sentence on Eve.
           H  17-19. God's sentence on Adam.
      G  f  20. Effect on both: Adam & Eve.
          g  21. Divine provision: God-made coats.
     F  22-24-. The Tree of Life. Expulsion from it.
    E  -24. The Cherubim: preserving mankind's
          life, in Christ.

Not allegory: but literal history, emphasized by Figures of Speech.

The Serpent of Genesis 3.

In Genesis Chapter 3 we have neither allegory, myth, legend, or fable, but literal historical fact set forth, and emphasized by the use of certain Figures of Speech.

All the confusion of thought and conflicting exegesis (Interpretation of Scripture) have risen from taking literally what is expressed by Figures, or from taking figuratively what is literal. A Figure of Speech is never used except for the purpose of calling attention to, emphasizing, and intensifying, the reality of the literal sense, and the truth of the historical facts; so that, while the words employed may not be so strictly true to the letter, they are all the more true to the truth conveyed by them, and to the historical events connected with them.

But for the figurative language of verses 14 and 15 no one would have thought of referring the third chapter of Genesis to a snake, no more than he does when reading the third chapter from the end of Revelation (20:2). Indeed, the explanation added there, that the "old serpent" is the Devil and Satan would immediately lead one to connect the word "old" with the earlier and former mention of the serpent in Gen. 3: and the fact that it was Satan himself who tempted "the second man", "The last Adam", would force the conclusion that no other than the personal Satan could have been the tempter of "the first man, Adam."

The Hebrew word rendered "serpent" in Gen. 3:1 is Nachash (from the root Nachash, to shine), and means a shinning one. Hence the Chaldee means brass or copper, because of its shinning. Hence also, the word Nehushtan, a piece of brass, in 2 Kings 18:4.

In the same way Saraph, in Isaiah.6:2,6, means a burning one, and, because the serpents mentioned in Num. 21 were burning, in the poison of their bite, they were called Saraphim, or Seraphs.

But when the Lord said to Moses, "Make you a fiery serpent" (Num. 21:8), He said, "Make you a Saraph," and, in obeying the command, we read in v.9, "Moses made a Nachash of brass," Nachash is thus used as being interchangeable with Saraph.

Now, if Saraph is used of a serpent because its bite was burning, and is also used of a celestial or spirit-being (a burning one), why should not Nachash be used of a serpent because its appearance was shinning, and be also used of a celestial or spirit-being (a shining one)?

Indeed, a reference to the structure of Gen.3 will show that the Cherubim (which are similar celestial or spirit-beings) of the last verse (Gen.3:24) require a similar spirit-being to correspond with them in the first verse (for the structure of the whole chapter is a great Introversion). The Nachash, or serpent, who beguiled Eve (2 Cor. 11:3) is spoken of as "an angel of light" in v.14. Have we not, in this, a clear intimation that it was not a snake, but a glorious shinning being, apparently an angel, to whom Eve paid such great deference, acknowledging him as one who seemed to possess superior knowledge, and whom was evidently a being of a superior (not inferior) order? Moreover, in the description of Satan as "the King of Tyre" it is distinctly implied that the latter being was of a super-natural order when he is called "a cherub" (Ezek. 28:14,16 read from v.11-19). His presence "in Eden, the garden of 'Elohim"(God) (v.13), is also clearly stated, as well as his being "perfect in beauty" (v.12), his being "perfect in his ways from the day he was created till iniquity was found in him" (v.15), and as being "lifted up because of his beauty" (v.17).

These all compel the belief that Satan was the shinning one (Nachash) in Gen.3, and especially because the following words could be addressed to him, "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty, you have corrupted your wisdom by reason of your brightness: I will cast you to the ground, I will lay you before kings, that they may behold you." (v.17).

Even supposing that these things were spoken to, and of, an exalted human being in the later days (Ezek.28), still "the King of Tyre" is not compared to a being who was non existent; and the facts and the circumstances which never happened are not introduced into the comparison.

There is more about "the King of Tyre" in Ezek. 28:11-19 then was literally true of "the prince of Tyre" (vv.1-10). The words can be understood only of the mightiest and most supernatural being God ever created; and this for the purpose of showing how great he would fall. The history must be true to make the prophecy of any weight.

Again, the word rendered "subtle" in Gen. 3:1 means wise, in a good sense as well as in a bad sense. In Ezek.28:12 we have the good sense, "You seal up the sum, full of wisdom"; and the bad sense in v.17, "You have corrupted your wisdom" (referring of course to his fall). So the word rendered "subtle" is rendered "prudent" in Prov. 1:14; 8:12; 12:23; 14:8; and in a bad sense in Job 15:5. 1 Sam. 23:22. Ps. 83:3.

The word "beast" also, in Gen.3:1, chay, denotes a living being, and it is as wrong to translate Zoa "beast" in Gen.3. Both mean living creature. Satan is thus spoken of as being "more wise than any living creature which Yahaveh Elohim had made". Even if the word "beast" be retained, it does not say that either a serpent or Satan was a "beast", but only that he was "more wise" than any other living being.

We cannot conceive Eve as holding a conversation with a snake, but we can understand her being fascinated by one, apparently "an angel of light" (i.e. a glorious angel) possessing superior and supernatural knowledge.

When Satan is spoken of as a "serpent", it is the Figure Hypocatastasis or Implication; it no more means a snake that it does when Dan is so called in Gen. 49:17; or an animal when Nero is called a "lion" (2 Tim. 4:17), or when Herod is called a "fox" (Luke 13:32); or when Judah is called a "lions whelp". It is the same figure when "doctrine" is called "leaven" (Matt. 16:6). It shows that something much more real and truer to truth is intended. If a Figure of Speech is thus employed, it is for the purpose of expressing the truth more impressively; and is intended to be a figure of something much more real than the letter of the word.

Other Figures of Speech are used in vv.14,15, but only for the same purpose of emphasizing the truth and the reality of what is said.

When it is said in v.15, "you shall bruise His heel", it cannot mean His literal heal of flesh and blood, but suffering, more temporary in character. When it is said (v.15) "He shall crush your head", it means something more than the skull of bone, and brain, and hair. It means Satan's plans and plots, policy and purpose, will one day be finally crushed and ended, never more to mar or to hinder the purpose of God. This will be effected when Satan shall be bruised under our feet (Rom. 16:20). This again, will not be our literal feet, but something much more real.

The bruising of Christ's heel is the most eloquent and impressive way of foretelling the most solemn events and to point out that the effort made by Satan to evade his doom, then threatened, would become the very means of insuring it's accomplishment; for it was through the death of Christ that he who had the power of death would be destroyed; and all Satan's power and policy brought to an end, and all his works destroyed (Heb. 2:14. 1 John 3:8. Rev. 20:1-3,10). What literal words could portray these literal facts so wonderfully as these expressive Figures of Speech?

It is the same with the other Figures used in v.14, "on your belly shall you go". This Figure means infinity more than the literal belly of flesh and blood; just as the words "heel" and "head" do in v.15. It paints for the eyes of our mind the picture of Satan's ultimate humiliation; for prostration was ever the most eloquent sign of subjection. When it is said "our belly cleaves to the ground" (Ps. 44:25), it denotes such a prolonged prostration and such depth of submission as could never be conveyed or expressed in literal words.

So with the other prophecy, "Dust shall you eat". This is not true to the letter, or to fact, but is all the more true to truth. It tells of constant, continues disappointment, failure, and mortification; as when deceitful ways are spoken of as feeding on deceitful food, which is "sweet to a man, but afterword his mouth shall be filled with gravel" (Prov. 20:17). This does not mean literal "gravel", but something far more disagreeable. It means disappointment so great that it would gladly be exchanged for the literal "gravel". So when Christians are rebuked for "biting and devouring one another" (Gal. 3:14,15), something more heart-breaking is meant than the literal words used in the Figure.

When "His enemies shall lick the dust" (Ps. 72:9) they will not do it on their knees with their literal tongues; but they will be so prostrated and so utterly defeated, that no words could literally depict their overthrow and subjugation.

If a serpent was afterward called a nachash, it was because it was more shinning than any other creature; and if it became known as "wise", it was not because of its own innate positive knowledge, but its wisdom in hiding from all observation; and because of its association with one of the names of Satan (that old serpent) who "beguiled Eve" (2 Cor. 11:3,14).

It is so wonderful how a snake could ever be supposed to speak without the organ of speech, or that Satan should supposed able to accomplish so great a miracle.

It only shows the power of tradition, which has, from the infancy of each one of us, put before our eyes and written on our minds the picture of a "snake" and an "apple"; the former based on wrong interpretation, and the latter being pure invention, about which there in not one word said in Holy Scripture.

Never was Satan's wisdom so craftily used as when he secured universal acceptance of the traditional belief; for it has succeeded in fixing the attention of mankind on the letter and the names, and thus blinding the eyes to the solemn fact that the Fall of man had to do solely with the Word of God, and is centered in the sin of believing Satan's lie instead of Yahavehh's truth.

The temptation of "the first man Adam" began with the question, "Has God said." The temptation of "the second man, the Lord from heaven" began with the similar question, "if you are the Son of God", when the voice of the Father had scarcely died away, which said, "This is My beloved Son."

All turned on the truth of what Yahaveh had said.

The Word of God being questioned, led Eve, in her reply, 1) to omit the word "freely" (3:2, cp. 2:16); then 2) to add the words "neither shall you touch it" (3:3, cp. 2:17); and finally 3) to alter a certainty into a contingency by changing "you shall surely die" (2:17) into "lest you all die" (3:3).

It is not without significance that the first Ministerial words of "the second Man" were "It is written", three times repeated; and that His last Ministerial words contained a similar threefold reference to the written Word of God (John 17:8,14,17).

The former temptation succeeded because the Word of God was three times misrepresented; the latter temptation was successfully defeated because the same Word was faithfully repeated.

The history of Gen. 3 is intended to teach us the fact that Satan's sphere of activities is in the religious sphere, and not the spheres of crime or immorality; that his battlefield is not the sins arising from human depravity, but the unbelief of the human heart. We are not to look for Satan's activities to-day in newspaper press, or the police courts; but in the pulpit, and in the professor's chair's.

Wherever the Word of God is called in question, there we see the trail of "that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan." This is why anything against the true interests of the Word of God (as being such) finds a ready admission into the newspapers of the world, and is treated as "general literature". This is why anything in favor of its inspiration and Divine origin and its spiritual truth is rigidly excluded as being "controversial".

This is why Satan is quite content that the letter of Scripture should be accepted in Gen. 3, as he himself could say "It is written" (Matt.4:6) so long as the letter of what is "written" could be instead of the truth that is conveyed by it; and so long as it is misquoted or misapplied.

This is his object in perpetuating the traditions of the "snake" and the "apple", because it ministers to the acceptance of his lie, the hiding of God's truth, the support of tradition, the jeers of the infidel, the opposition of the critics, and the stumbling of the weak in faith.

Appendix 19 of the Companion Bible

Genesis 3)

1 But the serpent (= the shinning one = Satan) was more wiser than any living being of the field which the LORD God had made, and knowing evil, and not ashamed to question the truth of God's word, he said to the woman, "Can it be that God has said, 'You all shall not eat of every tree of the garden?' " (Satan's first utterance. The serpent is called that old dragon, which is to say the devil in Revelation 20:2. The serpent started his twisting and confusing in asking the woman, "shall you not eat of every tree of the garden?”", as you know God had stated, "You shall not touch the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”". All of the other trees they could partake of. And this was the woman’s answer)
2 And the woman said to the serpent, "we may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: (Misquoted from God. He had made an exception. She did not eat an apple. Heb. 'ets= tree-prime:= backbone-'atseh = closing of the eyes spiritually, and opening the eyes to the way of the world. See Isa. 61:3)
3 But of the tree (A specific tree ) which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You all shall not eat of it, neither shall you all touch it, lest you all die.' "(Misquoted. Let's bring this back to the Hebrew for a moment if we may. The word "tree" as it is utilized in verse 1 states that it is "ates".

H6086- ates From H6095; a tree (from its firmness); hence wood (plural sticks): - + carpenter, gallows, helve, + pine, plank, staff, stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood.

The base root of the word is 6095 in the Strong's Concordance and you should have one because you really need one to study God's Word. And in this dictionary you will find that the Hebrew word comes from the base root 6086 which is 6095 which is:

atsah. H6095 - Ì'tsaÌ'h aw-tsaw' - A primitive root; properly to fasten (or make firm), that is, to close (the eyes): - shut. Which is to say an opening and a closing of the eyes. And from this also comes 6096 which is the backbone; the backbone of the body.

H6096 aw-tseh' From H6095; the spine (as giving firmness to the body): - back bone.

Which is to say the trunk of the body; your arms are the limbs and it is a tree. A regular tree has only knowledge to shed its leaves, but the knowledge of good and evil, as the trunk of the body, has many feelings that pass through the central nervous system. Now let’s go a little further if we may, "Lest you die" was stated)
4 And the serpent said to the woman, "You all shall not surely die: (Satan's second utterance. Contradiction of Gods Word)
5 For God does know that in the day you all eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and be as God (the foundation of Satan's second lie: The immanence of God in man.) sensing (or perceiving) good and evil." (Enlightenment, yes, and here you have the Hebrew word which is the base, "an opening or closing of the eyes". And we have something here that is not complete as we read from the English, but from the trunk of the brain, we have the knowledge of good and evil. This let's you know what is good and what is evil. That ties into what Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:3 would state concerning this very incident that took place in the garden)

6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food ("Lust of the eyes". Remember what Christ told you about checking the fruit? To be a fruit inspector? You should know by the fruit. If you get an orange off of an apple tree, something’s wrong. Got it?), and that it was pleasant to the eyes ("Lust of the flesh"), and a tree to be desired to make one wise ("Boastful of life"), she took of the fruit thereof (i.e. the fruit coming from Satan's mouth, = lies), and did eat, and gave also to her husband with her (therefore Adam present); and he did eat. (They both partook of the same fruit. Is this where homosexuality was learned? Now listen to that carefully. She took of the fruit… and by their fruits you shall know them. God’s commandment was in verse 3, was that you shall not TOUCH it. Do you know what that word touch is in the Hebrew tongue? It’s nâga‛. You know what it means? It means to lie with a woman. Touch - H5060

nâga- naw-gah'

A primitive root; properly to touch, that is, lay the hand upon (for any purpose; euphemistically, to lie with a woman); by implication to reach (figuratively to arrive, acquire); violently, to strike (punish, defeat, destroy, etc.): - beat, (X be able to) bring (down), cast, come (nigh), draw near (nigh), get up, happen, join, near, plague, reach (up), smite, strike, touch.

[what is a Euphemism? It’s is saying something in a way as to not offend tender ears.]

Definition of Euphemism: A euphemism is a substitution of an expression that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the receiver with an agreeable or less offensive expression

Eve would say, "I was beguiled by the serpent". Paul would teach in 2 Corinthians 11, I’m jealous over you because I have espoused you to one husband and I don't want you to be beguiled as Eve was by the serpent, Satan)

7 And the eyes of them were both opened, (Do you know that this is the prime of the word âtsâh which is tree? The word tree is êts in the Hebrew but it comes from the prime atash which means the backbone. H6086

êts - ates

From H6095; a tree (from its firmness); hence wood (plural sticks): - + carpenter, gallows, helve, + pine, plank, staff, stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood.

H6095

âtsâh - aw-tsaw'

A primitive root; properly to fasten (or make firm), close (the eyes): - shut.

H6096

âtseh - aw-tseh'

From H6095; the spine (as giving firmness to the body): - back bone.

So we're talking about the back bone of the body. So here we can pretty well begin to understand why Satan would lie when the prime from the word âtseh is to close the eyes, Satan says, "Surely they will be opened". What it means is it will close your spiritual eyes and open your eyes of the world and that which it demands and so-forth. But know and understand that it is not an unusual term for us to say this is the trunk of my body. Or, what about your family? Many of you are proud of them and some of us, we have maybe one or two that we would like to break a certain limb off. It's called a family tree. (holding up arms) These are our limbs. The backbone is the skeletal formation of the central nervous system that runs through the spine and that gives you knowledge when it ties into the brain. You are supposed to think with it. Surely your eyes will be opened or the opening and closing of them is a part of the word âtseh. And they knew that they were naked) and they knew that they were naked; (They knew before, but their knowledge now received a new meaning. Adam became "naked" by losing something of God's glorious likeness)

and they sewed fig leaves together (man-made covering. This is the root of the parable of the fig tree, see v.15. F-I-G. Fig. What kind of orchard were they in? Apple? No! Fig? Yes), and made themselves aprons. (To girt themselves. Not napkins. Aprons - H2290 gôrâh - (1,2) khag-ore', (3,4) khag-o-raw'. From H2296; a belt (for the waist): - apron, armour, gird (-le).

Masks to hide where they had eaten of the apple? That’s not what God’s word says. Don’t lie to children in churches. They were aprons of fig leaves to cover their private parts)

8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: And Adam and his wife hid (no "quest for God" in the fallen man) themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
9 And the LORD God called to Adam, and said to him, "Where are you?" (Question not for information. God knew were they were at. The first question comes from God to the sinner in Old Testament. First question in the N.T. of the seeking sinner "Where is He?" Matt.2:2)
10 And he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself."
11 And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? have you eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded you that you should not eat?" (He knew. This was not a question to get information)
12 And the man Adam said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me (Characteristic of fallen man, implying blame to the Lord God as well as to his wife. And man’s been doing it ever since. "It’s the woman’s fault!"), she gave me of that tree, and I did eat."

13 And the Lord said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" and the woman said, "The serpent (= the shining one, Satan) beguiled me, and I did eat." (I would remind you again of 2 Corinthians 11:3 where the word "beguiled" is exapatao, stated by Paul, and means "wholly seduced". Open your minds, spiritually or physically? You live with it how ever you choose)

14 And the LORD God said to the serpent (= Satan), "Because you have done this, you are cursed above all the cattle, and above every beast of the field; and upon your belly shall you go (Figure of Speech = utmost humiliation), and dust shall you eat all the days of your life: (Fig.= utter defeat. Statement of degradation)

15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed (Sperma.

Seed - H2233

zera - zeh'-rah

From H2232; seed; FIGURATIVELY fruit, plant, sowing time, posterity: - X carnally, child, fruitful, seed (-time), sowing-time.

H2232

zâra - zaw-rah'

A primitive root; to sow; figuratively to disseminate, plant, fructify: - bear, conceive seed, set with, sow (-er), yield. Satan has seed = children. See Matt.13:37,38. Still holds true to this day. This was a warning) and her Seed; It (i.e. Christ) shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." (Which were nailed to the cross. They denote the temporary suffering of the Seed, and the complete destruction of Satan and his works. Head = vital part, Heel = lower part. This is the first promise of prophecy)

16 To the woman He said, "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception (eating apples does this? see 4:1): in sorrow you shall bring forth children; and your desire shall be subject to your husband and he shall rule over you." (According to where you're at, work things out for yourself. If momma's happy, everybody is happy)

17 And to Adam He said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you saying, 'You shall not eat of it', (here is the sin. Man has had to grub out a living ever since. See 4:17) cursed is the ground for your sake (nature affected); in sorrow shall you eat of it all the days of your life;
18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to you (The sign of the curse. What else what was brought forth is not stated; but the word may include all kinds of noxious insects, &c., as well as poisonous weeds); and you shall eat the herb of the field; (not the fruit of paradise)
19 In the sweat of your whole body shall you eat all kinds of food, till you return to the ground; for out of it you were taken: for dust you are, and to dust shall you return."

20 And Adam called his wife Eve (= Life, Life-spring. Showing he did believe God) because she was the mother of all who should live after her. (Only because Christ the Living Word would come through her. If you are not in Christ you are dead. Remember Adam & Eve were not the first human beings. See 1:27)

21 To Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skin, and clothed them. (Blood shed because of their sin)

22 And the Lord God said, "Behold, the man Adam is become one of Us, to know general good from evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take (not touched as in v.3.) also of the Tree of Life, and eat, and live forever:-" (clearly shows the nature of man. Salvation was not available at that time)
23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from where he was taken.
24 And He also drove out the man Adam; (notice the failure of man under every dispensation)

and He placed (Heb. shakan = to place in a tabernacle, hence dwell) at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims (Celestial spirit-beings), and the flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way (same as it is today, Christ) of the Bread of Life. (= preserve, so that man should not "live for ever" in his fallen condition, but only in Christ)

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