Old Testament Lore. Norman M. Chansky
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After having seen Your magnificent Creation, am I forever to be in darkness?
Will I ever again see azure clouds? trees stretching their arms? birds in flight?
Will I ever again see mountain peaks? the turquoise blue of rolling rivers?
Will I forever be without light? Adam asked.
“Worry not,” God Calmed Adam, the darkness was made for sleep.
“Most living creatures sleep in the darkness then awake in the light.
It is their rhythm. Lions, sheep, elephants, crows have it among My Creatures.
This is your time, Adam, to sleep, to renew yourself.
Yours has been a busy day naming and cataloging all of the plants and animals.”
Adam prepared piles of thatch: one for him and one for Eve.
They laid their heads upon them.
Their eyes stared at the silver crescent glowing in the sky
And scanned the sprays of twinkling stars dotting the dark night.
As he listened to the coo-cooing of the owl,
And the wolves playful howl and the sonar pulses of bats on the prowl,
About to ask God why in the dark they must sleep
Angels into his eyes slumber did sweep.
Loss of Paradise: Version One
In the beginning of Time, it was thought, that the serpent was the slyest of creatures of the field. He said unto Eve, “even though God said that you should not eat of any tree in The Garden. taste it anyway. It is a delight.” The woman replied, “of the fruit of the trees of The Garden we may eat but not of the tree in the midst of The Garden.” And the serpent said you will not surely die. God Will Not Know that you have eaten thereof. Your eyes will be opened and you will know good and evil.” The woman saw that the tree was a delight to the eyes and its fruit would make her wise. She ate and gave a taste to her husband. Then they heard the Voice of God. Gen III, 1–8.
The sly serpent, it is said,
Planted an idea in Woman’s head,
To eat of the fruit of the Tree
That would make her wise and make her free.
But instead of gaining wisdom
She and Adam lost their freedom
And would forever pay the price
Of their trespass in Paradise:
Both saw they were without any clothes
And shame colored their faces as red as rose.
Loss of Paradise: Version Two
Adam asked, “Eve where are you hiding? I’ll find you.”
A tortoise lumbered toward him and he climbed on its back.
They wandered hither and yon seeking Eve.
As the sun was setting over the azure sea,
The skies were turning orange and pink.
Then a red cloud passed by and opened its windows
Raining iridescent, beads of pearls.
Yellow finches swarmed about to catch them.
The beads dropped to the ground and grew into tall trees with spindly branches.
On each branch was a savory golden fruit.
Eve! There you are! Come out of hiding. Do not pick the fruit!
She ate. It was sweet! Its nectar burst in her mouth!
“Let me taste it,” he begged. “What ecstasy!!!
O God! What have I done? My hands tremble. My legs are frozen. My loins scream.
My arms are heavy with sleep. My soul is slipping away.
I am no longer Adam. I am Man. I am naked. So are you.”
Eve answered, “I lusted after the fruit but did not taste it
Until the sly serpent urged me to do so.
The serpent told me that he is the deputy of the Creator.
Whatever is in the garden is ours.
I bit the skin and sweet nectar trickled on to my tongue then down my throat.
My breasts titillated; my eyes sparkled;
My hands trembled; my legs froze.
I looked at me then looked at you
And we were both naked. I was so ashamed.
Lightning branches scudded through the blackened skies.
My arms are heavy with sleep and my soul is slipping away.
I am no longer Eve. I am Woman.
In the morning when we awake
We will pluck leaves from the umbrella plant and wrap ourselves in them.”
The two moved toward one another
Their skins tingled with the touch of the other.
Each bonded to the other in sensuality, joy, and shame
Then lapsed into fitful sleep.
When the sun melted the night,
Adam awoke. Eve was no longer next to him.
He called to her. His voice trilled like a flute echoing throughout the valley.
“Where is your hiding place ? Are you behind a rock?
Come out. Let’s gambol by the stream
Let’s stand beneath the waterfall and wash away the heat of the morning.”
“My hands will comb your silken tresses.
My lips will taste them; my nose will sip your delicate fragrance.
Your gazelle pines for you.
The zephyr rises and will cool your breasts.
Let us again drink of the sweet nectar of the peaches.”
Adam was no longer in a familiar place.
Eden was a dream that evaporated.
Eve stepped out of the woods clothed in the leaves of the umbrella plant.
She handed Adam a leaf to conceal his loins.
Hand in hand they walked away from the Valley of Yesterday.
God’s Angry Words etched in their brains followed them throughout the day.
“You disobeyed My commandment. Enmity will divide you from others.
With ebbing strength you will sow your seed and reap your harvest.
With the sweat of your brows will you eat your bread. Your sorrows will multiply.
Never forget your disobedience and err never again.
Teach your children to obey My Words and their children will learn from their example.
You and your children will know no rest until, lifeless, you rejoin the dust of Earth
From whence you sprang. From dust you came and to dust will you return.
You are blessed and you are cursed.
The bridge between us is broken.
You and all of your descendants will spend their lives repairing it. I Am God. “
The Asp’s Lament
The lowly