The Literal Meaning of Genesis (continued)
are called by names men have given them in their ordinary speech. And this is true not only of creatures in the water and on the earth but also of the earth itself, the water, the sky, what appears in the sky, and what does not appear but is believed to be there; all are called by different names in the different languages of the world. We know, of course, that there was originally just one language before man in his pride built the tower after the flood and caused human society to be divided according to different languages.*? And whatever the original language was, what point is there in trying to discover it? It was certainly the language Adam spoke; and in that language, if it has survived to our time, there are those words that were uttered when the first man named the beasts and the birds.
It is hardly believable, then, that the names of fishes in that language were determined not by man but by God and that man subsequently learnt them from God who taught him. But even if this did happen, the reason for it would certainly contain some mystical meaning. We must assume, however, that names were gradually given to various kinds of fish as they became known. But originally the herds, the beasts, and the birds were brought to the man, and when they had gathered before him and he had distinguished them according to their kinds, he gave them their names, although he could have given these names gradually also, but much more quickly than in the case of the fishes (if they were not named with the rest). Now, what is the reason for all this if there was not a plan to signify something which would be able to foreshadow the future? The order of the narrative provides for this purpose very effectively.
21. God was surely not ignorant of the fact that He had created nothing among the animals that was like the man and able to be his helper. Was it necessary that the man also should recognize his need and thereby receive his wife as a more precious gift because, in all flesh created under heaven and living in this atmosphere in which he was placed, he found nothing else like her? But it would be strange if he could not have known this unless all the animals had been brought to him and placed before his eyes. For if he had faith in God, God could have told him this in the same way in which He gave a command and ques-