The Literal Meaning of Genesis (continued)
BOOK ELEVEN 169 and although her sex is different from Adam's, her pride is the same. Born of these first parents but not imitating them was the one who, afflicted by innumerable evils, has said and will continue to say to the end of time, / said: "O Lord, be merciful to me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee."!28 How much better it would have been if they had said the same thing! But the Lord had not yet cut the necks of sinners.!2° There would be labors, sorrows, death, and all the afflictions of this world, and divine grace by which God at the opportune time comes to the aid of those whom He has taught in their affliction that they must not trust in themselves. The serpent beguiled me, she said, and I ate; as if the promptings of anyone should have been preferred to the command of God!
CHAPTER 36
God's curse on the serpent.
49. The Lord God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all cattle and above all beasts upon the earth.
Upon your breast and your belly shall you go, and earth shall you eat all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed. She will lie in wait for your head, and you will le 1n watt for her heel."3°
This entire statement is made in figurative language, and the reliability of the writer and the truth of his narrative demand only that we do not doubt that the words were spoken. For the words, The Lord God said to the serpent, are the only!3! words of the writer, and they are to be taken in the proper sense. It is true, therefore, that these words were spoken to the serpent. The rest of the words are God's words, and they leave the reader free to decide whether they are to be understood in the proper or figurative sense, in accordance with what I said in my introductory remarks at the beginning of this book.'%? And if one asks why the serpent is not questioned about his motive for acting thus, it is obvious that this animal did not act by its own nature and will, but that working by it and through it and in it