The Literal Meaning of Genesis
way to guard the path to the tree of life.15° We must believe that this took place in the visible Paradise through the operation of the heavenly powers, so that by the ministry of angels there was placed there a kind of flaming battlement. But we must not suppose that it was done in vain, for it must also signify something about the spiritual paradise.'>?
CHAPTER 41
Theories about the nature of the sin of Adam and Eve.
56. I am aware of the fact that some exegetes have thought that the first couple were in a hurry to satisfy their desire for a knowledge of good and evil and that they wished to have before due time what was being postponed and kept for a more opportune occasion, and that the tempter induced them to offend God by anticipating what was not yet intended for them.!*? Thus by their expulsion and condemnation they were said to have been deprived of the advantage of that which they might have enjoyed to their spiritual advancement had they sought it at the proper time as God intended. Now if these writers should wish to understand the tree not in the proper sense as a real tree with real fruit but in a figurative sense, their interpretation could result in a theory apparently consistent with faith and reason.
57. There is also the opinion of those who say that the first couple anticipated marriage by a kind of theft and that they had sexual intercourse before they were united by their Creator.'*
And hence they say that sexual intercourse was signified by the word "tree," and that it had been forbidden them until they would be joined in due time.
I suppose we must assume that Adam and Eve had been created at such a young age that they were required to wait until they would reach puberty! Or perhaps the union was not allowed as soon as it was possible? If it was impossible, it certainly would not take place! Or maybe the bride had to be given away by her father, and they had to wait for the solemn pronouncing