Lecture #3

Question 1

What is the symbolism of a tree in the ancient Near East (ANE)?

Answer 1

A tree was a symbolic implement for exposure to divine (post-mortem) judgment

Question 2

Why did God put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden if He knew Eve would eat of the fruit?

Answer 2

So it would serve as a place of judgment. This tree was to be a place for Adam and Eve to judge Satan. (Psalm 8:6). Since priests were to guard and protect the temple, and they were a types of priests, the moment they heard lies from Satan, they should have said to Satan, “Go to hell.” Remember: We were made to judge angels (1 Cor 6:3).

Question 3

What was Satan’s motive?

Answer 3

Pride: he didn’t want to be functionally subordinate to mankind.

Question 4

What were the two key elements in the Original Plan for Humankind?

Answer 4

1.) Rule, and 2.) Fill

Question 5

What are the three main take-aways of the Protoevangelium of Gen 3:15?

Answer 5

1. ) Enmity
2. ) Victory
3. ) Agony

Question 6

Who was Rashi, when did he live/write, and what is he known for?

Answer 6

One of the greatest medieval Jewish commentators of the Bible, writing between 1040 and 1105 AD, he is best known for the following two views:

(1) One of the early most influential advocates of the interpretive method of peshat (the ‘simple’ or ‘plain’ meaning) vs. allegorical and other non-contextual interpretations favored by many Christian apologists
(2) Gen 3:15, according to Rashi [and Calvin, his follower], is all about snakes and women

Question 7

What is an argument against the Rashi/Calvin view of Gen 3:15?

Answer 7

(1) What about female herpetologists who loves snakes?
(2) There is no evidence that snakes have any special animosity toward women in particular or humans in general (many species actually like being held)!

Question 8

In Gen 3:15, what are some points suggesting the ‘Seed of the Woman’ is an ultimate individual champion?

Answer 8

1. [singular antagonist invites understanding of singular protagonist]
2. The singularity of ‘your’ and ‘you’ implies that ‘he’ and ‘his’ are also singular, rather than collective.
3. The LXX in Genesis 3:15 renders the Hebrew term ‘he’ as ‘he’ autos, rather than it,’ despite the fact that in Greek the word for ‘seed’ is neuter. LXX is interpreting this text messianically.
4. The metaphor of a vulnerable ‘heel’ [in the singular] is implausible as a reference to a group.

Question 9

It is argued that Gen 3:15 is a programmatic oracle. What are the passages of the ABBA structure resulting from this program?

Answer 9

A. Gen 4:1-24 (Seed of the Serpent; the Cainite line)
B. Gen 4:25-26 (Seed of the Woman; Sethite line)
B. Gen 5 (Seed of the Woman; to Noah)
A. Gen 6:1-4 (Seed of the Serpent; Cainite line; concludes with Noah, the Flood, and a Covenant)

Question 10

What are some of the ways indicating Jesus to be Second Adam?

Answer 10

1. ) Genealogical connection (Mt 1)
2. ) Title ‘Son of Man’
3. ) Image and likeness of God
4. ) Authority over all creation (nature and angels)
5. ) An innumerable progeny
6. ) Tempted by personal manifestation of Satan

Question 11

What are some explanations for the significance of God’s clothing Adam and Eve in Gen 3:21?

Answer 11

1. ) Garments of skin as a practical token of divine grace
2. ) Garments of skin as a pledge of redemption but not yet substitutionary atonement
3. ) Garments of skin as a symbol of Adam and Eve’s restored marriage (cf. Ruth)
4. ) Garments of skin made and placed on Adam and Eve as a symbol of God’s reaffirmation of their continuing status as sons and legitimate heirs to rule over creation

Question 12

Why does Hugenberger disagree with garments of skin as pledge of redemption but not yet substitutionary atonement?

Answer 12

1. ) No attention given to kind of animal sacrificed or to its death
2. ) No mention of blood manipulation (sprinkling, etc.)
3. ) Sin/guilt offerings were restricted to inadvertent sins and ‘sancta trespass’
4. ) Hides of sacrifices were always burned, not worn

Question 13

What is some evidence for the view of Gen 3:21 that the garments of skin were a symbol of God’s reaffirmation?

Answer 13

1. ) Nuzi marriage tablet 9: ‘whatever money remains of [the bride] (shall be) for (her) dowry, and I have bound it in the hem of [the bride].”
2. ) Nuzi contract where hem is basically used as a credit card
3. ) Deut 24:17, “Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge.”
4. ) Hittite law about mother putting garment back on son should he return to his household.