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Questions on the Book of Genesis - jonie13 - 11-11-2010 I have 3 questions from the Torah. 1. Was the serpent in Genesis a snake who could talk? 2. If G-d knows everything why did he regret making mankind in Genesis? 3. Did angels mate with human woman in Genesis? RE: Questions on the Book of Genesis - Director Michael - 11-11-2010 1. Yes. The serpent in the Garden of Eden originally had human-like intelligence, and it could walk upright and speak. 2. See Rashi's explanation on Genesis 6:6 (quoting Rashi) - He [G-d] mourned over the destruction of His handiwork... This I wrote to refute the non-believers [quoting from the Midrash]: A gentile asked Rabbi Joshua ben Korchah, “Do you not admit that the Holy One, blessed be He, foresees the future?” He [Rabbi Joshua] replied to him, “Yes.” He retorted, “But it is written: and He became grieved in His heart!” He [Rabbi Joshua] replied, “Was a son ever born to you?” “Yes,” he [the gentile] replied. “And what did you do?” he [Rabbi Joshua] asked. He replied, “I rejoiced and made everyone rejoice.” “But did you not know that he was destined to die?” he asked. He [the gentile] replied, “At the time of joy, joy; at the time of mourning, mourning.” He [Rabbi Joshua] said to him, “So is it with the work of the Holy One, blessed be He; even though it was revealed before Him that they would ultimately sin, and He would destroy them, He did not refrain from creating them, for the sake of the righteous men who were destined to arise from them.” - [from Gen. Rabbah 27:4] 3. This is a Midrashic explanation of Genesis 6:2. According to the simple explanation, this refers to the human sons of the human princes and judges in those days. RE: Questions on the Book of Genesis - Mattityahu ben Noach - 11-12-2010 Director Michael Wrote:3. This is a Midrashic explanation of Genesis 6:2. According to the simple explanation, this refers to the human sons of the human princes and judges in those days. "Elohim" is taken to mean "judges" or "great men" rather than Elo-kim one of the names for HaShem, then? RE: Questions on the Book of Genesis - Director Michael - 11-23-2010 Yes. According to that alternative meaning, the verse is translated as: 6:2. That the sons of *the nobles* saw the daughters of man when they were beautifying themselves, and they took for themselves wives from whomever they chose. Rashi (quoted here, with explanations inserted in brackets) also explains the other alternative Midrashic meaning, that it means "sons of angels": "the sons of the nobles": the sons of the princes and the judges [the nobles] (Midrash Gen. Rabbah 26:5). Another explanation: [these were certain angels, spiritual] "princes" who go as messengers of the Omnipresent. [They took on physical bodies and] they too mingled with them [with the daughters of man] (Midrash Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer, ch. 22). Every "Elo-him" in Hebrew Scripture is an expression of authority, and the following proves it (Exod. 4:16):“And you [Moses] shall be to him as a lord” ; (ibid. 7:1):“See, I have made you a lord.” Even in English, these alternative meanings attach to the same word: L-rd [G-d] and lord, which expresses non-divine authority. RE: Questions on the Book of Genesis - Director Michael - 01-09-2011 Visitor A.W. to the web site Wrote:Does the story of Adam & Eve indicate that man and woman shall live in misery all the days of their life? And if so, how can we celebrate existence?The story does not indicate that at all! It means that until Moshiach the descendant of King David steps forward to usher in the Redemption (may G-d send him immediately!), men and women are not allowed to live in the Garden of Eden during their physical lives. Rather, we must face greater or lesser CHALLENGES in the "natural" world. By doing so while maintaining our faith and trust in the One True G-d and our connection with Him, we create a deeper and more essential (rather than external) bond with Him than Adam and Hava (Eve) could have done if they and their children forever would have remained in the perfection of the Garden of Eden. Hopefully you see the miracle and the unbounded kindness that G-d has done for us by providing us with this OPPORTUNITY for a few short years, to live in this miraculous world which even now is really HIS garden. This is where He in His Essence finds delight when one of us, His children, will live in harmony and follow His commandments (numbering 7 for the Children of Noah or 613 for the Children of Israel). Then you will automatically begin to rejoice and celebrate when you clear your mind and think into this great gift that you have been given. Your spirit will rise and you will reach elation! If that does not "click," then you should celebrate anyway, because G-d tells you to, regardless of all your personal considerations - as in Psalm 100 composed by Moses, the man of G-d: "Serve G-d in happiness; come before Him in celebration." Did Moses not have many reasons to be miserable? Just think of taking care of 600,000 stiff-necked men in a barren desert, along with all their wives and children (over 3 million people, plus the rebellious Egyptian mixed-multitude who joined them) for 40 years, and finally your only desire in your long difficult life of selfless service is refused to you. Nevertheless, Moses never did stop celebrating existence, up until his final breath, and he did not stop motivating all those around him, and humanity for the rest of time, to do the same. |