Read Genesis 3 and 4 at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraph divisions:
Gen 2:4-3:15 {s} Disobedience to YHVH’s command is sin
Gen 3:16 {s} Consequences for the woman (painful toil)
Gen 3:17-21 {p} Consequences for the man (painful toil)
Gen 3:22-24 {s} Exile from YHVH’s presence is a consequence of sin
Gen 4:1-26 {s} Exile from family is a consequence of sin
We saw yesterday that weak paragraph divisions conclude a facet of a theme, but do not change the theme. When the next strong paragraph division is encountered, then we have a change of theme. So far in Genesis we have had:
Gen 1:1-2:3 Seven strong paragraphs with the theme, God is our Creator.
Gen 2:4-3:21 {s+s+p} encompasses a new theme:
Gen 2:4-3:15 {s, weak paragraph} Sin is disobedience to God’s command;
Gen 3:16 {s, weak paragraph} The consequence on the woman – work (painful toil);
Gen 3:17-21 {p, strong paragraph} The consequence on the man – work (painful toil).
What comes to my mind for the single theme encompassing these three paragraphs, is that Sin (disobedience to God’s commandment) brings the consequence of work. Can it be that sin brings the consequence of works on mankind as well – working in order to earn righteousness before God? In light of that, let us remember that God established the seventh day as a day of rest, holy to the Lord, before sin, consequences, curses, or work ever entered His perfect world. Yes, we have to deal with the consequence of work as a result of our disobedience. The ease of life has gone away. But every seventh day, God lifts the consequence of our sin from our lives, and allows us to rest from our painful toil, as we remember that He is our gracious and loving Creator, to Whom we bow the knee! We can now see that the Sabbath day of rest is an unearned gift of grace, and a type of the gospel of grace to come proclaimed from Torah.
Gen 2:4-3:21 {s+s+p+s} chiastic structure:
1a) Gen 2:4-3:13, Disobedience to God’s command is sin;
1b) Gen 3:14, Consequences for the serpent;
central axis) Gen 3:15 {s} The promise of the Messiah;
2b) Gen 3:16-21 {s+p} Consequences for the woman and the man;
2a) Gen 3:22-24 {s} Exile from God’s presence is the result of sin.
For further reading:
When Did Adam and Eve Rebel? off site
Athena and Eve off site
The serpent worshippers off site
Cain’s wife – who was she? off site
gen 3-4, adam and eve weren’t cursed (2015)
gen 4:3-7, the power of a choice (2012)
gen 4:1-26, what we can learn about parenting from Cain and Abel (2012)
Studies in Genesis index
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