I’m participating in Disciple Bible Study, a 34 week intensive. Every day, we have different readings (except on the seventh day…resting!). I have decided to document my initial noticings from a close reading of the scripture. Well, an attempt at a close reading.
Week 3, Reading 1: Genesis 3 - 4
Noticings:
- The First Sin and Its Punishment
- Genesis 3
- And, BTW, God told the man not to eat before the woman was even created. Everything the woman heard was second hand from the man.
- v. 3: "nor shall you touch it"
- the first sin might be that the man tells the woman she can't even touch the fruit/tree
- v. 5: become like the gods vs. become like God
- does this make a difference?
- v. 6: "make one wise"
- v. 6: the man was with her all along
- perhaps this is the first sin; he could've stepped in at any point
- could passivity in the face of wrong behavior be the first sin?
- v. 7: "naked"
- what about being spiritually naked?
- v. 11: God looking for the man and woman
- Didn't God know where they were?
- v. 12: The man blames the woman and then blames God because God gave him the woman
- v. 17: The man's punishment is the cursing of the ground
- v. 20: Eve means life
- v. 21: God makes the garments for the man and woman and clothed them. I wonder what they looked like? Is God a good tailor?
- Genesis 4
- Cain Murders Abel
- v. 1: the man "knew" his wife (ha ha ha)
- Cain is born first, Abel second; yet they both bring their offering to God relatively simultaneously. Presumably Cain is at least 9 months older than Abel. So he delayed his gift. It was not his first fruits. It was "in due time." (v. 3)
- v. 7: God tells Cain what to do for favor. Master his anger.
- Isn't it interesting that Cain is of the land and the land is the curse of the man (Adam)? And that is who gets cursed further by God?
- Beginnings of Civilization
- Cain's son is Enoch and Seth's son is Enosh. Really?
- v. 23-24: What the heck? Lamech killed a man avenging Cain? There has to be a bigger story here!