Whether one views the Genesis narrative as literal or allegorical, the author challenges the traditional belief that Adam and Eve were the sole progenitors of the human race. Genesis chapter one speaks of male and female that were commanded to be ‘fruitful, multiply and replenish the earth’ on day six, and all pronounced ‘very good’, while Genesis chapter two speaks of a single man who is ‘put’ in a garden separate from the earth and without a female companion. Why then do we assume that Adam and Eve were the only male and female commanded to be ‘fruitful’, when it is clear that Adam was a single man who was in a garden separate from the earth, and only later put in a deep sleep so that a woman could be formed from his side?
If all was pronounced ‘very good’ on day six, assuming Genesis chapter one is speaking about Adam and Eve, at what stage did Eve, (who had not realized she was naked until she had transgressed), had God pronounced all that was created by the end of day six, as ‘very good’? If Genesis chapter one refers to Adam and Eve, was the transgression included in all that was very good? After all, it was only until Eve was aware of her nakedness that she was expelled from Eden and only then did the couple begin copulating. Either the transgression was pronounced very good, or Genesis chapter one is speaking about a separate creation from Adam and Eve.
Most ordinary everyday thinking people don’t need to be told what the bible says about incest to know that it wasn’t OK back then, and isn’t OK at any time. Are we to believe that on this one occasion, God allowed practicing incest to begin having offspring? (Leviticus 18:8-18. 20:11-21). If bible believers read between the lines, precept upon precept, they may discover that Genesis holds a very profound lesson as to why Adam was formed separately from those existing out on the earth.
Agree or disagree, this topic is probably the most fundamental lesson from Genesis because what follows once we understand why Adam was formed at a separate time from those on the earth, gives a whole new meaning to the origin of the separate and distinct races of the world. But more important, it shows why a a transgression was inevitable.