Today's Journal
SNAKE TALK II
In yesterday’s Journal entry I introduced an idea from the ancient Book of Jubilees, an early Jewish text that retells the Genesis and Exodus stories. It was written around 150-220 BC. In this text we read, “And on that day was closed the mouth of all beasts, and of cattle, and of birds, and of whatever walks, and of whatever moves, so that they could no longer speak: for they had all spoken one with another with one lip and with one tongue. And He sent out of the Garden of Eden all flesh that was in the Garden of Eden, and all flesh was scattered according to its kinds, and according to its types unto the places which had been created for them.” (Book of Jubilees 3:27-29)The idea was that all the animals originally spoke one language and could therefore all speak to one another. The serpent (snake) was one of these animals that spoke the one language. It was obviously the same language that Adam and Eve spoke.
Josephus, (37-100 AD), early Jewish Historian wrote in (‘Antiquities’ 1:41), “He attributes the serpent’s actions to jealousy. He writes that “the serpent, living in the company of Adam and his wife, grew jealous of the blessings which he supposed were destined for them if they obeyed God’s behests, and, believing that disobedience would bring trouble on them, he maliciously persuaded the woman to taste of the tree of wisdom.”
This snake is still talking and trying to get us all to eat from The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil…with the promise that we will be like God. Don’t fall for it brothers and sisters, from the snake or from anything else.
“Your father the devil…. Whenever he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.” Jesus