The Fall Reconsidered

The sin narratives of Genesis 3 and 4 have been scrutinized by biblical interpreters throughout the centuries. Some exegetical traditions have separated the story of Cain-Abel from the preceding Edenic narrative, thus undermining the unity of the Primeval History. The book synthesizes the sin narratives of Adam-Eve and Cain-Abel and examines a wide range of premodern biblical interpretations attesting to their literary and theological unity. This study makes a case for reading these primordial narratives as one familial saga that conveys to the reader the origins of human defiance against God.

Igal German (PhD, Wycliffe College, University of Toronto) teaches biblical studies at Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership and at eTeacher: Biblical Online Language Academy.