Five Puzzles Arising from the Story of Adam and Eve

The human story in the Bible begins in a garden with Adam and Eve and a mysterious tree: the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God, Who has created the pair and planted the garden, gives them a single prohibition: not to eat from that tree on pain of death. Yet Eve, egged on by the snake who assures her they will not die but instead become like God Himself, eats from the tree and offers some to Adam, who partakes as well.

Immediately upon eating, the couple, who till then had been “naked but not ashamed,” clothe themselves and try to hide from God’s wrath. Anticipating that they might next eat from a second tree, the tree of life, God punishes and expels them, stationing cherubim with flaming swords at the entrance to the garden so they can never return.

What is the tree of knowledge of good and evil? If we look at five puzzles arising from the story of Adam and Eve, together they may help yield an answer.