Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!wivax!decvax!harpo!floyd!vax135!ariel!houti!hogpc!houxm!hocda!machaids!5941ux!dje From: dje@5941ux.UUCP Newsgroups: net.religion Subject: Re: Garden of Eden Message-ID: <295@5941ux.UUCP> Date: Wed, 15-Jun-83 15:58:47 EDT Article-I.D.: 5941ux.295 Posted: Wed Jun 15 15:58:47 1983 Date-Received: Thu, 16-Jun-83 16:52:48 EDT References: phs.1729 Lines: 17 The question was asked whether God was lying when He said Adam and Eve would die if they ate the fruit from the tree of life. (Obviously, they did eat it and did not die). I have heard the interpretation that the phrase "ye shall surely die" can be understood as a statement of LIABILITY to the death penalty rather than a mandate for execution. The Sanhedrin (Jewish religious court) in Judea was called bloody if it imposed a death penalty with greater frequency than once in seventy years. This was the case even though they were bound with enforcement of all the laws in the Five Books of Moses that specify "ye shall surely be stoned to death" for transgression. Does that shed any light? Dave Ellis / Bell Labs, Piscataway NJ ...!harpo!npoiv!npois!houxm!5941ux!dje ...!{ariel,lime}!houti!hogpc!houxm!5941ux!dje