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the antiquities of the jews-1-第3章

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at his supposal of their living happily; and in obedience to the
commands of God; and imagining; that when they disobeyed them;
they would fall into calamities; he persuaded the woman; out of a
malicious intention; to taste of the tree of knowledge; telling
them; that in that tree was the knowledge of good and evil; which
knowledge; when they should obtain; they would lead a happy life;
nay; a life not inferior to that of a god: by which means he
overcame the woman; and persuaded her to despise the command of
God。 Now when she had tasted of that tree; and was pleased with
its fruit; she persuaded Adam to make use of it also。 Upon this
they perceived that they were become naked to one another; and
being ashamed thus to appear abroad; they invented somewhat to
cover them; for the tree sharpened their understanding; and they
covered themselves with fig…leaves; and tying these before them;
out of modesty; they thought they were happier than they were
before; as they had discovered what they were in want of。 But
when God came into the garden; Adam; who was wont before to come
and converse with him; being conscious of his wicked behavior;
went out of the way。 This behavior surprised God; and he asked
what was the cause of this his procedure; and why he; that before
delighted in that conversation; did now fly from it; and avoid
it。 When he made no reply; as conscious to himself that he had
transgressed the command of God; God said; 〃I had before
determined about you both; how you might lead a happy life;
without any affliction; and care; and vexation of soul; and that
all things which might contribute to your enjoyment and pleasure
should grow up by my providence; of their own accord; without
your own labor and pains…taking; which state of labor and
pains…taking would soon bring on old age; and death would not be
at any remote distance: but now thou hast abused this my
good…will; and hast disobeyed my commands; for thy silence is not
the sign of thy virtue; but of thy evil conscience。〃 However;
Adam excused his sin; and entreated God not to be angry at him;
and laid the blame of what was done upon his wife; and said that
he was deceived by her; and thence became an offender; while she
again accused the serpent。 But God allotted him punishment;
because he weakly submitted to the counsel of his wife; and said
the ground should not henceforth yield its fruits of its own
accord; but that when it should be harassed by their labor; it
should bring forth some of its fruits; and refuse to bring forth
others。 He also made Eve liable to the inconveniency of breeding;
and the sharp pains of bringing forth children; and this because
she persuaded Adam with the same arguments wherewith the serpent
had persuaded her; and had thereby brought him into a calamitous
condition。 He also deprived the serpent of speech; out of
indignation at his malicious disposition towards Adam。 Besides
this; he inserted poison under his tongue; and made him an enemy
to men; and suggested to them; that they should direct their
strokes against his head; that being the place wherein lay his
mischievous designs towards men; and it being easiest to take
vengeance on him; that way。 And when he had deprived him of the
use of his feet; he made him to go rolling all along; and
dragging himself upon the ground。 And when God had appointed
these penalties for them; he removed Adam and Eve out of the
garden into another place。

CHAPTER 2。

Concerning The Posterity Of Adam; And The Ten Generations From
Him To The Deluge;

1。 Adam and Eve had two sons: the elder of them was named Cain;
which name; when it is interpreted; signifies a possession: the
younger was Abel; which signifies sorrow。 They had also
daughters。 Now the two brethren were pleased with different
courses of life: for Abel; the younger; was a lover of
righteousness; and believing that God was present at all his
actions; he excelled in virtue; and his employment was that of a
shepherd。 But Cain was not only very wicked in other respects;
but was wholly intent upon getting; and he first contrived to
plough the ground。 He slew his brother on the occasion following
: … They had resolved to sacrifice to God。 Now Cain brought the
fruits of the earth; and of his husbandry; but Abel brought milk;
and the first…fruits of his flocks: but God was more delighted
with the latter oblation;(6) when he was honored with what grew
naturally of its own accord; than he was with what was the
invention of a covetous man; and gotten by forcing the ground;
whence it was that Cain was very angry that Abel was preferred by
God before him; and he slew his brother; and hid his dead body;
thinking to escape discovery。 But God; knowing what had been
done; came to Cain; and asked him what was become of his brother;
because he had not seen him of many days; whereas he used to
observe them conversing together at other times。 But Cain was in
doubt with himself; and knew not what answer to give to God。 At
first he said that he was himself at a loss about his brother's
disappearing; but when he was provoked by God; who pressed him
vehemently; as resolving to know what the matter was; he replied;
he was not his brother's guardian or keeper; nor was he an
observer of what he did。 But; in return; God convicted Cain; as
having been the murderer of his brother; and said; 〃I wonder at
thee; that thou knowest not what is become of a man whom thou
thyself hast destroyed。〃 God therefore did not inflict the
punishment 'of death' upon him; on account of his offering
sacrifice; and thereby making supplication to him not to be
extreme in his wrath to him; but he made him accursed; and
threatened his posterity in the seventh generation。 He also cast
him; together with his wife; out of that land。 And when he was
afraid that in wandering about he should fall among Wild beasts;
and by that means perish; God bid him not to entertain such a
melancholy suspicion; and to go over all the earth without fear
of what mischief he might suffer from wild beasts; and setting a
mark upon him; that he might be known; he commanded him to
depart。

2。 And when Cain had traveled over many countries; he; with his
wife; built a city; named Nod; which is a place so called; and
there he settled his abode; where also he had children。 However;
he did not accept of his punishment in order to amendment; but to
increase his wickedness; for he only aimed to procure every thing
that was for his own bodily pleasure; though it obliged him to be
injurious to his neighbors。 He augmented his household substance
with much wealth; by rapine and violence; he excited his
acquaintance to procure pleasures and spoils by robbery; and
became a great leader of men into wicked courses。 He also
introduced a change in that way of simplicity wherein men lived
before; and was the author of measures and weights。 And whereas
they lived innocently and generously while they knew nothing of
such arts; he changed the world into cunning craftiness。 He first
of all set boundaries about lands: he built a city; and fortified
it with walls; and he compelled his family to come together to
it; and called that city En
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