First Book of Adam and Eve | Page 7

"O God, when we lived in the garden, and
our hearts were lifted up, we saw the angels that sang praises in heaven,
but now we can't see like we used to; no, when we entered the cave, all
creation became hidden from us."
2 Then God the Lord said to Adam, "When you were under subjection
to Me, you had a bright nature within you, and for that reason could
you see things far away. But after your transgression your bright nature
was withdrawn from you; and it was not left to you to see things far
away, but only near at hand; after the ability of the flesh; for it is

brutish."
3 When Adam and Eve had heard these words from God, they went
their way; praising and worshipping Him with a sorrowful heart.
4 And God ceased to commune with them.


Chapter IX
- Water from the Tree of Life. Adam and Eve near drowning.
1 Then Adam and Eve came out of the Cave of Treasures, and went
near to the garden gate, and there they stood to look at it, and cried for
having come away from it.
2 And Adam and Eve went from before the gate of the garden to the
southern side of it, and found there the water that watered the garden,
from the root of the Tree of Life, and that split itself from there into
four rivers over the earth.
3 Then they came and went near to that water, and looked at it; and saw
that it was the water that came forth from under the root of the Tree of
Life in the garden.
4 And Adam cried and wailed, and beat his chest, for being severed
from the garden; and said to Eve: --
5 "Why have you brought on me, on yourself, and on our descendants,
so many of these plagues and punishments?"
6 And Eve said to him, "What is it you have seen that has caused you to
cry and to speak to me in this manner?"
7 And he said to Eve, "Do you not see this water that was with us in the
garden, that watered the trees of the garden, and flowed out from there?
8 And we, when we were in the garden, did not care about it; but since
we came to this strange land, we love it, and turn it to use for our
body."
9 But when Eve heard these words from him, she cried; and from the
soreness of their crying, they fell into that water; and would have put an
end to themselves in it, so as never again to return and behold the
creation; for when they looked at the work of creation, they felt they
must put an end to themselves.

Chapter X
- Their bodies need water after they leave the garden.
1 Then God, merciful and gracious, looked at them thus lying in the
water, and close to death, and sent an angel, who brought them out of
the water, and laid them on the seashore as dead.
2 Then the angel went up to God, was welcome, and said, "O God,
Your creatures have breathed their last."
3 Then God sent His Word to Adam and Eve, who raised them from
their death.
4 And Adam said, after he was raised, "O God, while we were in the
garden we did not require, or care for this water; but since we came to
this land we cannot do without it."
5 Then God said to Adam, "While you were under My command and
were a bright angel, you knew not this water.
6 But now that you have transgressed My commandment, you can not
do without water, wherein to wash your body and make it grow; for it
is now like that of beasts, and is in want of water."
7 When Adam and Eve heard these words from God, they cried a bitter
cry; and Adam entreated God to let him return into the garden, and look
at it a second time.
8 But God said to Adam, "I have made you a promise; when that
promise is fulfilled, I will bring you back into the garden, you and your
righteous descendants."
9 And God ceased to commune with Adam.


Chapter XI
- A recollection of the glorious days in the Garden.
1 Then Adam and Eve felt themselves burning with thirst, and heat, and
sorrow.
2 And Adam said to Eve, "We shall not drink of this water, even if we
were to die. O Eve, when this water comes into our inner parts, it will

increase our punishments and that of our descendants."
3 Both Adam and Eve then went away from the water,