The Discovery of Genesis (39 page)

It would seem that in this radical for the
devil
the ancient Chinese had nicknamed him the “secret garden man,” whereas Adam is characterized either as a “dust man” in the
word first
, or as a “fieryman” in the word
fire
.

This word
devil
is frequently qualified in another character
meaning
tempter or demon.
Note here that the devil is hidden under two
trees
, which specifies that site of the two special trees in the middle of the Garden of Eden. Above the trees is a
covering
which records that the
devil
took refuge under the
cover
of the
trees
(and was also camouflaged with the serpent as his medium), when he
tempted
Eve.

The devil began his conversation with Eve by posing a question, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?’” (Genesis 3:1). As Eve answered, she probably began to wonder why God had placed the restriction. “God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die’” (Genesis 3:3). The serpent then very daringly declared to the woman, “
You will not die
, For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4).