FIRST BOOK OF AḎAM AND ḤAWWAH 54

Aḏam and Ḥawwah go exploring.

1 THEN Aḏam and Ḥawwah stood up in the cave and prayed the whole of that night until the morning dawned. And when the sun was risen they both went out of the cave; their heads wandering from heaviness of sorrow, and they not knowing whither they went.

2 And they walked thus unto the southern border of the garden. And they began to go up that border until they came to the eastern border beyond which there was no farther space.

3 And the keruḇ who guarded the garden was standing at the western gate,and guarding it against Aḏam and Ḥawwah, lest they should suddenly come into the garden. And the keruḇ turned round, as if to put them to death; according to the commandment Elohim had given him.

4 When Aḏam and Ḥawwah came to the eastern border of the garden–thinking in their hearts that the keruḇ was not watching–as they were standing by the gate as if wishing to go in, suddenly came the keruḇ with a flashing sword of fire in his hand; and when he saw them, he went forth to kill them. For he was afraid lest Elohim should destroy him if they went into the garden without His order.

5 And the sword of the keruḇ seemed to flame afar off. But when he raised it over Aḏam and Ḥawwah, the flame thereof did not flash forth.

6 Therefore did the keruḇ think that Elohim was favourable to them, and was bringing them back into the garden. And the keruḇ stood wondering.

7 He could not go up to Heaven to ascertain Elohim’s order regarding their getting into the garden; he therefore abode standing by them, unable as he was to part from them; for he was afraid lest they should enter the garden without leave from Elohim, who then would destroy him.

8 When Aḏam and Ḥawwah saw the keruḇ coming towards them with a flaming sword of fire in his hand, they fell on their faces from fear, and were as dead.

9 At that time the heavens and the earth shook; and other keruḇim came down from shamayim to the keruḇ who guarded the garden, and saw him amazed and silent.

10 Then, again, other messengers came down nigh unto the place where Aḏam and Ḥawwah were. They were divided between joy and sorrow.

11 They were glad, because they thought that Elohim was favourable to Aḏam, and wished him to return to the garden; and wished to restore him to the gladness he once enjoyed.

12 But they sorrowed over Aḏam, because he was fallen like a dead man, he and Ḥawwah; and they said in their thoughts, “Aḏam has not died in this place; but Elohim has put him to death, for his having come to this place, and wishing to get into the garden without His leave.”