ABSTRACT
The account that biblical editors ended up opening with is known as the Priestly account, named for its serenity and stately rhythm. The Priestly author was concerned with putting pagan gods in their place. The author of the story of Adam and Eve had other concerns. In an ancient world without national borders and many nomadic peoples, cross-fertilization of such tales would have been common. The tribes of Israël and Judah lived near key caravan tracks that connected Mediterranean and Mesopotamian territories. Almost all allegories started with human beings living in close intimacy with divine beings, with gods. In the mythical garden of Eden, people found that wholeness. To make that script work, J positioned Eve as highly rational, displaying full and acute mental faculties. With her wavering and uncertainty before making a bad choice, Eve was not unique.
