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The Forgotten Books of Eden · 67 of 293

First Adam and Eve: Chapter LXIV

Adam and Eve partake of the first earthly food.

1.THEN God looked upon Adam and upon his strength of mind, upon his endurance of hunger and thirst, and of the heat. And he changed the two fig-trees into two figs, as they were at first, and then said to Adam and to Eve, “Each of you may take one fig.” And they took them, as the Lord commanded them.

2.And he said to them, “Go ye into the cave, and eat the figs, and satisfy your hunger, lest ye die.”

3.So, as God commanded them, they went into the cave, about the time when the sun was setting. And Adam and Eve stood up and prayed at the time of the setting sun.

4.Then they sat down to eat the figs; but they knew not how to eat them; for they were not accustomed to eat earthly food. They feared also lest, if they ate, their stomach should be burdened and their flesh thickened, and their hearts take to liking earthly food.

5.But while they were thus seated, God, out of pity for them, sent them His angel, lest they should perish of hunger and thirst.

6.And the angel said unto Adam and Eve, “God says to you that ye have not strength to fast until death; eat, therefore, and strengthen your bodies; for ye are now animal flesh, that cannot subsist without food and drink.”

7.Then Adam and Eve took the figs and began to eat of them. But God had put into them a mixture as of savoury bread and blood.

8.Then the angel went from Adam and Eve, who ate of the figs until they had satisfied their hunger. Then they put by what remained; but by the power of God, the figs became full as before, because God blessed them.

9.After this Adam and Eve arose, and prayed with a joyful heart and renewed strength, and praised and rejoiced abundantly the whole of that night. And this was the end of the eighty-third day.

Asked of Guide

Why did God give Adam and Eve figs that tasted like bread and blood?

The chapter shows God adapting creation to human needs: He turns the fig trees back and tells them to eat because they “have not strength to fast until death.” The figs contain a “mixture as of savoury bread and blood,” which signals food made for their new animal bodies and for sustaining life.

This episode treats eating as ordained and blessed rather than shameful; after they eat they “praised and rejoiced” and the figs miraculously refill. That practical, sacramental provision echoes themes in Genesis about God providing food, and it resembles how later texts like Hebrews present sustenance as both physical and spiritually significant.

Guide is the guide inside the Gnosis app, where every book on these shelves is free to read. Guide is the part you pay for — your guide has read all of them, and answers about the passage you’re actually on. Ask your guide your own question.