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The Forgotten Books of Eden · 74 of 293

First Adam and Eve: Chapter LXXI

Adam is troubled by his wedding with Eve.

1.BUT when Adam heard these words from Satan, he sorrowed much, because of his oath and of his promise, and said, “Shall I commit adultery with my flesh and my bones, and shall I sin against myself, for God to destroy me, and to blot me out from off the face of the earth?

2.“Since, when at first, I ate of the tree, He drove me out of the garden into this strange land, and deprived me of my bright nature, and brought death upon me. If, then, I should do this, He will cut off my life from the earth, and He will cast me into hell, and will plague me there a long time.

3.“But God never spoke the words thou hast told me; and ye are not God’s angels, nor yet sent from Him. But ye are devils, come to me under the false appearance of angels . Away from me; ye cursed of God!”

4.Then those devils fled from before Adam. And he and Eve arose, and returned to the Cave of Treasures, and went into it.

5.Then Adam said to Eve, “If thou sawest what I did, tell it not; for I sinned against God n swearing by His great name, and I have placed my hand another time into that of Satan.” Eve, then, held her peace, as Adam told her.

6.Then Adam arose, and spread his hands unto God, beseeching and entreating Him with tears, to forgive him what he had done. And Adam remained thus standing and praying forty days and forty nights. He neither ate nor drank until he dropped down upon the earth from hunger and thirst.

7.Then God sent His Word unto Adam, who raised him up from where he lay, and said unto him, “O Adam, why hast thou sworn by My name, and why hast thou made agreement with Satan another time?”

8.But Adam wept, and said, “O God, forgive me, for I did this unwittingly; believing they were God’s angels.”

9.And God forgave Adam, saying, to him, “Beware of Satan.”

10.And He withdrew His Word from Adam.

11.Then Adam’s heart was comforted; and he took Eve, and they went out of the cave, to make some food for their bodies.

12.But from that day Adam struggled in his mind about his wedding Eve; afraid as he was to do it, lest God should be wroth with him.

13.Then Adam and Eve went to the river of water, and sat on the bank, as people do when they enjoy themselves.

14.But Satan was jealous of them; and would destroy them.

Asked of Guide

Why does Adam pray forty days and forty nights after swearing to Satan?

Adam prays forty days and forty nights because he is seized by remorse for swearing by God’s name and for placing his hand “into that of Satan.” The chapter says he “neither ate nor drank until he dropped down,” which frames the vigil as desperate penance and a plea for restoration after a covenantal lapse.

God responds by sending His Word to raise Adam and ask why he made the oath, then forgives him—telling him simply, “Beware of Satan.” This episode connects to other penitential narratives like Moses’ fasts in Exodus, where prolonged fasting accompanies intercession and divine encounter.

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.