#8: Q&A on Adam & Eve, the Watchers, Demons & Repentance

Your questions answered! In this Q&A I tackle questions you have sent me on previous episodes:

Adam and Eve’s punishment
The “myth” of the Watchers
Demonic possession
Repentance in the Hebrew Bible

In my next episode, I will address your questions on the status of the Hebrew Bible and “canon” in general during the Second Temple period.

17 Responses to "#8: Q&A on Adam & Eve, the Watchers, Demons & Repentance"

ellens says:

March 7, 2016 at 4:57 pm

wondering why it is not considered demonic when in the book of daniel the king is made mad and eating grass like an animal for number of years?
1. Miryam Brand says:
  
  March 7, 2016 at 6:45 pm
  
  Because no demon is involved. On the contrary, this is described as a direct, divine judgment.
Rocky Jackson says:

March 15, 2016 at 5:02 am

Sorry Miryam, I have been SO busy & just had a chance to listen to this wonderful study.

So Question as we read Isa 45:7
Plainly what seems to be the “Role” of Evil
We have maybe a handful of verses Tanach saying an evil spirit ( from G-D) at times & ” Satan” about 18 times ..

So contextually what can we/ you derive from this?
1. Miryam Brand says:
  
  March 15, 2016 at 11:15 am
  
  Hi Rocky. Following the next episode on Scripture I am going to start a mini-series on Satan and satanic figures, starting with an episode focusing on Satan in the Hebrew Bible. So tune in then, and I hope to have some answers for you.
Rocky Jackson says:

March 16, 2016 at 1:49 am

Wonderful!
Charles says:

May 12, 2016 at 10:00 pm

You said that as being part of Judaism, you don’t accept Enoch (thus, the myth of the watchers). How do you embrace the verses in Genesis about the nephilim on the earth?
1. Miryam Brand says:
  
  October 6, 2019 at 6:52 pm
  
  There’s a big gap between Genesis 6 and the story as told in Enoch. 😉
Kimberly says:

May 19, 2016 at 6:45 pm

I love the part about the distinction between an incantation and a prayer. Folks need to know that. Thank you so much for these podcasts. I’m really enjoying them!
1. Miryam Brand says:
  
  May 19, 2016 at 8:13 pm
  
  Thank you – I’m glad you’re enjoying them!
Erin Hunter says:

September 13, 2016 at 8:20 pm

Shalom, I’d like to share that in understanding Abel’s offering a lamb??? Hearing it was pleasing to Yhwh that he must have been repentant in all he knew of his own heart’s desires toward YHWH as in a sinner. ???

As for Cain, he had to be reminded after an unacceptable offering, to look within himself to find his guilt, hatred toward Abel.
If he wouldf conquer it, he’d be accepted to YHWH as clean.

YHWH had covered the man and his wife with the lamb skin, the blood must have been what was spilled as in YSHWH in the new testament [brit hadashah] had to be slain in the similar example of this to verify that YHWH had already covered the sin in a repentant heart…

Just a thought.
Blessings to all who seek truth and pursue it.
Rafael Diniz says:

November 15, 2019 at 5:57 pm

Dear Dr. Brand,

Does any of the earliest sources mention that the tree of life and the tree of knowledge are the same? Or connected somehow? Thank you in advance!
1. Miryam Brand says:
  
  June 17, 2020 at 7:17 pm
  
  As far as I know, none of the early sources say they are the same. The trees are connected in Genesis itself through the potential consequences of Adam and Eve eating from the tree of knowledge — they may now know enough to eat from the tree of life and live forever.
Jim Harkins says:

March 6, 2020 at 4:15 am

I have been listening to your podcast as a playlist over the past few days while doing yard work. As such I have multiple episodes in mind when posing this thought but I am unsure which episodes exactly. Since my thought has to do with the consequences of sin before the flood I thought this would be a good place.
You mentioned that some people have had issue with how the daughters of man and the sons of G-d could reproduce and then responded that the author of Genesis doesn’t appear to have had that problem. Coupling that together with the question of, “What did the flood really change?” Adding to that coupling the idea that mating with a separate species is sinful and that that sin spread to the animals. Then, bringing in when G-d brought before adam all the animals to find a companion for him. I wonder if the change has something to do with eliminating the potential for inter species mating. I wonder if, for example, all mammals were able to mate with one another.
I came to this thought when your friend commented about being a teacher and having to teach children things. One of the things about very young children is their fascination with the parts of their body as they discover them. I can see how being able to mate with the sons of G-d might cause curiosity about mating with other species. After all, we have people copulating with other species even today.
Is this an idea you have come across or am I totally out in left field and what do you see as possible lines of thought that might result from such an idea?
1. Jim Harkins says:
  
  March 6, 2020 at 4:20 am
  
  P.S. I am really loving the podcast. It is obvious you have put in considerable time, thought, and research. It is informative and thought provoking. Thank you.
  1. Miryam Brand says:
    
    June 17, 2020 at 9:30 pm
    
    Thank you! I’m glad you’re enjoying it!
2. Miryam Brand says:
  
  June 17, 2020 at 9:21 pm
  
  Hi Jim. The midrash gives almost this exact answer to the question of why the animals needed to be destroyed by the flood. According to the midrash, the animals mated with different species. The midrash may also be connecting the two stories to reach this conclusion.
Lisa says:

June 15, 2021 at 11:42 am

Thank you.

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