Adam and Eve, forbidden fruit and ‘The Fall’

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EVE AND THE SERPANT
Eve and the Serpent. Oil on canvas/Herbert Mandel

About this series: A narrative exploring the stories behind the paintings of late artist Herbert Mandel as explained in the context of the Biblical texts they’re derived from, by his son-in-law, Jim Robidoux.


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The Biblical story of Adam and Eve is told in the book of Genesis, when God created Adam, and then Eve. It’s been retold time and again by many artists, including my father-in-law, Herbert Mandel, which is the inspiration for this explanation of “the fall.”

God’s first recorded conversation with Adam in the Bible was about the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were told they could eat anything they wanted — except the fruit from that tree. If they did, God told them they would die. Death was God’s warning, before “the great fall,” and the loss of innocence for mankind.

Eve had been created just for Adam, a helpmate suited for him. The fall was inevitable. In Adam’s defense, he fell for the most beautiful woman on earth, despite God’s warning.

ADAM AND EVE HIDE FROM GOD
Adam and Eve hide from God. Oil on Canvas/Herbert Mandel

Eve picked the forbidden fruit and ate it. Adam was with her and he ate it, too. Their eyes were opened and their innocence, lost. They ran from God and His presence soon after, and were expelled from the garden, paradise also lost.

Life on earth would never be the same. All of life became harder and harder as they started their family outside of paradise. God’s “fallen angel” in the form of a snake had lied to Eve, and all of God’s creation was to fall, like Satan. Death and murder entered Adam’s family–  and our world – when Cain (their oldest son) killed Abel (his younger brother) as described in Genesis Chapter 4.

ADAM AND EVE EXPELLED
“Adam and Eve Expelled from Eden.” Oil on canvas/Herbert Mandel

And so it was through the first sin of disobedience, that death and suffering worldwide entered in.  To ask, “What if Adam and Eve had not eaten the forbidden fruit,” is pointless. The fall was predictable, and God had a plan from the beginning.

According to the Bible, God will preserve a remnant always and protect and defend His chosen ones. And in the end, all will be burned up with only His people, His children, to enter into eternity and paradise once more.


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Jim Robidoux works in precision sheet metal, is father of four and husband of Manchester Ink Link publisher Carol Robidoux. He enjoys smoking cigars, pondering life’s big questions, and roots for all his home teams, whether they’re from Philly or Boston. He looks forward to receiving fan mail at jrmetalman@comcas.net.

About this Author

Jim Robidoux

Click here for more posts in Pop’s Art: The Bible Illustrated.   Jim Robidoux works in precision sheet metal, is father of four and husband of Manchester Ink Link publisher Carol Robidoux. He enjoys smoking cigars, pondering life’s big questions, and roots for all his home teams, whether they’re from Philly or Boston. He looks forward to receiving fan mail at jrmetalman@comcas.net.