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Then Adam and Eve stood up in
the cave and prayed the whole of that night until the morning
dawned. And when the sun was risen they both went out of the
cave; their heads wandering from heaviness of sorrow, and they not
knowing whither they went.
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And they walked thus unto the
southern border of the garden. And they began to go up that
border until they came to the eastern border beyond which there was no
farther space.
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And the cherub who guarded
the garden was standing at the western gate, and guarding it against
Adam and Eve, lest they should suddenly come into the garden.
And the cherub turned round, as if to put them to death; according to
the commandment God had given him.
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When Adam and Eve came to the
eastern border of the garden—thinking in their hearts that the
cherub was not watching—as they were standing by the gate as if
wishing to go in, suddenly came the cherub with a flashing sword of
fire in his hand; and when he saw them, he went forth to kill
them. For he was afraid lest God should destroy him if they went
into the garden without His order.
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And the sword of the cherub
seemed to flame afar off. But when he raised it over Adam and
Eve, the flame thereof did not flash forth.
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Therefore did the cherub
think that God was favorable to them, and was bringing them back into
the garden. And the cherub stood wondering.
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He could not go up to Heaven
to ascertain God's order regarding their getting into the garden; he
therefore abode standing by them, unable as he was to part from them;
for he was afraid lest they should enter the garden without leave from
God, who then would destroy him.
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When Adam and Eve saw the
cherub coming towards them with a flaming sword of fire in his hand,
they fell on their faces from fear, and were as dead.
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At that time the heavens and
the earth shook; and other cherubim came down from heaven to the
cherub who guarded the garden, and saw him amazed and silent.
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Then, again, other angels
came down nigh unto the place where Adam and Eve were. They were
divided between joy and sorrow.
-
They were glad, because they
thought that God was favorable to Adam, and wished him to return to
the garden; and wished to restore him to the gladness he once enjoyed.
-
But they sorrowed over Adam,
because he had fallen like a dead man, he and Eve; and they said in
their thoughts, "Adam has not died in this place; but God has put
him to death, for his having come to this place, and wishing to get
into the garden without His leave."
