Adam and Eve partake of the first
earthly food.
Book I. Chapter LXIV.
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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.
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And he said to them, "Go
ye into the cave, and eat the figs, and satisfy your hunger, lest ye
die."
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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.
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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.
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But while they were thus
seated, God, out of pity for them, sent them His angel, lest they
should perish of hunger and thirst.
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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."
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Then Adam and Eve took the
figs and began to eat of them. But God had put into them a
mixture as of savory bread and blood.
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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.
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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.
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