The sin of the Eitz HaDaat, the Tree of Knowledge, is one of the most perplexing episodes in the Torah. Insight into the story sheds light on women's unique qualities and role in the process of redemption.

After Adam's creation, G-d placed him in the Garden of Eden. Man was permitted to partake in all the delicacies except for one: "From the Tree of Knowledge of good and bad, you must not eat, for on the day you eat of it, you will become deserving of death." (Genesis 2:17)(1)

The prohibition on eating from the Eitz HaDaat and the consequence of death upon its violation was intima

The serpent introduced doubt into Chavah's mind.

ted for Adam, Chavah (Eve) and their descendants.(2) Although Adam relayed this prohibition to Chavah,(3) she became confused with the directive which then set the stage for the entire episode.

The cunning serpent, who was the embodiment of the evil Satan,(4) asked Chavah whether G-d had forbidden her from eating from any trees in the garden.

Chavah answered, "Of the fruit of any tree in the garden we may eat; only of the fruit of the tree which is in the center of the garden has G-d said 'You should neither eat of it nor touch it, lest you die.'"(5)

Chavah added the prohibition of touching the Tree of Knowledge. The serpent then forcibly pushed Chavah against the tree and victoriously claimed, "See, just as death did not ensue from touching, so it will not follow from eating."(6)

In this way, the serpent introduced doubt into Chavah's mind. It now became easier to dare Chavah to taste the forbidden fruit. He convinced her that G-d did not actually intend to kill her and Adam, but merely threatened them to intimidate them.(7)

The serpent enticed Chavah by predicting beneficial outcomes. "Your eyes will be opened.... The fruit will awaken a new desire and appreciation for the pleasures around you. It will be a source of intellectual benefit."

Chavah longed for this new knowledge and exciting awakening, and she ate the forbidden fruit. She then used her persuasive powers to convince her husband to eat it as well.

Chavah's downfall began when she expanded upon and distorted G-d's command, which she did not personally hear.

The Talmud states that "Ten measures of speech were given to the world; nine of them were allocated to women."(8)

Is this a statement in praise of woman or is it a derogatory one? It can be either. Each of us has the choice and responsibility to determine how to use our communication skills. We have the choice of gossiping, lying, plotting and talking negatively; or, conversely, we can express empathy, understanding, and constructive teaching. Woman's extra allotment of speech can have positive or negative ramifications.

Chavah distorted G-d's command because she did not hear it directly. The command was relayed by Adam and, therefore, was slightly ambiguous to her. Elaborating on the prohibition to include something it did not caused her to eventually be persuaded to sin.

The above explains the circumstances leading Chavah to violate G-d's word, but her reasoning is still unclear. What intrinsic spiritual changes did Chavah anticipate that were so irresistible?

Prior to this sin, mankind was not a mixture of good and evil, but was innately good; our natural tendency was to do the will of our Maker. Although man possessed free will, temptation came from the outside. Evil, per se, was embodied in the satanic serpent that became a vehicle for temptation.

Man's mission was to elevate himself to the level where evil would become completely senseless and unappealing. If man, an essentially physical being, chose to ignore temptation, he would elevate the entire physical realm.

Had humanity fulfilled this mission, our purpose would have been achieved by the time the sun had set on the sixth day of creation, at the onset of the world's first Shabbat. Life would have become an upward spiral of spiritual ecstasy.

Chavah thought she could do better. She understood that overcoming an external temptation is never as great as overcoming an internal one.

By eating the forbidden fruit, Chavah consciously caused temptation to become a part of humanity's make-up. Adam and Chavah became enlightened people; their eyes were open to the evil of the world.(9) They now displayed a desire for base pleasure, despite its harmfulness.(10)

They had thought they could please G-d by resisting this constant inner call to evil. They now realized that they had stripped themselves of the one mitzvah entrusted to them. Then they heard the "voice of G-d withdrawing in the garden"; this was the first tragic withdrawal of the Divine Presence.(11)

Though we cannot fully fathom the cosmic effect of this sin, our long exile became one consequence. Death, as well, became necessary.(12)

Yet man's sin was also part of creation's design. Adam and Chavah were, in a sense, correct in their assumption that the outcome of this sin would ultimately lead to a greater sanctification of G-d's Name.

In the era of Mashiach, once the world reaches its eventual state of purity, humanity will have achieved a greater accomplishment. Once we will have overcome temptation from within, the positive forces will be strengthened. Accordingly, man's reward will be greater, as well.

For this to happen, it was part of the Divine plan that Adam should relay G-d's command to Chavah. Chavah would never have dared to violate a prohibition given to her personally by G-d.(13)

Women are stronger in this aspect of faith. Women's innate humility makes them more conducive to kabbalat ol, accepting the Divine will, regardless of their comprehension of it.

Had Chavah heard the command directly from G-d, she would not have dared to make any further calculation. But we also would not have achieved our ultimate objective of negating an internal evil. Thus, the greater feat would not have been accomplished.

Since woman caused the original taint of sin to become part of humanity's make-up - a sin that will only be removed in the era of Mashiach - she must be the one to correct it. She is entrusted with the responsibility and the privilege of bringing about this ultimate rectification.

The Final Redemption will arrive in the merit of righteous women who utilize their immense spiritual capabilities for positive endeavors.



Notes

1) Adam didn't actually die on that day, but rather 930 years later. According the Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 19:8), "the day" refers to G-d's day, which is one thousand years (as per Psalms 90:4).

2) Midrash (ibid. 2:17) on the double wording in the verse mot tamut - "you will certainly die."

3) The GR"A in Aderet Eliyahu (ibid. 2:16).

4) Zohar Chadash: "Rabbi Yitzchak said: 'The serpent is the Evil Tempter.' Rabbi Yehudah said: 'It means literally a serpent.' They asked Rabbi Shimon who told them: 'Both these views are the same. It was Samael (the accuser, Angel of Death) who appeared as a serpent.... Because the serpent was in reality the Angel of Death, it brought death to the world.'"

5) Genesis 3:2-3

6) Rashi ad. loc. and on Talmud, Sanhedrin 29a.

7) Haemek Davar,ibid.

8) Talmud, Kiddushin 49b.

9) Zohar in the name of Rabbi Chiyah.

10) Sforno on Genesis 3:7.

11) Genesis 3:8; Hirsch explains "the direction of the day" in that verse as westward, implying that G-d withdrew His Presence westward (therefore the Holy of Holies in the Temple was in the west and the eternal light of the Menorah is turned toward the west).

12) See Derech HaShem 3:8.

13) In contrast, when the Torah was given at Mount Sinai, G-d instructed Moshe to inform the women prior to the men. The verse states, "So you shall say to the House of Jacob..." (Exodus 19:3) Rashi explains that "the House of Jacob" refers to the women, who were to be spoken to prior to "the Sons of Israel," the men. Women were to be explained the Torah laws first since they are more determined in their faith. Women were entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that their husbands and children observe the mitzvot punctiliously. Accordingly, being the pillars of Torah's perpetuation, the women should learn about it first.

This article originally appeared on Chabad.org.