The Tree of Knowledge

Question

Why did G-d put the tree of knowledge in the garden knowing that man would disobey?

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Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    There is a certain strain of commentaries that explore the idea that G-d foresaw, and therefore intended, that man would sin, and that this was part of G-d’s plan for enabling his prime creation to perfect itself through free-will decisions and ultimately attain G-d’s image through the circuitous route of history as we know it.

    But if we presume as you posit, namely that G-d intended for them to perfect themselves by overcoming that one, primal directive, the intended scenario would have been as follows: Though created in G-d’s image possessing the potential for perfection, Adam and Eve still needed to realize that potential through their own effort. This would have two basic results. One, they would be able to completely cleave to G-d, having effected their perfection. Two, they would deserve the reward of that closeness to G-d, having accomplished it themselves.

    This means that if they had just observed that initial commandment, they would have perfected themselves, realizing their G-d-like potential, and would have lived eternally with their purely begotten offspring in an eternal Eden in the presence of G-d. In fact, the mystical teachings of Judaism explain that if they had just elevated themselves that fatal first Friday, they would have ushered in their first Shabbat in a state of near perfection, which would then have been completed through the holiness of that day. After having attained that plane of holiness and purity, enabling them to understand G-d on the highest levels, G-d would have then allowed them to partake not only of the Tree of Knowledge, but also of the Tree of Life.

    Having failed the test, rather than perfecting themselves, Adam and Eve incorporated within themselves the venomous toxin of rebellion against G-d, which was in turn commuted to their offspring, humanity. This initiated the contingent plan of world history whose more arduous and circuitous path to perfection we’re still negotiating today. And until the Knowledge of G-d is attained through our own self-perfection, the elusive, esoteric elixir of Eternal Life is hidden in Eden.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team