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Genesis 2:4–4:26

Toledot of the Heavens and the Earth

First Sin: Adam

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

  1. a
    creation of man2:4–17his happy relationship with the earth and his home in the garden, where he has freely growing food and access to the tree of life
  2. b
    creation of woman2:18–25her happy relationship with man
  3. c
    serpent3:1–5in conversation with woman, tempts her
  4. X
    the sin and God's uncovering of it3:6–13
  5. c′
    punishment of serpent3:14–15its spoiled relationship with woman
  6. b′
    punishment of woman3:16her spoiled relationship with man
  7. a′
    punishment of man3:17–24his spoiled relationship with the earth and expulsion from his home in the garden; he will now have to toil to secure food and will no longer have access to the tree of life

Second Sin: Cain

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

  1. a
    Cain's happy beginning4:1–2birth of Cain and Abel; Cain's job of “working the soil (ʼadamâ)”; living with his family
  2. b
    Cain's resentment of God's rejection of his offering4:3–5
  3. c
    God's kind response4:6–7sympathetically reasons with Cain
  4. X
    Cain's sin and God's uncovering of it4:8–10
  5. a′
    Cain's sad ending4:11–12he is now cursed “from the soil (ʼadamâ)”; banished from living with his family
  6. b′
    Cain's resentment of God's punishment4:13–14
  7. c′
    God's kind response4:15–16provides for Cain's protection

Cain and Yahweh

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

  1. A
    Cain and Abel Approach Yahweh4:2b–5
  2. B
    Yahweh Dialogues with Cain4:6–7
  3. X
    Cain Kills Abel4:8
  4. B′
    Yahweh Dialogues with Cain4:9–12
  5. A′
    Cain Departs from Yahweh4:15b–16