In Judaism how literally is one to take a story such as this?

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superlessman

New member
This assertion is also found in Jewish legend,[3] that the serpent (Hebrew nahash ???) from the Garden of Eden was father to firstborn Cain.
 
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micheller

Member
Not at all literally. Midrash helps you understand the text, but it is still secondary to the text. And no less a rabbinic scholar than Rambam (Maimonides) taught that the beginning chapters of Genesis could be read allegorically - so much more so he folk tales.
 
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Nostromo

New member
Depends on the brand of Judaism.
Orthodox Jews will (likely) take this passage to be literal.
Reform Jews will (likely) take this passage to be metaphor.
 
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