The First and Second Books of Adam and Eve: Also Called, the Conflict with Satan (Old Testament Apocrypha)

Book excerpt: Dr. Solomon Caesar Malan translates the extracanonical stories describing Adam and Eve following their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Having lain in a cave in northeast Africa for centuries prior to their discovery, the stories are intended to clarify what became of the first ever man and woman after they succumbed to temptation. Although not considered canon, they have received interest by Biblical scholars who have translated the original Ge'ez into various European languages. We hear the stories of Adam and Eve as they navigate the wilderness and eventually settle down to form a family. Their initial departure is marred by Eve fainting in shock at the landscape before them: God, however, offers encouragement and the pair are able to venture forth into the great unknown. An intriguing supplement to the Book of Genesis, The First and Second Books of Adam and Eve remains a text of some interest to Biblical scholars and adherents of Christianity.