Anat

Depends on definition of perfect. See above regarding the midrash about Cain and Abel each having twin sisters. And if the sisters were born later - so what? When the time was right God inspired them to meet one another. When you live hundreds of years you have enough time to schedule meetings with anybody. I don't see why this counters literal interpretation.

fromdownunder

There are also other legends about Lilith being Adam's first wife. These pretty much dispose of the Genesis account as well.

Norm

fromdownunder

Anat, I am now responding to your edited post, rather than the original.

If the sisters were born later than Seth, then by the chronology set out in the Bible, they were born after Cain knew his wife, which takes us back to the "where did Mrs Cain come from" question. Of course, this is only a problem to an inerranist

Norm

Joan of Bark

Inerranists can always revert to the "it doesn't say 'such and such' didn't happen ..." argument. Maybe UFO's came down and deposited extra women on Earth; women YHWH had been creating on another planet just for this purpose. Sorry to be so flippant, but these are the types of responses we all get when presenting the more fundy types with reasoned arguments. There is just no way to counter them, except to lower oneself to their level of debate.

fromdownunder

Joan of Bark:

You don't, by any chance, happen to br a reincarnation of Joan of Ark who used to post here in 2000/2001?

Norm

Joan of Bark

No. I'm not even familiar with him/her.