M R James

Old Testament Legends M R James

This collection is a series of stories not found in the Bible, but found in other works he translated. Among these stories are Adam, about how God showed Adam and Eve how to live outside of Eden, and Solomon and the Demons, the story of how Solomon tamed the demons told from the point of view of the King. When Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden, they were as helpless as little children. They knew nothing of day or night, heat or cold; they could not kindle a fire to warm themselves, nor till the ground to grow food. They had as yet no clothes to wear and no shelter against rain or sun. As long as they were in the garden, it was always light and warm, and their bodies were so fashioned that they had no need of food or sleep or of protection against the burning of the sun; but since they had eaten of the Tree of Knowledge, they had become like us. Moreover, all the beasts and birds were friendly with them; but now they knew that it was not so.