The Death of Adam

 "6 And died, with their image as their share in eternity."

At first the Holy One sent emissaries to stop them, but soon thought better. “It is decided,” God declared, “Humans shall remain mortal in a changeable world, ‘their only share in eternity will be their  image.” 

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"Biblical" Passages (On which the Midrash is based) =

1 God had formed the firmament, the great lights, the garden,

2 And man and woman, back to back.

3 They were summoned before God to help choose.

4 But Adam and Eve fled from the garden  with the flowers of time,

5 Into a land of ancient olive trees, cliffs and stones,

6 And died, with their image as their share in eternity.

 

Commentary

2 back to back: with no relationship

3 to choose: whether to enter time or remain in eternity

4 fled from the garden: with the little time granted to them for the consultation

4 flowers of time: time lasting only so long as the flowers remained alive.

Hillel says: seven days Shammai counters: 70 years, for each day in those times counted as ten years—enough time to make clothes, construct a shelter, raise a family and till the land.

5 ancient olive trees: according to some the “trees of life” as they endure a thousand years.Rabbi Tarphon opined: “To provide the oil for the eternal light (in Solomon’s temple). R. Akiva says: The twists and turns of the olive’s branches mirror our life in time

6 image: some say “artistic image”, others “the image of God within man.”