Manuscript and gender: Eve’s testament in GLAE/Apoc. Mos. 15–30 and LLAE 45–60

Abstract

Whereas many of the so-called Jewish Pseudepigrapha still wait for a critical edition, the Life of Adam and Eve—or the Apocalypse of Moses, as the Greek version is captioned in some manuscripts—has received more than three critical editions in recent years. While the question which manuscript or version comes closest to the original form of the story is still under debate, this article argues that the manifold manuscript tradition opens a window into an ancient discussion on Satan’s, Eve’s, and Adam’s role in the story of their expulsion from Paradise. I will concentrate my discussion on Eve’s account of the story in GLAE 15–30 and LLAE 45–60. The three texts differ in their representation of gender roles in Eve’s own account of the fall. None of these versions only exonerates or denigrates Eve, nor is one with the most emancipatory potential easily identified. All three texts, however, document a constant discussion on Eve’s role in Paradise.