v.8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God moving about in the orchard at the breezy time of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the orchard.
J. J. Niehaus (God at Sinai [SOTBT], 155–57) offers a different interpretation of the phrase, relating יוֹם (yom, usually understood as “day”) to an Akkadian cognate umu (“storm”) and translates the phrase “in the wind of the storm.” If Niehaus is correct, then God is not pictured as taking an afternoon stroll through the orchard, but as coming in a powerful windstorm to confront the man and woman with their rebellion. In this case קוֹל יְהוָה (qol yéhvah, “sound of the LORD”) may refer to God’s thunderous roar, which typically accompanies his appearance in the storm to do battle or render judgment (e.g., see Ps 29).
Reflection: When the man and his wife just heard the sound of the LORD moving about they hid v.8, and 10. Why mean needed to hide from God? Adam explained that he was naked and therefore he hid v.10. Was this the real reason given by Adam? Man may want to hid from another person because they were naked, but hiding from God because they are naked?? Or Adam was afraid because he ate the fruit that God told him do not eat. (Although he might not believe in God that when they eat they will die).
Are we like Adam? Are we afraid when we disobeyed God when He clearly told us what is prohibited?
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