Please, don't get aggravated. I am not being sarcastic at all. But if I believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God, I surely need to know exactly what it says, not what other people say it says. Thanks for your patience so far.
Okay . . . the first thing you need to realize is that the Torah is very deep. Protestants believe in the perspecuity(sp?) of scripture because they believe its purpose is so anyone can pick it up, read it, get "saved," and go to Heaven. This is not why the Torah was written, and the systemetized focus of Judaism is not the afterlife. That's not to say that it isn't important; the sytemetized thrust of Judaism is law.
My copy of the Stone TaNa"KH says that according to most commentators the serpent of Genesis 3 was a serpent. Did it talk? Of course it did (so did Balaam's she-ass). It also originally walked upon legs.
To know somewhat of the serpent's motivation you would have to read the various classic commentators. I've read Rashi, but that's about it, and I think Rashi said he wanted Adam to die so he could have Eve. There are also deep mystical traditions about the Satan riding on the back of the serpent "like a camel." You really need to ask these questions of Orthodox Jewish FReepers.
No, Genesis 3:15 is not a "messianic" verse. Once again, you are imposing "new testament" theology onto the Hebrew Bible. The "seed of the woman" simply means her descendants. And contrary to what some preachers say, Eve is not the only woman the Bible says had "seed." The descendants of both men and women are referred to in this manner. It simply means that in the end humanity will triumph over what the serpent represents (and it sure ain't happened yet).
FF, you really need to understand that Judaism is not pre-incarnation chrstianity. Look, I used to be just like you (that may explain why I'm being so rough on you). The Hebrew Bible isn't nearly as "messianic" as chrstians think it is because the real Mashiach will merely be the restored Davidic monarch who reigns over an ingathered Israel where full Torah observance is restored and during which all mankind will be brought to the Noachide Laws. Chrstians worship their "messiah" so they read him into every sentence of the TaNa"KH.
I advise you and all philo-Semitic chrstians to make a decision . . . do you believe in the Hebrew Bible only because it was endorsed by J*sus? Does the Revelation at Sinai mean absolutely nothing to you without his approval? Without chrstianity is Torah nothing more but another false religion to you? If chrstianity were ever proved false would you throw your Hebrew Bible into the garbage can because it is no longer of any use or would you still believe in it?
Chrstians seem to believe in the Hebrew Bible because J*sus told them to. That's not why the Jews believe in it. They believe because the unincarnated, invisible, infinite spiritual G-d told them to . . . and they were there to hear it! Jews don't need the authorization of J*sus or of chrstianity to believe the TaNa"KH. And neither do you.
Please, don't get aggravated. I am not being sarcastic at all. But if I believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God, I surely need to know exactly what it says, not what other people say it says. Thanks for your patience so far.
Yes, the Hebrew Bible is the inerrant Word of G-d. But when this belief is based on Protestant assumptions you miss the whole point. Can your belief in inerrancy survive without its underlying Protestant and chrstian assumptions?