Jewish History: Biblical History: Eve and the Snake:
Why did the serpent tempt Eve?
The Torah tells us (Gen. 3:1) that the serpent was unusually intelligent
("cunning"); perhaps it resented the fact that Adam and Eve were appointed
as rulers over all the other forms of life (Gen. 1:28). Also, according to
the Midrash, the serpent wasn't acting on its own, but was being directed
by the angel Samael, who specializes in tempting Man (see the beginning of
the Book of Job).
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