The Discovery of Genesis (30 page)

It is conceivable that
might be interpreted as the
beginning
of mankind from two human beings, a male and female, without reference to the Biblical story. However, the character
makes no sense as
completion or finish
, outside of the Genesis interpretation, for how would having a
home, roof
be the
completion
of the
beginning?
“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him;
male and female
He created them. … On the sixth day God
completed
all the work He had been doing, and on the seventh day He ceased from all His work” (Genesis 1:27; 2:2 NEB).

It is noteworthy that various primitive verbs of action depict two persons, not one or several. The reason seems to be that in the beginning there were just two people to come and go. The verb
to come
⁴
pictures
two persons
coming from behind
a tree
, which has been spread apart a little to accomodate their figures. Observe also the hook, possibly representing a foot, on the vertical stroke of
to come
to indicate movement. The same two people are seen
sitting
on the
ground
.