The Woman Beguiled.--When our First Parents partook of the forbidden fruit, it was the woman who was beguiled by the Serpent (Satan) and induced to go contrary to the divine command. The man was not deceived. [12] What Adam did was done knowingly and after full deliberation. When Eve had tasted of the fruit, Adam did likewise in order to carry out another command, the first that God had given to this pair--the command to "multiply and replenish the earth." [13] Eve, by her act, had separated herself from her husband, and was now mortal, while he remained in an immortal state. It was impossible, therefore, unless he also became mortal, for them to obey the original behest. This was Adam's motive. This was his predicament. He was facing a dilemma, and must make choice between two divine commands. He disobeyed in order to obey, retrieving, so far as he could, the situation resulting from his wife's disobedience. Fully aware of what would follow, he partook of the fruit of the inhibited tree, realizing that in no other way could he become the progenitor of the human race. Adam and Abraham.--Perhaps some will see a parallel in Adam's case and Abraham's, each being directed to do a thing that could not be done unless a previous requirement were disregarded. Thus, Adam was warned not to eat of the fruit of a certain tree--the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil; yet that was the only way for him to reach a condition where he would be able to "replenish the earth." Abraham was forbidden to slay his son, after being commanded to "offer" him. [14] But there was this important difference in the two cases. The second command to Abraham superseded the first--canceled it. Not so with Adam. In his case the later law left unrepealed the earlier enactment. Both commandments were in force; but Adam could not obey both. What was to be done? Why, just what was done--the wisest thing possible under the circumstances. Malum Prohibitum.--Adam's transgression, though a sin, because of the broken law, should not be stressed as an act of moral turpitude. In human law, which is based upon divine law, there are two kinds of offenses in general, described in Latin terms as _malum per se_ and _malum prohibitum. Malum per se_ means "an evil in itself," an act essentially wrong; while _malum prohibitum_ signifies "that which is wrong because forbidden by law." Adam's transgression was _malum prohibitum_; and the consequent descent from an immortal to a mortal condition, was the Fall. A Cause For Rejoicing.--Adam and Eve, with their eyes open, rejoiced over what had befallen them, [15] evidently regarding it as part of a beneficent plan to people Earth and afford to a world of waiting spirits--the loyal two-thirds who "kept their first estate" when Lucifer fell--the long looked for opportunity of entering upon their "second estate" and beginning the great pilgrimage to perfection.