Book of the Penitence of Adam

The Book of the Penitence of Adam is a kabbalistic text, the original manuscript of which is located in the Library of the Arsenal, Paris. Spence, L. (1920). An Encyclopædia of Occultism. 2 ed. pg. 2-3
==Content==
The text describes how Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam, killed each other, leaving the inheritance of Adam to pass to his third son, Seth. Seth was permitted to pass to the very gates of Eden without being threatened by the sword-wielding angel guarding it, which is taken by Spence to mean Seth was knowledgeable in the occult. Seth saw the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge, which had grown into each other, forming a single tree, which is taken as symbolising the harmony of science and religion in Kabbala. 
The guardian angel gave Seth three seeds from the tree, telling him to put them in the mouth of Adam when he died. These seeds later grew into the burning bush God later used to communicate with Moses, and which Moses used to make himself a magic wand. This wand was later placed within the Ark of the Covenant before being removed by King David and planted on Mount Zion, growing into a triple tree which was later cut down by Solomon to form the pillars of Jachin and Boaz which were placed at the entrance to his temple. The third part of the tree was put in the threshold of the great gate of the temple, acting as a protective talisman to prevent the unclean from entering the sanctuary. Evil priests then removed this third piece, weighted it with stones, and threw it into the Temple reservoir, where an angel guarded it and prevented humans from seeing it. During the lifetime of Jesus, the reservoir was drained and the wood found. It was then used as a bridge across the Kedron brook, which Jesus passed over after his arrest. The wood was then taken from the brook and used to make Jesus' cross. 
== Analysis ==
This narrative, similar to the legend of the Holy Grail, can be summarised as humanity being restored through the same thing that caused the Fall of Man originally. 
The legend of the Cross being made from a cutting of the Tree of Knowledge was widespread in the Middle Ages. A version of the story can be found in the Quete del St. Graal, dating to the 12th century and ascribed to Walter Map, who is now thought to only have edited an older legend for his narrative. 
According to Spence, the Book of the Penitence of Adam contains allegory embodying all the kabbalistic traditions, and study of the text can help one understand all kabbalistic literature. 
==References==
Category:An Encyclopædia of Occultism
Category:Texts