Limmud Tzedek (The Study of Justice) - Part 1: The Knowledge of Good and Evil

(16) And the Eternal God commanded the person, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you are free to eat; (17) but as for the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil/Bad, you must not eat of it; for as soon as you eat of it, you shall die.”

The Tree of Knowedge of Good and Bad/Evil -

It seems to me that at first, human beings followed their natural instincts to survive and reproduce, just like everything under the heavens, which operate according to truth, and do not deviate from their appointed task. So there was no love or hate in their actions.

But the fruit of this tree gives birth to the Will and Desire, so that those who eat it are then able to choose a thing or its opposite, for the good or the bad. This is why it is called ‘The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil,’ because da’at in our language refers to will/intention.

(4) And the serpent said to the woman, “You are not going to die, (5) but God knows that as soon as you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like divine beings who know good and evil.” (6) When the woman saw that the tree was good for eating and a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable as a source of wisdom, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave some to her man, and he ate. (7) Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they perceived that they were naked; and they sewed together fig leaves and made themselves loincloths.

(22) And the Eternal God said, “Now that the person has become like one of us, knowing good and evil, what if he should stretch out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever!” (23) So the Eternal God banished him from the garden of Eden, to till the soil from which he was taken. (24) He drove the person out, and stationed east of the garden of Eden the cherubim and the fiery ever-turning sword, to guard the way to the tree of life.