Many believe it to be metaphorical because it is nameless and how it is referenced.
There isn't a snake either. It's actually a nameless serpent (broader reptile reference which may include snakes).
It's actually a nameless serpent
Could it be the first instance of Every Single Time? It fits the pattern.
'Fruit of the forbidden tree' is an allegorical reference to certain knowledge that humans should not have. But since God can see the future, he must have known what Eve would do. He punished her and Adam anyway, out of malice.
He also created sin, the tree, the fruit, the serpent, and the disobedient woman. Not a very interesting story when the creator creates a situation that he knows the outcome of beforehand and still dooms mankind for it.
He knew eons before Creation exactly what would happen. Rapists, murderers, etc...he knew it all would happen, yet created them anyway, just so he can send them to hell for eternity. What a fucked-up fairytale.
Just because God knew what they would do, doesn't mean he punished them out of malice. They did something wrong, and therefore deserved punishment.
They didn't ask to be created. God is a sadist that enjoys punishing his creations.
it isn't called the forbidden tree.
the tree is specifically named, "of the knowledge of good and evil" in Genesis 2:17.
it's pretty direct.
I was paraphrasing
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