Eve was the first woman created in the Garden of Eden.
She was formed from the rib of Adam,
her husband, because it "is not good for man to be alone"
(Genesis 2:18-23). Eve was
later tempted by the serpent to eat from the forbidden fruit. She gave
the fruit to Adam to eat as well, and as a consequence both were exiled
from the Garden of Eden (Genesis
3). As a punishment, she would undergo painful childbirth. After
leaving the Garden of Eden the couple had two children, Cain and Abel, and a later son
named Seth. Eve, or Chava in Hebrew, means "Mother of all Life"
(Genesis 3:20).
Sources: Bridger, David. Ed. The
New Jewish Encyclopedia, NY: Behrman House, 1976; Navigating
the Bible II