Bereshit 3:1-6 (Bereshit) – A shifty snake in the Garden of Eden

Bereshit 3:1-6 records that there was a smart snake in the Garden of Eden who convinced Havva to eat from the fruit of the tree of knowledge.   The Abravanel explains that the snake was the smartest animal since he had eaten from the fruit of the tree of knowledge. This is how the snake knew that Havva would not die immediately from eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge and that eating the fruit would make one like a G-d.  Yet, why did Havva listen to him?

Rashi (on 3:3,4) writes that Havva added a prohibition, not to even touch the fruit, and then the snake pushed her until she touched the fruit. This idea shows the danger of baal tosef (Devarim 4:2), that one cannot add to the laws since they can cause one to sin. 

In addition, 3:6 records that the fruit was very tempting, which implies that really it was Havva's desire for the fruit that caused her to eat it. Maybe, the problem was that she was bored in the garden. Adam had been bored (2:20), but once Havva came then he was happy. However, Havva always had Adam, and hence Adam was not enough to relive her of her boredom.