In my study of Genesis I am now on the second chapter. I am curious what is everyone's understanding of the "Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil" in Genesis 2:9, 17. The author of the commentary I am currently reading (New International Commentary on the Old Testament - Genesis 1-17 by Hamilton) states "What is forbidden to man is the power to decide for himself what is in his best interest and what is not." This makes sense to me, but it seems that this then precludes free will from the original plan of man. I take this statement to mean that Man does not have free will before eating from the tree. Am I reading him wrong? Or is he just wrong? Or did man indeed not have free will until this point? What is everyone's thoughts?

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