If Genesis is Metaphorical, what's the metaphor?

Considering that Genesis is a rewrite of early babalyonian creation myths, I do not belive it could be considered literal. The puns that are in it in the hebrew rule out it being literal.

I will go further. It is told as a "Just so" story, to try to explain the question "why are things like they are". Why is the pain and suffering in the world. Why is there man and woman? Why do women go through childbirth? Why do snakes have no legs and crawl on the ground on their bellies?.. SOmething similar to 'Why do leopards have spots'.Combined with this are some moralistic teachings too.The way we have interpret these moral lessons in our modern context often depends on our assumptions and world view about religion that comes from later developments. For example, many Christians believe in the concept of Original Sin, and see the 'fall' of mankind in the story. The Jewish religion does not have the concept of original sin,
and therefore there was no 'fall'. The moral lessons they see are different than the Christians.

Ah..you just aren't looking through it through the proper cultural eyes.You should read some Jewish commentaries on Beirsheit sometimes...

Which particular interpretation are you thinking of.Of course, it is political, but the one I am partical to is that
God MEANT for man to eat from the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil.With out that, they would not have the ability to know right from wrong, and therefore be like the beasts forever. It was a way of getting them to grow up, and take responsiblity for themselves.That is the Jewish intepretation I personally don't reject.