From Adam to Moses, over whom did death reign?
Death reigned as a king from Adam to Moses, extending even over those who had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression. They did not commit Adam's specific sin of eating the forbidden fruit, yet death still ruled over them because it was tied to sin.
Les explains that throughout Romans, sin should be understood as the old sin nature, the old Adam, and reign as a king on a throne. As soon as Adam fell, death reigned like a king because it was tied with sin. So death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression. Adam's sin was a simple act of disobedience by eating what God said not to eat. The millions between Adam and Moses were not guilty of eating a forbidden fruit and did not commit the same sin Adam did, but they were still disobedient to other things God had put even within them. Les also notes Paul is writing to Jews who had the law for 1,500 years and then turns to Gentiles who did not have the law.
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.