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Parasha: Bereshit · Aliyah: First (Chesed)

Genesis 1:1–2:3

א׳:א׳ בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃

1:1 When God began to createaOthers “In the beginning God created.” heaven and earth—

1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

א׳:א׳ בְּקַדְמִין בְּרָא יְיָ יָת שְׁמַיָּא וְיָת אַרְעָא:

בראשית. אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק לֹֹֹֹֹא הָיָה צָרִיךְ לְהַתְחִיל אֶת הַתּוֹרָה אֶלָּא מֵהַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לָכֶם, שֶׁהִיא מִצְוָה רִאשׁוֹנָה שֶׁנִּצְטַוּוּ בָּהּ יִשׂרָאֵל, וּמַה טַּעַם פָּתַח בִּבְרֵאשִׁית? מִשׁוּם כֹּחַ מַעֲשָׂיו הִגִּיד לְעַמּוֹ לָתֵת לָהֶם נַחֲלַת גּוֹיִם (תהילים קי"א), שֶׁאִם יֹאמְרוּ אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם לְיִשְׁרָאֵל לִסְטִים אַתֶּם, שֶׁכְּבַשְׁתֶּם אַרְצוֹת שִׁבְעָה גוֹיִם, הֵם אוֹמְרִים לָהֶם כָּל הָאָרֶץ שֶׁל הַקָּבָּ"ה הִיא, הוּא בְרָאָהּ וּנְתָנָהּ לַאֲשֶׁר יָשַׁר בְּעֵינָיו, בִּרְצוֹנוֹ נְתָנָהּ לָהֶם, וּבִרְצוֹנוֹ נְטָלָהּ מֵהֶם וּנְתָנָהּ לָנוּ:

בראשית ברא אֵין הַמִּקְרָא הַזֶּה אוֹמֵר אֶלָּא דָּרְשֵׁנִי, כְּמוֹ שֶׁדְּרָשׁוּהוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ בִּשְׁבִיל הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁנִקְרֵאת רֵאשִׁית דַּרְכּוֹ (משלי ח'), וּבִשְׁבִיל יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁנִקְרְאוּ רֵאשִׁית תְּבוּאָתוֹ (ירמיה ב'); וְאִם בָּאתָ לְפָרְשׁוֹ כִּפְשׁוּטוֹ, כָּךְ פָּרְשֵׁהוּ בְּרֵאשִׁית בְּרִיאַת שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ, וְהָאָרֶץ הָיְתָה תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ וְחֹשֶׁךְ וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי אוֹר וְלֹא בָא הַמִּקְרָא לְהוֹרוֹת סֵדֶר הַבְּרִיאָה לוֹמַר שֶׁאֵלּוּ קָדְמוּ, שֶׁאִם בָּא לְהוֹרוֹת כָּךְ, הָיָה לוֹ לִכְתֹּב בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה בָּרָא אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְגוֹ' שֶׁאֵין לְךָ רֵאשִׁית בַּמִּקְרָא שֶׁאֵינוֹ דָבוּק לַתֵּבָה שֶׁלְּאַחֲרָיו, כְּמוֹ בְּרֵאשִׁית מַמְלֶכֶת יְהוֹיָקִים (שׁם כ"ז), רֵאשִׁית מַמְלַכְתּוֹ (בראשית י'), רֵאשִׁית דְּגָנְךָ (דברים י"ח, ד'), – אַף כָּאן אַתָּה אוֹמֵר בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים וְגוֹ', כְּמוֹ בְּרֵאשִׁית בְּרֹא; וְדוֹמֶה לוֹ תְּחִלַּת דִּבֶּר ה' בְּהוֹשֵׁעַ (הושע א'), כְּלוֹמַר תְּחִלַת דִּבּוּרוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּבָּ"ה בְּהוֹשֵׁעַ, וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל הוֹשֵׁעַ וְגוֹ'. וְאִ"תֹּ לְהוֹרוֹת בָּא שֶׁאֵלּוּ תְּחִלָּה נִבְרְאוּ, וּפֵרוּשׁוֹ בְּרֵאשִׁית הַכֹּל בָּרָא אֵלוּ – וְֵישׁ לְךָ מִקְרָאוֹת שֶׁמְּקַצְּרִים לְשׁוֹנָם וּמְמַעֲטִים תֵּבָה אַחַת, כְּמוֹ כִּי לֹא סָגַר דַּלְתֵי בִטְנִי (איוב ג'), וְלֹא פֵּרֵשׁ מִי הַסּוֹגֵר וּכְמוֹ יִשָּׂא אֶת חֵיל דַּמֶּשֶׂק (ישעיהו ח'), וְלֹא פֵּרֵשׁ מִי יִשָּׂאֶנּוּ; וּכְמוֹ אִם יַחֲרוֹשׁ בַּבְּקָרִים (עמוס ו'), וְלֹא פֵּרֵשׁ אִם יַחֲרוֹשׁ אָדָם בַּבְּקָרִים, וּכְמוֹ מַגִּיד מֵרֵאשִׁית אַחֲרִית (ישעיהו מ"ו), וְלֹא פֵּרֵשׁ מַגִּיד מֵרֵאשִׁית דָּבָר אַחֲרִית דָּבָר – אִ"כֵּ, תְּמַהּ עַל עַצְמְךָ, שֶׁהֲרֵי הַמַּיִם קָדְמוּ, שֶׁהֲרֵי כְתִיב וְרוּחַ אֱלֹהִים מְרַחֶפֶת עַל פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם, וְעַדַיִין לֹא גִלָּה הַמִּקְרָא, בְּרִיאַת הַמַּיִם מָתַי הָיְתָה, הָא לָמַדְתָּ, שֶׁקָּדְמוּ הַמַּיִם לָאָרֶץ, וְעוֹד, שֶׁהַשָּׁמַיִם מֵאֵשׁ וּמַיִם נִבְרְאוּ, עַל כָּרְחֲךָ לֹא לִמֵּד הַמִּקְרָא סֵדֶר הַמֻּקְדָמִים וְהַמְאֻחָרִים כְּלוּם:

ברא אלהים וְלֹא נֶאֱמַר בָּרָא ה', שֶׁבַּתְּחִלָּה עָלָה בְמַחֲשָׁבָה לִבְרֹאתוֹ בְּמִדַּת הַדִּין, רָאָה שֶׁאֵין הָעוֹלָם מִתְקַיֵּם, הִקְדִּים מִדַּת רַחֲמִים וְשִׁתְּפָהּ לְמִהַ"דִּ, וְהַיְינוּ דִּכְתִיב בְּיוֹם עֲשׂוֹת ה' אֱלֹהִים אֶרֶץ וְשָׁמָיִם:

א׳:א׳ אור החיים

1בְּעֵזֶר יוֹצֵר אוֹרָה. אֲבָאֵר פֵּירוּשׁ הַתּוֹרָה. לְיַחֵד שְׁמוֹ הַנּוֹרָא. אֲשֶׁר עָשַׂאנִי מֵרֵאשִׁית. וַיְעָצַנִי וְקָרָאנִי רֵאשִׁית. לַעֲסוֹק בְּנוֹעַם רֵאשִׁית. אַתְחִיל לְבָאֵר סֵפֶר בְּרֵאשִׁית:

With the help of the Creator of light, I will elucidate the explanation of the Torah, to unite His awesome name; Who made me from the beginning and advised and called upon me first, to work pleasantly first; I will begin to explain the Book of 'In the Beginning' (Genesis):

2נִפְתְּחוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וָאֶרְאֶה מַרְאוֹת אֱלֹהִים, בּוֹרֵא קְצוֹת הָאָרֶץ, וָאֶתְבּוֹנָן בְּמַה שֶׁהוּרְשֵׁיתִי לְהִתְבּוֹנֵן בְּפֶתַח דִּבְרֵי קֹדֶשׁ, וַהֲעִירוֹתִי מִמִּזְרָחָהּ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה. אָמְרוֹ בְּרֵאשִׁית שֶׁשִּׁעוּר הַתֵּיבָה הִיא סְמוּכָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁתֹּאמַר ״רֵאשִׁית דָּבָר״, וְכָאן חָסֵר הַנִּסְמָךְ לָהּ, וּמִי כֵּאלֹהֵינוּ יוֹדֵעַ דָּבָר, הֲלֹא מִמֶּנּוּ מוֹצָא דָּבָר.

The heavens have open and I saw the vision of God, Creator of the ends of the earth, and I reflected upon that which I have been allowed to reflect upon in the unfolding of holy words; and my remark is from the East of (before) the Torah. His saying, "In the beginning of," [bears a] structure which is relational, as you would say 'the beginning of a thing, but here what ['the beginning of'] refers to is missing (beginning of what?). And who is like our God, who knows the thing (word), is the origin of the thing (word) not from Him?

3אָמְרוֹ בִּתְחִלַּת סֵדֶר הַבְּרִיאָה הַשָּׁמַיִם, וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה פֵּרְשׁוּ הַתֵּבָה שֶׁהִיא מֻרְכֶּבֶת מִב׳ דְּבָרִים: אֵשׁ וּמַיִם. וּמֵעַתָּה הֲרֵי זֶה חָס וְשָׁלוֹם נוֹתֵן יָד לַפּוֹשְׁעִים לוֹמַר כִּי זוֹ הִיא הַתְחָלַת הַבְּרִיאָה, אֲבָל הַמַּיִם וְהָאֵשׁ לֹא בְּרָאָם חָס וְשָׁלוֹם הַבּוֹרֵא, אַחַר שֶׁהִשְׁמִיעָנוּ הַכָּתוּב עַצְמוֹ שֶׁתְּחִלַּת הַבְּרִיאָה הִיא שָׁמַיִם, וְאִם הַמַּיִם נִבְרְאוּ הָיָה לוֹ לְהַקְדִּים בְּרִיאָתָם. וַחֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (חגיגה יב.) נִשְׁמְרוּ מִב׳ הֶעָרוֹת וּפֵרְשׁוּ שֶׁשִּׁעוּר הַכָּתוּב הוּא עַל זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ: בְּרֵאשִׁית בְּרִיאַת שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ הָיְתָה הָאָרֶץ תֹהוּ וְגוֹ׳, לֹא שֶׁתְּחִלַּת הַבְּרִיאָה הָיְתָה שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ. אֲבָל דִּבְרֵיהֶם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה לֹא הִסְפִּיקוּ לְהָסִיר הַטָּעוּת, כִּי לְדִבְרֵיהֶם לָמָּה לֹא הוֹדִיעַ הַכָּתוּב אַחַר כָּךְ בְּרִיאַת מַיִם וְאֵשׁ וְעָפָר וְרוּחַ, וַהֲגַם שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (בראשית א:ט) ״יִקָּווּ הַמַּיִם וְגוֹ׳ וְתֵרָאֶה הַיַּבָּשָׁה״, אֵינוֹ בְּנִשְׁמָע שֶׁנִּבְרֵאת, וְיוֹתֵר צוֹדֵק הַמַּשְׁמָעוּת שֶׁמְּצוּיָה הָיְתָה אֶלָּא שֶׁגָּזַר עָלֶיהָ לְהִתְגַּלּוֹת כְּשֶׁיִּקָּווּ הַמַּיִם.

He said it at the beginning of the order of the creation of the heavens; and the Rabbis, of blessed memory, explained that the word [shamayim (heavens)] is composed of two things esh (fire) and mayim (water); and from this, God forbid, it gives a hand to the sinners to say that [given that] this is the beginning of the creation, but [yet], God forbid, the Creator did not create the fire and water, since the verse itself informs us that the beginning of the creation was the heavens, and if the waters were created [and not pre-existing], it should have started with their creation. And the Sages, of blessed memory, (Chagigah) preempted these two observations and explained that the structure of the verse is as follows: In the beginning of the creation of the heavens and the earth, the earth was chaos, etc. - not that the heavens and earth was the beginning of the creations. But the words [of the Sages], of blessed memory's, were not enough to remove the [possibility of] error; since according to their words, why did scripture not inform us later of the creation of water and fire, and dirt and wind. And even though the verse (9) states, "and the waters gathered, etc. and the dry land appeared," it is not understood [from this] that it was created; and more justified is the understanding that it was pre-existing, but that [God] decreed upon it to be revealed when the water gathered.

4יֵשׁ לְדַקְדֵּק בַּכָּתוּב אָמְרוֹ אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ, מַה בָּא לְרַבּוֹת בְּב׳ אֶתִּין אֵלּוּ?

There is what to be exact about, in that the verse wrote, "et hashamayim ve'et haarets" ("the heavens and the earth," which are both preceded by the Hebrew preposition, et which can either proceed a direct object or mean 'with,' and so, is often seen as indicating additional meaning); and what did the verse come to add with the two times it says et?

5אָכֵן כַּוָּנַת הַכָּתוּב הִיא עַל זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ, וְקוֹדֶם אָעִירָה שַׁחַר הַמֻּצָּג אֶצְלֵינוּ מִגְּדֻלַּת הַבּוֹרֵא מַה גָּדְלוּ מַעֲשָׂיו, כִּי הָאָדוֹן בָּרוּךְ הוּא יוּכַל דַּבֵּר דִּבּוּר בִּלְתִּי מֻשָּׂג בַּנִּבְרָאִים, כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (מכילתא יתרו) בְּפֵרוּשׁ הַכָּתוּב (שמות כ:א) ״וַיְדַבֵּר אֱלֹהִים אֵת כָּל הַדְּבָרִים״ וְגוֹ׳, וְזֶה לְשׁוֹנָם: ״דְּבָרִים שֶׁאֵין הַפֶּה יָכוֹל לְדַבֵּר״, וְהוּא שֶׁאָמַר כָּל עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְּרוֹת בְּדִבּוּר אֶחָד וְלֹא קָדַם דִּבּוּר לַחֲבֵרוֹ.

In fact, the intention of the verse is as follows; but first, 'I will rise with the sun' upon that which is placed in front of us from the greatness of the Creator - how great are his works! - since the Master, may He be blessed, can speak a word without it being understood by the creations. As they, of blessed memory, said (Mekhilta, Yitro) to explain the verse (Exodus 20:1), "And God spoke all of these words etc.," and this is what they said, "words that the mouth cannot speak;" and it [is a reference to] Him saying all of the ten commandments in one word, and [that] one word did not precede the other. ...

6וּבָזֶה נָבוֹא אֶל הַבֵּיאוּר, וְהוּא כִּי הָאָדוֹן יִתְעַלֶּה שְׁמוֹ כָּל מַה שֶׁבָּרָא בָּעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֵם הַמְּקוֹרוֹת וְכָל אֲשֶׁר יֶשְׁנוֹ בַּמְּצִיאוּת וְשָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ, הַכֹּל כַּאֲשֶׁר לַכֹּל בְּרָאוֹ ה׳ בְּדִבּוּר אֶחָד. וְזֶה הוּא אָמְרוֹ בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ. דִּקְדֵּק לוֹמַר שְׁנֵי אֶתִין לְרַבּוֹת כָּל הַנִּמְצָא בָּעוֹלָם. וְלִהְיוֹת שֶׁהַנִּבְרָאִים הֵם רַבִּים, כִּי מִלְּבַד הָעֲשָׂרָה דְּבָרִים הַנִּכָּרִים וְנִרְאִים לְעֵין כֹּל כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּנָאוּם חֲזַ״ל (חגיגה יב.) וְזֶה לְשׁוֹנָם: ״עֲשָׂרָה דְבָרִים נִבְרְאוּ בְּיוֹם רִאשׁוֹן: שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ, אוֹר, חֹשֶׁךְ, תֹּהוּ וָבֹהוּ וְגוֹ׳, מַיִם, רוּחַ״ עַד כָּאן, מִלְּבַד אֵלּוּ יֵשׁ עוֹד בְּרִיאוֹת אֲחֵרִים נֶעֱלָמִים וְנִבְלָעִים בְּכֹחוֹת הַיְּסוֹדוֹת, יֵשׁ מֵהֶם נִכָּרִים בְּאֶמְצָעוּת הַהַתָּכָה, יֵשׁ מֵהֶם בְּאֶמְצָעוּת הַהַרְכָּבָה, יֵשׁ מֵהֶם בְּהִשְׁתַּנּוּת הַזְּמַנִּים, יֵשׁ מֵהֶם בְּכֹחַ הַהִיּוּלִי וְרַבּוּ מִלִּסְפּוֹר, אֲשֶׁר לָזֶה כְּלָלָם הַבּוֹרֵא בִּב׳ פְּרָטִים גְּדוֹלִים וַעֲצוּמִים בַּשָּׁמַיִם וּבָאָרֶץ, וְהֵם הֵם הַב׳ רִבּוּיִים שֶׁרִבָּה בְּאָמְרוֹ אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ, וּבְמַאֲמָר אֶחָד בָּרָא הַכֹּל יִתְעַלֶּה שְׁמוֹ. וְתִמְצָא שֶׁאָמְרוּ זַ״ל (ראש השנה לב.) ״בְּרֵאשִׁית״ מַאֲמָר הוּא, כִּי בּוֹ הִשְׁלִימוּ עֲשָׂרָה מַאֲמָרוֹת שֶׁבָּהֶם נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם, הָרִאשׁוֹן שֶׁבְּכֻלָּן בּוֹ נִבְרָא הַכֹּל, אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה מְסֻדָּר, וְהָיָה כָּל הַבְּרִיאוֹת בַּנִּמְצָא אֲבָל חָסְרוּ הַסֵּדֶר, וְסִדְּרָן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא דְּבַר יוֹם בְּיוֹמוֹ. בְּיוֹם רִאשׁוֹן הֵכִין וְהִבְדִּיל הָאוֹר מִן הַחֹשֶׁךְ וְקָנָה הַחֹשֶׁךְ מְקוֹמוֹ וְהָאוֹר מְקוֹמוֹ, וּבְיוֹם ב׳ וְכוּ׳.

And with this, we will come to the explanation: and it is that the Master, may His name be exalted, created everything - all that He created in the world; places and all that exists, and the skies and the earth - in one word. And this is what it states, "Bereishit bara Elohim et hashamayim ve'et haarets" ("In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth"), and is exact to use the word et twice; to include all that is found in the world. And since the creations are numerous, as beyond the ten things that are recognizable and visible to everyone's eye - as were counted by the Sages, of blessed memory (Chagigah 12a), and this is what they said, "and ten things were created on the first day: heavens and earth, light, darkness, chaos and void, etc. water, wind" - besides these things, there are other creations that are hidden and absorbed by the powers of the foundational elements; some of them are recognized by way of dissection, some of the them by way of composition, some of them through the changing of time, some of them through the power of hyle, and [they] are too many to count. For this reason, the Creator grouped them into two large and enormous parts: in the havens and in the earth. And these are the two inclusions that were included in His saying "et hashamayim ve'et haarets," and in one proclamation did He, may He be exalted, create everything. And you will find that they, of blessed memory, said (Rosh Hashanah 32a), "[The word] 'In the beginning' [counts as a] proclamation [of creation], since with it were completed the ten proclamations with which the world was created (as there are only nine obvious proclamations of creation and this would be the tenth one)." Everything was created in the first of all [the proclamations] but it was not yet arranged, and all of the creations were there but they lacked order; and the Holy One, blessed be He, ordered them, each thing in its day: on the first day, He set up and separated the light from the darkness and the darkness acquired its place and the light acquired its place; and on the second day, etc.

7וְהָעֵד הַנֶּאֱמָן לְפֵירוּשֵׁינוּ זֶה מַה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (בראשית ב:ג) ״כִּי בוֹ שָׁבַת מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים לַעֲשׂוֹת״, שֶׁאֵין מַשְׁמָעוּת לַכָּתוּב. וּבְמַה שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁנוּ יָבֹא כְּמִין חוֹמֶר, כִּי בוֹ שָׁבַת מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא בְּיוֹם הַבְּרִיאָה לַעֲשׂוֹת, פֵּרוּשׁ: לְתַקֵּן בְּשֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים, כְּאָמְרוֹ (שמות לא:יז): ״כִּי שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים עָשָׂה ה׳״ וְגוֹ׳, פֵּרוּשׁ: תִּקֵּן, כִּי הַבְּרִיאָה בְּיוֹם רִאשׁוֹן בְּמַאֲמָר אֶחָד נִבְרֵאת, אֶלָּא שֶׁהָיָה הַכֹּל חָסֵר תִּקּוּן. לְמָה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה? לְמִי שֶׁרָצָה לִבְנוֹת פַּלְטֵרִין, וְקוֹדֵם מֵכִין אֲבָנִים וְעֵצִים וְעָפָר וְצָרְכֵי הַבִּנְיָן בְּמוּשְׁלָם, וְאַחַר כָּךְ יִבְנֶה בַּיִת. כֵּן הַבּוֹרֵא בָּרוּךְ הוּא בָּרָא כָּל צָרְכֵי הָעוֹלָם בְּדִבּוּר אֶחָד וְהֵכִינוֹ, וְהָיָה הַכֹּל מוּנָח גָּדוּשׁ בְּעִרְבּוּבְיָא, וְאַחַר כָּךְ הִתְחִיל לְסַדֵּר דָּבָר דָּבוּר עַל אָפְנָיו וְעָשָׂה פָּעֳלוֹ יִתְעַלֶּה שְׁמוֹ.

And the trustworthy 'witness' to our explanation is that which the verse states (Genesis 2:3), "since upon it God rested from all of the work that He had created to make;" as this verse lacks understanding; and according to what we have explained, it comes 'like a precious chain,' as "since upon it He rested from all of the work that He had created" [refers to what He did] on the day of creation; "to make," [means] to refine, on the six days; like it states (Exodus 31:17), "since on six days, the Lord made, etc.," the explanation [of "made"] is refined; since the [actual] creation was created in one proclamation on the first day, except that everything was lacking refinement. To what is this thing similar? To someone who wants to build a palace and first prepares stones and wood and dirt and all of the building materials and afterwards builds the home; so [too] the Creator, may He be blessed, created all of the needs of the world with one proclamation, and He prepared it, and everything was laying piled up in a mixture; and afterwards, He started to organize each thing in its place and did His, may He be exalted, work.

8וְתִמְצָא שֶׁכְּשֶׁרָצָה לִבְרֹא הַשָּׁמַיִם אָמַר (בראשית א:ו): ״יְהִי רָקִיעַ בְּתוֹךְ הַמָּיִם״, פֵּרוּשׁ: קָבַע לוֹ מָקוֹם, אֲבָל הוּא כְּבָר נִבְרָא בְּמַאֲמָר רִאשׁוֹן, וְכֵן הָאָרֶץ (בראשית א:ט) ״וְתֵרָאֶה הַיַּבָּשָׁה״.

And you will find that when He wanted to create the heavens, He said (verse 6), "let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters," [meaning] He set its place; but it was already created in the first proclamation. And so [too] with the earth (verse 9) "and the dry land appeared."

9וְהָאֵשׁ שֶׁלֹּא הִזְכִּיר ה׳ תִּקּוּנוֹ כָּל עִקָּר, הֱוֵי יוֹדֵעַ כִּי הָאֵשׁ לֹא גִלָּה ה׳ מְקוֹרָהּ כְּגִלּוּי הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ וְהַמַּיִם, לִהְיוֹתָהּ מָקוֹר חָזָק וְיֵשׁ מִמֶּנּוּ כִּלָּיוֹן לָעוֹלָם אִם הָיָה בַּנִּמְצָא כְּמַיִם וָאָרֶץ וְאֵין הָעוֹלָם יָכוֹל לְהִתְקַיֵּם. לָזֶה הִנִּיחוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בִּמְקוֹמוֹ שֶׁנִּבְרָא בְּמַאֲמָר רִאשׁוֹן מֻבְלָע בָּרְעָפִים, עַד שֶׁהֻצְרַךְ אָדָם לוֹ וְהִקִּישׁ בָּרְעָפִים וְהוֹצִיא מֵהֶם אֵשׁ שִׁעוּר הַמַּסְפִּיק לוֹ, כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (בראשית רבה י״א) שֶׁעַל כֵּן אָנוּ מְבָרְכִים בְּמוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת ״בּוֹרֵא מְאוֹרֵי הָאֵשׁ״ (פסחים נד.). גַּם בָּזֶה גִּלָּה ה׳ אֹפֶן הָעִרְבּוּב שֶׁהָיוּ מְעֻרְבָּבִין הַמְּקוֹרוֹת וְהַיְּסוֹדוֹת בִּשְׁעַת בְּרִיאָתָם קֹדֶם שֶׁהֱכִינָם ה׳ כָּל אֶחָד עַל מִשְׁמַרְתּוֹ, כִּי אִם לֹא הָיָה דָּבָר זֶה בַּמְּצִיאוּת לֹא הָיְתָה דַּעַת אֱנוֹשׁ סוֹבֶלֶת יְדִיעָה אֵיךְ יִהְיוּ מְעֹרָבִים יַחַד מְקוֹרוֹת, וּמַה גַּם עָפָר וָאֵשׁ.

And [regarding] the fire, the refinement of which, God didn't mention at all, you should know that God did not reveal its source - like the revealing of the heavens and the earth and the water - because its source is strong; and from it, there [would be] destruction to the world if it had been found like the water and the earth; and the world would not be able to exist. For this [reason], the Holy One, blessed be He, left it in its place - where it was created by the first proclamation - absorbed in the flints; until man needed it and took out from them an amount [of fire] sufficient for him, as they, of blessed memory, said (Bereishit Rabbah 11), "therefore we make the blessing of 'who has created the lights of the fire' at the end of Shabbat." And by this, God also revealed the nature of the [primordial] mixture - that the sources and elements were mixed up at the time of their creation, before God set each one up, according to its station. For if [the concealment of fire in other objects] did not exist, man's mind would not be able to fathom the knowledge of how different substances could be mixed up; and all the more so, dirt and fire.

10וְהֵן אֱמֶת שֶׁהָיָה יָכוֹל הַבּוֹרֵא לִכְלֹל בַּמַּאֲמָר הָרִאשׁוֹן גַּם אֶת הַסֵּדֶר, אֶלָּא לְסִבּוֹת הַרְבֵּה עָשָׂה כֵן, וְאֶחָד מֵהֶם גִּלּוּ אוֹתָהּ רַזַ״ל בְּאָמְרָם (אבות ה:א): ״וַהֲלֹא בְּמַאֲמָר אֶחָד יָכוֹל לְהִבָּרְאוֹת, אֶלָּא לִיפָּרַע וְכוּ׳, וְלִיתֵּן שָׂכָר טוֹב לַצַּדִּיקִים״ וְכוּ׳.

And it is true that the Creator could have included the ordering [of the various creations] in the first proclamation, but for many reason did He [not] do this; and the Rabbis, of blessed memory, revealed one of them, when they stated (Avot 5), "and is it not that He could have created [everything] in one proclamation, but He wanted to take payment [from sinners for a world created with ten statements rather than only one] etc. and to give payment to the righteous etc."

11וְאַל יִקְשֶׁה בְּעֵינֶיךָ אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (אבות ה:א): ״בַּעֲשָׂרָה מַאֲמָרוֹת נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם״ לְשׁוֹן בְּרִיאָה, כִּי סוֹף כָּל סוֹף כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהָיָה חָסֵר הַתִּקּוּן כְּאִלּוּ אֵין כָּאן בְּרִיאָה. הַמָּשָׁל – אִם הָאָרֶץ לֹא הָיְתָה נִגְלֵית אֵין מָקוֹם לַנִּבְרָאִים, וּכְמוֹ כֵן שְׁאָר הַבְּרִיאוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ מְעֻרְבָּבִים כְּמוֹ הָאוֹר וְהַחֹשֶׁךְ, אִם כֵּן כָּל שֶׁלֹּא נִתְקַן כְּאִלּוּ לֹא נִבְרָא, לָזֶה יִתְיַחֵס גַּם כֵּן לָהֶם הַבְּרִיאָה.

And let it not be difficult in your eyes, that they, of blessed memory, stated (Ibid.), "In ten proclamations was the world created" [and used the] word 'created;' since at the end of the day, anytime that [something] is missing refinement, it as if [it is not created]. For example, if the earth [did not emerge], there would be no place for the creations; and likewise with the other creations that were mixed up, like the light and the darkness. If so, all that is not refined is as if it is not created; for this reason [the various refinements reflected by the nine other proclamations] are also referred to as creation.

12וְאַל יִקְשֶׁה בְּעֵינֶיךָ לָמָּה כָּתְבָה הַתּוֹרָה עִיקַּר הַבְּרִיאָה בְּדֶרֶךְ זֶה, וְלֹא כָּתְבָה בְּפֵירוּשׁ: ״בָּרָא ה׳ הַמַּיִם וְהֶעָפָר וְהָאֵשׁ וְהָרוּחַ״, שֶׁבָּזֶה לֹא יִהְיֶה אִישׁ נָבוּב יִלָּבֵב.

And let it not be difficult in your eyes, [as to] why the Torah wrote the main [narrative] of creation in this way, and did not explicitly write [that] God created the water and the dirt, and the fire and the wind, so that [by not doing the latter] 'the empty man would not be made wise.'

13דַּע, כִּי הַתּוֹרָה תּוֹדִיעַ וְתַשְׁמִיעַ כָּל נִסְתָּר, וְחָפֵץ ה׳ לְהוֹדִיעַ כֹּחַ מַעֲשָׂיו לְעַמּוֹ, וְהוֹדִיעָנוּ סֵדֶר הַבְּרִיאָה וְאוֹפַנָּהּ, וְכִי הוּא הָאֵל הַגִּבּוֹר הַנֶּאְזָר בִּגְבוּרָה בָּרָא בְּדִבּוּר אֶחָד כָּל יֵשׁ וְכָל הוֹוֶה, וְחָפֵץ ה׳ לְהוֹדִיעַ לִידִידָיו כֹּחַ מַעֲשָׂיו, וְלֹא יִמְנַע טוֹב זֶה בִּשְׁבִיל הַשּׁוֹטִים הַטּוֹעִים.

Know [that the answer is] that the Torah makes known and informs [us of] every hidden thing, and God wanted to make known 'the strength of his actions to his people' and make known to us the order of the creation and its manner, and that He - the Power, the Mighty, who is girded in strength - created everything that is and everything that exists, in one statement; and He wanted to make known to his close ones 'the strength of his deeds,' and did not prevent Himself from this good because of erring fools.

14וְעוֹד יֵשׁ טַעַם אַחֵר שֶׁיְּחַיֵּב לְדַבֵּר כַּסֵּדֶר הָאָמוּר, וְהוּא שֶׁאִם הָיָה אוֹמֵר הַכָּתוּב כַּסֵּדֶר הַחֲפֵצִים בּוֹ הַסְּכָלִים, וְהוּא שֶׁיֹּאמַר כִּי בָּרָא אֶרֶץ וּבָרָא מַיִם וְכוּ׳, הָיָה בְּנִשְׁמָע כִּי בְּרָאָם כָּל אֶחָד בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ, וְאַחַר הָאֱמֶת לֹא כֵן הוּא. וַהֲלֹא יָדַעְתָּ כִּי לֹא יַחְפֹּץ ה׳ בְּדוֹבֵר שְׁקָרִים וְלֹא יִכּוֹן לְנֶגֶד עֵינָיו, וְאֵיךְ יַתְחִיל רֹאשׁ דְּבָרָיו חָס וְשָׁלוֹם בִּדְבָרִים שֶׁלֹּא כֵן הוּא? לָזֶה דִּבֵּר אֱמֶת אוֹפֶן הַבְּרִיאָה, כִּי יְשָׁרִים דַּרְכֵי ה׳ וְצַדִּיקִים יֵלְכוּ בָם (הושע יד:י), לְהוֹדוֹת וּלְגַדֵּל לַבּוֹרֵא בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וְיֹאמְרוּ לֵאלֹהִים מַה נּוֹרָא מַעֲשֶׂיךָ.

And there is also another reason which obligates the thing to be according to the discussed order, and it is that if the verse had [gone according] to the order desired by the silly ones, and that is that it would state that He created land and He created water, etc., it would have sounded as if He created them each, on its own; and according to the truth, it is not like that. And didn't you know that God has no desire for 'the speaker of lies and it cannot be established in front of His eyes.' And how could the 'beginning of His words,' God forbid, begin with words that are not correct? For this [reason], He spoke truth[fully about] the manner of the creation; as 'straight are the paths of God and the righteous will walk upon them' to thank and magnify the Creator, may He be blessed, and they will say to God, 'how awesome are your deeds.'

15וְדִקְדֵּק לוֹמַר בְּרֵאשִׁית וְלֹא אָמַר בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה, ״כֹּחַ מַעֲשָׂיו הִגִּיד לְעַמּוֹ״ (תהלים קיא:ו), וְהוּא כִּי לְפִי מַה שֶׁהִקְדַּמְנוּ כִּי הַכֹּל בָּרָא בְּדִבּוּר אֶחָד. דֶּרֶךְ שָׁם נַשְׂכִּיל כִּי מִי שֶׁיְּדַבֵּר כַּמָּה דְבָרִים בְּדִבּוּר אֶחָד, גַּם בְּדִבּוּר לֹא יִצְטָרֵךְ לְהַקְדִּים אוֹת לַחֲבֶרְתָּהּ. וּמֵעַתָּה כְּשֶׁאָמַר ה׳ תֵּיבַת שָׁמַיִם, לֹא קָדְמָה שִׁי״ן לְמֵ״ם וְלֹא מֵ״ם רִאשׁוֹנָה לְמֵ״ם אַחֲרוֹנָה, וְגַם אוֹתִיּוֹת כָּל דָּבָר וְדָבָר לֹא קָדְמָה הַתְחָלַת הַתֵּיבָה לְסוֹפָהּ, וְגַם בְּכָל אוֹת וָאוֹת אֵין לָהּ קְדַם תְּחִלָּתָהּ לְסוֹפָהּ.

And He was exact to state 'In the beginning' and not to state 'At first' [in order to] 'tell the strength of His deeds to His people;' and that is, that according to what we wrote above - that He created everything with one statement - through that, we can deduce that One who can speak several statements all in one statement, also in one statement does not need to have one letter precede another. And from this, [we see] that when God said the word shamayim, He did not say the shin before the mem and not the first mem before the second mem; and also the letters of every single word, He did not have the beginning of the word precede its end; and also with each and every letter, He did not have its beginning [sound] precede its end.

16וְאַחֲרֵי הוֹדִיעַ אֱלֹהִים אוֹתָנוּ אֶת כָּל זֹאת, אֵלֶּה הֵם הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר הוֹדִיעָנוּ ה׳ בְּתֵיבַת בְּרֵאשִׁית, פֵּרוּשׁ: הַכֹּל הוּא רֵאשִׁית, כִּי לֹא הָיְתָה בַּבְּרִיאָה חֵלֶק מְאוּחָר, אֶלָּא הַכֹּל הוּא רֵאשִׁית, וְהָבֵן:

And after God made known all of this to us, [we understand that] these are the things that God made known to us with the word, 'In the beginning,' the meaning [of which] is [that] everything is the beginning, since there was no later part of the creation, but [rather] everything was the beginning; and understand [this].

17וְטַעַם הָאָדוֹן אֲשֶׁר בָּחַר לִבְרֹא בְּדֶרֶךְ זֶה, מִלְּבַד הַטַּעַם שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ שֶׁרָצָה לְהוֹדִיעַ חֵלֶק מִגְּבוּרוֹתָיו יִתְבָּרַךְ, עוֹד תִּמְצָא כִּי כְּשֶׁיְּדַבֵּר יִתְבָּרַךְ בִּגְבוּרוֹת שֶׁהִיא בְּחִינָה הַמִּתְיַחֶסֶת לְשֵׁם אֱלֹהִים מִן הַשֵּׁם, הוּא לִהְיוֹת הַדְּבָרִים נִדְבָּרִים כְּסֵדֶר זֶה. וְתִמְצָא שֶׁרָמְזוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (מכות כד.) בְּנוֹעַם דִּבְרֵיהֶם, וְזֶה לְשׁוֹנָם: ״אָנֹכִי וְלֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ מִפִּי הַגְּבוּרָה שְׁמַעְנוּם״ עַד כָּאן. נִתְכַּוְּנוּ לוֹמַר בְּמֶתֶק לְשׁוֹנָם הַדְּבָרִים הַנֶּאֱמָרִים מִבְּחִינָה זוֹ שֶׁהוּא אֱלֹהִים הַמִּתְיַחֶסֶת לִגְבוּרָה תְּדַבֵּר כַּדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה הַרְבֵּה דְּבָרִים יַחַד, וְלָאו דַּוְקָא אָנֹכִי וְלֹא יִהְיֶה אָמַר בְּדִבּוּר אֶחָד, אֶלָּא כָּל הָעֲשָׂרָה הַדִּבְּרוֹת כָּאָמוּר בְּדִבְרֵיהֶם בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר (מכילתא יתרו), אֶלָּא הַמּוּשָּׂג אֶצְלֵנוּ הוּא ב׳ מֵהֶם. וְעַיֵּן מַה שֶׁכָּתַבְנוּ בְּפָרָשַׁת יִתְרוֹ (שמות כ:א). וְהִנֵּה בְּרִיאַת מַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית נִבְרָא בְּשֵׁם אֱלֹהִים, דִּכְתִיב ״בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים״ לְסִבּוֹת הַרְבֵּה, לָזֶה דִּבֵּר כְּדַרְכּוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ דְּבָרִים עֲצוּמִים וְנוֹרָאִים כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתַבְנוּ.

And the reason that the Master chose to create [the world] in this way [is that] - besides the reason that we stated, that He wanted to make known part of His, may He be blessed, great deeds - you will also find that when He, may He be blessed, speaks with strengths, which is the aspect that relates to the name Elohim, it is [appropriate] for the words to be spoken in this way (all together). And you will find that they, of blessed memory hinted to this (Makkot 24a) in their pleasant words, and this is what they said, "'I am' (the first commandment) and 'There shall not be' (the second commandment) were heard from the Strength;" [with this] they intended to say, in their sweet language, that the words that were heard in this aspect [of strength] - which is Elohim, which relates to strength - will speak like these words, many words together. And not specifically 'I am' and 'There shall not be,' but rather all of the Ten Commandments, [were spoken this way] as they have have stated in their words in another place (Mekhilta, Yitro); and behold, the creation from the creation story was created with the name Elohim for many reasons, and as a result He spoke in His way, may He be blessed, (according to this attribute) great and awesome words as we have written.

18וּבְדֶרֶךְ דְּרָשׁ יִתְבָּאֵר תֵּיבַת בְּרֵאשִׁית עַל דֶּרֶךְ מַה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (תהילים ל״ג:ו׳): ״בִּדְבַר ה׳ שָׁמַיִם נַעֲשׂוּ וּבְרוּחַ פִּיו כָּל צְבָאָם״. וְיֵשׁ לְךָ לָדַעַת כִּי יִתְעַלֶּה שֵׁם אֱלֹהֵינוּ לֹא בָּרָא הַמַּלְאָכִים עַד יוֹם ב׳ כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִטְעוּ הַטּוֹעִים כִּי הָיוּ מְסַיְּעִים אוֹתוֹ בְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית. וּלְדִבְרֵיהֶם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (בראשית רבה א׳) יֵשׁ לָנוּ לְהָעִיר אֵיךְ יִתָּכֵן לוֹמַר שֶׁהַמַּלְאָכִים נִבְרָאִים מְאוּחָרִים, הֲלֹא לְפִי מַה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב ״וּבְרוּחַ פִּיו כָּל צְבָאָם״, כִּי צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם נִבְרְאוּ מֵרוּחַ שֶׁיָּצָא מִפִּי עֶלְיוֹן כִּבְיָכוֹל, אִם כֵּן בְּהֶכְרֵחַ לְפִי הַמּוּרְגָּשׁ הַמַּלְאָכִים יִבָּרְאוּ קוֹדֶם שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ, כִּי הָרוּחַ יַקְדִּים לָצֵאת קוֹדֶם שֶׁיֵּצֵא הַדִּבּוּר, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ נִבְרְאוּ מֵהַדִּבּוּר הֲרֵי כְּבָר קָדַם הָרוּחַ שֶׁמִּמֶּנּוּ יָצְאוּ הַמַּלְאָכִים. לָזֶה אָמַר הַכָּתוּב בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא וְגוֹ׳, פֵּרוּשׁ כִּי ה׳ הִקְדִּים הַמְאוּחָר שֶׁהוּא הַדִּבּוּר לָרוּחַ, הֵפֶךְ הַיָּדוּעַ אֶצְלֵנוּ בְּטֶבַע הַדִּבּוּר, וּבָרָא שָׁמַיִם תְּחִלָּה וְהָפַךְ הַסֵּדֶר וְעָשָׂה רֵאשִׁית דִּבּוּר לָרוּחַ, לַטַּעַם הָאָמוּר בְּדִבְרֵיהֶם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (שם), וְהוּא שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמְרוּ שֶׁהָיוּ הַמַּלְאָכִים עוֹזְרִים וּמוֹתְחִים עִמּוֹ שָׁמַיִם וְכוּ׳. וּמוֹדִיעֵנוּ הַכָּתוּב כִּי הָאָדוֹן בָּרוּךְ הוּא לֹא יֻקַּח אֵלָיו שִׁעוּר מֵהַנִּבְרָאִים, שֶׁהַנִּבְרָאִים אֵינָם יְכוֹלִין לְהַפֵּךְ הַסֵּדֶר הַמֻּטְבָּע בָּהֶם בְּעֵת הַבְּרִיאָה, מַה שֶׁאֵין כֵּן הַבּוֹרֵא בָּרוּךְ הוּא יָכוֹל הוּא לְדַבֵּר בְּדֶרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר יַחְפֹּץ. וְלָזֶה תִּמְצָא שֶׁדִּיֵּק הַכָּתוּב בְּאָמְרוֹ ״בִּדְבַר ה׳ שָׁמַיִם נַעֲשׂוּ״ שֶׁהִקְדִּים בְּרִיאַת שָׁמַיִם שֶׁנִּבְרְאוּ מֵהַדִּבּוּר, וְאַחַר כָּךְ אָמַר ״וּבְרוּחַ פִּיו כָּל צְבָאָם״.

And in the way of midrashic (homiletic) interpretation, the word, 'In the beginning' is explained in the way of what the verse states (Psalms 33:6), "By the word of God, were the heavens made and by the breath of His mouth, all the hosts." And you should know that, may the name of our God be elevated, He did not create the angels until the second day in order that those in error should not err [and think] that they helped Him in the creation of the world. And as to the [Sages'] words (Bereishit Rabbah 1:3), of blessed memory, we need to elucidate how is it possible to say that the angels were created later; is it not that according to what the verse stated, "and by the breath of His mouth, all the hosts," that hosts of the sky were created from the breath that came from the mouth of the Highest, (as if it were possible [to say this]); if so, perforce, according to our [very] senses, the angels were created before the heavens and the earth; since the breath came out before the word [of God], and since the heavens and the earth were created from the word, behold the breath - from which the angels were created - already preceded it. And for this reason, the verse states, "In the beginning, created etc.;" the explanation [of which] is that God had the later - which is the speech - precede the breath; [which is] the opposite of what is known to us about the nature of speech. And he created the heavens first and reversed the order and made speech first to breath; for the reason stated in their words, of blessed memory (Ibid.), and that is that [people] should not say that the angels helped and stretched out the heavens with Him, etc. And the verse informs us that the Master, blessed be He, does not take His lessons from the creations, as the creations are not able to reverse the order implanted within them from the time of the creation; which is not the case with the Creator, blessed be He, [who] can speak in the manner that He wants. And for this reason, you will find that the verse was precise in stating, "By the word of God, were the heavens made," which has the creation of the heavens - which were created from the word - precede, and afterwards, it stated "and by the breath of His mouth, all its hosts."

19וּמֵעַתָּה שִׁעוּר פֵּרוּשׁ תֵּבַת בְּרֵאשִׁית הוּא עַל זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ, כִּי לֶהֱיוֹת שֶׁיֵּשׁ בַּדִּבּוּר ב׳ דְּבָרִים: הָרוּחַ וְהַדִּבּוּר עַצְמוֹ, וְכָל אֶחָד בָּרָא מִמֶּנּוּ ה׳ בְּרִיאָה חֲדָשָׁה, וְאֵין אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ מִי קָדַם מִשְּׁנֵיהֶם – אִם הָרוּחַ אִם הַדִּבּוּר, לָזֶה אָמַר כִּי רֵאשִׁית הָיָה מַעֲשֵׂה שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ, וּמִמּוֹצָא דָבָר אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ כִּי הַדִּבּוּר הָיָה רֵאשִׁית לָרוּחַ שֶׁיָּצָא מִפִּי עֶלְיוֹן.

And from here, the structure of the explanation of the word, "In the beginning" is as follows: given that there are two things [involved] in speech, breath and speech itself, and from each of them did God create a new creation and I [would] not know which one of the two was first, whether the breath or the speech; for this [reason], it states that first was the act of the heavens and the earth; and from the derivation of the matter, you know that the speech was first to the breath that came from the mouth of the Highest.

20עוֹד יֵשׁ לָנוּ לְהָבִין שִׁינּוּי שֶׁבֵּין ב׳ הַכְּתוּבִים: בְּפָסוּק זֶה לֹא אָמַר אֶלָּא שֵׁם אֱלֹהִים, וְכָתוּב אֶחָד הוּא אוֹמֵר (בראשית ב:ד) ״בְּיוֹם עֲשׂוֹת ה׳ אֱלֹהִים אֶרֶץ וְשָׁמָיִם״ שֶׁהִזְכִּיר ב׳ שֵׁמוֹת. וְעוֹד, כִּי כָּאן הִקְדִּים שָׁמַיִם לָאָרֶץ, וְשָׁם הִקְדִּים אֶרֶץ לַשָּׁמַיִם.

We must still understand the difference between the two verses; in this verse, it only says the name Elohim (God) and in another verse, it says (Genesis 2:4), "on the day the Lord, God, made the heavens and the earth," [thereby] mentioning two names. And [we] also [need to understand why] here 'heavens' precedes 'earth' and there, 'earth' precedes 'heavens.'

21וְנִרְאֶה כִּי ב׳ קֻשְׁיוֹת אֵלּוּ כָּל אַחַת מְתָרֶצֶת חֲבֶרְתָּהּ, וְהוּא עַל דֶּרֶךְ מַה שֶׁפֵּרְשׁוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (סוטה לא.) בִּב׳ מִקְרָאוֹת הַכְּתוּבִים בְּתַשְׁלוּם שְׂכַר הַצַּדִּיקִים: כָּתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר (שמות כ:ו): ״וְעֹשֶׂה חֶסֶד לַאֲלָפִים״, וְכָתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר (דברים ז:ט): ״לְאֹהֲבָיו וּלְשֹׁמְרֵי מִצְוֹתָיו לְאֶלֶף דּוֹר״. וְאָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה כִּי מַה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב ״לַאֲלָפִים״ – לְאוֹהֲבָיו בִּלְבַד, וְאֵינוֹ חוֹזֵר גַּם לְשׁוֹמְרֵי מִצְוֹתָיו שֶׁהֵם הָעוֹשִׂים מִיִּרְאָה, כִּי אוֹתָם בְּפָסוּק אַחֵר הוּזְכַּר שֶׁהֵם אֶלֶף דּוֹר. גַּם פָּסוּק שֶׁאָמַר ״לְאֹהֲבָיו וּלְשֹׁמְרֵי מִצְוֹתָיו לְאֶלֶף דּוֹר״ אֵינוֹ חוֹזֵר אָמְרוֹ ״לְאֶלֶף דּוֹר״, אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹמְרֵי מִצְוֹתָיו הַנִּסְמֶכֶת לָהּ וְלֹא לְתֵבַת ״אוֹהֲבָיו״ הַקּוֹדֶמֶת, כִּי אוֹתָם הִנֵּה שְׂכָרָם אִתָּם בְּפָסוּק אַחֵר שֶׁהוּא ״לַאֲלָפִים״.

And it appears that these two questions answer each other. And this is according to the way that they, of blessed memory, explained (Sotah 31a) about two verses that are written about the reward of the righteous: one verse states (Exodus 20:6), "and does kindness to thousands" and another verse states (Deuteronomy 7:9), "to His loved ones and to those who keep His commandments, for a thousand generations." And they, of blessed memory, said that that which one verse stated "to thousands" is referring to "His loved ones" only, and does not also refer to "those who keep His commandments" - who are those that do it out of fear - because it is mentioned that they will be a thousand generations in another verse. Also the verse that states, "to His loved ones and to those who keep His commandments, for a thousand generations;" refers only to "those that keep His commandments" - which is adjacent to it - [when] it states, "for a thousand generations," and not to the word, "His loved ones," which precedes ["those who keep His commandments"]; since behold, their reward is with them in another verse, which is the one [that states] "for thousands." ...

22גַּם אֲנַחְנוּ נְפָרֵשׁ ב׳ מִקְרָאוֹת הַלָּלוּ עַל זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ: בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם – שֵׁם זֶה שֶׁל אֱלֹקִים פֵּרוּשׁ מִדָּה זוֹ שֶׁל הַדִּין בְּלֹא שִׁתּוּף שֵׁם הָרַחֲמִים, זֶה הוּא דַּוְקָא לְמַה שֶׁנּוֹגֵעַ לְהַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵינוֹ חוֹזֵר לְאָמְרוֹ ״וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ״, כִּי הָאָרֶץ בְּרָאָהּ בְּשִׁתּוּף שֵׁם הָרַחֲמִים, וְעַל כָּתוּב אַחֵר סוֹמֵךְ, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ (בראשית ב:ד): ״בְּיוֹם עֲשׂוֹת ה׳ אֱלֹהִים אֶרֶץ״, כִּי אֵין עוֹלָם בְּנֵי אָדָם יָכוֹל לְהִתְקַיֵּם בְּדִין גָּמוּר בְּלֹא שִׁתּוּף רַחֲמִים, לְצַד שֶׁהֵם מֵחֹמֶר כַּיָּדוּעַ. וְאָמְרוֹ ״וְשָׁמָיִם״ אֵינָהּ נִמְשֶׁכֶת עִם הָאָרֶץ בִּבְחִינָה זוֹ שֶׁל הַשִּׁתּוּף, וְאֹפֶן מַעֲשֶׂיהָ הֲלֹא הֵם כְּתוּבִים בְּפָרָשַׁת בְּרֵאשִׁית. וּבָזֶה נִתְיַשְּׁבוּ ב׳ הַדִּקְדּוּקִים כְּמִין חֹמֶר, וְעִנְיַן יְדִיעַת מִי קָדַם, הִנֵּה כָּתַבְנוּ לְמַעְלָה שֶׁכָּל הַבְּרִיאָה יַחַד נִבְרְאָה בִּגְבוּרָתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ.

We will also explain these two verses in this way: "In the beginning, Elohim (God) created the heavens;" this name of Elohim - the meaning of which is this attribute of [strict] justice - without the combination of the name of mercy (the Lord), this is only going on what is connected to the heavens, and does not refer to its stating [in the same verse], "the earth;" since He created the earth with the combination of the name of mercy; and [the Torah relied on a different verse [to convey this information]; and that was its stating, "on the day the Lord, God made... the earth;" since the world of people is not able to exist with exact justice, without the combination of mercy, given that they are physical, as is known; and its stating "and the heavens" does not go together with the earth, in this aspect of combination; and the way of its functions, are they not [already] written in the section on creation? And through this are both precise observations resolved, 'like a precious chain.' And as to the matter of knowing which came first, behold we have written above that all of the creation was created together, in His, may He be blessed, strength. ...

23וְלֹא יִקְשֶׁה לְךָ מַה מִשְׁפָּט יַעֲרֹךְ ה׳ לִבְנֵי אֵלִים יוֹשְׁבֵי שָׁמַיִם, שֶׁיֻּצְדַּק לוֹמַר עֲלֵיהֶם שֵׁם אֱלֹהִים. הֲלֹא תִּמְצָא שֶׁאָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (חגיגה טו.) בְּמַעֲשֵׂה מטטרו״ן שֶׁדָּנוּהוּ לִפְנֵי אֱלִישָׁע וּמַחְיוּהוּ שִׁתִּין פּוּלְסֵי דְּנוּרָא, וְגַם אֵלִיָּהוּ וְכוּ׳ (בבא מציעא פה:), וְכַמָּה מִשְׁפָּטִים לְשָׂרֵי מַעְלָה. וַהֲגַם שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם יֵצֶר, עִם כָּל זֶה יִמָּצֵא בָּהֶם הַטָּעוּת, כִּי לִפְעָמִים לֹא יְכַוְּנוּ אֶל הָאֱמֶת וְיִשְׁגּוּ. וְצֵא וּלְמַד מִמַּעֲשֵׂה הַמַּלְאָךְ מטטרו״ן וְאֵלִיָּהוּ כִּי שָׁגְגוּ, וְכֵן יִקֶר מִקְרֶה וְיַעֲנִישֵׁם ה׳ אֲפִלּוּ עַל הַשּׁוֹגֵג, מַה שֶׁאֵין שׁוֹפֵט בְּמִשְׁפָּט זֶה לְיוֹשְׁבֵי אָרֶץ. וּבָזֶה יִתְאַמֵּת מַה שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁנוּ, וְנָכוֹן.

And let it not be difficult to you, what type of justice does God mete out to the 'children of power,' who dwell in the skies [the supernal angels], that justify using the name Elohim for them; do you not find that they, of blessed memory, stated (Chagigah 15a) in the story of Metatron, that they judged him in front of Elisha and struck him with sixty bolts of fire, and also Eliyahu, etc. (Bava Metzia 85b) and how many judgments are there of the ministers above! And even thought they do not have an [evil] impulse, nonetheless, mistakes are found among them; since sometimes they do not understand the truth and err. And go and learn from the story of the angel, Metatron and Eliyahu, since they erred; and so it happens that they err and God punishes them, even on unwitting sin, which He does not prosecute for the dwellers of the earth, and with this is confirmed what we wrote [above] and this is true.

24וַהֲגַם כִּי מָצִינוּ לְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (בראשית רבה א׳) שֶׁהִרְגִּישׁוּ בִּב׳ הַדִּקְדּוּקִים שֶׁבַּכְּתוּבִים, וְתֵרְצוּ כִּי טַעַם שֶׁבְּפָסוּק א׳ הִקְדִּים שָׁמַיִם וּבְאֶחָד הִקְדִּים אֶרֶץ, כִּי נִתְכַּוֵּן לוֹמַר שֶׁשְּׁנֵיהֶם יָצְאוּ כְּאֶחָד, וְטַעַם שֶׁבְּמָקוֹם אֶחָד אָמַר אֱלֹהִים וּבְמָקוֹם אֶחָד שִׁתֵּף שֵׁם הָרַחֲמִים, אָמְרוּ (בראשית רבה י״ב) כִּי מִתְּחִלָּה עָלָה עַל דַּעְתּוֹ לִבְרֹא בְּשֵׁם אֱלֹהִים, וְרָאָה שֶׁאֵין הָעוֹלָם יָכוֹל לְהִתְקַיֵּם שִׁתֵּף וְכוּ׳:

And even if we have found that the Rabbis, of blessed memory, (Bereishit Rabbah 1) noticed these two [differences] in the verses and answered that the reason that in one verse the heavens is first and in one the earth is first is that it intends to [tell us] that both came out as one [together], and the reason that in one place it states Elohim (God) and in another place it combines it with the name of mercy (the Lord), [about this] they stated (Bereishit Rabbah 12:15) that in the beginning, it went up in His thought to create [the world] with the name Elohim and [when] He saw that the world would not be able to exist [that way], He combined, etc;

25דַּע כִּי רְשׁוּת לָנוּ נְתוּנָה לְפָרֵשׁ מַשְׁמָעוּת הַכְּתוּבִים בִּנְתִיבוֹת הָעִיּוּן וְיִשּׁוּב הַדַּעַת, הֲגַם שֶׁקָּדְמוּנוּ רִאשׁוֹנִים וְיִשְּׁבוּ בְּאֹפֶן אַחֵר, כִּי שִׁבְעִים פָּנִים לַתּוֹרָה, וְאֵין אָנוּ מֻזְהָרִים שֶׁלֹּא לִנְטוֹת מִדִּבְרֵי הָרִאשׁוֹנִים אֶלָּא בְּפֵרוּשִׁים שֶׁיִּשְׁתַּנֶּה הַדִּין לְפִיהֶן. וְלָזֶה תִּמְצָא שֶׁהָאָמוֹרָאִים אֵין כֹּחַ בָּהֶם לַחְלוֹק עַל הַתַּנָּאִים בְּמִשְׁפְּטֵי ה׳, אֲבָל בְּיִשּׁוּב הַכְּתוּבִים וּבְמַשְׁמָעוּתָן מָצִינוּ לָהֶם בְּכַמָּה מְקוֹמוֹת שֶׁיְּפָרְשׁוּ בְּאֹפֶן אַחֵר.

[nonetheless,] you should know that permission is given to explain the meaning of the verses by the ways of investigation and logic, even if the first [scholars of the Mishnaic period] came before us and made a different sense of it, since there are 'seventy faces to the Torah.' And we are not warned not to deviate from the words of the first ones, except with explanations that would result in a change in the law. And for this [reason], you will find that the Amoraim (scholars of the Talmudic period who came later) do not have the power to disagree with Tannaim (scholars of the Mishnaic period) concerning the 'statutes of God,' but concerning the sense and meaning of the verses, we have found that they explain [it] in a different way in several places.

26שׁוּב הִצַּצְתִּי בְּשִׂכְלִיּוּת הָעִיּוּן הַכְּתוּבִים כִּי יִסְבְּלוּ דְּבָרֵינוּ גַּם דִּבְרֵי קַדְמוֹנֵינוּ עֲלֵיהֶם הַשָּׁלוֹם. וְקוֹדֶם נַשְׂכִּיל לָדַעַת אֵיךְ יֻצְדַּק בְּהָאָדוֹן בָּרוּךְ הוּא רֹאשׁ וָסוֹף בְּמַחְשַׁבְתּוֹ, שֶׁבִּתְחִלָּה חָשַׁב בְּדִין, וְחָזַר לְשַׁתֵּף, כִּי הָאָדוֹן בָּרוּךְ הוּא לֹא יִבָּצֵר מִמֶּנּוּ מְזִמָּה בִּמְעַט זְמַן וּבְפָחוֹת מֵהֶרֶף עַיִן יֵדַע הַכֹּל וִיכַוֵּן אֶל הָאֱמֶת בְּהַשְׁקָפָה רִאשׁוֹנָה, כִּבְיָכוֹל, בָּרוּךְ הוּא וּבָרוּךְ שְׁמוֹ.

[Yet] I looked again at [a] reasoned investigation of the verses [and found] that our words would also allow for the words of those that came before us, peace be upon them. But first, let us reason to [understand] how it is justified to [attribute to] the Master, may He be blessed, a beginning and end to His thought - that at first, He thought [to create the world] with justice and [then] went back to combine [it with mercy] - since the Master, may He be blessed, 'is not prevented from plotting' because of [too] little time; and in less than the wink of an eye, He knows everything, and plans correctly at first glance, as if it were possible [to say this about Him], may He be blessed and may His name be blessed. ...

27אָכֵן דַּע כִּי כַּוָּנַת שִׁתּוּף הָרַחֲמִים תִּסְבּוֹל ב׳ עִנְיָנִים: הָא׳ כִּי ה׳ יְרַחֵם לִפְעָמִים לְמִי שֶׁיַּחְפּוֹץ לְרַחֵם מִבְּלִי הֲבִיאוֹ בַּמִּשְׁפָּט, כִּי זוֹ הִיא מִדַּת הָרַחֲמִים לִמְחוֹל וְלִסְלוֹחַ. וְשֵׁם אֱלֹקִים גַּם כֵּן לְמִי שֶׁלֹּא יִרְצֶה לִמְחוֹל יְבִיאֵהוּ בַּמִּשְׁפָּט, וּכְפִי זֶה יֵשׁ לְךָ אָדָם שֶׁלֹּא יָבֹא בַּמִּשְׁפָּט. וְדֶרֶךְ ב׳ הוּא כִּי לְעוֹלָם אֵין ה׳ מְוַתֵּר לְשׁוּם אָדָם בָּעוֹלָם, וְכָל הָעוֹלָם יַעַמְדוּ לַמִּשְׁפָּט אֵין נִמְלָט. וְיֵשׁ לְךָ לָדַעַת אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (בבא קמא נ.) וְזֶה לְשׁוֹנָם: ״כָּל הָאוֹמֵר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וַתְרָן, יִוַּתְּרוּ בְּנֵי מֵעָיו, אֶלָּא בְּמִשְׁפָּט יַעֲמִיד אָרֶץ וְאֵין אָדָם נִמְלָט מִן הַדִּין״. וּכְפִי זֶה הִנֵּה בֵּרַרְנוּ לָנוּ דֶּרֶךְ הַב׳.

Hence, know that the intent of [what is meant by] the combination of mercy bears two [possibilities]: the first is that sometimes God is merciful to whom He wants to be merciful to, without bringing him to justice, since this is the attribute of mercy - to excuse and to forgive - and the name, Elohim also [can be explained in this way, that it is applied] to someone whom He does not want to excuse, He brings to justice, and according to this, there will be a person who is not brought to justice; and the second way is that God never yields to any person in the world, and the whole world is judged - there is no escape, and you should know that they, of blessed memory, said (Bava Kamma 50a) and these are their words, "whoever says that the Holy One, blessed be He, is a yielder, [that person's] intestines will be yielded," but [rather] the earth will stand in judgment and no man will escape from justice.

28וּמֵעַתָּה אֹפֶן הַבְּרִיאָה לְפִי דִּבְרֵיהֶם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה הוּא עַל זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ: בִּתְחִלָּה בָּרָא בְּמִדַּת אֱלֹהִים שֶׁהוּא יִחוּס הַמִּשְׁפָּט, וְכָךְ הוּא הַתַּכְלִית שֶׁעָמַד הַכֹּל בְּדִין. אֶלָּא שֶׁרָאָה שֶׁאוֹתוֹ הַדִּין לֹא יוּכַל הָעוֹלָם עֲמוֹד בּוֹ, שִׁתֵּף עִמּוֹ מִדַּת הָרַחֲמִים. פֵּרוּשׁ: לֹא שֶׁחָזַר בּוֹ מִמַּחְשָׁבָה רִאשׁוֹנָה חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, אֶלָּא שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה הַמִּשְׁפָּט בְּדֶרֶךְ רַחֲמִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁתֹּאמַר שֶׁלֹּא לִיפָּרַע מֵהָאָדָם עָנְשׁוֹ כְּאַחַת, גַּם שֶׁלֹּא לִיפָּרַע מִמֶּנּוּ תֵּכֶף וּמִיָּד בְּלֹא הַאֲרָכַת זְמַן, וּלְעוֹלָם אֵין לָאָדָם אֶלָּא מַה שֶׁיַּגִּיעַ אֵלָיו בְּמִשְׁפָּט, וְהוּא אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (ירושלמי שקלים פרק ה) ״מַאֲרִיךְ אַפֵּיהּ וְגָבֵי דִּילֵיהּ״.

And behold according to this, we have chosen the second way, and from here, [we see] that the way of the creation, according to their words, may their memory be a blessing, is as follows: at first, He created with the attribute of Elohim - which relates to justice - and this was the plan, that all should stand in justice, except that He saw that the world cannot [survive with] such justice, so He combined the trait of mercy with it, the explanation [of which] is not that He went back on his original thought, God forbid, but [rather] that He made judgment [operate] in a merciful fashion, as you would say 'that He not pay back a person all at once, and that He not give the person his punishment right away and immediately, without giving it time.' And a person never gets what he doesn't deserve in justice, and that is what they, of blessed memory, said (Yerushalmi, Shekalim 5:1), "He is patient, but collects what is His."

29נִמְצֵאתָ אוֹמֵר שֶׁלֹּא חָזַר בּוֹ מִמַּחֲשַׁבְתּוֹ, כִּי לֹא מָצִינוּ שֶׁקָּדַם בְּמַחְשֶׁבֶת ה׳ שֶׁלֹּא לְהִתְנַהֵג בְּמִשְׁפָּט בְּסֵדֶר זֶה שֶׁיִּהְיֶה נִפְרָע בְּרַחֲמִים. וּלְפִי זֶה בְּהֶכְרֵחַ שֶׁיֹּאמַר הַכָּתוּב כַּסֵּדֶר הָאָמוּר, שֶׁאִם הָיָה אוֹמֵר ״בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא ה׳ אֱלֹהִים״ הָיְתָה הַסְּבָרָא נוֹתֶנֶת כִּי יֵשׁ מִשְׁפָּט וְאֵין מִשְׁפָּט גַּם כֵּן לְצַד הָרַחֲמִים, כִּי לֹא הֶחְלִיט ה׳ מִשְׁפָּט לְבַדּוֹ. וּמֵאָמְרוֹ ״בָּרָא אֱלֹקִים״ לְבַד הֲרֵי הֶחְלִיט כִּי אֵין דָּבָר בְּלֹא מִשְׁפָּט, וַהֲגַם שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב אַחַר כָּךְ ״ה׳ אֱלֹהִים״ תִּתְפָּרֵשׁ עַל אֲמִתָּתָהּ כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁנוּהָ, שֶׁהַמִּשְׁפָּט עַל כָּל פָּנִים יִהְיֶה אֶלָּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הַפֵּרָעוֹן בְּדֶרֶךְ רַחְמָנוּת. וְסָמַךְ עָלֶיהָ הַכָּתוּב שֶׁנַּכְרִיחַ לְפָרֵשׁ עַל זֶה הָאוֹפֶן, לִהְיוֹת דָּבָר יָדוּעַ מוּחְזָק בְּיָדֵינוּ כִּי יְדִיעַת ה׳ לֹא תִּתְהַפֵּךְ כִּבְיָכוֹל.

It comes out that you say that He did not go back from His [original] thought, since we didn't find that it was the first thought of God not to administer justice in this way, [meaning] that it be meted out with mercy. And, according to this, it is necessary for the verse to be stated in this order; since had the verse stated, "In the beginning, the Lord, God, created," there would have been reason to say that there is justice, and also that there is not justice [when there is] mercy, since God did not decide to institute justice only. But since He stated God (Elohim) by itself, behold, [it shows] that He decided that there is nothing that exists without justice. And even if the verse afterwards states, "the Lord, God," it will truthfully be explained as we have explained it; that justice will exist regardless but that it will be exacted mercifully. And the verse relied upon us, that we would be forced to understand it in this manner, [so] that it become something known and held in our hands that the knowledge of God is not something that reverses itself, as if it were possible.

30וְאַחַר שֶׁפֵּרֵשׁ כַּוָּנַת רַזַ״ל גַּם אַחַר דִּבְרֵיהֶם יֵשׁ מוֹשָׁב לִדְבָרֵינוּ, כִּי מִדָּה זוֹ שֶׁל הַשִּׁתּוּף שֶׁהֵכִין ה׳ לְיוֹשְׁבֵי תֵבֵל לְהַאֲרִיךְ אַפּוֹ וְלִגְבּוֹת מְעַט מְעַט בְּנִכּוּי, לֹא יִתְנַהֵג ה׳ כֵּן אֶלָּא עִמָּנוּ וְלֹא עִם הָעֶלְיוֹנִים יוֹשְׁבֵי שָׁמַיִם, אֶלָּא תֵּכֶף וּמִיָּד יְשַׁלֵּם לַמִּתְחַיֵּב חִיּוּבוֹ כְּאַחַת, גַּם לֹא יוֹעִיל לָהֶם הַחֲרָטָה וְהַוִּדּוּי וְהַתְּשׁוּבָה וְלֹא טַעֲנַת הַשְּׁגָגָה. וְצֵא וּלְמַד מִמַּעֲשֶׂה הוּבָא בַּשַּׁ״ס (חגיגה טו.) בְּד׳ שֶׁנִּכְנְסוּ לַפַּרְדֵּס שֶׁהֶעֱנִישׁוּ הַמַּלְאָךְ הַיּוֹשֵׁב בִּרְשׁוּת הַמֶּלֶךְ יִתְעַלֶּה שְׁמוֹ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עַל אֲשֶׁר לֹא עָמַד מִפְּנֵי אֱלִישָׁע כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִטְעֶה בְּמַחְשַׁבְתּוֹ, וְזֹאת לַמַּלְאָךְ שְׁגָגָה, גַּם לֹא הוּזְהַר עָלֶיהָ, וְכֵן לֹא יִשְׁפֹּט הַשּׁוֹפֵט לְעַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל כַּיָּדוּעַ מִמִּשְׁפְּטֵי תּוֹרָתוֹ שֶׁתִּתְעַלֶּה:

And after we have explained the intention of our Rabbis, of blessed memory, there is a basis for our words even in their words: since this attribute of combination that God set up for the dwellers of the earth, to be slow of anger and to collect [His due] a little at a time; He did not administer [His justice] like this except with us but not with the higher ones, that dwell in the heavens; but [rather, with them,] He pays back the guilt of the guilty right away and immediately. Also regret and confession and repentance, as well as the claim of error is not effective for them. And go and learn form the story that is brought down in the Talmud (Chagigah 15a) about the four that went into the orchard, in which an angel who was sitting with permission of the King, may His name be exalted, may He be blessed, was punished for not getting up in front of [Rabbi] Elisha in order that [the latter] not make a mistake in his thinking. And this is [only] an error for the angel, and he was also not warned about it; and the Judge would not judge His people Israel like this, as is known from the statutes of His Torah, let it be exalted.

31עוֹד רָמַז בְּהַקְדָּמַת שָׁמַיִם לָאָרֶץ לְהַרְאוֹת כִּי לֹא כְּמִדַּת הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִדַּת בָּשָׂר וָדָם: מִדַּת בָּשָׂר וָדָם בּוֹנֶה הַבַּיִת וְאַחַר כָּךְ הָעֲלִיָּה עַל גַּבָּיו, אֲבָל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הִקְדִּים הָעֲלִיָּה וְאַחַר כָּךְ הַבַּיִת, לְהַרְאוֹת כִּי הַשָּׁמַיִם תְּלוּיִים וְעוֹמְדִים הֵם בְּמַאֲמָרוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ:

There is another hint in having the heavens precede the earth: to show that the way of the Holy One, blessed be He, is not like the way of flesh and blood. The way of flesh and blood is [to] build the house first and then the attic on top of it, but the Holy One, blessed be He, had the attic precede and afterwards [built] the house, to show that the heavens are suspended and standing by His word, may He be blessed.

32וְדֶרֶךְ רֶמֶז רַזַ״ל דָּרְשׁוּ (בראשית רבה א׳) תֵּיבַת בְּרֵאשִׁית שֶׁיְּכַוֵּן בָּרוּךְ הוּא לוֹמַר בִּשְׁבִיל תּוֹרָה שֶׁנִּקְרֵאת רֵאשִׁית, וּפֵרוּשׁ בֵּי״ת שֶׁל בְּרֵאשִׁית הִיא בֵּי״ת הַסִּבָּה. וּמֵעַתָּה מִי שֶׁזָּכָה בַּתּוֹרָה זָכָה בְּכָל הָעוֹלָם, וּמִי שֶׁלֹּא זָכָה בַּתּוֹרָה אֵין לוֹ לֵיהָנוֹת מִן הָעוֹלָם עַד מִדְרַךְ כַּף רֶגֶל, זוּלַת אִם יְשַׁמֵּשׁ הֶכְשֵׁר עֲמֵלֶיהָ. וְגַם אָמְרוּ (ויקרא רבה ל״ו) בִּשְׁבִיל יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁנִּקְרְאוּ רֵאשִׁית, דִּכְתִיב ״רֵאשִׁית תְּבוּאָתֹה״ (ירמיהו ב:ג), וְאֵין מַאֲמָרָם זֶה מַכְחִישׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן, כִּי טַעַם עַצְמוֹ שֶׁנִּקְרְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל רֵאשִׁית הוּא לְצַד קַבָּלָתָם הַתּוֹרָה, וּבָזֶה נִבְדְּלוּ לְשֵׁם וְלִתְהִלָּה מֵהָעַמִּים. וְגַם אָמְרוּ (בראשית רבה י״ב) בִּשְׁבִיל אַבְרָהָם וּבִשְׁבִיל יַעֲקֹב (ויקרא רבה ל״ו), וְהַכֹּל הוֹלֵךְ לַטַּעַם הָרִאשׁוֹן ״עֵקֶב אֲשֶׁר שָׁמַע אַבְרָהָם״ וְגוֹ׳. גַּם אָמְרוּ (שבת לו:) בִּשְׁבִיל יִרְאָה שֶׁנִּקְרֵאת רֵאשִׁית, דִּכְתִיב (תהילים קי״א:י׳) ״רֵאשִׁית חָכְמָה יִרְאַת ה׳״, כִּי הוּא זֶה גַּם כֵּן יְסוֹד הַתּוֹרָה, כִּי אִם אֵין חָכְמָה אֵין יִרְאָה, וְאִם אֵין יִרְאַת ה׳ אֵין תּוֹרָה, כִּי הוּא אוֹצָר נֶחְמָד לַתּוֹרָה.

And by way of hint, the Rabbis, of blessed memory, expounded (Bereishit Rabbah 1:4) [that by the] word bereishit (In the beginning), He, may He be blessed, intended to say, [that He created the world] for the sake of the Torah, which is called reishit; and the explanation of the [letter] bet (which is the first letter in bereishit) is that it is a bet [that indicates] causation. And from this [is implied that] anyone who merits [to know the] Torah, merits the whole world and anyone who does not merit [to know the] Torah should not benefit from this world - even for him to set foot on it - unless he provides assistance to those who toil in [the study of] Torah. And they also said (Vayikra Rabbah 36:4) [that He created the world] for the sake of Israel, which is called reishit, as it is written [about Israel] (Jeremiah 2:3), "reishit tevuato" ("the first of His produce"). And this statement does not contradict the first, since the very reason that Israel is called, first is from the angle that they accepted the Torah; and through this were they separated from the [other] nations for fame and praise. And they also said (Bereishit Rabbah 1:4), [that He created the world] for the sake of Avraham and (Vayikra Rabbah 36:4) for the sake of Ya'akov; and it all follows the first reason [for creating the world], 'because Avraham listened to my voice, etc.' They also said (Shabbat 36b) [that He created the world] for the sake of [the] awe [of God], which is called reishit, as it is written (Psalms 111:10), "reishit chocmah, yirat, etc." ("the beginning of wisdom is the awe of God, etc."); since it too is a fundamental principle of the Torah, since if there is no wisdom, there is no awe, and if there is no awe of God, there is no Torah, for [awe of God] is a beautiful storehouse for the Torah.

33עוֹד תִּתְפָּרֵשׁ בְּרֵאשִׁית עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרוֹ (משלי ח:ל) ״וָאֶהְיֶה אֶצְלוֹ אָמוֹן״, וְדָרְשׁוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (בראשית רבה א): ״אַל תִּקְרֵי אָמוֹן אֶלָּא אוֹמֵן״, וְהוּא עַצְמוֹ שֶׁרָמַז הַכָּתוּב תְּחִלַּת דִּבֵּר ה׳ וְהוֹדִיעַ בְּרִיאַת עוֹלָם, הוֹדִיעַ בַּמֶּה בְּרָאָהּ, וְאָמַר בַּתּוֹרָה בְּרָאָהּ כִּי הִיא הָאוֹמֵן (אֵין זֶה סוֹתֵר לְפֵרוּשׁ רִאשׁוֹן כִּי הַתּוֹרָה הֵכִינָה עוֹלָם לְהִתְהַלֵּךְ בְּמֵישָׁרִים), וּלְפִי זֶה גָּדְלָה מַעֲלַת בְּעָלֶיהָ שֶׁזּוֹכִים בַּכֹּל, וְלָזֶה יִהְיֶה הַדִּין לָהֶם שֶׁיִּקָּרְאוּ בּוֹנִים, וְהוּא אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (שבת קיד:): ״תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים נִקְרָאִים בּוֹנִים״, כִּי מַה שֶׁבְּפִיהֶם וּבִלְבָבָם הוּא הַבּוֹנֶה, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ (ירמיהו לג:כה): ״אִם לֹא בְרִיתִי וְגוֹ׳ חֻקּוֹת שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ לֹא שָׂמְתִּי״.

Bereishit is also explained by way of [the Bible's] stating (Proverbs 8:30), "and I was a nursling (amon) with Him," and the Rabbis, of blessed memory, expounded (Bereishit Rabbah 1:1); "Don't read it as amon (nursling), but as uman (artist);" and this is exactly what the verse is hinting at in the beginning of God's word: informing [us about] the creation of the world, it informed [us about] that with which He created it and stated that He created it with the Torah, since it is the artist. (This does not contradict the first explanation, since the Torah prepares the world to walk on straight paths.) And according to this, the level of its 'owners' is magnified, since they merit everything; and for this, it is correct that they should be called 'builders;' and this is what they, of blessed memory, said (Shabbat 114a), that Torah scholars are called builders, since what is in their mouths and in their hearts is the builder. And this is [the sense] of what it stated (Jeremiah 33:25), "and were it not for my covenant etc, the law of the heavens and the earth I would not have set."

34עוֹד תִּתְפָּרֵשׁ בֵּי״ת שֶׁל בְּרֵאשִׁית עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (הקדמת תיקוני זהר ה:), כִּי ב׳ אוֹפַנֵּי יִרְאַת ה׳ הֵם: הָאַחַת הִיא יִרְאַת הָעוֹנֶשׁ, וְהַב׳ הִיא יִרְאַת הָרוֹמְמוּת, וְזוֹ יִרְאָה פְּנִימִית וּמְעֻלָּה מֵהָא׳, וְהוּא שֶׁרָמַז בָּאוֹת בֵּי״ת רֵאשִׁית כִּי ב׳ יִרְאוֹת הֵכִין ה׳ לְקִיּוּם הָעוֹלָם, וְרָמַז אוֹפֶן שְׁנֵיהֶם: הָא׳ רְמָזָהּ בְּתֵיבַת אֱלֹהִים כִּי הִיא יִרְאַת הַדִּין בְּקוּמוֹ לְמִשְׁפָּט, וְהַב׳ רְמָזָהּ בְּאָמְרוֹ אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ, וְהוּא עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרוֹ (תהילים ח:ד) ״כִּי אֶרְאֶה שָׁמֶיךָ״ וְגוֹ׳, וְאָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (זהר חלק א א:) כִּי יִרְאַת הָרוֹמְמוּת תִּכָּנֵס בְּלֵב מַשְׂכִּיל בְּהַבִּיטוֹ בְּהִתְבּוֹנְנוּת בְּמַעֲשֵׂה שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ, מַה גָּדְלוּ מַעֲשֵׂי ה׳, תִּתְלַהֵב הַנֶּפֶשׁ וְיִירָא מִגְּדֻלָּתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ שְׁמוֹ.

The [letter] bet of bereishit [can] also be explained by way of [that which] they, of blessed memory, said (Tikunei HaZohar 5b), that there are two types of awe of God: the first is fear of punishment; and the second is awe [before] His loftiness and this is a more inner and loftier awe than the first [one]. And this is what the letter bet that is first (bet reishit) hints: since God established two types of awe for the survival of the world, and he hinted to the manner of them both; the first one was hinted by the word, Elohim, since it is the fear of judgment when He rises to [establish] justice; and the second one was hinted by its stating, "the heavens and the earth" - and that is by way of its stating (Psalms 8:4), "When I look at your heavens, etc," and they, of blessed memory, said [about this] (Zohar 1:1) that the awe of [His] loftiness enters the heart of an intelligent person when he meditatively glances at the work of the heavens and the earth, [and then proclaims,] 'how great are Your deeds, Lord,' [and] his soul becomes enthused and he is inawed by His greatness, may His name be blessed.

35אוֹ יִרְמֹז ב׳ אָפְנֵי הַיִּרְאָה: אַחַת בְּאָמְרוֹ הַשָּׁמַיִם, כָּאן רָמַז יִרְאַת הָרוֹמְמוּת עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרוֹ ״כִּי אֶרְאֶה שָׁמֶיךָ״ וְגוֹ׳, וְיִרְאָה ב׳ וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ שֶׁהִיא יִרְאַת הָעֹנֶשׁ, וְיִחֲסָהּ לָאָרֶץ לִשְׁלֹל כִּי אֵינָהּ לְצַד הָרוֹמְמוּת אֶלָּא לְצַד אֵימָתוֹ מִיַּלְדֵי הָעוֹלָם, עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרוֹ (איוב כ:כז) ״וְאֶרֶץ מִתְקוֹמָמָה לוֹ״.

[Alternatively,] the two types of awe are hinted to [in the following way: one, in its stating "the heavens" here, is hinting to the awe of [His] loftiness, by way of its stating "When I look at your heavens, etc;" and the second awe, by stating "and the earth," which is the fear of punishment; and it is negatively attributed to the earth, since it is not from the angle of [His] loftiness, but rather from the angle of [man's] fear from the children of the world, by way of its stating (Job 20:27), "and the earth will rise against him."

36עוֹד יִרְמוֹז בְּרֵאשִׁית עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרוֹ (ישעיהו ל״ג:ו׳) ״יִרְאַת ה׳ הִיא אוֹצָרוֹ״, הַכַּוָּנָה הִיא כִּי מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ יִרְאַת ה׳ הִיא אוֹצָר לְתִקְוַת הַלְּבָבוֹת שֶׁהוּא דְּבֵקוּת אוֹרוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ בְּנֶפֶשׁ אָדָם, כְּאָמְרוֹ (דברים ד׳:ד׳) ״וְאַתֶּם הַדְּבֵקִים״ וְגוֹ׳, וְכָל מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ יִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם הוּא מִשְׁכַּן הַשְּׁכִינָה, כְּאָמְרוֹ (תהילים ע״ח:ס׳) ״אֹהֶל שִׁכֵּן בָּאָדָם״. וְהוּא שֶׁרָמַז בְּתֵבַת ״בְּרֵאשִׁית״ עַל זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ: בֵּי״ת פֵּרוּשׁ בֵּית מוֹשַׁב אֱלֹהִים, הִיא הַיִּרְאָה הָרְמוּזָה בְּתֵבַת רֵאשִׁית, בָּרָא ה׳ וְהֵכִין פָּעֳלוֹ.

Bereishit also hints, by way of [the Bible's] stating (Isaiah 33:6), "the awe of the Lord is His treasure;" the intention [of which] is that one who has the awe of God, [for him] it is a treasure for the hope of hearts, which is the clinging of His light, may He be blessed, to the soul of man, by way of its stating (Deuteronomy 4:4), "And you who cling, etc." And anyone who has the fear of Heaven is an abode for [His] Presence, as it states it (Psalms 78:60), "a tent which dwelt with Man." And it is hinted by the word, Bereishit, in the following way: the explanation of bet [which can also be read as bayit (house)] is that a house of repose for God is awe - which is hinted to by the word reishit - "God created" and set up His work.

37עוֹד תִּתְפָּרֵשׁ בְּרֵאשִׁית עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (ויקרא רבה ל״ה:ה): הַסֵּפֶר וְהַסַּיִף יָרְדוּ כְּרוּכִים וְכוּ׳, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים – פֵּרוּשׁ: עִם רֵאשִׁית שֶׁהִיא הַתּוֹרָה בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים, פֵּרוּשׁ הַדִּין שֶׁהוּא רֶמֶז הַסַּיִף.

Bereishit is also explained by way of the [Sages], may they be blessed, saying (Vayikra Rabbah 35:6), "And the book and the sword came down entwined, etc." and this is what it is saying, "Bereishit created Elohim," the meaning [of which] is that with the reishit - which is the Torah - He created Elohim, the meaning [of which] is [strict] justice, which hints to the sword.

38עוֹד תִּתְפָּרֵשׁ עַל דֶּרֶךְ מַה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (מלכים א׳ י״ח:לט) ״ה׳ הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים״, וְהַכַּוָּנָה הִיא שֶׁהֲגַם שֶׁשֵּׁם אֱלֹהִים יִתְיַחֵס אֶל הַדִּין, אַף עַל פִּי כֵן רַחֲמִים הוּא, וְכָל שְׁמוֹתָיו שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְטוֹבָה יְכַוְּנוּ יַחַד לְהֵיטִיב וּלְהִתְחַסֵּד. אֶלָּא דִּלְצַד מַעֲשֵׂה הָאַחֲרוֹנִים יָצָא הַדִּין לְיַסֵּר לְמִי שֶׁרָאוּי לְיַסֵּר, וְזוּלַת זֶה גַּם שֵׁם אֱלֹקִים מִדָּתוֹ לְהֵיטִיב. וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים, כִּי שֵׁם אֱלֹהִים הֵטִיב וּבָרָא עוֹלָם לָחוֹן וּלְרַחֵם וּלְהֵיטִיב לְשׁוֹכְנֵי שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ, וְאֵין לְךָ רַחֲמִים גְּדוֹלִים מִזֶּה. וְהוּא שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (בראשית כז:כח) ״וְיִתֶּן לְךָ הָאֱלֹהִים״, הֲרֵי שֶׁגַּם שֵׁם אֱלֹהִים יֵיטִיב לַטּוֹבִים בְּתוֹרַת מַתְּנַת חִנָּם, אֶלָּא שֶׁעוֹשֵׂי רִשְׁעָה יְסוֹבְבוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת לָהֶם אֱלֹהִים מוּסָר, וְלֶעָתִיד לָבֹא הַמְקֻוֶּה כֵּן יִהְיֶה ה׳ אֶחָד וּשְׁמוֹ אֶחָד.

It is also explained by way of that which the verse states (I Kings 18:39), "The Lord is God;" and the intention [of this] is that even if the name Elohim relates to [strict] justice, nonetheless it is [indicative of] mercy. And all of the names of the Holy One, blessed be He, intend, for the good, together to do good and to do kindness; but from the angle of the acts of the backward ones, judgment came out to chastise whoever is fitting to be chastised. And besides this, the attribute of the name, Elohim, is also to do good. And this is what it is saying, "In the beginning, created Elohim," since the name Elohim, did good and created the world to have grace and mercy and to do good to those that dwell in the heavens and the earth and there is no greater mercy than this. And this is what the verse states (Genesis 27:28), "And Elohim will give to you;" behold, that also the name Elohim does good to the good by way of a free gift; but evildoers cause Elohim to give them chastisement. And in the anticipated future, so will it be, [that] the Lord (the name associated with mercy) shall be one and His name shall be one.

39עוֹד יִתְפָּרֵשׁ תֵּיבַת בְּרֵאשִׁית עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (הקדמת זוהר ב׳) כִּי בִּשְׁעַת בְּרִיאַת הָעוֹלָם נִכְנְסוּ הָאוֹתִיּוֹת לִפְנֵי הַבּוֹרֵא. נִכְנְסָה ת׳ וְאָמְרָה לְפָנָיו: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, רְצוֹנְךָ לִבְרֹא בִּי הָעוֹלָם וְכוּ׳, וְכֻלָּם הֱשִׁיבָם ה׳ כִּי אֵינוֹ חָפֵץ, לַטַּעַם הָאָמוּר בְּדִבְרֵיהֶם לְכָל אַחַת וְאַחַת. עַד שֶׁנִּכְנְסָה בֵּי״ת וְקִבְּלָהּ וּבָרָא בָּהּ הָעוֹלָם, דִּכְתִיב ״בְּרֵאשִׁית״. אָלֶ״ף שָׁתְקָה, אָמַר לָהּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: אָלֶ״ף, לָמָּה אַתְּ שׁוֹתֶקֶת וְכוּ׳, אָמַר לָהּ: אַתְּ תִּהְיִי רֹאשׁ לְכָל הָאוֹתִיּוֹת וְכוּ׳, עַד כָּאן. הִנֵּה מִדִּבְרֵי ה׳ יֵרָאֶה כִּי אָלֶ״ף יֵשׁ לָהּ מַעֲלָה מֵאוֹת בֵּי״ת, וּמֵעַתָּה אִם הָיוּ הָאוֹתִיּוֹת עוֹלוֹת לְפָנָיו בְּיֹשֶׁר הָיְתָה הָאָלֶ״ף זוֹכָה לִבְרֹאת בָּהּ הָעוֹלָם. וְלֶהֱיוֹת כִּי יֹאמַר הָאוֹמֵר: וְלָמָּה לֹא עָלְתָה הָאָלֶ״ף רִאשׁוֹנָה וְהִנִּיחָהּ עַד לְבַסּוֹף? דַּע כִּי אָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (הקדמת תיקוני זהר) כִּי הָאוֹתִיּוֹת כְּשֶׁהֵם בְּדֶרֶךְ יָשָׁר עַל זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ אָלֶ״ף בֵּי״ת גִּימֶ״ל וְכוּ׳ הֵם רוֹמְזִים לְמִדַּת רַחֲמִים, וּכְשֶׁהֵם לְמַפְרֵעַ עַל זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ תָּי״ו שִׁי״ן רֵי״שׁ וְכוּ׳ הֵם מוֹרִים עַל מִדַּת הַדִּין. וְזֶה לְךָ הָאוֹת: חֹדֶשׁ תִּשְׁרֵי שֶׁהָאוֹתִיּוֹת לְמַפְרֵעַ תָּי״ו שִׁי״ן רֵי״שׁ הוּא זְמַן הַדִּין הַגָּדוֹל, אֶלָּא שֶׁהַשֵּׁם לְצַד רַחֲמָיו שִׁתֵּף אוֹת אַחַת מִשֵּׁם הָרַחֲמִים וְהִיא יוֹ״ד לְרַחֵם הַדִּין (הקדמת תיקוני זהר ט״ז). וְאַחֲרֵי הוֹדִיעַ אוֹתָנוּ אֶת זֶה, נְפָרֵשׁ הַכָּתוּב עַל זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ: בֵּי״ת רֵאשִׁית – תֵּדַע טַעַם לִקְדִימַת בֵּי״ת לְאָלֶ״ף, לֶהֱיוֹת שֶׁהַבְּרִיאָה הָיְתָה בְּמִדַּת אֱלֹהִים, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁכֵּן עָלוּ הָאוֹתִיּוֹת לְמַפְרֵעַ כַּמִּשְׁפָּט וּבָזֶה קָדְמָה בֵּי״ת לְאָלֶ״ף וְקָנְתָה מְקוֹמָהּ.

The word, Bereishit, is also explained by way of the [Sages], may they be blessed, saying (Zohar, Introduction 2) that at the time of the creation of the world, the letters entered in front of the Creator; [the letter], tav entered and said in front of Him, "Master of the World, is it Your will to create the world [by beginning the Torah] with me, etc." and to all of [the letters], God answered that He did not want [to create the world/begin the Torah] with them, for the reason stated in their words for each and every one; until [the letter] bet entered and He accepted it and created the world with it, as it is written, Bereishit [which begins with bet; the letter] alef [which had not yet entered] was silent. [And] the Holy one, blessed be He, said to it, "Alef, why are you quiet, etc?" He said to it, "You will be the head of all the letters." Up to here [are the words of the Zohar]. Behold from the words of God [here], it appears that alef has [more of] a virtue than the letter bet. And from here [it follows] that had the letters gone up in front of Him properly, alef would have merited to have the world created with it. And lest [one ask], why didn't the alef go first, and [instead] He left it until the end, know that they, of blessed memory, said (Tikunei HaZohar, Introduction) that when the letters are in the proper order - in the following way: alef bet gimmel etc. - they are hinting to the attribute of mercy; and when they are backwards - in the following way: tav shin reish etc. - they are indicating the attribute of justice. And this is a sign for you [to remember this]: the month of Tishrei - [which] has the letters in backwards order, tav shin reish - is the great time of judgment, except that God, from the angle of His great mercy combined [with these letters] one letter from [His] name of mercy - and that is the yod - to bring mercy into the judgment (Zohar, Introduction 16a). And after this has been made known to us, we will explain [Bereishit] as bet reishit (bet is first); [that] you should know the reason that bet precedes alef is that the creation was with the attribute of Elohim (justice), and since it is thus, the letters went up in backwards order as is [the] rule, and for this reason bet precedes alef and acquired its place.

40עוֹד יִרְצֶה בְּאָמְרוֹ בְּרֵאשִׁית עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (הקדמת זוהר) כִּי אֶלֶף עוֹלָמוֹת נֶעְלָמִים בָּרָא ה׳, וְקוֹרִין אוֹתָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (זוהר חדש בראשית ב׳) עָלְמִין דְּכִסּוּפִין, וְהֵם הָרְמוּזִים בַּפָּסוּק (שיר השירים ח:יב) ״הָאֶלֶף לְךָ שְׁלֹמֹה״, וּמֵעַתָּה הִתְחִיל הַכָּתוּב בְּבֵי״ת כִּי הָאָלֶ״ף כְּבָר קָנְתָה מְקוֹמָהּ שֶׁבָּהּ בָּרָא אֶלֶף עוֹלָמוֹת כִּשְׁמָהּ שֶׁל אָלֶ״ף, וְהִתְחִיל בְּבֵי״ת לִבְרֹאת הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, לֶהֱיוֹת שֶׁיֶּשְׁנוֹ גַּם כֵּן בְּחֶשְׁבּוֹן הַבְּרִיאָה שֶׁהֵם ב׳ שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ, וְלָזֶה גַּם כֵּן לֹא אָמַר ״בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה״ שֶׁתָּבִין שֶׁזֶּה הוּא תְּחִלָּה וְלֹא כֵּן הוּא, שֶׁכְּבָר בָּרָא עוֹלָמוֹת הַחֶמְדָּה, אֶלָּא בִּפְרָט זֶה שֶׁל שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ הוּא שֶׁאוֹמֵר רֵאשִׁיתוֹ.

In its stating Bereishit, it also wants [to teach], by way of the [Sages], may they be blessed, saying (Zohar Chadash, Bereishit 2) that a thousand hidden worlds did God create; and they, of blessed memory, called them (Edra Zuta, Ha'azinu 288a) 'worlds of embarrassment;' and they are hinted to in the verse (Song of Songs 8:12), "there is a thousand to you, Shlomo." And from here, the verse began with bet, since alef had already acquired its place, since with it were created a thousand (elef which is spelled that same way as alef) worlds, according to its name, alef. And He started with bet to create this world, given that [its numerical value] is also the sum of the creation which is two, heavens and earth. And also for this reason, it did not state, "At first," since you would understand that this is the [absolute] beginning, and that is not the case; since He already created the 'beautiful worlds,' but regarding this detail of the heavens and the earth, it is stating its beginning.

41עוֹד יִרְמֹז בְּתֵיבַת בְּרֵאשִׁית עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (מדרש שמואל אבות פ״ו) כִּי ה׳ בָּרָא ד׳ עוֹלָמוֹת, וְיִחֲסוּ לָהֶם שֵׁמוֹת: אֲצִילוּת, בְּרִיאָה, יְצִירָה, עֲשִׂיָּה. וּרְמָזוּם בַּפָּסוּק (ישעיהו מ״ג:ז׳): ״כֹּל הַנִּקְרָא בִשְׁמִי וְלִכְבוֹדִי בְּרָאתִיו יְצַרְתִּיו אַף עֲשִׂיתִיו״. וְהוּא שֶׁרָמַז כָּאן בְּאָמְרוֹ בְּרֵאשִׁית – הוּא עוֹלַם הַכָּבוֹד שֶׁהוּא הָאֲצִילוּת וְהוּא יִקָּרֵא רֵאשִׁית לַכֹּל, ״בָּרָא״ – הוּא עוֹלַם הַבְּרִיאָה, ״אֱלֹהִים״ – רֶמֶז לְעוֹלַם הַיְצִירָה כִּי יֵשׁ שָׁם דִּינִים, ״אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ״ – הוּא עוֹלַם הָעֲשִׂיָּה כִּי הוּא זֶה שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ, כָּאָמוּר בְּדִבְרֵיהֶם הַנְּעִימִים.

The word, In the beginning (Bereishit), also hints, by way of the [Sages], may they be blessed, saying (Zohar 1:155a) that God created four worlds and they ascribed to them the names, Emanation, Creation, Formation and Action; and they are hinted to in the verse (Isaiah 43:7), "All that is called by My name and I have created for My honor, I have formed him and made him." And this is what is hinted here when it states, "In the beginning," [which] is the world of honor which is Emanation and it is called 'the beginning of all;' "created" [which] is the world of Creation; "Elohim" [which] hints to the world of Formation, since there are judgments there; "the heavens and the earth" [which] is the world of Action, since that is the heavens and the earth, as it is stated in their pleasant words.

42עוֹד יִרְמֹז עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (פסחים נ״ד.) כִּי גַּן עֵדֶן וְגֵיהִנֹּם נִבְרְאוּ קוֹדֶם שֶׁנִּבְרָא הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֵם שָׂכָר וְעוֹנֶשׁ עַל הַתּוֹרָה וְהַמִּצְווֹת, וְהוּא שֶׁרָמַז בְּאָמְרוֹ ב׳ רֵאשִׁית, כִּי ב׳ דְּבָרִים בָּרָא ה׳ מְיֻחָדִים בִּשְׁבִיל הַיִּרְאָה, שֶׁהֵם שָׂכָר וְעוֹנֶשׁ, גֵּיהִנֹּם וְגַן עֵדֶן (חגיגה ט״ו). זָכָה וְיָרֵא מֵה׳ – נוֹטֵל חֶלְקוֹ וְחֵלֶק חֲבֵרוֹ בְּגַן עֵדֶן, לֹא זָכָה – נוֹטֵל חֶלְקוֹ וְחֵלֶק חֲבֵרוֹ בְּגֵיהִנֹּם. וְאוּלַי כִּי רָמַז כִּי שְׁנֵיהֶם נוֹצְרוּ יַחַד, וְלִשְׁנֵיהֶם יִקָּרֵא רֵאשִׁית, כִּי אִם קָדְמָה אַחַת לַחֲבֶרְתָּהּ לֹא יִתְיַחֵס רֵאשִׁית אֶלָּא לְאֶחָד, הָא לָמַדְתָּ כִּי בְּדִבּוּר אֶחָד נִבְרְאוּ יַחַד.

It is also hinted, by way of [that which] they, of blessed memory, said (Pesachim 54a) that the Garden of Eden and Gehinnom (purgatory) were created before the world was created, since they are the reward and punishment for the Torah and the commandments, and this is hinted to in its saying bet (which has a numerical value of two) reishit (which is indicative of awe), since God created two things that were designated for awe, which were reward and punishment, [meaning] the Garden of Eden and Gehinnom: (Chagigah 15a) [If] one merits and fears from God, he takes his portion and the portion of his fellow in the Garden of Eden; [if] he does not merit [to do this], he takes his portion and the portion of his fellow in Gehinnom. And perhaps it is hinted that both of them were created together and that both of them are called reishit; since if one preceded the other, reishit would only refer to one [of them; instead], you have learned that they were created together in one statement.

43עוֹד יִרְמֹז כִּי לֶֶהֱיוֹת שֶׁיֵּשׁ ב׳ עוֹלָמוֹת – עוֹלָם הַזֶּה וְעוֹלָם הַבָּא, וְהָאָדָם עַל יְדֵי הִתְעַסְּקוֹ בַּתּוֹרָה וּבְמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים יַשִּׂיג הַטּוֹב וְהַחַיִּים, כָּאן הוֹדִיעָנוּ הַכָּתוּב כִּי לֹא יְשֻׁלַּם לַצַּדִּיקִים שְׂכַר הַתּוֹרָה וְהַמִּצְווֹת בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה עַד אֲשֶׁר יָכִין לָהֶם אוֹצַר הַטּוֹב שֶׁהִיא הָעִקָּר לְחֵלֶק הַנְּשָׁמָה, וְאַחַר כָּךְ אִם יוֹתִיר מְטִיבִין לוֹ גַּם בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה. כִּי יִבְחַר ה׳ תְּחִלָּה לְהָכִין לָאָדָם גְּמוּל עוֹלָם הָעֶלְיוֹן שֶׁהוּא הַנִּצְחִי, וְהוּא שֶׁרָמַז בְּאָמְרוֹ בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם שֶׁהֵם עוֹלָם הַנְּשָׁמוֹת, וְאַחַר כָּךְ וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ שֶׁהוּא עוֹלָם הַשָּׁפָל אִם הֶעֱדִיף בְּטוּבוֹ. הָא לָמַדְתָּ שֶׁאֵין מְטִיבִין לַצַּדִּיקִים בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה עַד אַחַר שֶׁיִּזְכּוּ בְּנַחֲלָתָם לֵאוֹר בְּאוֹר הַחַיִּים.

It is also hinted that - since there are two worlds, this world and the next world, and man can acquire 'the good and life' by his involvement in Torah and good deeds - here the verse informs us that the reward for the [observance of] the Torah and the commandments will not be given to the righteous ones in this world, until [God] has [already] prepared a goodly storehouse, which is the essential [reward] to the spiritual side [of man]; and afterwards, if there is a surplus, he [is rewarded] in this world; since God will choose to first prepare for man a payment that is eternal. And this is what is hinted when it states, "In the beginning, God created the heavens;" which [signifies] the world of souls, and afterward "and the earth," which [signifies] the lowly world, if some of the good [coming to] him remains. Hence, you have learned that [reward] is not given to the righteous ones in this world until after they have merited their portion of light 'in the light of life.'

44עוֹד יִרְמֹז עַל פִּי מַה שֶׁנֶּחְלְקוּ רַזַ״ל (ראש השנה י:) – אֶחָד אָמַר בְּתִשְׁרֵי נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם וְאֶחָד אָמַר בְּנִיסָן נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם. וְנִרְאֶה לִי כִּי אֵלּוּ וָאֵלּוּ דִּבְרֵי אֱלֹהִים חַיִּים, כִּי יֵשׁ לְךָ לָדַעַת שֶׁאָמְרוּ זַ״ל (בראשית רבה פ״א) שֶׁבַּתְּחִלָּה חָשַׁב ה׳ לִבְרֹא הָעוֹלָם וְאַחַר כָּךְ הוֹצִיא ה׳ מַחֲשַׁבְתּוֹ לַפּוֹעַל. וּכְפִי זֶה נוּכַל לוֹמַר כִּי בְּנִיסָן חָשַׁב וּבְתִשְׁרֵי יָצָא לַפּוֹעַל אוֹ לְהֵפֶךְ, וְלִשְׁנֵיהֶם יִתְיַחֵס לְשׁוֹן בְּרִיאָה – בֵּין מַה שֶׁעָלָה בְּמַחֲשַׁבְתּוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ בְּרִיאָה תִּקָּרֵא בֵּין כְּשֶׁיָּצְתָה לַפּוֹעַל, וּבָזֶה יִתְקַיְּמוּ דִּבְרֵי רַבּוֹתֵינוּ יַחַד. וְהוּא שֶׁרָמַז בַּבֵּי״ת שֶׁל תֵּיבַת בְּרֵאשִׁית כִּי ב׳ רֵאשִׁית הָיוּ – אַחַת לַמַּחֲשָׁבָה וְאַחַת לַמַּעֲשֶׂה, אֶלָּא שֶׁאֵין אָנוּ יוֹדְעִים אִם בְּנִיסָן חָשַׁב וּבְתִשְׁרֵי פָּעַל אוֹ לְהֵפֶךְ.

It is also hinted, according to what the Rabbis, of blessed memory, argued (Rosh Hashanah 10b): one says that the world was created in Tishrei and one says that the world was created in Nissan. And it appears to me that 'these and those are the words of the living God,' since you should know that they, of blessed memory, said (Bereishit Rabbah 1:4) that in the beginning God thought to create the world, and afterwards, God took His thought and put into action. And according to this, we can say that He thought [to create it] in Nissan and put it into action in Tishrei or the opposite, and the word, 'create,' refers to both of [these things]; whether what came into His thought, may He be blessed, is called a creation, whether when it went into action; and with this, the words of [both] of our Rabbis can exist together. And this is what is hinted by the bet (which has a numerical value of two) in the word Bereishit (In the beginning); since there were two beginnings, one in thought and one in action; only that we don't know if He thought in Nissan and acted in Tishrei or the opposite.

45עוֹד יִרְצֶה עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (ברכות ו׳:): כָּל מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ יִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם דְּבָרָיו נִשְׁמָעִין, וְהַטַּעַם כִּי הַיָּרֵא דְּבַר ה׳ יְדַבֵּר מִתּוֹךְ קִימַת נַפְשׁוֹ, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁכֵּן תַּכִּיר נֶפֶשׁ הַשּׁוֹמַעַת וּתְקַבֵּל תּוֹכַחַת מוּסָר. וְאִם הַדְּבָרִים יָצְאוּ מֵהַגּוּף אֵין שַׁיָּכוּת לַנֶּפֶשׁ לִשְׁמֹעַ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁרָמְזוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה בְּמַה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (דברים ו׳:ז׳): ״וְהָיוּ הַדְּבָרִים וְגוֹ׳ עַל לְבָבֶךָ״ אָז ״וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ״ – הֵם הַתַּלְמִידִים. וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ בְּרֵאשִׁית שֶׁהִיא הַיִּרְאָה, כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה, בָּרָא ה׳ אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם – פֵּרוּשׁ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה יְרֵא שָׁמַיִם, אָז יִשָּׁמַע קוֹלוֹ וִילַמֵּד אָדָם דַּעַת, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ:

It also wanted [to teach], by way of the [Sages], may their memory be blessed, saying (Berakhot 6b), "Whoever has awe of the Heavens, his words will be heard;" and the reason [for this] is that the one who fears God will speak from the depths of his soul, and since that is the case, the soul of the listener will recognize [that] and accept the rebuking chastisement; but if the words came from the body, there is no resonance for the soul to listen to them, as the rabbis, of blessed memory, have hinted about what the verse stated (Deuteronomy 6:6), "And these words shall be etc. upon your heart" [and] then "and you shall review them with your children," which are the students. And this is what it said, "Bereishit," which is awe - as they, of blessed memory, have said - "God created the heavens," the explanation [of which] is that one should have awe of the Heavens, [and] then they will listen to his voice and 'he will teach knowledge to people' and that is what it states, "and the earth."

46עוֹד יִרְצֶה לֶהֱיוֹת שֶׁצִּוָּה ה׳ הַרְבֵּה יִרְאוֹת בָּעוֹלָם: יִרְאָה מֵאָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ, דִּכְתִיב (ויקרא י״ט:ג׳) ״אִישׁ אִמּוֹ וְאָבִיו תִּירָאוּ״, גַּם מֵהַמֶּלֶךְ וּמֵהַחֲכָמִים, גַּם לִירָא מֵהַבְּרִיּוֹת לְבַל יַחְשְׁדוּהוּ. וְיֹאמַר הָאוֹמֵר שֶׁתִּהְיֶה שָׁוָה מִצְוַת הַיִּרְאָה בְּכָל מְקוֹמוֹת שֶׁיֶּשְׁנָהּ, וְיֵצֵא מִזֶּה שֶׁלִּפְעָמִים יְזַלְזֵל חָס וְשָׁלוֹם בְּמִצְוֹת ה׳ לִכְבוֹד הַמֶּלֶךְ אוֹ לִכְבוֹד אָבִיו וְכַדּוֹמֶה. לָזֶה רָמַז כָּאן בִּתְחִלַּת דִּבְרֵי ה׳ כִּי קֹדֶם כָּל דָּבָר יַקְדִּים לִירֹא אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאַחַר כָּךְ וְאֶת הָאָרֶץ שֶׁהֵם פְּרָטִים הַמְחֻיָּב לָחוּשׁ לָהֶם, וְהוּא שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (במדבר ל״ב:כ״ב) ״וִהְיִיתֶם נְקִיִּים מֵה׳״ תְּחִלָּה וְאַחַר כָּךְ ״וּמִיִּשְׂרָאֵל״. וּמֵעַתָּה אֵין מָקוֹם לְקַיֵּם שׁוּם מִצְוַת מוֹרָא שֶׁל הַזּוּלַת אֶלָּא אִם לֹא יַעֲבֹר עַל שׁוּם מִצְוָה מִמִּצְוֹת ה׳.

It also wanted [to teach] that, since there since God commanded many [observances] of awe in the world - awe of father and mother, as it is written (Leviticus 19:3), "A man, his mother and his father shall fear;" also from the king and the sages, also to fear people, that they should not be suspicious of him - one might say that the commandment of awe is the same in all the places that it is found, and it will come out from this that he will sometimes discount, God forbid, the commandments of God because of the honor of the king or the honor of his father or something like that; therefore, it hints here that the words of God are first, such that he puts the awe of "the Heavens" before anything [else] and afterwards "the earth," which are the individuals whom he is obligated to fear. And this is what the verse states (Numbers 32:22), "and you shall be clear before God" first; and afterwards, "and from Israel." And from here, [we see] that there is no place to observe any commandment of awe unless one does not transgress any commandment of the commandments of God.

47עוֹד יִרְמֹז כִּי בְּאֶמְצָעוּת הַתּוֹרָה בָּרָא ה׳ ב׳ הַדְרָגוֹת בָּאָדָם, אוֹ יִשְׁוֶה בְּמַדְרֵגָה לַשָּׁמַיִם, וְהוּא עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרוֹ (תהלים פב:ו) ״אֲנִי אָמַרְתִּי אֱלֹהִים אַתֶּם״, אוֹ אִם לֹא יְקַיְּמָהּ תֵּרֵד מַדְרֵגָתוֹ לְמַטָּה לָאָרֶץ, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ בְּרֵאשִׁית פֵּרוּשׁ בְּאֶמְצָעוּת רֵאשִׁית בָּרָא ה׳ ב׳ הֲכָנוֹת אֵלּוּ אֵת וְכוּ׳:

It is also hinted that, through the Torah, God created two levels for man: either he be on the level of the heavens; and that is by way of it stating (Psalms 82:6), "I have said, 'you are powers'" (meaning, like angels); or if he does not keep [the Torah], his level sinks down to the earth. And this is [what it means] when it states, "Bereishit," the explanation [of which] is that through reishit [meaning, the Torah], "God created" these bet (two) preparations, "the heavens, etc."

48עוֹד תִּרְמֹז הַפָּרָשָׁה כֻּלָּהּ עַל בְּרִיאַת הָאָדָם, כִּי הוּא עִקַּר תַּכְלִית הַבְּרִיאָה, עַל זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ: בְּרֵאשִׁית כְּשֶׁבָּרָא ה׳ אֶת הָאָדָם, בְּרָאוֹ מִמְּקוֹר הָרוּחָנִיּוּת הָרָמוּז בְּתֵבַת ״הַשָּׁמַיִם״ וּמִמְּקוֹר הַגַּשְׁמִיּוּת הָרָמוּז בְּתֵבַת ״הָאָרֶץ״. וְתִמְצָא שֶׁרָמְזוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (סנהדרין צא:) בְּמַה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (תהלים נ:ד) ״יִקְרָא אֶל הַשָּׁמַיִם מֵעָל״ שֶׁהוּא הָרוּחַ, ״וְאֶל הָאָרֶץ״ הוּא הַגּוּף הַבָּנוּי מֵהָאָרֶץ. וּרְצוֹנוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ בָּזֶה הוּא שֶׁעַל יְדֵי מַעֲשֵׂה הָאָדָם יִתְעַצֵּם לַהֲפֹךְ הַחֹמֶר שֶׁהוּא הַגּוּף עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה נֶחְשָׁב צוּרָה.

The whole section also hints to the creation of man - who is the main goal of the creation - in the following way: In the beginning, when God created man, He created him from the source of spirituality, which is hinted by the word, heavens, and from the source of physicality, which is hinted by the word, earth. And you will find that our Rabbis, of blessed memory, hinted [to this by explaining] (Sanhedrin 91b), what the verse stated (Psalms 50:4), "He called to the heavens above" to be the spirit [and] "and upon the earth" to be the body, which is built from the earth. And His will in this, may He be blessed, is that through the actions of man, he will have the power to transform matter, which is the body, until it is considered to be form.

49וְהִנֵּה תִּמְצָא (שבת קנב:) שֶׁהַצַּדִּיקִים אֵינָם חוֹזְרִים עָפָר, לֶהֱיוֹת כִּי זִכְּכוּ הַחֹמֶר שֶׁלָּהֶם עַד שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה רוּחָנִי, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתַב הָרַב רַבִּי יִצְחָק עֲרָאמָה זִכְרוֹנוֹ לִבְרָכָה וְזֶה לְשׁוֹנוֹ: וְהִתְעַצְּמוּת הַשְּׁלֵמִים לְהַפֵּךְ הַחֹמֶר לְצוּרָה, עַד כָּאן לְשׁוֹנוֹ, וְלָזֶה אָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (ברכות יח.) שֶׁהַצַּדִּיקִים בְּמִיתָתָן נִקְרָאִים חַיִּים, כִּי חֵלֶק הַגֶּשֶׁם נַעֲשָׂה רוּחָנִי הַמִּתְיַחֵס אֶל הַחַיִּים, וְהָרְשָׁעִים בְּחַיֵּיהֶם קְרוּיִים מֵתִים לְצַד שֶׁגַּם הָרוּחָנִיּוּת שֶׁבָּהֶם נִתְגַּשֵּׁם וְנַעֲשָׂה אֶרֶץ הַמִּתְיַחֵס אֶל הַדּוֹמֵם שֶׁהוּא מֵת׃

And behold, you will find (Shabbat 152b) that the righteous ones do not return to the dust, given that they purify their matter, until it becomes spiritual; as was written by Rabbi Y. Aramah, of blessed memory, and these are his words, "and it is the power of the perfect ones to change matter into form." And this is why they, of blessed memory, said (Berakhot 18a) that the righteous ones are called living even in their death, since the material side has become spiritual, which relates to life; and that the evil ones are called dead even in their lifetimes, from the angle that even the spirituality in them becomes material and [like] earth, which relates to the lifeless objects which are [therefore] dead.

50וּב׳ מִדּוֹת אֵלּוּ רְמָזָם בְּאָמְרוֹ אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ עַל זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ: אִם זָכוּ, הֲרֵי הֵם מַסְמִיכִים חֵלֶק הַגֶּשֶׁם שֶׁבָּהֶם הָרָמוּז אֶל הָאָרֶץ, מְחַבְּרִים אוֹתוֹ וְנַעֲשֶׂה (חומוניא) [הוֹמוֹנְיָא] אַחַת עִם הַשָּׁמַיִם, וְאִם לֹא זָכוּ, הֲרֵי הֵם מְהַפְּכִים חֵלֶק הָרוּחָנִיּוּת שֶׁבָּהֶם לִבְחִינַת הָאָרֶץ וְנַעֲשֶׂה הַצּוּרָה חֹמֶר, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ.

And it hints to these two characteristics when it states "the heavens and the earth," in the following way: if they merit [it], behold, they raise up the material part of themselves which is hinted by "the earth" and they connect it and it becomes one entity with the "heavens." And if they do not merit [it], they transform the part of spirituality within them to the trait of "earth" and the form becomes matter. And this is what it is stating, "and the earth."

51וְאָמְרוֹ וְהָאָרֶץ הָיְתָה תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ, כָּאן רָמַז מַה שֶׁהָיָה בַּעֲוֹנוֹת, שֶׁנִּתְגַּבֵּר צַד הַחוֹמֶר שֶׁהִיא הָאָרֶץ וְנִתְרוֹקֵן מֵהָרוּחָנִיּוּת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁתִּרְגֵּם צַדְיָא וְרֵקַנְיָא, וְחֹשֶׁךְ שֶׁהוּא יֵצֶר הָרַע הַנִּקְרָא בְּדִבְרֵי קָדְשָׁם (זוהר חלק א׳ ס״ג:) דְּמַחְשִׁיךְ אַנְפֵּי דִּבְרִיָּתָא, עַל פְּנֵי תְהוֹם, וְקָרָא לְהַגּוּף תְּהוֹם לִהְיוֹתוֹ כַּתְּהוֹם בּוֹלֵעַ תָּמִיד, וּמִצַּד הַיֵּצֶר שֶׁהוּא הַחֹשֶׁךְ, וְרוּחַ אֱלֹהִים הַנִּתֶּנֶת בּוֹ מְרַחֶפֶת עַל פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם, כִּי לֹא מָצְאָה הָרוּחַ מָנוֹחַ לְכַף רַגְלָהּ, כִּי הַיֵּצֶר גֵּרְשָׁהּ וְהוּרְמָה מִמְּקוֹם הַנָּחָתָהּ, וַיִּשְׁכֹּן שָׁם הַחֹשֶׁךְ שֶׁהוּא יֵצֶר הָרַע, וְנִשְׁאֶרֶת הַנֶּפֶשׁ מְרַחֶפֶת עַל פְּנֵי הַמַּיִם, הֵם מַיִם הַזֵּדוֹנִים שֶׁהֵם כֹּחוֹת שֶׁל הַטֻּמְאָה.

And its stating, "and the earth was chaos and void" here is hinting to what occurred in the times that the physical side overpowers which is the 'earth' and [the person] is emptied out of spirituality; as it is translated [by Onkelos into Aramaic], "desolate and empty;" "and darkness," which is the evil impulse that is called in their holy words (Zohar, Bereishit 63), [that which] darkens the face of the creatures; "was upon the depths" and it called the body, the depths, being that it is like [a pit] that constantly swallows [things up], and from the angle of the evil impulse [connected to it] that is darkness; "and the spirit of God" given into it "was hovering upon the waters," because the spirit 'did not find a place to rest the sole of its foot,' since the impulse drove it away and lifted it up from its resting place, and the darkness, which is the evil impulse, dwelt there and the [human] soul remains "hovering over the waters," that are the 'waters of iniquity,' which are the powers of impurity.

52וּבִרְאוֹתוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כֵּן, וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי אוֹר – שׁוֹלֵחַ אֶל הָאָדָם עֵזֶר נֶגֶד יִצְרוֹ, וְזֶה יִהְיֶה בְּהַגִּיעוֹ לְי״ד שָׁנָה, יוֹפִיעַ עָלָיו מִמְּעוֹן קָדְשׁוֹ רוּחַ אֱלָהִין קַדִּישִׁין, נְשָׁמָה קְדוֹשָׁה וּטְהוֹרָה. אוֹ יִרְמֹז אֶל הַתּוֹרָה כִּי הִיא הָאוֹר הַנֶּעֱרָב, וְלָהּ יִקָּרֵא אוֹר, דִּכְתִיב (משלי ו:כג) ״וְתוֹרָה אוֹר״. וְהַמְכֻוָּן אֶחָד, כִּי בְּחִינַת הַנְּשָׁמוֹת הַקְּדוֹשׁוֹת הֵם בְּחִינַת אוֹר הַתּוֹרָה, וּבַעַל נֶפֶשׁ הוּא בַּעַל תּוֹרָה. וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי אוֹר – שֶׁהִיא הַנְּשָׁמָה שֶׁאוֹרָהּ רַב, לִהְיוֹתָהּ חֲצוּבָה מִתַּחַת כִּסֵּא כְבוֹדוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ, חֵלֶק אֱלוֹהַּ מִמַּעַל, שׁוֹלְחָהּ ה׳ לְהָאִיר אֶל הָאָדָם לְבַל יִטְבַּע בְּטִיט הַיֵּצֶר הָרַע. אוֹ גַּם כֵּן לְמַה שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ שֶׁהִיא הַתּוֹרָה הַמְּאִירָה לְנֶפֶשׁ אָדָם, וְאָז וַיְהִי אוֹר, וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאוֹר אֲשֶׁר נָתַן בָּאָדָם כִּי טוֹב, שֶׁבְּאֶמְצָעוּתוֹ יֵלֵךְ הָאָדָם בְּדֶרֶךְ הַטּוֹב וְהַיָּשָׁר.

And in the Holy One's seeing, blessed be He, [that it was] like this, "And God said, 'let there be light;'" [meaning that He] sends man help against his impulse; and this is [that] when he reaches his fourteenth year, a holy and pure soul, from His holy chamber of Divine holy spirits, appears upon him. Or [light] hints to the Torah, since it is the pleasant light, and is called light, as it is written (Proverbs 6:23), "and the Torah is a light;" and the intention [of the two explanations] is one, since the aspect of the holy souls is the aspect of the light of the Torah, and a man of soul (ba'al nefesh) is a man of Torah. And that is what it states, "And God said, 'let there be light;'" which is the soul - the light of which is great, being that it is hewed from beneath His throne of glory, may He be blessed, [and] is 'a portion of God from above' - God sends it to shine on man, that he not wallow in the mud of the evil impulse; or also according to what we have said - that it is the Torah that shines on the soul of man; and then, "and there was light, and God saw the light" that He gave within man, "that it was good;" that through it, man will walk on the 'good and straight' path.

53וְלֹא תַּחְשֹׁב כִּי בִּהְיוֹת הַנְּשָׁמָה בָּאָדָם אוֹ עַל יְדֵי עֵסֶק הַתּוֹרָה בָּזֶה הוּא שָׁקֵט מִתַּחְבּוּלוֹת הַיֵּצֶר הַמַּחְטִיאוֹ וּפָנָה וְהָלַךְ לוֹ, שֶׁאִם כֵּן אֵין כָּאן לֹא שָׂכָר וְלֹא עֹנֶשׁ. לָזֶה אָמַר כִּי עֲדַיִן הַחֹשֶׁךְ בָּעוֹלָם, אֶלָּא שֶׁעַל יְדֵי זֶה מִסְתַּיֵּעַ הָאָדָם לְהַעֲרִיךְ מִלְחָמָה עִמּוֹ וּלְהַבְדִּילוֹ מֵעָלָיו לְבַל הַפִּילוֹ בְּמוֹעֲצוֹתָיו, וְיַכִּיר בְּחִינַת עֲשׂוֹת רַע כִּי רַע הוּא, וְזֶה הוּא אָמְרוֹ וַיַּבְדֵּל אֱלֹהִים בֵּין הָאוֹר שֶׁהִיא הַנְּשָׁמָה וּבֵין הַחֹשֶׁךְ שֶׁהוּא הַיֵּצֶר הָרַע, וְזֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (קהלת י:ב) ״לֵב חָכָם לִימִינוֹ״ שֶׁהוּא מְקוֹם הָאוֹר, מְקוֹם הַנְּשָׁמָה, ״וְלֵב כְּסִיל לִשְׂמֹאלוֹ״ שֶׁהוּא מְקוֹם הַיֵּצֶר הָרַע. וְקָרָא לָאוֹר יוֹם וְלַחֹשֶׁךְ קָרָא לַיְלָה, וְלָזֶה הִתְפַּלֵּל דָּוִד (תהלים צא) שֶׁיַּצִּילֵהוּ מִפַּחַד בַּלֵּילוֹת.

And you should not think that given that the soul is within man, or through involvement in Torah, with this he is still from the machinations of the impulse that brings him to sin and he [can] turn and walk [away from it]; because were it so, there would be no [room for] reward and punishment here. To this, it says that darkness is still in the world, but through [the light], man is helped to wage war with it, and to separate it from him, that it not fell him through its plots; and he will recognize that the aspect of doing evil is evil; and this is what it says, "and God separated between the light," which is the soul "and between the darkness," which is the evil impulse; and [about] this, the verse states (Ecclesiastes 10:2), "The heart of a wise man is to his right," which is the place of light, the place of the soul, "and the heart of a fool is to his left," which is the place of the evil impulse; "And He called light, day, and darkness, He called night;" and for this David prayed (Psalms 91:5), that He should save him from the fear of the 'nights.'

54וְאָמְרוֹ ״וַיְהִי וְגוֹ׳ יוֹם אֶחָד״ – כִּי אִי אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיֻּכַּר אוֹרָהּ שֶׁל הַנְּשָׁמָה אֶלָּא מֵחָשְׁכּוֹ שֶׁל הַיֵּצֶר הָרָע, שֶׁאִם לֹא כֵן לֹא יִשְׁתַּנּוּ מִמַּלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת וְאֵין כָּאן לֹא שָׂכָר וְלֹא עֹנֶשׁ, וְלָזֶה אָמַר ״יוֹם אֶחָד״.

And its stating, "and there was, etc. one day" is because it is impossible to recognize the light of the soul except from the darkness of the evil impulse; since were it not so, [people] would not be different than the ministering angels, and there would not be [the possibility] of reward and punishment here; and for that reason, it states, "one day."

55וִיכַוֵּין עוֹד לוֹמַר יוֹם אֶחָד עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (עבודה זרה ל״ה:) בְּפָסוּק (שיר השירים א:ג) ״עַל כֵּן עֲלָמוֹת אֲהֵבוּךָ״ – ״עַל מוֹת״, פֵּרוּשׁ: אֲפִלּוּ מַלְאָךְ רַע עוֹנֶה בְּעַל כָּרְחוֹ אָמֵן. וְלָזֶה אָמַר וַיְהִי עֶרֶב וַיְהִי בֹקֶר יוֹם אֶחָד, פֵּרוּשׁ: מִדַּת עֶרֶב וּמִדַּת בֹּקֶר כֻּלָּם בְּהַסְכָּמָה אַחַת לְטוֹבַת הַצַּדִּיק.

And it also intends to say "one day," by way of the [Sages], of blessed memory, saying (Avodah Zarah 35b) on the verse (Song of Songs 1:3), "therefore the maidens (alamot) have loved you," [that it is referring] to death (al mavet), the explanation [of which] is that even the 'bad' angel is forced to answer 'amen.' And for this reason, it states, "and it was evening and it was morning, one day," the explanation [of which] is that the attribute of evening and the attribute of morning, all of them, are in agreement for the good of the righteous one.

56אוֹ יִרְמֹז שֶׁעַל יְדֵי סִיּוּעַ הַנְּשָׁמָה יִהְיֶה הָעֶרֶב, עֵת שֶׁיַּעֲרִיב שִׁמְשׁוֹ לָלֶכֶת לָעוֹלָם הָעֶלְיוֹן, כְּעֵת בֹּקֶר, עֵת בּוֹאוֹ לָעוֹלָם, שֶׁתַּחְזֹר הַנְּשָׁמָה מְאִירָה כְּיוֹם בּוֹאָהּ, וְהוּא עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (שבת קנב:) ״וְהָרוּחַ תָּשׁוּב אֶל הָאֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר נְתָנָהּ״ (קהלת יב:ז), וְזֶה לְשׁוֹנָם: תְּנָהּ לוֹ כְּמוֹ שֶׁנְּתָנָהּ לָךְ, וּבָזֶה יִשְׁוֶה יוֹם בּוֹאוֹ כְּיוֹם לֶכְתּוֹ כְּאֶחָד.

Or it is hinting that, through the help of the soul, the evening time - when 'his sun sets' to return to the upper world - is like the time of morning - the time when it came to the world; that the soul returns as brilliantly as the day it came, and this is by way of the [Sages], of blessed memory, saying (Shabbat 152b) [on the verse] (Ecclesiastes 13:7), "And the spirit returns to God who gave it;" and these are their words, "give it to Him like He gave it to you;" and in this the day of its coming and the day of its leaving will be equally like one.

57עוֹד יְכַוֵּן הַכָּתוּב לְהוֹדִיעַ כִּי בִּתְחִלַּת הַבְּרִיאָה הֵכִין ה׳ וְעָשָׂה פְּעֻלָּתוֹ שָׁוָה שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ, שֶׁהֲגַם שֶׁהַשָּׁמַיִם הֵם הָעֶלְיוֹנִים, אַף עַל פִּי כֵן גַּם הָאָרֶץ הָיְתָה בְּגֶדֶר הַטָּהֳרָה. וְצֵא וּלְמַד מַעֲלָתָהּ וּזְכוּתָהּ כִּי מִמֶּנָּה נִבְרָא אָדָם עָפָר מִן הָאֲדָמָה וְתָאֳרוֹ כְּמַלְאַךְ ה׳ (בראשית רבה ח:ט). וְתִמְצָא כִּי ה׳ בָּחַר לִשְׁכּוֹן בָּאָרֶץ עִם הַנִּבְרָאִים וְהֵכִין בַּיִת לִמְנוּחָתוֹ כִּבְיָכוֹל, וְדָבָר פָּשׁוּט הוּא כִּי מוֹשַׁב אֱלֹהִים שָׁלֵם הוּא וְקָדוֹשׁ יֵאָמֶר לוֹ. וְתִמְצָא כִּי קוֹדֶם שֶׁחָטָא אָדָם הָיָה ה׳ מָצוּי בַּתַּחְתּוֹנִים כְּבָעֶלְיוֹנִים, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ בְּגֶדֶר אֶחָד בִּנְקִיּוּת וְטָהֳרָה. וְהוּא מַאֲמַר הַנָּבִיא (ישעיהו סו:א) ״כֹּה אָמַר ה׳ הַשָּׁמַיִם כִּסְאִי וְהָאָרֶץ הֲדוֹם רַגְלָי״, וְאָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (חגיגה יד.) שֶׁהוּא שְׁרַפְרַף, הָא לָמַדְתָּ שֶׁהִיא בְּגֶדֶר רְאוּיַת מוֹשַׁב אֱלֹהִים. אֶלָּא שֶׁעַל יְדֵי מַעֲשֵׂה הַתַּחְתּוֹנִים וְהָאָרֶץ הָיְתָה תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ וְנִתְגַּשְּׁמָה וְהוּחְשַׁךְ אוֹרָהּ לְצַד מַעֲשֵׂה הָרְשָׁעִים, וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי אוֹר שֶׁהִיא הַתּוֹרָה, אָז חָזְרָה הָאָרֶץ לְקַדְמוּתָהּ לְהָאִיר אוֹרָהּ וְשָׁכַן ה׳ בָּאָרֶץ עִם עַמּוֹ וְנַחֲלָתוֹ, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ וַיְהִי אוֹר.

The verse also intended to inform [us] that at the beginning of the creation, God set up His acts to be equal, [meaning] the heavens and the earth. And even though the heavens are the higher ones, nonetheless, the earth was in the category of purity. And go and learn [about] its virtue and merit; since man was created from it, 'dirt from the earth' and his form is like an 'angel of God;' and you will [also] find that God chose to dwell on earth with the creations, and He prepared a house [there] for his residence - as if it were possible [to say this] - and it is an obvious thing that the abode of God is perfect and 'holy is said about it.' And you will find that before man sinned, God was found among the lower [creatures] in the same way as he was found among the higher [creatures], and this is what it states, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" in one category, in cleanliness and purity, and this is [like] the statement of the prophet (Isaiah 61:1), "So said the Lord, 'the heavens are my chair and the earth is my footstool,'" and they, of blessed memory, said (Chagigah 14a) that it is an ottoman. Behold, you have learned that is in the category of being fit for the abode of God; except that through the acts of the lower beings, "and the earth was chaos and void" and [it] became thick and its light became darkened from the angle of the acts of the evildoers. "And God said, 'let there be light'" which is the Torah, then the earth went back to how it was at the beginning, to brighten its light, and God resided on earth with His people and His inheritance, and that is what it states, "and there was light."

58עוֹד יִתְבָּאֵר הַכָּתוּב עַל זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ, כִּי דָּבָר יָדוּעַ כִּי מָצִינוּ לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁבָּחַר לִשְׁכּוֹן בָּעֲרָפֶל (מלכים א ח:יב), וְחִבֵּב לִשְׁכּוֹן בְּתוֹכֵנוּ. וְעוֹד לוֹ שֶׁמָּצִינוּ (תענית ה.) כִּבְיָכוֹל שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּע שֶׁלֹּא יִכָּנֵס לִירוּשָׁלַיִם שֶׁל מַעְלָה עַד שֶׁיִּכָּנֵס לִירוּשָׁלַיִם שֶׁל מַטָּה, הֲרֵי זֶה מַגִּיד שֶׁחֲבִיבָה לוֹ שֶׁל מַטָּה יוֹתֵר מִשֶּׁל מַעְלָה. גַּם כְּשֶׁנַּשְׂכִּיל בְּטַעַם בְּרִיאַת כָּל הָעוֹלָם נֵדַע כִּי הָעִקָּר הֵם הַתַּחְתּוֹנִים שֶׁהֵם עַמּוֹ וְנַחֲלָתוֹ.

The verse can also be explained in this way; as it is well know that we have found that the Holy One, blessed be He, has chosen to dwell in the mist and [yet] prefers to live among us. And we have also found about Him (Taanit 5a) that He - as if it were possible - swore that he would not enter the 'heavenly Jerusalem' until He enters the earthly Jerusalem; behold this means that he prefers the earthly to the heavenly. Also, when we discern the reason for the creation of the entire world, we would know that the lower ones, which are His people and His inheritance, are the essence [of creation].

59וּלְפִי זֶה יְכַוֵּן הַכָּתוּב לוֹמַר סֵדֶר הַבְּרִיאָה לֹא זוֹ אַף זוֹ, בְּדֶרֶךְ חִבָּה. בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם, וְעוֹד בָּרָא בְּרִיאָה יוֹתֵר חֲבִיבָה אֶצְלוֹ וּמְעֻלָּה יוֹתֵר וְהִיא אֵת הָאָרֶץ, שֶׁהַשָּׁמַיִם אַדְרַבָּה תְּלוּיִים בָּהּ. וְכָל זֶה בְּאֶמְצָעוּת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל עַם קְדוֹשׁוֹ (דברים לב:ט), כִּי בָּהֶם תָּלוּי קִיּוּם הָעוֹלָמוֹת גַּם הָעֶלְיוֹנִים, כַּיָּדוּעַ לַבְּקִיאִים בְּחַדְרֵי הַחָכְמָה הָאֲמִתִּית.

And according to this, the verse intended to give the order of creation in the format of 'not only [x which is of less importance] but also [y which is of more importance]' ('lo zo, af zo') in the way of preference [in the following way]: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and" he also created another creation that was more beloved to Him and more elevated and that is "the earth;" since - just the opposite - the heavens are dependent upon it, and all of this is by means of the Children of Israel, His holy people; since the existence of all the worlds - even the upper worlds - is dependent upon them, as is known to the experts of the chambers of true wisdom.

60וּלְדֶרֶךְ זֶה יִתְבָּאֵר אָמְרוֹ וְהָאָרֶץ הָיְתָה תֹהוּ, כָּאן רָמַז בַּעֲוֹנוֹת לְגָלֻיּוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁהִיא סִבַּת מְנִיעַת דִּירָתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ בָּאָרֶץ. גָּלוּת הָאֶחָד הוּא גָּלוּת מִצְרַיִם אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁאֲרוּ בּוֹ ת׳ וּשְׁלֹשִׁים כְּמִנְיַן תֹּה״וּ ת׳ וְאַחַד עָשָׂר וָבֹה״וּ חֶשְׁבּוֹנוֹ י״ט הֲרֵי ת״ל (שמות יב:מ), וּמַשְׁמָעוּת וָבֹהוּ גַּם כֵּן יִרְמֹז לְגָלוּת שֶׁלְּאַחֲרָיו שֶׁהוּא גָּלוּת בָּבֶל, נִקְרָא גָּלוּת בָּבֶל בֹּהוּ כִּי תַּרְגּוּם ״בֹּהוּ״ – ״רֵיקַנְיָא״, וּכְתִיב בְּיִרְמְיָה (ירמיהו נא:לד) עַל גָּלוּת בָּבֶל ״אֲכָלַנִי הֲמָמַנִי נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל הִצִּיגַנִי כְּלִי רִיק״. וְאָמְרוֹ וְחֹשֶׁךְ עַל פְּנֵי תְהוֹם יִרְמֹז עַל הַגָּלוּת הַמַּר אֲשֶׁר אָנוּ בּוֹ שְׁקוּעִים בִּתְהוֹם אֲשֶׁר אֵין לוֹ סוֹף, זֶה לָנוּ אֶלֶף וְתרע״א שָׁנָה. וְלֹא דַי אֹרֶךְ הַגָּלוּת אֶלָּא חֹשֶׁךְ שֶׁיִּרְמֹז לְב׳ דְּבָרִים: הָא׳ לְשִׁעְבּוּד הָעַמִּים וְכֹבֶד עֹל הַמִּסִּים עַד כִּי חָשַׁךְ מִשְּׁחוֹר תָּאֳרָם, זֶה רוֹדֶה וְזֶה מְרַדֶּה – אַשְׁרֵי מִי שֶׁלֹּא רָאָה, וּבִפְרָט בַּמַּעֲרָב שֶׁלָּנוּ. וְהַב׳ הוּא עַל הַיֵּצֶר הָרָע אֲשֶׁר הֶחְשִׁיךְ הָעוֹלָם, וּבַעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ רַבּוּ פָּרִיצֵי עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהֻתַּר לָהֶם נִבְלוּת הַפֶּה וּשְׁבוּעַת שָׁוְא וְלָשׁוֹן הָרָע וְגָזֵל, וּמוֹנְעָם מִלַּעֲשׂוֹת תְּשׁוּבָה לָשׁוּב שְׁבוּתָם. וְלֹא יֹאמַר אָדָם בִּרְאוֹתוֹ כָּל כָּךְ יְרִידַת יִשְׂרָאֵל כָּל אֹרֶךְ הַזְּמַן כִּי חָס וְשָׁלוֹם אָבְדָה תִּקְוָה מִבָּנִים, לֹא כֵן הוּא, אֶלָּא וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹקִים יְהִי אוֹר – הוּא אוֹר הַגְּאֻלָּה הָעֲתִידָה הַמֻּפְלָא.

And in this way, its stating "and the earth was chaos and void" becomes explained: Here it is hinting about the times of the Jewish exiles, which is the reason for the prevention of His, may He be blessed, dwelling on earth. One (the first) exile is the exile of Egypt; they remained in it for four hundred and thirty years, like the numerical count [(gematria) of] chaos (tohu) - which is four hundred and eleven - and void (vebohu) - which is nineteen - behold four hundred and thirty. And the meaning of "and void" also hints to the exile after it, and that is the Babylonian exile: The Babylonian exile is called 'void' because the translation of void [according to Onkelos] is 'empty' and it is written in Jeremiah 51:34 about the Babylonian exile, "he has eaten me, he has crushed me, Nebuchadrezzar, the king of Babylonia, he has placed me like an empty vessel." And its stating, "and darkness was upon the depths" hints to the bitter exile that we are in, stuck in the depths, that has had no end for us for one thousand seven hundred and seventy one years. And [as if] the length of the exile [were] not enough, but also [do we suffer its] darkness, which hints to two things: the first is the subjugation of the nations [over the Jews] and the heavy yolk of taxes, to the point that darkness darkens their form, this one subjugates, and that one crushes - happy is the one who has not seen [this], and especially in our [home,] Morocco; and the second is concerning the evil impulse which has darkened the world - and as a result of our sins, there has been an increase in those that breach [the standards] of His people, Israel, and have permitted to themselves bad language and false oaths and evil gossip and theft and prevent themselves from repenting to return [from their ways]. And a person should not say, in seeing such a downfall for Israel for the entire time, that - God forbid, hope is lost for the 'children;' that is not so, but rather "And God said, 'let there be light,'" that is the light of the amazing future redemption. ...

61וְאָמְרוֹ וַיְהִי אוֹר עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרָם בְּתִקּוּנֵי הַזֹּהַר (תיקון כ״א) ״וַיְהִי רָז״ שֶׁאוֹר בְּגִימַטְרִיָּא רָז, הַכַּוָּנָה שֶׁגָּזַר ה׳ יִתְעַלֶּה שְׁמוֹ שֶׁאוֹר זֶה שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ לֹא יִתְגַּלֶּה בָּעוֹלָם וְיִהְיֶה סוֹד טָמוּן אֶצְלוֹ, כְּאָמְרָם (תיקוני זוהר תיקון כ״א): לְלִבִּי גִלִּיתִי, מִלִּבָּא לְפוּמָּא לָא גַּלֵּי. וְאָמְרוֹ וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאוֹר כִּי טוֹב חוֹזֵר עַל הָאוֹר מִצַּד עַצְמוֹ כִּי טוֹב הוּא, אַשְׁרֵי עַיִן רָאֲתָה, וְחוֹזֵר גַּם עַל מַה שֶׁרָמַז שֶׁיַּעֲשֵׂהוּ בְּסוֹד נִסְתָּר כִּי טוֹב, שֶׁכֵּן צָרִיךְ לִהְיוֹת, כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (יומא ט.) מִכַּמָּה טְעָמִים. וְאָמְרוֹ רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים וְגוֹ׳, אָמְרוּ בַּמִּדְרָשׁ (בראשית רבה פ״ב) זֶה רוּחוֹ שֶׁל מָשִׁיחַ, מְרַחֶפֶת עַל פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם – אֵין מַיִם אֶלָּא תּוֹרָה, עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרָם בַּזֹּהַר (בהשמטות לחלק א׳ י״ג) שֶׁלֹּא יִגָּאֲלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶלָּא בִּזְכוּת הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁנִּמְשְׁלָה לְמַיִם.

And its stating, "and there was light," is by way of their saying in the Tikunei Hazohar 21, [that it means] "there was a secret," since the numerical value of light is [the equivalent] of secret. The intention [of this] is that God, may His name be elevated, decreed that this light of the king messiah not be revealed in the world and that it be a hidden secret with Him, as they say (there), "to My heart, I revealed, from the heart to the mouth, He did not reveal." And its stating, "And God saw the light that it was good," refers back to the light, in of itself, "that it was good" - 'happy is the eye that saw it' - and also refers back to what it hinted, that he will make it in [the form of] a hidden secret, [and also about that it is saying, "that it was good;" since so should it be - as they, of blessed memory, have said (Yoma 9) - for several reasons. And [about] its stating, "the spirit of God, etc.," they have said in the Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 2:4), "this is the spirit of the messiah." "Hovering upon the face of the waters," there is no [other meaning to] waters besides Torah, by way of their saying, in the Zohar, Hashamatot 1:13, that Israel will not be redeemed except through the merit of the Torah, that is compared to water.

62וְהִנֵּה יָדוּעַ הוּא כִּי בַּעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ הָרַבִּים הַרְבֵּה נִיצוֹצוֹת שֶׁל קְדֻשָּׁה הָטְבְּעוּ בְּתוֹךְ הַקְּלִיפּוֹת, וְגַם הַרְבֵּה עֵרֶב רַב נִשְׁתַּקְּעוּ בְּתוֹךְ הַקְּדֻשָּׁה, כְּאָמְרָם בְּסֵפֶר תִּקּוּנֵי הַזֹּהַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ (תיקון ס״ו), וּמְעֹרָבִים רַע בְּטוֹב וְטוֹב בְּרַע. לָזֶה צָרִיךְ כִּבְיָכוֹל לְהַבְדִּיל הַטּוֹב מֵהָרַע וְהָאוֹר מֵהַחֹשֶׁךְ אֲשֶׁר נִתְעָרְבוּ. וְהִנֵּה יָדוּעַ כִּי הַקְּלִפָּה חִיּוּתָהּ הִיא יְנִיקָתָהּ מֵהַקְּדֻשָּׁה דַּוְקָא, וְזוּלַת זֶה אֵין לָהּ חִיּוּת. וְלָכֵן אָז בְּהַבְדִּילוֹ ה׳ אֶת הָאוֹר שֶׁהִיא הַקְּדֻשָּׁה וְנִשְׁאָר הָרַע מֻבְדָּל וְאֵין לוֹ מְקוֹם חִיּוּת לִינֹק מִמֶּנּוּ, מִמֵּילָא יִבָּטֵל. וְזֶה הוּא אָמְרוֹ (זכריה י״ג:ב׳-ג׳): ״וְאֶת רוּחַ הַטֻּמְאָה אַעֲבִיר מִן הָאָרֶץ״, כִּי יִדְמֶה לִקְצִיצַת הָאִילָן מִמְּקוֹם יְנִיקָתוֹ וְשָׁרְשׁוֹ אֲשֶׁר יוֹנֵק מִמֶּנּוּ שֶׁיִּיבַשׁ וְלֹא יִצְלַח עוֹד, וְלֹא יִשָּׁאֵר כִּי אִם הָאוֹר הַטּוֹב. וְזֶה הוּא שֶׁאָמַר וַיִּקְרָא אֱלֹהִים לָאוֹר יוֹם, פֵּרוּשׁ ״וַיִּקְרָא״ לְשׁוֹן יְקָר וּגְדֻלָּה, כִּי אֵין מַעֲלַת הַקְּדֻשָּׁה נִכֶּרֶת אֶלָּא בְּהַפִּיל הַקְּלִיפָּה הַנִּקְרֵאת חֹשֶׁךְ. וְהוֹדִיעַ הַכָּתוּב כִּי בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא הַיָּדוּעַ לְפָנָיו בַּמָּרוֹם יִקְרָא ה׳ לָאוֹר בִּיקָר וּגְדֻלָּה, וְזֶה יִהְיֶה בְּיוֹם יִוָּדַע לַה׳ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה בּוֹ ה׳ אֶחָד (זכריה י״ד:ט׳).

And behold, it is known that, because of our many sins, many sparks of light have been submerged in the husks and also much mixed multitude has infiltrated into holiness, as they have said in the holy book of Tikunei Hazohar 6, "mixed bad in good and good in bad." And for this [reason], He needs - as if it were possible - to separate the good from the bad and the light form the darkness that have gotten mixed up. And behold it is known that the life force of the husk is only from its feeding from holiness and without that, it has no life. And so, when God separates the light, which is the holiness, and the evil remains separated and has no source of life from which to feed, it is automatically annulled. And this is what it is stating (Zechariah 13:2), "and the spirit of impurity will I remove from the earth;" since it is similar to the cutting of a tree from the place of its sustenance, and its root from which it nurses, that it [then] dries up and no longer prospers; and nothing will remain besides the good light. And this is what [it meant when] it stated, "And God called the light, day;" the explanation of "and he called" (vayikra)" is [that it] is an expression of glory (yakar) and greatness, as the virtue of holiness is only recognizable with the felling of the husk, that is called darkness. And the verse informs [us] that on that day, that is known in front of Him above, God will call to the light in glory and greatness; and that will be on the day that is known to God, that on it God will be one.

63וְאָמְרוֹ וְלַחֹשֶׁךְ קָרָא לָיְלָה לְשׁוֹן מִקְרֶה הוּא בִּלְתִּי טָהוֹר, וְלָזֶה לֹא סָמַךְ הַכָּתוּב עַל תֵּיבַת ״וַיִּקְרָא״ שֶׁאָמַר בַּתְּחִלָּה, כִּי אֵין יְקָר וְכָבוֹד עוֹד לַחֹשֶׁךְ אֶלָּא מִקְרֵהוּ יִהְיֶה דַּוְקָא בַּלַּיְלָה, וְהוּא סוֹד אָמְרוֹ (דברים כ״ג:י״א) ״מִקְּרֵה לָיְלָה״, אֲבָל כְּשֶׁיַּעֲבֹר הַלַּיְלָה שֶׁהוּא זְמַן הַגָּלוּת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (ישעיהו כ״א:י״א) ״מַשָּׂא דּוּמָה וְגוֹ׳ שׁוֹמֵר מַה מִּלַּיְלָה״ כִּי הַגָּלוּת דּוֹמָה לַלַּיְלָה, וְאָז בַּעֲלוֹת הַשַּׁחַר אֵין עוֹד חֹשֶׁךְ וְלֹא לַיְלָה אֶלָּא ״וַיְהִי עֶרֶב וַיְהִי בֹקֶר יוֹם אֶחָד״, כִּי בְּחִינַת הָרַע נִסְתַּלְּקָה וְאֵינָהּ, וְלַיְלָה כַּיּוֹם יָאִיר וְהָיָה אוֹר הַלְּבָנָה כְּאוֹר הַחַמָּה, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ יוֹם אֶחָד, וְהוּא שֶׁרָמַז הַכָּתוּב בְּאָמְרוֹ (זכריה י״ד:ט׳) ״בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִהְיֶה ה׳ אֶחָד וּשְׁמוֹ אֶחָד״:

And its stating, "and the darkness, he called night;" is an expression of an incident which is not pure; and for this reason, the verse does not rely on the word, "and he called" that it stated at the beginning [of the verse, and repeated it again specifically for darkness] - since there is no more glory and honor to darkness, but rather its incidence will only be in the night. And this is the secret of its stating (Deuteronomy 23:11), "an incident of the night." But when the night will pass, which is the time of the exile, as the verse states (Isaiah 21:11), "The burden of Dumah etc.; watchman, what will be of the night;" since the exile is similar to the night. And then at the dawn, there will no longer be darkness nor night, but [rather], "and there was evening and there was morning, one day;" since the aspect of evil is removed and is not; 'and the night will shine like the day,' 'and the light of the moon will be light the light of the sun.' And this is [why] it states, "one day;" and it is that the verse hints to its stating (Zechariah 14:9), "on that day the Lord will be one and His name will be one."

א׳:ב׳ וְהָאָ֗רֶץ הָיְתָ֥ה תֹ֙הוּ֙ וָבֹ֔הוּ וְחֹ֖שֶׁךְ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י תְה֑וֹם וְר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֔ים מְרַחֶ֖פֶת עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַמָּֽיִם׃

1:2 the earth being unformed and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep and a wind frombOthers “the spirit of.” God sweeping over the water—

1:2 Now the earth was unformed and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters.

א׳:ב׳ וְאַרְעָא הֲוַת צָדְיָא וְרֵיקַנְיָא וַחֲשׁוֹכָא פָּרַשׂ עַל אַפֵּי תְהוֹמָא וְרוּחָא מִן קֳדָם יְיָ מְנַשְּׁבָא עַל אַפֵּי מַיָּא:

תהו ובהו. תֹּהוּ לְשׁוֹן תֵּמַהּ וְשִׁמָּמוֹן, שֶׁאָדָם תּוֹהֵא וּמִשְׁתּוֹמֵם עַל בֹּהוּ שֶׁבָּהּ:

תהו. אשטורדי"שון בְּלַעַ"ז:

בהו. לְשׁוֹן רֵקוּת וְצָדוּ:

על פני תהום. עַל פְּנֵי הַמַּיִם שֶׁעַל הָאָרֶץ:

ורוח אלהים מרחפת. כִּסֵא הַכָּבוֹד עוֹמֵד בָּאֲוִיר וּמְרַחֵף עַל פְּנֵי הַמַּיִם בְּרוּחַ פִּיו שֶׁל הַקָּבָּ"ה וּבְמַאֲמָרוֹ, כְּיוֹנָה הַמְרַחֶפֶת עַל הַקֵּן, אקוב"טיר בְּלַעַ"ז:

א׳:ג׳ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֖ים יְהִ֣י א֑וֹר וַֽיְהִי־אֽוֹר׃

1:3 God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

1:3 And God said: ‘Let there be light.’ And there was light.

א׳:ג׳ וַאֲמַר יְיָ יְהֵי נְהוֹרָא וַהֲוָה נְהוֹרָא:

א׳:ד׳ וַיַּ֧רְא אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶת־הָא֖וֹר כִּי־ט֑וֹב וַיַּבְדֵּ֣ל אֱלֹהִ֔ים בֵּ֥ין הָא֖וֹר וּבֵ֥ין הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃

1:4 God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness.

1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.

א׳:ד׳ וַחֲזָא יְיָ יָת נְהוֹרָא אֲרֵי טָב וְאַפְרֵשׁ יְיָ בֵּין נְהוֹרָא וּבֵין חֲשׁוֹכָא:

וירא אלהים את האור כי טוב ויבדל. אַף בָּזֶה אָנוּ צְרִיכִין לְדִבְרֵי אַגַּדָה, רָאָהוּ שֶׁאֵינוֹ כְדַאי לְהִשְׁתַּמֵשׁ בּוֹ רְשָׁעִים, וְהִבְדִּילוֹ לַצַּדִּיקִים לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא. וּלְפִי פְּשׁוּטוֹ כָּךְ פָּרְשֵׁהוּ, רָאָהוּ כִּי טוֹב, וְאֵין נָאֶה לוֹ וְלַחֹשֶׁךְ שֶׁיִּהְיוּ מִשְׁתַּמְּשִׁים בְּעִרְבּוּבְיָא, וְקָבַע לָזֶה תְחוּמוֹ בַּיּוֹם, וְלָזֶה תְחוּמוֹ בַּלַּיְלָה:

א׳:ה׳ וַיִּקְרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ לָאוֹר֙ י֔וֹם וְלַחֹ֖שֶׁךְ קָ֣רָא לָ֑יְלָה וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם אֶחָֽד׃ (פ)

1:5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, a first day.cOthers “one day.”

1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.

א׳:ה׳ וּקְרָא יְיָ לִנְהוֹרָא יְמָמָא וְלַחֲשׁוֹכָא קְרָא לֵילְיָא וַהֲוָה רְמַשׁ וַהֲוָה צְפַר יוֹמָא חָד:

יום אחד. לְפִי סֵדֶר לְשׁוֹן הַפָּרָשָׁה הָיָה לוֹ לִכְתֹּב יוֹם רִאשׁוֹן, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בִּשְׁאָר הַיָּמִים שֵׁנִי, שְׁלִישִׁי, רְבִיעִי, לָמָּה כָתַב אֶחָד? לְפִי שֶׁהָיָה הַקָּבָּ"ה יָחִיד בְּעוֹלָמוֹ, שֶׁלֹא נִבְרְאוּ הַמַּלְאָכִים עַד יוֹם שֵׁנִי, כָּךְ מְפֹרָשׁ בּבְ"רַ:

א׳:ו׳ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֔ים יְהִ֥י רָקִ֖יעַ בְּת֣וֹךְ הַמָּ֑יִם וִיהִ֣י מַבְדִּ֔יל בֵּ֥ין מַ֖יִם לָמָֽיִם׃

1:6 God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the water, that it may separate water from water.”

1:6 And God said: ‘Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.’

א׳:ו׳ וַאֲמַר יְיָ יְהִי רְקִיעָא בִּמְצִיעוּת מַיָּא וִיהִי מַפְרִישׁ בֵּין מַיָּא לְמַיָּא:

יהי רקיע. יֶחֱזַק הָרָקִיעַ, שֶׁאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנִּבְרְאוּ שָׁמַיִם בְּיוֹם א' עֲדַיִן לַחִים הָיוּ וְקָרְשׁוּ בַשֵּׁנִי מִגַּעֲרַת הַקָּבָּ"ה בְּאָמְרוֹ יְהִי רָקִיעַ, וְזֶהוּ שֶׁכָּתַב (איוב כ"ו) עַמּוּדֵי שָׁמַיִם יְרוֹפָפוּ – כָּל יוֹם רִאשׁוֹן, וּבַשֵּׁנִי יִתְמְהוּ מִגַּעֲרָתוֹ, כְּאָדָם שֶׁמִּשְׁתּוֹמֵם וְעוֹמֵד מִגַּעֲרַת הַמְאַיֵּם עָלָיו:

בתוך המים. בְּאֶמְצַע הַמַּיִם, שֶׁיֵּש הֶפְרֵשׁ בֵּין מַיִם הָעֶליוֹנִים לָרָקִיעַ כְּמוֹ בֵין הָרָקִיעַ לַמַּיִם שֶׁעַל הָאָרֶץ, הָא לָמַדְתָּ, שֶׁהֵם תְּלוּיִים בְּמַאֲמָרוֹ שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ:

א׳:ו׳ אור החיים

1וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי רָקִיעַ וְגוֹ׳. פֵּרוּשׁ הָרָקִיעַ שֶׁבָּרָא ה׳ בְּיוֹם רִאשׁוֹן, כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי בְּפָסוּק ״בְּרֵאשִׁית״ (בראשית א:א) שֶׁהַכֹּל נִבְרָא יַחַד בְּדִבּוּר אֶחָד, אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא נִתְקְנָה מְלֶאכֶת כָּל דָּבָר וְדָבָר עַל אָפְנָהּ. עַתָּה אָמַר אֱלֹהִים שֶׁיִּקְנֶה מְקוֹמוֹ בְּתוֹךְ הַמַּיִם, וְיִהְיֶה מְשַׁמֵּשׁ דָּבָר זֶה לְהַבְדִּיל בֵּין מַיִם לָמָיִם. וְעַיֵּן בַּפָּסוּק שֶׁאַחַר זֶה (בראשית א:ז).

And God said, "let there be a firmament, etc.": The explanation [of firmament] is the firmament that God created on the first day; as I have explained on the verse [starting with] "In the beginning," that everything was created together with one statement, but that the work of each thing was not [yet] refined according to its character. Now God said that it should acquire its place in the waters and that this thing would serve to separate between the waters and the waters. And see [my commentary] to the verse after this one.

א׳:ז׳ וַיַּ֣עַשׂ אֱלֹהִים֮ אֶת־הָרָקִיעַ֒ וַיַּבְדֵּ֗ל בֵּ֤ין הַמַּ֙יִם֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ מִתַּ֣חַת לָרָקִ֔יעַ וּבֵ֣ין הַמַּ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֖ר מֵעַ֣ל לָרָקִ֑יעַ וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן׃

1:7 God made the expanse, and it separated the water which was below the expanse from the water which was above the expanse. And it was so.

1:7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so.

א׳:ז׳ וַעֲבַד יְיָ יָת רְקִיעָא וְאַפְרֵישׁ בֵּין מַיָּא דִּי מִלְרַע לִרְקִיעָא וּבֵין מַיָּא דִּי מֵעַל לִרְקִיעָא וַהֲוָה כֵן:

ויעש אלהים את הרקיע. תִּקְּנוֹ עַל עָמְדוֹ, וְהִיא עֲשִׂיָּתוֹ, כְּמוֹ וְעָשְׂתָה אֶת צִפָּרְנֶיהָ (דברים כ"א):

מעל לרקיע. עַל הָרָקִיעַ לֹא נֶאֱמַר אֶלָּא מֵעַל לָרָקִיעַ, לְפִי שֶׁהֵן תְּלוּיִין בָּאֲוִיר. וּמִפְּנֵי מָה לֹא נֶאֱמַר כִּי טוֹב בְּיוֹם שֵׁנִי? לְפִי שֶׁלֹא הָיָה נִגְמָר מְלֶאכֶת הַמַּיִם עַד יוֹם שְׁלִישִׁי, וַהֲרֵי הִתְחִיל בָּהּ בְּשֵׁנִי, וְדָבָר שֶׁלֹּא נִגְמַר אֵינוֹ בִּמְלוֹאוֹ וְטוּבוֹ; וּבַשְּׁלִישִׁי שֶׁנִּגְמַר מְלֶאכֶת הַמַּיִם וְהִתְחִיל וְגָמַר מְלָאכָה אֲחֶרֶת, כָּפַל בּוֹ כִּי טוֹב שְׁתֵּי פְּעָמִים, אַחַת לִגְמַר מְלֶאכֶת הַשֵּׁנִי וְאַחַת לִגְמַר מְלֶאכֶת הַיּוֹם:

א׳:ז׳ אור החיים

1וַיַּעַשׂ אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָרָקִיעַ. מִקְרָא זֶה לֹא הָיָה צָרִיךְ לְאָמְרוֹ, אַחַר שֶׁכְּבָר אָמַר פָּסוּק שֶׁלִּפְנֵי זֶה ״וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים״ וְגוֹ׳, בּוֹ הָיָה לוֹ לִגְמֹר אֹמֶר ״וַיְהִי כֵן״. וְעוֹד רוֹאַנִי כִּי לֹא יֻצְדַּק לוֹמַר ״וַיְהִי כֵן״ אַחַר אָמְרוֹ ״וַיַּעַשׂ אֱלֹהִים״, אֶלָּא אַחַר אֲמִירַת ״וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים״ יַשְׁמִיעֵנוּ כִּי הוּא אָמַר וַתֶּהִי.

And God made the firmament: This verse should not have been stated; since the verse before this already stated, "And God said, etc." and it should have finished by stating, "and it was so." And I also saw that it was not justified to state "and it was so" after it stated, "And God made." Rather, after stating, "And God said," [such a phrase] would tell us that He said and it was.

2וְנִרְאֶה לוֹמַר כִּי שְׁלֹשָׁה מְלָאכוֹת נַעֲשׂוּ בָּרָקִיעַ. הָאֶחָד הִיא בְּרִיאַת הֲוָיַת גָּלְמוֹ בַּמְּצִיאוּת, וְזֶה הוּא שֶׁנִּבְרָא בְּיוֹם רִאשׁוֹן בַּמַּאֲמָר הָרִאשׁוֹן:

And it appears that three tasks were done with the firmament: The first was the creation of its substance's existence in reality, and this is what was created on the first day in the first proclamation.

3וְהַב׳ שֶׁאָמַר אֵלָיו ה׳ שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה רָקִיעַ, פֵּרוּשׁ שֶׁיִּמָּתַח וְיֵעָשֶׂה וִילוֹן, וְשִׁעֵר ה׳ לוֹ שִׁעוּר הַמִּתּוּחַ הוּא כְּדֵי שֶׁיַּסְפִּיק לְהַבְדִּיל בֵּין מַיִם לָמָיִם, וְהוּא הָאָמוּר בַּפָּסוּק שֶׁלִּפְנֵי זֶה (בראשית א:ו).

And the second is that that God said to it that it should make a firmament, the explanation [of which] is that it should stretch out and make a partition and God measured the [appropriate] size of its stretching, so that it would suffice to separate between the waters and the waters; and that is what is stated in the verse before this.

4וְהַג׳ – לִהְיוֹת שֶׁהַשָּׁמַיִם כַּדּוּרִיִּים הֵם וּמְשֻׁפָּעִים, כִּי אֵין לָנוּ לוֹמַר שֶׁמְּשֻׁנֵּית רָקִיעַ זוֹ מִכָּל הַשָּׁמַיִם, וּבַדִּבּוּר שֶׁאָמַר ״יְהִי רָקִיעַ״ לֹא אָמַר אֶלָּא שֶׁיִּמָּתַח, אֲבָל סֵדֶר תִּקּוּנוֹ אִם יִהְיֶה נִמְתָּח כְּוִילוֹן בְּהַשְׁוָאָה אוֹ מְשֻׁפָּע לִקְצוֹתָיו אוֹ מֻטֶּה לְאֶחָד מִצִּדְדֵי ד׳ רוּחוֹת הָעוֹלָם אֵין זֶה נִשְׁמָע בְּמַאֲמַר ה׳ שֶׁאָמַר ״יְהִי רָקִיעַ״, לָזֶה חָזַר וְאָמַר וַיַּעַשׂ פֵּרוּשׁ תִּקֵּן סֵדֶר הַעֲרָכָתוֹ כְּסֵדֶר תִּקּוּנֵי שָׁמַיִם שֶׁהֵם כִּקְעָרָה הֲפוּכָה לְצַד מַטָּה וַאֲחוֹרֶיהָ לְמַעְלָה, לִטְעָמִים יְדוּעִים לְבוֹרֵא עוֹלָם. וְחָזַר לוֹמַר וַיַּבְדֵּל וְגוֹ׳, לֶהֱיוֹת כִּי סֵדֶר הַמַּעֲשֶׂה אֲשֶׁר הֱכִינוֹ הַבּוֹרֵא הוּא הַפְכִּיּוּת לַמַּאֲמָר הַסָּמוּךְ שֶׁיַּבְדִּיל בֵּין וְכוּ׳ שֶׁאֵין כְּלִי בְּסֵדֶר זֶה מוֹנֵעַ בֵּין ב׳ מֵימוֹת אֵלּוּ, לָזֶה אָמַר שֶׁהֲגַם שֶׁעֲשָׂאוֹ כְּסֵדֶר זֶה אַף עַל פִּי כֵן ״וַיַּבְדֵּל בֵּין״ וְגוֹ׳. וְעַל ב׳ פְּרָטִים אֵלּוּ אָמַר הַכָּתוּב וַיַּעַשׂ שֶׁקְּבָעוֹ בַּסֵּדֶר שֶׁיָּשַׁר בְּעֵינָיו, וְשֶׁעָשָׂה בּוֹ הַמְצָאָה שֶׁיּוּכַל שְׂאֵת גַּם בְּסֵדֶר זֶה.

And the third is that, since the heavens are spherical and slanted, we cannot say that the firmament would be different than all [the rest of] the heavens, and in the statement that states, "let there be a firmament," He only said said that it should stretch out, but the order of its setup - whether it be stretched out like a straight partition or one slanted on its ends or whether it inclines to one of the four corners of the world - this is not understood from the statement of God, when He said, Let there be a firmament. For this reason, He went back and stated, "And He made;" the explanation [of which] is that he adjusted the order of its arrangement according to the order of the adjustment of the heavens, which are like an upside down bowl facing down and their back is upwards, for reasons that are known to the Creator of the world. And He went back and stated, "and He separated, etc." since the order of its formation to which the Creator set it up is the opposite of the adjacent statement, that "He separated between, etc," since an [object] arranged like this does not block out between these two waters. For this reason, it states that even if He made it in this arrangement, nonetheless, "and He separated between, etc." And about these two (the second and third) items, the verse stated, "And He made," [meaning] that he fixed it according to the order that was correct in His eyes, and that He created in it an invention that would be able [to accomplish His plan] even with this arrangement.

5וְדִקְדֵּק לוֹמַר אֲשֶׁר מֵעַל וְגוֹ׳, לוֹמַר שֶׁהֲגַם שֶׁהוּא עָשׂוּי כְּסֵדֶר זֶה, הִבְדִּיל בֵּין מַיִם שֶׁעָלָיו, מַה שֶׁאֵין מְצִיאוּת זֶה יְכוֹלָה לִהְיוֹת בָּעוֹלָם. וְאַחַר כָּל זֶה אָמַר וַיְהִי כֵן, חוֹזֵר לְמַה שֶׁכָּתוּב בְּפָסוּק א׳ וּב׳, כִּי כְּשֶׁאָמַר לוֹ לִהְיוֹת נִרְקָע כֵּן הָיָה, וּכְשֶׁאָמַר לוֹ לִהְיוֹת מַבְדִּיל, הֲגַם שֶׁאֵין הַעֲרָכָתוֹ כְּפִי הַטֶּבַע לְהַבְדִּיל בְּסֵדֶר זֶה כַּנִּזְכָּר, וַיְהִי כֵן. אוֹ אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁטַּעַם שֶׁעִכֵּב לוֹמַר וַיְהִי כֵן אַחַר פָּסוּק ״וַיַּעַשׂ״, שֶׁלֹּא רָצָה לוֹמַר וַיְהִי כֵן עַד שֶׁהִשְׁלִים הַמַּעֲשֶׂה בְּכָל תְּנָאֵי הַבְּרִיאָה.

And He was precise in stating, "which were above, etc." to say that even though it was made in this arrangement, it separated [also] between the waters above it, a reality that would [normally] not be able to exist in the world. And after all this, He stated, "and it was so," [which] goes back on verse 1 and 2; since when He told it to spread, so was it, and when He told it to be a separation - even if its setup does not allow for it to separate in this manner, according to nature, as mentioned - "and it was so." Or it is possible that the reason it delayed stating, "and it was so" until the [end of the] verse [of] "And He made," was that He did not want to state, "and it was so," until He completed the act in all the details of [its] creation.

6וְאַחַר שֶׁכָּתַבְתִּי זֶה מָצָאתִי כִּי מִקְרָא מָלֵא דִּבֵּר הַכָּתוּב מֵעִיד עַל פֵּרוּשֵׁנוּ, דִּכְתִיב (ישעיהו מ״ב:ה׳) ״כֹּה אָמַר וְגוֹ׳ בּוֹרֵא הַשָּׁמַיִם וְנוֹטֵיהֶם״, הֲרֵי שֶׁזָּכַר ב׳ דְּבָרִים, הַבְּרִיאָה לְבַד וְהַנְּטִיָּה לְבַד, וְהוּא שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי בְּמַעֲשֶׂה א׳ וּב׳, כִּי בְּיוֹם רִאשׁוֹן הָיְתָה הַבְּרִיאָה, וּבְיוֹם שֵׁנִי הָיְתָה הַנְּטִיָּה, וּבִכְלַל הַנְּטִיָּה וְאָפְנָהּ הֵם ב׳ דְּבָרִים שֶׁרָמַזְנוּ.

And after I wrote all this, I found that an explicit verse of the Bible testifies to our explanation, since it is written (Isaiah 42:5), "So said etc., Creator of the heavens and who unfolded them;" behold it mentioned two things, the creation by itself and the unfolding by itself. And this is what I explained about the first and second [tasks], since in the first day was the creation and in the second day was the unfolding, and within [that] was the unfolding and its manner, which are the two things that we hinted to.

7וְרָאִיתִי מַאֲמַר רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה בִּבְרֵאשִׁית רַבָּה (פרק ד׳): ״וַיַּעַשׂ אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָרָקִיעַ״ – זֶה אֶחָד מֵהַמִּקְרָאוֹת שֶׁהִרְעִישׁ בֶּן זוֹמָא אֶת הָעוֹלָם, וַהֲלֹא בְּמַאֲמָר אֶחָד ״בִּדְבַר ה׳ שָׁמַיִם נַעֲשׂוּ״ (תהלים לג:ו) עַד כָּאן. וּלְפִי דַּרְכֵּנוּ וְהָאָרֶץ שָׁקְטָה מֵרַעֲשָׁהּ, וְאוּלַי כִּי מַה שֶׁהִרְעִישׁ הָעוֹלָם בֶּן זוֹמָא הָיָה קוֹדֶם שֶׁיִּשֵּׁב הַמִּקְרָאוֹת, אֲבָל אַחַר יִשּׁוּב הַמִּקְרָאוֹת נָחָה שָׁקְטָה הָאָרֶץ.

And I saw the statement of our Rabbis, of blessed memory, in Bereishit Rabbah 4:6, and this is what they said, "'And God made the firmament;' this is one of the verses [about] which Ben Zoma shook the world, [asking] is it not that the heavens were made in one statement by the word of God?" And [yet] according to our approach, 'and the earth was quieted' from its shaking; and perhaps that which Ben Zoma shook the world was before he resolved the verses, but after the resolution of the verses, 'the earth was quieted' [and] calm.

8אוֹ יֹאמַר עַל זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ לְפִי מַה שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי בְּפָסוּק ״וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יִקָּווּ״ וְגוֹ׳, כִּי ב׳ מֵימוֹת הֵם – אֶחָד זָכָר וְאֶחָד נְקֵבָה. לְפִי זֶה, לְצַד שֶׁהָיוּ הַמֵּימוֹת כֻּלָּם מְעֹרָבִים כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁהָיָה הָאוֹר וְהַחֹשֶׁךְ מְעֹרָבִים, זְעֵיר שָׁם זְעֵיר שָׁם, כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (בראשית רבה פ״ג) וְהִבְדִּיל ה׳ בֵּין הָאוֹר וְגוֹ׳. כְּמוֹ כֵן מַיִם הָעֶלְיוֹנִים, פֵּרוּשׁ הַמְעֻלִּים וְהֵם הַזְּכָרִים, הָיוּ מְעֹרָבִים עִם מַיִם הַתַּחְתּוֹנִים בַּמַּדְרֵגָה. וְהֵן עַתָּה אָמַר ה׳ שֶׁהָרָקִיעַ יַבְדִּיל ב׳ הַבְדָּלוֹת: הָא׳ שֶׁיְּבָרֵר זֶה מִזֶּה כְּפִי מַה שֶׁהִטְבִּיעַ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בּוֹ שֶׁיְּבָרֵר זֶה מִזֶּה, וְהַב׳ שֶׁיִּהְיוּ מֻבְדָּלִים תָּמִיד בְּאֶמְצָעוּתוֹ שֶׁהוּא יַפְסִיק בֵּין שְׁנֵיהֶם. וּכְפִי זֶה אָמְרוֹ יְהִי רָקִיעַ בְּתוֹךְ הַמָּיִם כָּאן נִתְכַּוֵּן אֶל הַבֵּרוּר הַמְבָרֵר בֵּין ב׳ הַמֵּימוֹת, וְהוּא שֶׁאָמַר בְּתוֹךְ הַמָּיִם לְפִי שֶׁהָיוּ כָּל הַמֵּימוֹת מְעֹרָבִים. וְאַחַר כָּךְ עָשָׂה ה׳ הֲכָנָה לָרָקִיעַ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה מוּכָן לְהַפְסִיק בֵּין שְׁנֵיהֶם תָּמִיד, וְזוֹ הִיא הַבְדָּלָה ב׳, וְעַל שְׁנֵיהֶם אָמַר הַכָּתוּב ״וַיְהִי כֵן״.

Or one could say in the following way, according to what we have explained on the verse, "And God said, 'let the waters gather, etc.," that there are two [types of] water, one male and one female; and according to this, from the perspective that all the waters were mixed in the way that the light and darkness were mixed, 'a bit here and a bit there,' as they, of blessed memory, said (Bereishit Rabbah 3), "'And God separated between the light, etc.,' so too with the higher (elyonim) waters" - the explanation [of which] is the better (meulim) waters, and these are the male - "mixed with the lower waters" - lower in their status; and so God now said that the firmament should make two separations: the first one that it separate one from the other - according to what the Holy One, blessed be He, implanted in it, that it should separate one form the other; and the second one that these [waters] should always be divided by it, [such] that it would split between the two of them; and according to this, its stating, "let there be a firmament within the waters" here refers to the separation that separates between the two waters. And that is why it states "within the waters," since all of the waters were mixed. And afterwards, God arranged the firmament that it should be able to split the two of them perpetually; and that is the second separation, and about both of them the verse stated, "and it was so."

א׳:ח׳ וַיִּקְרָ֧א אֱלֹהִ֛ים לָֽרָקִ֖יעַ שָׁמָ֑יִם וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם שֵׁנִֽי׃ (פ)

1:8 God called the expanse Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.

1:8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.

א׳:ח׳ וּקְרָא יְיָ לִרְקִיעָא שְׁמַיָּא וַהֲוָה רְמַשׁ וַהֲוָה צְפַר יוֹם תִּנְיָן:

ויקרא אלהים לרקיע שמים. שָׂא מַיִם, שָׁם מַיִם, אֵשׁ וּמַיִם, שֶׁעֵרְבָן זֶה בָזֶה וְעָשָׂה מֵהֶם שָׁמַיִם:

א׳:ח׳ אור החיים

1וַיִּקְרָא וגו׳. כָּאן הוֹדִיעַ כִּי אֵלּוּ הֵם הָאֲמוּרִים בְּפָסוּק ״בְּרֵאשִׁית״ וְגוֹ׳, וּמַה שֶׁקְּרָאָם בְּפָסוּק רִאשׁוֹן בְּשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, פֵּרוּשׁ: בְּרִיאָה אַחַת שֶׁעָתִיד לִקְרוֹתָהּ שָׁמַיִם, וּלְעוֹלָם לֹא קָרָא ה׳ לוֹ שֵׁם זֶה עַד יוֹם ב׳.

And He called: Here the verse informs us these are the [same heavens] that were mentioned in the verse, “In the beginning etc.” And [the reason] that the first verse ascribes the name, 'heavens' to them is to say that there is [here] a creation that will be called heavens in the future; but really God did not call it this name until the second day.

2וּלְדִבְרֵי רַבּוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁאָמְרוּ (בראשית רבה פ״ד) פֵּרוּשׁ שָׁמַיִם הוּא שָׂא מַיִם, יְכַוֵּן הַכָּתוּב עַל זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ: וַיִּקְרָא ה׳ לָרָקִיעַ וְאָמַר לוֹ ״שָׂא מַיִם״ כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה אֲוִיר לִמְקוֹם הַנִּבְרָאִים כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיוּ הַנִּבְרָאִים בֵּין שָׁמַיִם לָאָרֶץ, וְזוּלַת זֶה אֵין מָקוֹם לְיוֹשְׁבֵי תֵבֵל עַד שֶׁקָּרָא לָרָקִיעַ שֶׁיִּשָּׂא הַמַּיִם שֶׁהָיוּ מוּנָחִים עָלָיו. וְאָמַר לַמַּיִם הַתַּחְתּוֹנִים שֶׁיִּקָּווּ לְמָקוֹם אֶחָד בְּיוֹם ג׳ וְנִתְרָאֵית הַיַּבָּשָׁה בָּזֶה הִנֵּה מָקוֹם לְיוֹשְׁבֵי תֵבֵל. וְאֵין סְתִירָה לָזֶה מִדִּבְרֵי רַבּוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁאָמְרוּ מַיִם הָעֶלְיוֹנִים בְּנֵס עוֹמְדִים, שֶׁהֲגַם שֶׁהַשָּׁמַיִם הֵם נוֹשְׂאִים אוֹתָם, עִם כָּל זֶה לְסֵדֶר תְּכוּנַת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְסִדּוּרָם הִרְגִּישׁוּ כִּי בְּנֵס עוֹמְדִים כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתַבְנוּ בְּפָסוּק ״וַיַּעַשׂ״.

And according to the words of our rabbis, who said (Bereishit Rabbah 4:7) that the understanding of shamayim (heavens) is sa mayim (support the waters), the intention of [this] verse is according to the following way: “And God called to the heavens and said” to it, support the waters, so that there will be [space] to [make] room for the creatures, so that the creatures will be between the heavens and the earth; and without this, there [was] no place for the dwellers of the earth, until He called upon the heavens to support the waters that were laying upon [the earth]. And he told the lower waters to gather to one place on the third day and the dry land appeared with this, [such that] there was [now] a place for the dwellers of the earth. And this is not a contradiction to the words of our Rabbis, that say that the upper waters are held up miraculously; since even if it is the case that the heavens support them, nonetheless with regards to the set up nature of the skies and their order, they felt that they were supported by a miracle, as we have written on the verse, “And he made.”

א׳:ט׳ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים יִקָּו֨וּ הַמַּ֜יִם מִתַּ֤חַת הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ אֶל־מָק֣וֹם אֶחָ֔ד וְתֵרָאֶ֖ה הַיַּבָּשָׁ֑ה וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן׃

1:9 God said, “Let the water below the sky be gathered into one area, that the dry land may appear.” And it was so.

1:9 And God said: ‘Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear.’ And it was so.

א׳:ט׳ וַאֲמַר יְיָ יִתְכַּנְשׁוּן מַיָּא מִתְּחוֹת שְׁמַיָּא לַאֲתַר חָד וְתִתְחֲזֵי יַבֶּשְׁתָּא וַהֲוָה כֵן:

יקוו המים. שֶׁהָיוּ שְׁטוּחִין עַל פְּנֵי כָל הָאָרֶץ וְהִקְוָם בָּאוֹקְיָנוֹס הוּא הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל שֶׁבְּכָל הַיַּמִּים:

א׳:ט׳ אור החיים

1וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יִקָּווּ. צָרִיךְ לָדַעַת מַיִם אֵלּוּ אִם הֵם מֵי הַתְּהוֹמִיִּים, וּבְאָמְרוֹ ״יִקָּווּ הַמַּיִם אֶל מָקוֹם אֶחָד״ הִנֵּה לֹא נִשְׁאֲרוּ מֵימוֹת אֲחֵרִים עוֹד, וְזֶה הֵפֶךְ מַה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (שמות כ:ד) ״וַאֲשֶׁר בַּמַּיִם מִתַּחַת לָאָרֶץ״, וְאִם הֵם מַיִם אֲחֵרִים לְבַד הַתְּהוֹם, צָרִיךְ לָדַעַת בַּמֶּה הָיוּ מֻבְדָּלִים מִמֵּימֵי הַתְּהוֹם לְיַחֵד הַדִּבּוּר לָהֶם לְבַדָּם. גַּם לֹא רָאִינוּ שֶׁיִּחֵד הַדִּבּוּר לוֹמַר מַיִם פְּלוֹנִי יִקָּווּ אֶלָּא סְתָם ״יִקָּווּ הַמַּיִם״ – כָּל מֵימוֹת הַנִּמְצָאִים בָּעוֹלָם בְּמַשְׁמָע. עוֹד לָמָּה תָּלָה רְאִיַּת הַיַּבָּשָׁה בִּקְוִיאַת הַמַּיִם. עוֹד צָרִיךְ לְדַקְדֵּק תֵּבַת ״וְתֵרָאֶה״ שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ לוֹמַר ״וְתִהְיֶה הַיַּבָּשָׁה״:

And God said, "let gather:" It needs to be known whether these waters are the waters of the depths and [so] when He said, "let the waters be gathered to one place," behold no other waters remained - and this is the opposite of what the verse states (Exodus 20:4), "and in the waters below the earth;" and if [these] waters were others besides the [ones of] the depths, it needs to be known how these waters were different from the waters of the depths, that the verse should refer to them alone. Also, [this would be difficult to say, since] we did not see that the statement specifies to say, "let the 'x' waters gather," but rather just "let the waters gather;" all the waters of the world are [thereby] implied. Also [it needs to be known] why the appearance of the earth is dependent on the gathering of the waters. And also we need to be precise [and understand the use of] the word, appear, since it should have said and 'the dry land be' [substituting 'be' for 'appear'].

2וּבְמַה שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי בְּפָסוּק ״בְּרֵאשִׁית״ שֶׁבְּמַאֲמָר רִאשׁוֹן נִבְרָא הַכֹּל, אֶלָּא הָיָה מְעֻרְבָּב עַד שֶׁהֵכִין ה׳ סֵדֶר כָּל אֶחָד דְּבַר יוֹם בְּיוֹמוֹ, וּכְפִי זֶה מִדִּבְרֵי ה׳ בְּמַאֲמָר זֶה אָנוּ יוֹדְעִים כִּי הַיַּבָּשָׁה הָיְתָה שְׁטוּחָה תּוֹךְ הַמַּיִם לְרֹחַב הָעוֹלָם, וּמַיִם לְמַעְלָה וּמַיִם לְמַטָּה לָהּ, וְאוֹתָם הַמַּיִם שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה לַיַּבָּשָׁה חִלְּקָם הָרָקִיעַ וְנָשָׂא חֶצְיָם בִּכְנָפָיו, כְּאָמְרוֹ יְהִי רָקִיעַ בְּתוֹךְ, וּסְתָם ״תּוֹךְ״ אֶמְצַע בְּמַשְׁמָע, וַחֲצִי הַנִּשְׁאָר הָיָה מְכַסֶּה לַיַּבָּשָׁה, וּלְאוֹתָם מַיִם אָמַר ה׳ יִקָּווּ אֶל מָקוֹם אֶחָד, שֶׁהוּא מֵי אוֹקְיָנוֹס, וְתֵרָאֶה הַיַּבָּשָׁה בַּמָּקוֹם שֶׁהָיְתָה בּוֹ בְּעֵת בְּרִיאָתָהּ, כִּי שָׁם קָנְתָה מְקוֹמָהּ אֶלָּא שֶׁהָיְתָה מְכֻסָּה וְגָזַר עָלֶיהָ שֶׁתֵּרָאֶה.

And regarding what I explained on the verse, "In the beginning," that all was created with one statement - except that it was mixed up until God set up each thing on its day; and according to that, from the words of God in this [section] we know that the dry land extended in the water over the expanse of the earth and there was water above and below it; and the firmament divided the waters above the dry land and it lifted half of them with its wings, as it is stated, "let the firmament be within" - and [the] unqualified [use of] within implies [in] the middle - and the remaining half covered the dry land. And it is to those waters that God said, "let the waters gather to one place;" which is the waters of the oceans. And the dry land appeared from the place that it was at the time of its creation - as it acquired its place [to be] there, except it was covered and He [now] decreed about it, that it should appear.

3וְאוּלַי שֶׁיִּכָּנֵס בְּמַשְׁמָעוּת ״תֵּרָאֶה״ לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא הָיְתָה גְּלוּיָה בְּמַרְאֵה הַיַּבָּשׁוֹת, וְהָיָה גּוֹנָהּ כְּגוֹן הַמַּיִם וְאֵין הֶכֵּר בֵּין גְּבוּלָהּ לִגְבוּל הַמַּיִם, וְגַם יִכָּנֵס בְּמַשְׁמָעוּת ״תֵּרָאֶה״ לְפִי שֶׁהָיְתָה רְאוּיָה לְמַה שֶׁרָאוּי לִהְיוֹת מֵהַיַּבָּשׁוֹת לְצָרְכֵי הָעוֹלָם.

And maybe the word appear could include that it wasn't visible in the color of the dry lands and its color was like that of the water and there was no [clear] distinction between its border and the border of the sea. And also within the understanding of 'appear' (teraeh) is that it was [now] fitting (reouiah) to what the dry lands need to be fit for, for the needs of the world. ...

4עוֹד יִרְצֶה בְּאָמְרוֹ וְתֵרָאֶה – לֶהֱיוֹת שֶׁכָּל עוֹד שֶׁהַמַּיִם מַטָּה וּמַעְלָה לָאָרֶץ, אֵין הָאָרֶץ מִתְקַיֶּמֶת בְּטִבְעָהּ, כִּי הַמַּיִם יַהַפְכוּ טִבְעָהּ. וְצֵא וּלְמַד מַה שֶׁכָּתַב רַמְבַּ״ם בְּרֵישׁ הִלְכוֹת דֵּעוֹת (הלכות יסודי התורה פרק ד הלכה ה) כִּי הַמַּיִם יַהַפְכוּ יְסוֹד הֶעָפָר לְמַיִם. לָזֶה אָמַר ״יִקָּווּ הַמַּיִם״ וְגוֹ׳ וּבָזֶה תֵּרָאֶה הַיַּבָּשָׁה, וּפֵרוּשׁ תַּעֲמֹד בִּיסוֹדָהּ לְהַפְעִיל סִבַּת בְּרִיאָתָהּ. וּלְעוֹלָם כְּבָר קָדְמָה בְּרִיאָתָהּ בְּמַאֲמָר א׳ בְּיוֹם א׳, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר לְמַעְלָה. גַּם נִמְצֵינוּ אוֹמְרִים כִּי לֹא כָּל מֵימוֹת הָעוֹלָם נִקְווּ לְיָם אוֹקְיָנוֹס, וְיֵשׁ תְּהוֹמוֹת לְמַטָּה לָאָרֶץ.

And it also wanted [to teach] by stating, "and appear," that all the time that the waters are below and above the earth, the natural state of the earth is not preserved, since the water will change its [state]. And go and learn from what Maimonides wrote at the beginning of the Laws of Character Traits (Laws of the Foundations of the Torah 4:5) that water transforms the core element of dirt to water; for this [reason], He said, "let the waters gather, etc." and with this "and the dry land appear;" and the explanation [of this] is that it will stay in its [state] to put in motion the reason for its creation. And really its creation already [happened] on the first day in the first statement as explained above. We also end up saying [according to this] that not all of the waters of the world were gathered into the oceans and there are [waters in the] depths below the earth.

5וְאֶפְשָׁר שֶׁהַמַּיִם שֶׁנִּקְווּ אֵין הֶפְרֵשׁ בֵּינֵיהֶם לַתְּהוֹם שֶׁמִּתַּחַת לָאָרֶץ, וְעַל אוֹתוֹ חֵלֶק שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ אֶרֶץ אָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (חגיגה יב.) שֶׁאָמַר הַשֵּׁם לָאָרֶץ ״דַּי״ שֶׁלֹּא תִּתְפַּשֵּׁט מִסּוֹף לְסוֹף, וְנִשְׁאֲרוּ הַמַּיִם מְחֻבָּרִים לַמַּיִם הַתַּחְתּוֹנִים:

And it is possible that there is no gap between the waters that were gathered and the [waters of the] depths - and [it is] about that portion that has no earth [covering it], that they, of blessed memory, said (Chagigah 12a) that God said to the land, "Enough" that it should not extend from one end [of the world] to the other end - and the waters remained connected to the lower waters.

6אַחַר שֶׁכָּתַבְתִּי כָּל הַכָּתוּב, בָּא לְיָדִי מִדְרָשׁ מִפִּרְקֵי רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר (פרק ה׳) וְזֶה לְשׁוֹנוֹ: בַּשְּׁלִישִׁי הָיְתָה הָאָרֶץ מִישׁוֹר כַּבִּקְעָה, וְהַמַּיִם מְכַסִּים עַל פְּנֵי כָל הָאָרֶץ. וּכְשֶׁיָּצָא הַדָּבָר מִפִּי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא ״יִקָּווּ הַמַּיִם״ וְגוֹ׳, הָרִים וּגְבָעוֹת נִתְפָּרְדוּ עַל פְּנֵי כָל הָאָרֶץ, עָלָה תּוֹכָהּ שֶׁל אֶרֶץ וְנִתְגַּלְגְּלוּ וְנִקְווּ הַמַּיִם וְכוּ׳ עַד כָּאן. הֲרֵי דִּכְשֶׁאָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא ״יִקָּווּ הַמַּיִם״ כְּבָר הָיְתָה הָאָרֶץ בַּמְּצִיאוּת, וְהֵם דְּבָרֵינוּ. הֲגַם שֶׁלְּפִי דִּבְרֵי הַמַּאֲמָר נִרְאֶה שֶׁמְּפָרֵשׁ וְתֵרָאֶה הַיַּבָּשָׁה פֵּרוּשׁ שֶׁתִּהְיֶה הַיַּבָּשָׁה חוֹל גְּבוּל לַיָּם, כְּשֶׁיֵּרָאוּ הַמַּיִם לְיַבָּשָׁה יִקְנוּ מְקוֹמָם, עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרוֹ (ירמיהו ה:כב) ״אֲשֶׁר שַׂמְתִּי חוֹל גְּבוּל לַיָּם״, וְעָשָׂה מוֹרָאוֹ שֶׁל הַיַּבָּשָׁה עַל הַיָּם. וּפֵרוּשׁ וְתֵרָאֶה מִלְּשׁוֹן יִרְאָה, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ ״הַאוֹתִי לֹא תִירָאוּ״ וְגוֹ׳ ״אֲשֶׁר שַׂמְתִּי חוֹל גְּבוּל לַיָּם״, וְזֶה מְשֻׁנֶּה מִפֵּרוּשֵׁנוּ. זֶה דֶּרֶךְ דְּרָשׁ, וְדַרְכֵּנוּ דֶּרֶךְ פְּשָׁט וְהַכָּתוּב יְכַוֵּן לַכֹּל.

After I wrote all that is written [above], a midrash from Pirkei Rebbe Eliezer 5 came to my hands and this is what it says, "On the third day, the earth was flat like a valley and the waters covered over the face of the whole earth and when the words, "let the waters gather, etc." went out from the mouth of the Holy One, blessed be He, the mountains and hills separated over the face of the whole earth and the innards of the earth arose and the waters rolled [back] and gathered, etc." Behold [from here, we see that] when the Holy One, blessed be He said, "let the waters gather," the land was already in existence and these are [in agreement with] our words. And [this is so] even if, according to the words of this [midrash], it appears that it explains [the phrase] "and the earth appear (teraeh)," [that its] explanation is that the dry land will be sand [as a] border for the sea, [so that] when the waters fear (yireh) the dry land, they acquire their [permanent] place - by way of its stating (Jeremiah 5, 22), "that I have placed the sand as a border for the sea," and made the fear of the dry land upon the sea - and [so] the explanation of teraeh (appear) is from the word yirah (fear), and that is what it states, "Do you not fear me?, etc., that I have placed the sand as a border for the sea;" and this is different than our explanation, [since] this is the way of derash (homily) and our way is the way of peshat (straightforward understanding) and the Scripture intends [it] all.

7וְרַמְבַּ״ן זִכְרוֹנוֹ לִבְרָכָה פֵּרֵשׁ אָמְרוֹ וְתֵרָאֶה הַיַּבָּשָׁה, שֶׁהָיָה הֶעָפָר מְעֹרָב עִם הַמַּיִם, וְגָזַר ה׳ שֶׁיִּבָּדְלוּ זֶה מִזֶּה וְתִסָּמֵךְ בְּחִינַת הֶעָפָר וְתִהְיֶה הַיַּבָּשָׁה, עַד כָּאן. וּפֵרוּשׁוֹ זִכְרוֹנוֹ לִבְרָכָה צָרִיךְ עָרֵב. גַּם אֵין פְּשַׁט הַכָּתוּב מַגִּיד זֶה. גַּם לְפִי דְּבָרָיו זִכְרוֹנוֹ לִבְרָכָה לֹא הָיָה צָרִיךְ לְהִקָּווֹת הַמַּיִם אֶל מָקוֹם אֶחָד, אֶלָּא שֶׁיֹּאמַר לַיַּבָּשָׁה שֶׁתֵּרָאֶה בַּסֵּדֶר הָאָמוּר בְּדִבְרֵי הָרַב, שֶׁיִּתְבָּרֵר הֶעָפָר מִן הַמַּיִם וְיָצוּף לְמַעְלָה וְיִשָּׁאֲרוּ הַמַּיִם בִּמְקוֹמָם. וְעוֹד, מֵהַכָּתוּב מַשְׁמַע שֶׁכָּל הַמַּיִם הַנִּמְצָאִים מִתַּחַת לָרָקִיעַ שֶׁהָיוּ סְמוּכִים לָאָרֶץ נִקְווּ לְמָקוֹם אֶחָד, וְלֹא כֵן מַשְׁמַע לְפִי פֵּרוּשׁ הָרַב. וְעוֹד, אֵין לְשׁוֹן ״וְתֵרָאֶה״ מְדֻקְדָּק לְדַרְכּוֹ זִכְרוֹנוֹ לִבְרָכָה. וְהַנָּכוֹן בְּעֵינַי הוּא כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי, שֶׁהָאָרֶץ הָיְתָה תּוֹךְ הַמַּיִם שְׁטוּחָה וּמַיִם לְמַעְלָה וּמַיִם לְמַטָּה מִמֶּנָּה, וְעַל מַיִם שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה לָאָרֶץ גָּזַר הַגּוֹזֵר שֶׁהָרָקִיעַ יִתְמַצַּע בְּתוֹכָם וְיִשָּׂא בִּכְנָפָיו מַיִם הָעֶלְיוֹנִים, וְהַחֵלֶק הַנִּשְׁאָר מִתַּחַת לָרָקִיעַ לֹא יִשָּׁאֵר תַּחַת כָּל הָרָקִיעַ בְּהַשְׁוָאָה אֶלָּא יִקָּווּ בְּמָקוֹם אֶחָד, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ יִקָּווּ הַמַּיִם מִתַּחַת הַשָּׁמַיִם אֶל מָקוֹם אֶחָד, וּבָזֶה תֵרָאֶה הַיַּבָּשָׁה כִּפְשָׁטָהּ.

And Nachmanides, of blessed memory, explained it's stating "and the dry land appear;" that the dirt was mixed with water and God decreed that they should separate one from the other, [so] that the dirt will harden and become dry land. So far [his explanation]. And [the] explanation of [Nachmanides], of blessed memory, needs a guarantor; also the simple meaning of the verse doesn't say this. Also, according to [the] words of [Nachmanides], of blessed memory, there was no need for the waters to gather to one place, but rather that He should say to the dry land that it should appear according to the arrangement mentioned in the words of [Nachmainides] - that the dirt should separate from the water and float up, and that the waters should stay in their place. And it is also implied from the verse that all of the waters that were under the firmament which were adjacent to the earth were gathered to one place; and that is not what is implied according to the words of the master; and also the word, 'appear,' is not exact according to [the] approach of [Nachmanides], of blessed memory. And the correct [understanding] in my eyes is as I have explained: that the land was stretched out within the waters and [there was] water above and water below it; and the Ordainer ordained that the water above the land have the firmament be placed within it and carry up the higher waters on its wings; and the part remaining under the firmament would not remain under all of the firmament equally, but rather, gathered to one place, and this is what it says, "and the waters under the heavens gather to one place" and through this, "and the dry land appear" [is understood] according to its simple meaning.

8וְנִרְאֶה לוֹמַר כִּי כָל בְּחִינוֹת הַמַּיִם שֶׁעַל הָאָרֶץ, בֵּין הָעֶלְיוֹנִים מִמַּעַל לָרָקִיעַ בֵּין שֶׁנִּקְווּ לְמָקוֹם אֶחָד, הֵם בִּבְחִינַת מַיִם זְכָרִים. וְלָזֶה תִּמְצָא שֶׁהוֹלָדַת הַזְּרָעִים תִּהְיֶה מִמֵּימֵי אוֹקְיָינוֹס שֶׁהֵם מַיִם הַנִּקְוִים, כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (תענית ט:) שֶׁמִּמֵּימֵי אוֹקְיָינוֹס הֵם הַגְּשָׁמִים, וְאַחַר שֶׁיַּמְטִיר ה׳ מֵהֶם עוֹלִים מֵהַתְּהוֹם כְּנֶגְדָּם. וְהוּא אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (תענית כה:) ״אֵין טִפָּה יוֹרֶדֶת מִלְמַעְלָה שֶׁאֵין טִפִּים עוֹלִים כְּנֶגְדָּהּ מִלְמַטָּה״, וְאֵין הַזְּרָעִים צוֹמְחִים לֹא מִן הַנִּמְטָרִים וְלֹא מֵהַתְּהוֹמִיִּים כִּי זָכָר לְבַד אוֹ נְקֵבָה לְבַד לֹא יֵלְדוּ. וְהֵא לְךָ דִּבְרֵיהֶם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה שֶׁאָמְרוּ (פרקי דרבי אליעזר פכ״ג) שֶׁב׳ מֵימוֹת הֵם, אֶחָד זָכָר וְאֶחָד נְקֵבָה, וְזֶה לְשׁוֹנָם: וְהַמַּיִם גָּבְרוּ מְאֹד כְּשֶׁנִּתְחַבְּרוּ הַמַּיִם זְכָרִים עִם מַיִם נְקֵבוֹת גָּבְרוּ בְּיוֹתֵר:

And it appears that it can be said that the aspect of all the waters upon the earth - whether the upper one that are above the firmament [or whether] the ones that were gathered to one place - they are in the aspect of 'male waters.' And so, you will find that the germination of seeds is from the waters of the ocean, which are the gathered waters, as they, of blessed memory, said (Taanit 9a) that the rains come form the water of the oceans; and after God brings rain from them, corresponding [waters] come up from the depths, and that is like they, of blessed memory, have said (Taanit 25b), no drop comes down from above for which (two or three) corresponding drops do not come up from below. And the seeds do not grow from the rain waters and not from the waters of the depths [individually], since a male by itself or a female by itself will not give birth. And behold for you their words, of blessed memory, that they said (Pirkei Derabi Eliezer 25) that there are two waters, one male and one female and this is what they wrote [on the verse (Genesis 7:19)], "'and the waters grew very strong;' when the male waters joined with the female waters, they grew exceedingly."

א׳:י׳ וַיִּקְרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ לַיַּבָּשָׁה֙ אֶ֔רֶץ וּלְמִקְוֵ֥ה הַמַּ֖יִם קָרָ֣א יַמִּ֑ים וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי־טֽוֹב׃

1:10 God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering of waters He called Seas. And God saw that this was good.

1:10 And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters called He Seas; and God saw that it was good.

א׳:י׳ וּקְרָא יְיָ לְיַבֶּשְׁתָּא אַרְעָא וּלְבֵית כְּנִישׁוּת מַיָּא קְרָא יַמְמֵי וַחֲזָא יְיָ אֲרֵי טָב:

קרא ימים. וַהֲלֹא יָם אֶחָד הוּא? אֶלָּא אֵינוֹ דוֹמֶה טַעַם דָּג הָעוֹלֶה מִן הַיָּם בְּעַכּוֹ לְטַעַם דָּג הָעוֹלֶה מִן הַיָּם בְּאַסְפַּמְיָא:

א׳:י׳ אור החיים

1וַיִּקְרָא אֱלֹהִים לַיַּבָּשָׁה אֶרֶץ. וְהִיא הַמֻּזְכֶּרֶת בְּפָסוּק רִאשׁוֹן ״בְּרֵאשִׁית״ וְגוֹ׳. וְאָמְרוֹ תֵּיבַת וַיִּקְרָא תִּתְפָּרֵשׁ בִּב׳ אוֹפַנִּים: אוֹ לְשׁוֹן קְרִיאַת שֵׁם, אוֹ לְשׁוֹן צְעָקָה – צָעַק עָלֶיהָ לְבַל תִּתְפַּשֵּׁט עוֹד, כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (חגיגה יב.) שֶׁאָמַר לְעוֹלָמוֹ ״דַּי״, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁשָּׁמְעָה וְלֹא נִתְפַּשְּׁטָה עוֹד קְרָאָהּ ״אֶרֶץ״, כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (בראשית רבה ה:ח) שֶׁעַל שֵׁם שֶׁנִּתְרַצֵּית נִקְרֵאת ״אֶרֶץ״.

And God called the dry land earth: And it is the one mentioned in the first verse, "In the beginning, etc." And its stating the word, "called" can be explained in two ways: either it is an expression of calling a name or it is an expression of yelling; He yelled at it that it should no longer spread out, as they, of blessed memory, said (Chagigah 12a), "He said to his world, 'enough!'" And when it listened and no longer spread out, He called it earth, as they, of blessed memory, stated (Bereishit Rabbah 5:8), as a result of being reconciled (nitratsit), it was called earth (erets).

2וְאָמְרוֹ קָרָא יַמִּים – לֹא זֶה הוּא הַתְּהוֹם הָאָמוּר בְּפָסוּק ב׳, כִּי הַתְּהוֹם יֵאָמֵר עַל כְּלָלוּת מֵימוֹת וַאֲשֶׁר מִתַּחַת לָאָרֶץ. גַּם מֵימוֹת הַנִּקְוִים הָיָה אָז בִּבְחִינַת תְּהוֹם קֹדֶם שֶׁנִּרְאֵית הָאָרֶץ, כִּי הָיוּ שָׁוִים בְּתַעֲרוֹבֶת עִם מֵימוֹת אֲשֶׁר הֵם הֵן הַיּוֹם תַּחַת לָאָרֶץ.

And its stating, "He called seas," this is not the depths, which is spoken of in verse 2, since 'the depths' is said about the waters more generally; and the water under the earth as well as the gathered waters were all in the aspect of depths, [during the time] before the earth appeared, since they were all equally mixed with the waters that today are below the earth.

3וְאָמְרוֹ וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים כִּי טוֹב חוֹזֵר גַּם עַל מִקְוֵה הַמַּיִם, כִּי בָּזֶה יֵשׁ חַיּוּת וְקִיּוּם הָעוֹלָם, כִּי מִמֶּנּוּ גְּשָׁמִים בָּעוֹלָם, כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (תענית ט:).

And its stating, "and God saw that it was good," refers also to the gathering of waters, since with it is there life and existence in the world; since the rains in the world are from it, as they, of blessed memory, say (Taanit 9b).

א׳:י"א וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים תַּֽדְשֵׁ֤א הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ דֶּ֔שֶׁא עֵ֚שֶׂב מַזְרִ֣יעַ זֶ֔רַע עֵ֣ץ פְּרִ֞י עֹ֤שֶׂה פְּרִי֙ לְמִינ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר זַרְעוֹ־ב֖וֹ עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן׃

1:11 And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation: seed-bearing plants, fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” And it was so.

1:11 And God said: ‘Let the earth put forth grass, herb yielding seed, and fruit-tree bearing fruit after its kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon the earth.’ And it was so.

א׳:י"א וַאֲמַר יְיָ תַּדְאֵית אַרְעָא דִּיתְאָה עִסְבָּא דְּבַר זַרְעֵהּ מִזְדְּרַע אִילַן פֵּירִין עָבַד פֵּירִין לִזְנֵהּ דִּי בַר זַרְעֵהּ בֵּהּ עַל אַרְעָא וַהֲוָה כֵן:

תדשא הארץ דשא עשב. לֹא דֶּשֶׁא לְשׁוֹן עֵשֶׂב וְלֹא עֵשֶׂב לְשׁוֹן דֶּשֶׁא, וְלֹא הָיָה לְשׁוֹן הַמִּקְרָא לוֹמַר תַּעֲשִׂיב הָאָרֶץ, שֶׁמִינֵי דְּשָׁאִים מְחֻלָּקִין, כָּל אֶחָד לְעַצְמוֹ נִקְרָא עֵשֶׂב פְּלוֹנִי, וְאֵין לָשׁוֹן לַמְדַבֵּר לוֹמַר דֶּשֶׁא פְּלוֹנִי, שֶׁלְּשׁוֹן דֶּשֶׁא הוּא לְבִישַׁת הָאָרֶץ כְּשֶׁהִיא מִתְמַלֵּאת בִּדְשָׁאִים:

תדשא הארץ. תִּתְמַלֵּא וְתִתְכַּסֶּה לְבוּשׁ עֲשָׂבִים. בִּלְשׁוֹן לַעַז נִקְרָא דֶּשֶׁא ארבריץ, כֻּלָן בְּעִרְבּוּבְיָא, וְכָל שֹׁרֶשׁ לְעַצְמוֹ נִקְרָא עֵשֶׂב:

מזריע זרע. שֶׁיְּגַדֵּל בּוֹ זַרְעוֹ לִזְרֹעַ מִמֶּנוּ בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר:

עץ פרי. שֶׁיְּהֵא טַעַם הָעֵץ כְּטַעַם הַפְּרִי, וְהִיא לֹא עָשְׂתָה כֵן, אֶלָּא וַתּוֹצֵא הָאָרֶץ עֵץ עוֹשֶׂה פְּרִי וְלֹא הָעֵץ פְּרִי, לְפִיכָךְ כְּשֶׁנִּתְקַלֵּל אָדָם עַל עֲוֹנוֹ נִפְקְדָה גַם הִיא עַל עֲוֹנָהּ וְנִתְקַלְּלָה:

אשר זרעו בו. הֵן גַרְעִינֵי כָל פְּרִי שֶׁמֵּהֶן הָאִילָן צוֹמֵחַ כְּשֶׁנּוֹטְעִין אוֹתוֹ:

א׳:י"א אור החיים

1וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים תַּדְשֵׁא וְגוֹ׳. רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (חולין ס.) אָמְרוּ שֶׁהֲגַם שֶׁלֹּא אָמַר הַבּוֹרֵא ״לְמִינוֹ״ אֶלָּא לָעֵץ, נָשְׂאוּ הַדְּשָׁאִים קַל וָחוֹמֶר וְכוּ׳. וְקָשֶׁה, כִּי לְסֵדֶר הַכָּתוּב הִקְדִּים ה׳ דְּבָרָיו עַל הַדְּשָׁאִים, וְאִם כֵּן לָמָּה נִתְעַכְּבוּ מִלָּצֵאת תֵּכֶף סָמוּךְ מַמָּשׁ לְמַאֲמַר ה׳ עַד שֶׁגָּמַר ה׳ אֹמֶר לְהוֹצִיא עֵץ שֶׁמִּמֶּנּוּ נָשְׂאוּ קַל וָחוֹמֶר. וּלְפִי מַה שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי בְּפָסוּק ״בְּרֵאשִׁית״ כִּי כָל מָקוֹם שֶׁיֹּאמַר דְּבַר גְּבוּרוֹת בְּשֵׁם אֱלֹהִים יְדַבֵּר בְּדִבּוּר אֶחָד כָּל הַמַּאֲמָר, אִם כֵּן לֹא הָיְתָה הַקְדָּמָה לַדְּשָׁאִים קוֹדֶם לָעֵץ.

And God said, "let the grass be put forth, etc.": The rabbis, of blessed memory, said (Chullin 60a) that even if the Creator said "according to its specie" only to the trees, the grasses brought up an a fortiori argument (kal vechomer), etc. [that they too should spring forth according to their own specie]. And [this] is difficult, since in the order of the verse, God had His words to the grasses precede [those to the trees]; and, if so, why did they delay from coming out immediately [and] exactly adjacent to the statement of God, until [after] God finished saying to bring forth trees, from which they raised the a fortiori argument? And according to what I have explained on the verse, "In the beginning" - that in every place that He speaks of a matter of strength with the name Elohim, He speaks the whole statement in one word; if so - there was no precedence [of the words] to the grasses before the tree.

א׳:י"ב וַתּוֹצֵ֨א הָאָ֜רֶץ דֶּ֠שֶׁא עֵ֣שֶׂב מַזְרִ֤יעַ זֶ֙רַע֙ לְמִינֵ֔הוּ וְעֵ֧ץ עֹֽשֶׂה־פְּרִ֛י אֲשֶׁ֥ר זַרְעוֹ־ב֖וֹ לְמִינֵ֑הוּ וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי־טֽוֹב׃

1:12 The earth brought forth vegetation: seed-bearing plants of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that this was good.

1:12 And the earth brought forth grass, herb yielding seed after its kind, and tree bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, after its kind; and God saw that it was good.

א׳:י"ב וְאַפֵּקַת אַרְעָא דִּיתְאָה עִסְבָּא דְּבַר זַרְעֵהּ מִזְדְּרַע לִזְנוֹהִי וְאִילַן עָבֵד פֵּירִין דְּבַר זַרְעֵהּ בֵּהּ לִזְנוֹהִי וַחֲזָא יְיָ אֲרֵי טָב:

ותוצא הארץ וגו'. אַעַ"פִּ שֶׁלֹּא נֶאֱמַר לְמִינֵהוּ בַּדְּשָׁאִין בְּצִוּוּיֵיהֶן, שָׁמְעוּ שֶׁנִּצְטַוּוּ הָאִילָנוֹת עַל כָּךְ, נָשְׂאוּ קַ"וָ בְּעַצְמָן, כַּמְּפֹרָשׁ בָּאַגָּדָה בִּשְׁחִיטַת חֻלִּין:

א׳:י"ב אור החיים

1וַתּוֹצֵא הָאָרֶץ וְגוֹ׳. אַחַר שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב ״וַיְהִי כֵן״ לֹא הָיָה צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר כָּל פָּסוּק זֶה, אֶלָּא הַטַּעַם הוּא לְהַשְׁמִיעֵנוּ ב׳ דְּבָרִים מְחֻדָּשִׁים – אֶחָד בַּדְּשָׁאִים וְאֶחָד בָּעֵץ. אֶחָד בַּדְּשָׁאִים שֶׁעָשׂוּ קַל וָחוֹמֶר וְיָצְאוּ לְמִינֵיהֶם. וְצָרִיךְ לָדַעַת לְאֵיזֶה עִנְיָן הוֹדִיעָנוּ הַכָּתוּב שֶׁלֹּא יָצְאוּ בְּעִרְבּוּבְיָא, וְאוּלַי כִּי לְהוֹדִיעֵנוּ בָּא שֶׁאֵין לְהַרְכִּיב דְּשָׁאִים זֶה בָּזֶה, וְכִדְבָּעֵי רָבִינָא בְּמַסֶּכֶת חֻלִּין (דף ס׳), וְזֶה לְשׁוֹנָם: הִרְכִּיב דְּשָׁאִים זֶה עַל גַּב זֶה לְרַבִּי חֲנִינָא בַּר פַּפָּא מַהוּ, כֵּיוָן דְּלֹא כְּתִיב בְּהוּ ״לְמִינֵהוּ״ וְכוּ׳, אוֹ דִּלְמָא כֵּיוָן דְּהִסְכִּים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אַיְדַיְהוּ כְּמַאן דִּכְתִיב בָּהֶֶן לְמִינֵהוּ דָּמְיָא – תֵּיקוּ, עַד כָּאן. וּפֵרֵשׁ רַשִׁ״י בְּדִבּוּר הַמַּתְחִיל ״לְרַבִּי חֲנִינָא״ וְזֶה לְשׁוֹנוֹ: דְּאָמַר מִדַּעְתָּן יָצְאוּ לְמִינֵיהֶם וְלֹא נִצְטַוּוּ עַל כָּךְ, עַד כָּאן. מַשְׁמַע מִדְּבָרָיו דְּהַשַּׁ״ס סוֹבֵר כִּי מִן הַסְּתָם נִצְטַוּוּ עַל כָּךְ, וַהֲגַם שֶׁלֹּא הֻזְכַּר בְּפֵרוּשׁ סָמוּךְ לַדְּשָׁאִים, מַה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב ״לְמִינוֹ״ לְבַסּוֹף חוֹזֵר עַל הָעֵץ וְעַל הַדֶּשֶׁא. וְהִנֵּה לְפִי דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בַּר פַּפָּא דְּלֹא אָמַר ה׳ ״לְמִינֵהוּ״ אֶלָּא לָעֵץ וְהַדְּשָׁאִים נָשְׂאוּ קַל וָחוֹמֶר, הִשְׁמִיעָנוּ הַכָּתוּב בְּמַה שֶׁחָזַר לוֹמַר ״וַתּוֹצֵא הָאָרֶץ״ שֶׁהַדְּשָׁאִים נָשְׂאוּ הַקַּל וָחוֹמֶר. וּלְמַאי דְּסוֹבֵר הַשַּׁ״ס, אִם לֹא הָיָה דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בַּר פַּפָּא שֶׁאָמְרוֹ ״לְמִינוֹ״ חוֹזֵר גַּם עַל הַדְּשָׁאִים, נִרְאֶה כִּי יַשְׁמִיעֵנוּ שֶׁהַדְּשָׁאִים הֵבִינוּ הַדְּבָרִים עַל בּוּרְיָן, שֶׁמַּה שֶׁאָמַר ״לְמִינוֹ״ גַּם עַל הַדְּשָׁאִים הוּא אוֹמֵר, וְזֶה לֹא הָיָה מוּבָן לָנוּ מִפָּסוּק רִאשׁוֹן. וַהֲגַם שֶׁאָמַר בַּפָּסוּק רִאשׁוֹן ״וַיְהִי כֵן״, אַף עַל פִּי כֵן אֵין מוּבָן אָמְרוֹ ״לְמִינוֹ״ אִם חוֹזֵר לְכָל הָאָמוּר בַּפָּסוּק, וּבָא הַכָּתוּב הַב׳ וְהִכְרִיעַ שֶׁחוֹזֵר אָמְרוֹ ״לְמִינֵהוּ״ לְכָל הָאָמוּר בַּכָּתוּב. וּמִכָּאן אַתָּה לָמֵד שֶׁבְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁיֹּאמַר ה׳ כְּסֵדֶר הַדְּבָרִים הַנֶּאֱמָרִים בְּעִנְיָן זֶה, שֶׁפֵּרוּשׁ דְּבָרָיו הֵם כְּמוֹ שֶׁפָּעֲלוּ הַדְּשָׁאִים.

And the earth brought forth, etc.: Since Scripture stated "and it was so," the whole [rest of] this verse was not needed, but rather the reason [for it] is to make us understand two novel things, one with the grasses and one with trees. The one with the grasses is that they made an a fortiori argument (kal vechomer) and came out according to their specie. And we need to know for what reason the verse needed to inform us that they didn't come out mixed up. And maybe it comes to inform us that we should not graft grasses one onto another, as Ravina asks in Tractate Chullin 60b, and these are their words, "If he grafts grasses one onto another, according to Rabbi Chaninah ben Papa, what is [the law]? Since it is not written about them, [the Divine decree of] 'according to their species' etc. or maybe since God agreed with them, it is similar to it being written, 'according to their species?' It stands [and is not resolved]" And Rashi explains (s.v. to Rabbi Chaninah) and these are his words, "who said that, from their own volition did they come out according to their species, and they weren't commanded about it." It is implied from his words, that the Talmud's [default] position is that it is likely that they were [also] commanded about this; and even if it is not mentioned explicitly adjacent to the grasses, when the verse states, "to its specie" at the end, it refers back to the trees and the grasses. And behold, according to the words of Rabbi Chaninah bar Papa, that God did not say, "according to their species" except to the trees, and [that] the grasses made an a fortiori argument, the verse, when it goes back to say "and the earth brought forth," comes to let us hear that the grasses made an a fortiori argument. And according to the Talmud's [default] position - if it weren't for the words of Rabbi Chaninah bar Papa - that its stating, "according to its specie" [in the previous verse] refers back also to the grasses, it appears that it comes to let us hear that the grasses understood the words of the verse correctly - [meaning] that what it stated, "according to its specie" [in the previous verse] is stated also about the grasses; and this was not understood to us from the first verse [before this one]. And even if it stated in the first verse "and it was so," nonetheless, it is not clear if its stating "according to its specie" refers back to everything mentioned in the verse. And the second verse comes and determines that its stating "according to its specie" refers back to everything mentioned in the verse. And from here you learn that in every place where God speaks in the order of the words that are spoken in this matter, that the understanding of his words is like that which the grasses did.

2וְהוֹדִיעָנוּ הַכָּתוּב בְּמִפְעַל הוֹצָאַת הָעֵץ, כִּי הָאָרֶץ לֹא קִיְּמָה מַאֲמַר הַבּוֹרֵא, שֶׁהוּא אָמַר לָהּ ״עֵץ פְּרִי״ – שֶׁעֵץ עַצְמוֹ יִהְיֶה טַעְמוֹ כְּטַעַם פְּרִי, וְהִיא הוֹצִיאָה ״עֵץ עוֹשֶׂה פְּרִי״, וְלֹא כֵן הָעֵץ עַצְמוֹ.

And the verse let us know that in the actions of the tree, the earth did not fulfill the proclamation of the Creator, since He said to it, "fruit-tree;" that the taste of the tree itself should have a taste like the taste of the fruit, and it brought out a "tree that makes fruit," and the tree was not like [the fruit].

3וְאֶל זֶה אַבִּיט אֵיךְ תִּמְרֹד הָאָרֶץ בְּרוֹקַע הָאָרֶץ, וּמַה גַּם כִּי אֵין לָהּ יֵצֶר הָרַע, שֶׁלֹּא הוֹכִיחוּ חֲכָמִים (ברכות סא.) שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהּ יֵצֶר הָרַע כִּי אִם לַבְּהֵמָה מִדְּבָעֲטָה וְכוּ׳, וּפֵרַשְׁנוּהוּ בִּמְקוֹמוֹ (בספר חפץ ה׳) כִּי לְצַד שֶׁהִיא צְרִיכָה לְחוּשׁ הַיֵּצֶר לְהִזָּקֵק עָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לָהּ יֵצֶר הַמְחַמֵּם, אֲבָל הָאָרֶץ לֹא מָצִינוּ לָהּ שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהּ יֵצֶר הָרַע שֶׁיְּסִיתָהּ לִמְרֹד מֶרֶד לַעֲבֹר פִּי ה׳.

And about this I [wonder], how can the earth rebel against the 'Rider of the earth?' And especially since it is has no evil instinct; as the Sages (Berakhot 61a) did not prove that it has an evil instinct, but rather only animals [are shown to an evil instinct], since they kick, etc. and we have explained this in its place (in the book, Chafets Hashem): from the angle that [an animal] requires the impetus of the impulse to mate, the Holy One, blessed be He, made for it an impulse that heats [it up]; but [regarding] the earth, we have not found that it has an evil impulse to incite it to rebel [and] transgress against the mouth of God.

4עוֹד יֵשׁ לַחְקֹר זֹאת, כִּי לֹא מָצִינוּ מֻזְכָּר בַּבְּרִיאָה שֶׁאָמַר הַשֵּׁם שֶׁתּוֹצִיא הָאָרֶץ אִילָנֵי סְרָק לְתַשְׁמִישׁ עֵצִים, וְאָנוּ רוֹאִים שֶׁגִּדְּלָה בְּחִינַת הָעֵצִים שֶׁהֵם בָּעוֹלָם אֵין קֵץ, רַבּוּ מֵאִילָנֵי פֵּרוֹת. וְלָזֶה אֶפְשָׁר לוֹמַר כִּי קוֹדֶם קִלְלַת הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אֵרְרָהּ הַשֵּׁם, הָיוּ כָּל הָאִילָנוֹת עוֹשִׂים פֵּרוֹת, אֶלָּא אַחַר שֶׁקִּלֵּל הָאֲדָמָה נִתְמַעֵט כֹּחָהּ וְלֹא הָיוּ כָּל הָאִילָנוֹת עוֹשִׂים פֵּרוֹת, אֶלָּא קוֹצִים וְדַרְדָּרִים.

Also to be investigated is that we do not find mentioned in the creation, that God said that the earth should bring forth fruitless trees for the use of their wood; and we see that this type of tree has grown [to the point that] there is no end to them in the world and they have outnumbered the fruit trees. To this, it is possible to say that before the curse of the earth - which God cursed - all the trees produced fruit; but after God cursed the earth, its strength was reduced, and not all of the trees would produce fruit, but rather 'thorns and brambles.'

5אָכֵן פֵּרוּשָׁן שֶׁל דְּבָרִים הוּא כִּי הָאָרֶץ דִּקְדְּקָה בְּחָכְמַת ה׳ אֲשֶׁר יָסַד בָּהּ, דִּכְתִיב (משלי ג:יט) ״בְּחָכְמָה יָסַד אָרֶץ״, דִּקְדְּקָה מַאֲמַר ה׳ לָהּ שֶׁתּוֹצִיא עֵץ פְּרִי עוֹשֶׂה פְּרִי שֶׁסּוֹבֵל ב׳ דְּרָכִים: הָאֶחָד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הָעֵץ טַעְמוֹ כְּטַעַם פִּרְיוֹ, שֶׁאָז תִּהְיֶה הַכַּוָּנָה שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הָעֵץ פְּרִי וְגַם עוֹשֶׂה פְּרִי. וּמֵאָמְרוֹ ״עוֹשֶׂה פְּרִי״ פֵּרְשָׁה דֶּרֶךְ אַחֵר, שֶׁהַכַּוָּנָה הוּא עַל זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ: עֵץ פְּרִי לְבַד וְעוֹשֶׂה פְּרִי לְבַד, פֵּרוּשׁ עֵץ שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה פְּרִי לְבַד מֵהָרִאשׁוֹן וְהֵם ב׳ מִינִים. וְטַעַם שֶׁלֹּא אָמַר ״וְעוֹשֶׂה פְּרִי״ בְּוָא״ו שֶׁלֹּא לְהָבִין שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הָעֵץ עַצְמוֹ פְּרִי וְעוֹד לוֹ שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה פְּרִי. גַּם בְּמַשְׁמָעוּת ״עֵץ פְּרִי״ יֵשׁ בָּהּ ב׳ דְּרָכִים: הָא׳ עֵץ שֶׁהוּא עַצְמוֹ פְּרִי, וְהַב׳ שֶׁהוּא רָאוּי לַעֲשׂוֹת פְּרִי וְהוּא אֵינוֹ עוֹשֶׂה פְּרִי. וְנִתְחַכְּמָה הָאֲדָמָה וְהוֹצִיאָה ג׳ מִינִים הַנִּשְׁמָעִים בְּדִבְרֵי ה׳ לְרוֹב זְרִיזוּתָהּ: הָא׳ הֵם אִילָנוֹת שֶׁעוֹשִׂים פֵּרוֹת וְאֵין טַעַם עֵצָם כְּטַעַם פִּרְיָם, וְהַב׳ שֶׁעוֹשִׂים פֵּרוֹת וְטַעַם עֵצוֹ כְּטַעַם פִּרְיוֹ וְהוּא עֵץ הַדַּעַת טוֹב וָרָע שֶׁאָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (בראשית רבה פרשה טו) שֶׁהָיָה טַעַם עֵצוֹ כְּטַעַם פִּרְיוֹ, וְהַג׳ הוּא עֵץ שֶׁהוּא דּוֹמֶה לְעֵץ פְּרִי וְהֵם אִילָנֵי סְרָק, וַהֲרֵי הִיא נִזְדָּרְזָה לַעֲשׂוֹת כָּל הַנִּשְׁמָע. וְהוּא שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב וַתּוֹצֵא הָאָרֶץ דֶּשֶׁא וְגוֹ׳ וְעֵץ עֹשֶׂה פְּרִי, דִּקְדֵּק לוֹמַר וְעֵץ בְּתוֹסֶפֶת וָא״ו לְלֹא צֹרֶךְ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכֵּן דִּבֵּר הַכָּתוּב בְּסָמוּךְ בְּדִבְרֵי ה׳ שֶׁלֹּא הֻצְרַךְ לוֹמַר ״וְעֵץ״ בְּתוֹסֶפֶת ו׳. נִתְכַּוֵּן הַכָּתוּב לוֹמַר מִלְּבַד שְׁאָר עֵצִים שֶׁהוֹצִיאָה, הוֹצִיאָה עוֹד עֵץ עוֹשֶׂה פְּרִי. וְכָאן רִבָּה עֵץ פְּרִי שֶׁאָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה שֶׁעֵץ הַדַּעַת הָיָה טַעַם עֵצוֹ כְּטַעַם פִּרְיוֹ. וְאֶפְשָׁר דְּכָלַל גַּם כֵּן עֵצִים שֶׁאֵינָם עוֹשִׂים פְּרִי שֶׁיֶּשְׁנָם בָּעוֹלָם, לִכְשֶׁנֹּאמַר שֶׁהָיוּ קֹדֶם קִלְלַת הָאֲדָמָה. וְטַעַם שֶׁקִּלֵּל ה׳ הָאֲדָמָה לְמַאן דְּאָמַר עַל אֲשֶׁר שִׁנְּתָה אֲפָרֵשׁ בִּמְקוֹמוֹ בְּסִיַּעְתָּא דִשְׁמַיָּא.

In fact, the explanation of [these] things is that the earth was exacting about the wisdom of God with which He founded it, as it is written (Proverbs 3:19), "with wisdom did He found the earth." It was exact about the proclamation of God to it, that it should bring forth "a fruit tree, that makes fruit," [since] it can [be understood] in two different ways: the first is that the taste of the tree be like the taste of the fruit, hence the intention would be that the tree should be fruit and also make fruit. But from its stating, "that makes fruit," [the earth] explained it in a different way; that the intention would be in the following manner; 'the fruit tree' would be one thing and 'that makes fruit' would be another thing, the explanation [of which is] a tree that makes fruit that are different than the [tree] and they are two separate [things]; and the reason it did not state, "and that makes fruit" with a [conjunctive letter] vav, is so as not be understood that the tree itself be a fruit, as well as making fruit. There are also two ways of understanding fruit tree: the first is that the tree itself is a fruit; and the second is that it is fitting to make fruit but does not [actually] make fruit. And due to its great alacrity, the ground attempted to be wise and put out three [different] types [of tree] that can be understood from the words of God: the first are trees that make fruit and the taste of its tree is not like the taste of its fruit; the second are [trees] that make fruit and the taste of its tree is like the taste of its fruit, and that is the tree of knowledge of good and evil, about which they, of blessed memory, said (Bereishit Rabbah 15:7) that the taste of its tree was like the taste of its fruit; and the third is a tree that is similar to a fruit tree, and these are the fruitless trees. And behold, [the earth] responded with alacrity to do everything that [could be] understood [from the words of the verse]. And that is [why] the verse states, "And the earth brought forth grasses, etc. and a tree that makes fruit;" it was exact to state "and a tree" with the addition of a [conjunctive letter] vav for no [apparent] reason, which is how the adjacent verse [about the] words of God is expressed [without the vav] and did not [find a] need to state, "and a tree" with the addition of a vav. The verse intended to say that besides the other trees that it brought forth, it also brought forth another tree that makes fruit, and [with this] it included the fruit-tree, as they, of blessed memory said, that the taste of the tree of knowledge was like the taste of its fruit. And it is possible that it also included trees that do not make fruit that exist in the world, if we will say that they [existed] before the curse of the ground. And I will explain in its place, with the help of Heaven, the reason that God cursed the ground, according to the opinion that it was because it deviated [from His command].

א׳:י"ג וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם שְׁלִישִֽׁי׃ (פ)

1:13 And there was evening and there was morning, a third day.

א׳:י"ג וַהֲוָה רְמַשׁ וַהֲוָה צְפַר יוֹם תְּלִיתָאִי:

א׳:י"ד וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים יְהִ֤י מְאֹרֹת֙ בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם לְהַבְדִּ֕יל בֵּ֥ין הַיּ֖וֹם וּבֵ֣ין הַלָּ֑יְלָה וְהָי֤וּ לְאֹתֹת֙ וּלְמ֣וֹעֲדִ֔ים וּלְיָמִ֖ים וְשָׁנִֽים׃

1:14 God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate day from night; they shall serve as signs for the set times—the days and the years;

1:14 And God said: ‘Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years;

א׳:י"ד וַאֲמַר יְיָ יְהוֹן נְהוֹרִין בִּרְקִיעָא דִּשְׁמַיָּא לְאַפְרָשָׁא בֵּין יְמָמָא וּבֵין לֵילְיָא וִיהוֹן לְאָתִין וּלְזִמְנִין וּלְמִימְנֵי בְהוֹן יוֹמִין וּשְׁנִין:

יהי מארת וגו'. מִיֹּום רִאשׁוֹן נִבְרְאוּ וּבָרְבִיעִי צִוָּה עֲלֵיהֶם לְהִתָּלוֹת בָּרָקִיעַ, וְכֵן כָּל תּוֹלְדוֹת שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ נִבְרְאוּ מִיּוֹם רִאשׁוֹן, וְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד נִקְבַּע בַּיוֹם שֶׁנִּגְזַר עָלָיו, הוּא שֶׁכָּתוּב אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם, לְרַבּוֹת תּוֹלְדוֹתֵיהֶם, וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ, לְרַבּוֹת תּוֹלְדוֹתֶיהָ:

יהי מארת. חָסֵר וָי"ו כְּתִיב, עַל שֶׁהוּא יוֹם מְאֵרָה לִפֹּל אַסְכָּרָה בַּתִּינוֹקוֹת, הוּא שֶׁשָּׁנִינוּ בְּד' הָיוּ מִתְעַנִּים עַל אַסְכָּרָה שֶׁלֹּא תִפֹּל בַּתִּינוֹקוֹת:

להבדיל בין היום ובין הלילה. מִשֶּׁנִּגְנַז הָאוֹר הָרִאשׁוֹן, אֲבָל בְּשִׁבְעַת יְמֵי בְרֵאשִׁית שִׁמְּשׁוּ הָאוֹר וְהַחֹשֶׁךְ הָרִאשׁוֹנִים יַחַד בֵּין בַּיּוֹם וּבֵין בַּלַּיְלָה:

והיו לאותות. כְּשֶׁהַמְּאוֹרוֹת לוֹקִין, סִימָן רַע הוּא לָעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר מֵאֹתוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם אַל תֵּחָתּוּ (ירמיה י'), בַּעֲשׂוֹתְכֶם רְצוֹן הַקָּבָּ"ה אֵין אַתֶּם צְרִיכִין לִדְאֹג מִן הַפֻּרְעָנוּת:

ולמועדים. עַל שֵׁם הֶעָתִיד, שֶׁעֲתִידִים יִשְׂרָאֵל לְהִצְטַוּוֹת עַל הַמּוֹעֲדוֹת וְהֵם נִמְנִים לְמוֹלַד הַלְּבָנָה:

ולימים. שִׁמּוּשׁ הַחַמָּה חֲצִי יוֹם וְשִׁמּוּשׁ הַלְּבָנָה חֶצְיוֹ, הֲרֵי יוֹם שָׁלֵם:

ושנים. לְסוֹף שס"ה יָמִים (ס"א וּרְבִיעַ יוֹם), יִגְמְרוּ מַהֲלָכָתָם בְּי"ב מַזָּלוֹת הַמְשָׁרְתִים אוֹתָם, וְהִיא שָׁנָה, וְחוֹזְרִים וּמַתְחִילִים פַּעַם שְׁנִיָּה לְסַבֵּב בַּגַּלְגַּל כְּמַהֲלָכָן הָרִאשׁוֹן:

א׳:י"ד אור החיים

1וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי מְאוֹרוֹת. טַעַם אָמְרוֹ יְהִי לְשׁוֹן יָחִיד עַל ב׳, בָּזֶה רָמַז כִּי אֶחָד מֵהֶם הוּא הַמֵּאִיר בַּיּוֹם, וְלָזֶה לֹא אָמַר לְשׁוֹן רַבִּים. וּבְאֶמְצָעוּת שֶׁדִּבֵּר ה׳ בְּדֶרֶךְ זֶה הוּא שֶׁהָיָה מַה שֶׁהָיָה בְּתַכְלִית הַדָּבָר שֶׁנִּתְמַעֲטָה הַיָּרֵחַ, כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (חולין ס:) כִּי אִם הָיָה ה׳ אוֹמֵר פֶּתַח דְּבָרָיו ״יִהְיוּ מְאוֹרוֹת״ בְּהֶכְרֵחַ הָיָה הַדָּבָר עוֹמֵד כֵּן, כִּי דְּבַר אֱלֹהֵינוּ יָקוּם לְעוֹלָם.

And God said, "let there be luminaries:" The reason for it saying, "let there be," in the singular form, about two [luminaries] is to hint with this that [only] one of them would shine during the day, and for this reason it did not use the plural form. And through God speaking in this way, it allowed for the thing that happened to result in the moon getting reduced - as they, of blessed memory, stated (Chullin 60b) - since if God had said at the beginning of His words, "let [them] be," the matter would have stood like that [with their size being equal] perforce, because the word of Our God stands forever.

2עוֹד נִרְאֶה בְּהָעִיר עוֹד, אָמְרוֹ לְהַבְדִּיל בֵּין הַיּוֹם וּבֵין הַלַּיְלָה, אִם הַמְּאוֹרוֹת שָׁוִים הֵם וְאֶחָד יְשַׁמֵּשׁ בַּיּוֹם וְאֶחָד יְשַׁמֵּשׁ בַּלַּיְלָה, בַּמֶּה יֻכַּר לַיְלָה מִיּוֹם כֵּיוָן שֶׁלַּיְלָה כַּיּוֹם יָאִיר?

It also appears, in its making a point of stating, "to separate between the day and between the night," [to be saying that] if the luminaries were equal and one of them serves during the day and one serves during the night, in what way could night be distinguishable from day, since night 'shines like the day?'

3אָכֵן יִרְצֶה הַכָּתוּב, לֶהֱיוֹת שֶׁקָּדַם בְּיוֹם רִאשׁוֹן וּבָרָא הָאוֹר, וְתִמְצָא שֶׁאָמַר בְּפָרָשָׁה רִאשׁוֹנָה ה׳ פְּעָמִים ״אוֹר״, וְרָמְזוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (תיקונים ה) כִּי ה׳ אוֹרוֹת נִבְרְאוּ וְהִבְדִּילָם ה׳ לְנַחֲלָתוֹ לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא לַצַּדִּיקִים, וְהֵן עַתָּה בְּיוֹם רְבִיעִי הֶאֱצִיל מֵהָאוֹרוֹת חֵלֶק הַמַּסְפִּיק לָעוֹלָם וּתְלָאוֹ בִּרְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמַיִם, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ יְהִי מְאֹרֹת פֵּרוּשׁ יְהִי חֵלֶק אֶחָד מֵאוֹרוֹת הַנִּבְרָאִים בְּיוֹם רִאשׁוֹן, וְהִתְנָה שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיוּ קְבוּעִים אֶלָּא שֶׁיְּסוֹבְבוּ, כְּדֵי שֶׁבְּאֶמְצָעוּת הַסִּבּוּב יֻכַּר יוֹם וָלַיְלָה, וְזֶה עָשָׂה לְסִימַן הַכָּרַת הַיָּמִים הַמְקֻדָּשִׁים, כְּאָמְרוֹ לְאֹתֹת וּלְמוֹעֲדִים וְגוֹ׳, וּכְשֶׁנֶּאֱצַל הַמָּאוֹר נֶאֶצְלוּ ב׳ חֲלָקִים וּשְׁנֵיהֶם לְשַׁמֵּשׁ מִדַּת יוֹם נִבְרְאוּ. וְלָזֶה תִּמְצָא (חולין ס:) שֶׁטָּעֲנָה הַיָּרֵחַ, אִי אֶפְשָׁר לִשְׁנֵי מְלָכִים לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בְּכֶתֶר אֶחָד, פֵּרוּשׁ בִּזְמַן אֶחָד, וְכָךְ הוּבָא בְּדִבְרֵי רַבּוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁאִם גְּבוּלוֹ שֶׁל יָרֵחַ הָיָה בַּלַּיְלָה וְשֶׁל שֶׁמֶשׁ בַּיּוֹם, אֵין כֶּתֶר אֶחָד לִשְׁנֵיהֶם אֶלָּא כָּל אֶחָד גְּבוּלוֹ בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ. וְכֵן תִּמְצָא שֶׁאָמַר ״וְהָיוּ לִמְאוֹרֹת בִּרְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמַיִם לְהָאִיר עַל הָאָרֶץ״ בְּלֹא קְבִיעוּת זְמַן.

Indeed, the verse [also] wants [to teach] that - given that He preceded on the first day to create the light and you will find that it states [the word] light five times in the first section; and the Rabbis, of blessed memory, hinted (Bereishit Rabbah 3:6) that five lights were created and God separated them for His inheritance in the future, for the righteous ones, and then - now on the fourth day, He emanated from the lights a portion sufficient for the world and suspended it in the firmament of the skies; and that is [why] it states, let there be luminaries (meohrot, which can also be understood as 'from the lights'), the explanation of which is that it be one portion from the lights that were created on the first day. And He embedded that they should not be fixed but should rotate, such that through their rotation, night and day be distinguishable, and this He did as a sign for the recognition of the holy days, as it states it, "for signs and for appointed times etc. And when the luminary was emanated, two [different] parts were emanated and both of them were created to serve the purposes of day. And this is why you will find (Chullin 60b) that the moon claimed that it it impossible for two kings to use one crown, the explanation [of the 'one crown'] is at one time, and this is how it is brought in the words of our Rabbis; because if the boundary of the moon had been the night and that of the sun, the day, there is not [here] one crown for both of them, but [rather] each one has a boundary of its own. And so you will find that it states, "and they will be for luminaries in the firmament of the skies to shine on the earth," without [mention] of the setting of a time.

א׳:ט"ו וְהָי֤וּ לִמְאוֹרֹת֙ בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם לְהָאִ֖יר עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן׃

1:15 and they shall serve as lights in the expanse of the sky to shine upon the earth.” And it was so.

1:15 and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth.’ And it was so.

א׳:ט"ו וִיהוֹן לִנְהוֹרִין בִּרְקִיעָא דִּשְׁמַיָּא לְאַנְהָרָא עַל אַרְעָא וַהֲוָה כֵן:

והיו למאורת. עוֹד זֹאת יְשַׁמְּשׁוּ, שֶׁיָּאִירוּ לָעוֹלָם:

א׳:ט"ו אור החיים

1וְהָיוּ לִמְאוֹרֹת וְגוֹ׳. מַשְׁמָעוּת הַכָּתוּב יַגִּיד כִּי צִוָּה ה׳ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה אוֹר הַמְּאוֹרוֹת בּוֹקֵעַ בַּשָּׁמַיִם, וְעוֹד לוֹ שֶׁיָּאִיר בָּאָרֶץ, פֵּרוּשׁ שֶׁיָּאִירוּ הַמְּאוֹרוֹת בְּכָל הֶקֵּף הַשָּׁמַיִם וְגַם יַגִּיעַ אוֹרָם עַד לְמַטָּה לָאָרֶץ. עוֹד יִרְצֶה כִּי הֱכִינָם ה׳ שֶׁיָּאִירוּ תֹּקֶף אוֹרָן בָּרָקִיעַ, וּמֵהָאוֹר הַמִּתְפַּשֵּׁט בָּרָקִיעַ תָּאִיר אֶרֶץ, כִּי אֵין כֹּחַ בָּאָרֶץ לִסְבֹּל תֹּקֶף אוֹר הַמְּאוֹרוֹת, וְהוּא שֶׁדִּקְדֵּק לוֹמַר לִמְאוֹרֹת בִּרְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמַיִם, פֵּרוּשׁ כִּי שָׁם יָאִירוּ, וְאָמְרוֹ לְהָאִיר עַל הָאָרֶץ, פֵּרוּשׁ כִּי מֵאוֹר הַבָּהִיר בַּשְּׁחָקִים תָּאִיר אֶרֶץ.

And they will be for luminaries: The meaning of the verse is to tell that God commanded the light of the luminaries to break through the heavens and also to illuminate the earth; the explanation [of which] is that the luminaries should illuminate the entire expanse of the heavens and that their lights should also reach down until the earth. Also, it means [to teach] that God set them up, such that the strength of their light is in the heavens, and from that light that spreads out in the heavens, the earth is illuminated; as the earth does not have the power to withstand the strength of the light of the luminaries. And that is why it is exact to say, "to the luminaries in the firmament of the skies," the explanation [of which] is that they illuminate there; and its stating, "to illuminate on the earth," the explanation [of which] is that from the clear light of the skies is the earth illuminated.

2וּלְדִבְרֵיהֶם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (חגיגה יב:) כִּי הַמְּאוֹרוֹת בָּרָקִיעַ ב׳, אֵין מְאוֹר הַמְּאוֹרוֹת בּוֹקֵעַ אֶלָּא בַּשָּׁמַיִם, וְהַשָּׁמַיִם ב׳ הֵם מְאִירִים לָאָרֶץ. וּמַה שֶׁאָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (יומא כח:) ״יוֹמָא דְּעֵיבָא כּוּלֵּיהּ שִׁמְשָׁא״, אֵינוֹ מַכְחִישׁ דְּבָרֵינוּ, כִּי עַל כָּל פָּנִים מְקוֹם הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ, הֲגַם שֶׁמִּתְפַּשֵּׁט תּוֹקֶף הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ לַצְּדָדִין, יֵשׁ הֶבְדֵּל בֵּין מְקוֹם קְבִיעוּת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ תּוֹקֶף יוֹתֵר מִצְּדָדָיו, וְיוֹמָא דְּעֵיבָא חוֹזֵר פַּעַם ב׳ וּמִתְפַּשֵּׁט תּוֹקֶף הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ הַנִּשְׁאָר מְכֻוָּן כְּנֶגֶד הָאָרֶץ שִׁעוּר שֶׁתּוּכַל לִסְבּוֹל, חוֹזֵר וּמִתְפַּשֵּׁט בְּגוֹבַהּ הַשָּׁמַיִם בְּאֶמְצָעוּת הָעֲנָנִים, וְהַיְינוּ ״כּוּלֵּיהּ שִׁמְשָׁא״׃

And according to [the] words of [the Sages] (Chagigah 12:), of blessed memory, that the luminaries are in the second firmament, the luminaries only break through the [first] sky and the second sky shines upon the earth. And what they, of blessed memory, stated (Yoma 28b), "A cloudy day is full of sun," is not a contradiction to our words; since, in any case, even if the place of the sun spreads the power of the sun to its sides, there is a difference between [that] and the place that the sun is fixed, where it is more powerful. And a cloudy day goes back and spreads the power of the sun that remains directed at the earth - according to what [the earth] can endure - and, because of the clouds, spreads it at the top of the skies, and that is [what is meant by] "it is full of sun."

א׳:ט"ז וַיַּ֣עַשׂ אֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶת־שְׁנֵ֥י הַמְּאֹרֹ֖ת הַגְּדֹלִ֑ים אֶת־הַמָּא֤וֹר הַגָּדֹל֙ לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת הַיּ֔וֹם וְאֶת־הַמָּא֤וֹר הַקָּטֹן֙ לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת הַלַּ֔יְלָה וְאֵ֖ת הַכּוֹכָבִֽים׃

1:16 God made the two great lights, the greater light to dominate the day and the lesser light to dominate the night, and the stars.

1:16 And God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night; and the stars.

א׳:ט"ז וַעֲבַד יְיָ יָת תְּרֵין נְהוֹרַיָּא רַבְרְבַיָּא יָת נְהוֹרָא רַבָּא לְמִשְׁלַט בִּימָמָא וְיָת נְהוֹרָא זְעֵרָא לְמִשְׁלַט בְּלֵילְיָא וְיָת כּוֹכְבַיָּא:

המארת הגדולים. שָׁוִים נִבְרְאוּ וְנִתְמַעֲטָה הַלְּבָנָה עַל שֶׁקִּטְרְגָה וְאָמְרָה אִ"אֶ לִשְׁנֵי מְלָכִים שֶׁיִשְׁתַּמְּשׁוּ בְכֶתֶר אֶחָד:

ואת הכוכבים. עַל יְדֵי שֶׁמִּעֵט אֶת הַלְּבָנָה הִרְבָּה צְבָאָיהָ לְהָפִיס דַּעְתָּהּ:

א׳:ט"ז אור החיים

1וַיַּעַשׂ אֱלֹהִים וְגוֹ׳. טַעַם שֶׁלֹּא הִסְפִּיק בְּמַה שֶׁאָמַר כְּבָר ״וַיְהִי כֵן״ עַל כָּל הָאָמוּר, כִּי מַעֲשֶׂה זֶה הוּא מַעֲשֶׂה חָדָשׁ, שֶׁאַחַר שֶׁנִּתְמַעֲטָה הַיָּרֵחַ כָּאָמוּר בְּדִבְרֵיהֶם, תִּקֵּן הַשֵּׁם וְקָבַע מַעֲשֶׂה חָדָשׁ, שֶׁקָּבַע מֶמְשָׁלָה לַיָּרֵחַ בַּלַּיְלָה, כִּי בַּיּוֹם אֵין לָהּ מֶמְשָׁלָה לִפְנֵי אוֹר הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ, וְלִוָּה לָהּ הַכּוֹכָבִים. וְאֵין בָּזֶה הַפְכִּיּוּת לְמַה שֶׁאָמַר הַשֵּׁם בִּתְחִלַּת דְּבָרָיו, כִּי כְּבָר רָמַז אַחֲרִית דָּבָר מֵרֵאשִׁיתוֹ כְּמוֹ שֶׁדִּיַּקְתִּי בְּאָמְרוֹ ״יְהִי״. וַהֲגַם שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁנוּ אוֹתָהּ בְּאֹפֶן אַחֵר, סוֹבֶלֶת הִיא ב׳ הַפֵּרוּשִׁים.

And God made, etc.: And the reason that it did not suffice with that which it said earlier, "and it was so" upon all that is stated, is because the [act] here is a new act. Since, after the moon was reduced - as it is stated in their words (Chullin 60b) - God refined and fixed a new act [of creation]; since He fixed the rule of the moon by night - as it does not have rulership during the day in front of the light of the sun - and had the stars accompany it. And this is not in contradiction to that which God stated in the beginning of his words, since he already hinted to the end of [His] word at its beginning, as I [showed] by being precise, in its stating, "let there be" (in the singular to show that only one luminary would be great). And even if we explained it in a different way, [the text] supports two explanations.

א׳:י"ז וַיִּתֵּ֥ן אֹתָ֛ם אֱלֹהִ֖ים בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם לְהָאִ֖יר עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

1:17 And God set them in the expanse of the sky to shine upon the earth,

1:17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,

א׳:י"ז וִיהַב יָתְהוֹן יְיָ בִּרְקִיעָא דִּשְׁמַיָּא לְאַנְהָרָא עַל אַרְעָא:

א׳:י"ז אור החיים

1וַיִּתֵּן אוֹתָם. לֹא הִסְפִּיק לוֹמַר ״וַיְהִי כֵן״, כִּי רָצָה לְהוֹדִיעֵנוּ כִּי ה׳ נָתַן בְּתוֹרַת מַתְּנַת חִנָּם דָּבָר זֶה לְהָאִיר לָעוֹלָם, כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה בַּמִּדְרָשׁ (בראשית רבה פ״ו), יְעֻיַּן שָׁם. וְהַכַּוָּנָה בָּזֶה שֶׁהוֹדִיעָם כִּי אֵינָם מְאִירִים לָעוֹלָם לְצַד שֶׁרְאוּיִים לָאוֹר, דְּאִם כֵּן כָּל זְמַן שֶׁיִּרְאוּ הַמְּאוֹרוֹת כִּי יוֹשְׁבֵי תֵבֵל מַשְׁחִיתִים דַּרְכָּם יַאַסְפוּ נָגְהָם. גַּם בְּאֶמְצָעוּת אֵיזוֹ סִבָּה יַחְפְּצוּ לֶאֱסֹף נָגְהָם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ בַּמִּדְרָשׁ (פתיחתא לאיכה רבתי) שֶׁאָמַר מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם לַשֶּׁמֶשׁ בְּחֻרְבַּן הַבַּיִת: לָמָּה לֹא חָשַׁכְתְּ אוֹרֵךָ כְּשֶׁנִּכְנַס אוֹיֵב לְבֵית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ״ וְכוּ׳, לָזֶה אָמַר ה׳ כִּי הֵם נְתוּנִים לְהָאִיר עַל הָאָרֶץ, וּמֵעַתָּה אֵינָם בִּרְשׁוּת עַצְמָן וּמֻכְרָחִים הֵם בְּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם לְהָאִיר וְאֵין סִבָּה מוֹנַעַת. וּבָזֶה הֵאִירוּ עֵינֵינוּ לָמָּה חָזַר פַּעַם ב׳ הַכָּתוּב לוֹמַר וְלִמְשֹׁל בַּיּוֹם, הֲלֹא כְּבָר אָמַר ״הַמָּאוֹר הַגָּדוֹל לְמֶמְשֶׁלֶת הַיּוֹם״ וְגוֹ׳. וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (בראשית רבה פ״ו) דָּרְשׁוּ שֶׁהַכָּתוּב רוֹמֵז אֶל הַצַּדִּיקִים, יְעֻיַּן שָׁם דִּבְרֵיהֶם. אֲבָל לְפִי הַפְּשָׁט אֵין צֹרֶךְ לַחְזֹר וְלוֹמַר, וּלְדַרְכֵּנוּ הֻצְרַךְ לַחְזֹר וְלוֹמַר מִטַּעַם אָמְרוֹ ״וַיִּתֵּן״, כִּי נְתוּנִים נְתוּנִים הֵמָּה מֵעַתָּה הִנֵּה אֵינָם בִּרְשׁוּת עַצְמָן וְחִיּוּב אֲחֵרִים עֲלֵיהֶם, לָזֶה חָזַר וְאָמַר כִּי מֶמְשַׁלְתָּם בִּמְקוֹמָהּ עוֹמֶדֶת, אֶלָּא דַּוְקָא לִבְחִינָה זוֹ לְהָאִיר דַּוְקָא אֵין בְּיָדָם לְשַׁנּוֹת, אֲבָל בִּשְׁאָר הַמֶּמְשָׁלוֹת שֶׁיֶּשְׁנָם בַּיּוֹם וּבַלַּיְלָה הַמְיֻחָדִים לָהֶם הֵן הֵנָּה הַמּוֹשְׁלִים.

And He placed them: It did not suffice to say "and it was so," since it wanted to inform us that God gave this thing as a free present, to shine upon the world, as they, of blessed memory, have stated in the Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 6:5); see there. And the intention with this is that they informed [us] that [the luminaries] do not shine upon the [inhabitants of the] world because they are deserving of light; for if so, all the time that the luminaries would see that the inhabitants of the earth were corrupting their ways, they would refrain [from giving] their light. Also by way of another reason, they would want to refrain [from giving] their light, as they have stated in the Midrash (Introduction to Eicah Rabbati) that Moshe, our teacher, of blessed memory, said to the sun during the destruction of the Temple, why did you not darken your light when the enemy entered the Temple, etc. For this [reason], God said that they are placed to shine upon the earth, and from now [on], they are not in their own control and are required in their actions to shine upon the earth and no reason can prevent [it]. And through this, they enlightened our eyes, [regarding] why the verse repeated to say "and to rule over the day" a second time - was it not already stated, "the great luminary for the rulership of the day, etc.?" And our Rabbis, of blessed memory, expounded (Bereishit Rabbah 6:9) that the verse is hinting to the righteous - see their words there - but according to the simple understanding, there is no reason to repeat and state [it]. And according to our approach, there is a need to repeat it and state it, [since] it states, "and He placed" [which can also be understood as "and He gave"], since 'they, they are given, they are given;' [meaning that] from now, behold, they are not in their own control and the obligation of others is upon them; for this [reason], it goes back and states that their rulership stands in its place, except that specifically concerning this aspect of brightening [the earth] only, it is not in their hands to deviate, but concerning the other [aspects of] rulership that were designated for them over the day and over the night, [about these] they are [still] the rulers.

2וְטַעַם שֶׁחָזַר לוֹמַר עוֹד וּלְהַבְדִּיל, כָּאן צִוָּה לָהֶם שֶׁלֹּא יִכָּנְסוּ זֶה לְגָדֵר שֶׁל זֶה, וְכָל אֶחָד מְצֻוֶּה עַל גְּבוּלוֹ לְבַל יַעֲבֹר, שֶׁבָּזֶה יִהְיֶה נִכָּר יוֹם מִלַּיְלָה.

And the reason it repeats and again states, "and to separate," is that here He commanded them not to enter [past] the border of [the other] and each one is commanded not to trespass the border of the other, so that with this, day and night will be recognizable.

א׳:י"ח וְלִמְשֹׁל֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם וּבַלַּ֔יְלָה וּֽלֲהַבְדִּ֔יל בֵּ֥ין הָא֖וֹר וּבֵ֣ין הַחֹ֑שֶׁךְ וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי־טֽוֹב׃

1:18 to dominate the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that this was good.

1:18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good.

א׳:י"ח וּלְמִשְׁלַט בִּימָמָא וּבְלֵילְיָא וּלְאַפְרָשָׁא בֵּין נְהוֹרָא וּבֵין חֲשׁוֹכָא וַחֲזָא יְיָ אֲרֵי טָב:

א׳:י"ט וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם רְבִיעִֽי׃ (פ)

1:19 And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.

א׳:י"ט וַהֲוָה רְמַשׁ וַהֲוָה צְפַר יוֹם רְבִיעָאִי:

א׳:כ׳ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֔ים יִשְׁרְצ֣וּ הַמַּ֔יִם שֶׁ֖רֶץ נֶ֣פֶשׁ חַיָּ֑ה וְעוֹף֙ יְעוֹפֵ֣ף עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ עַל־פְּנֵ֖י רְקִ֥יעַ הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃

1:20 God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and birds that fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.”

1:20 And God said: ‘Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let fowl fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.’

א׳:כ׳ וַאֲמַר יְיָ יִרְחֲשׁוּן מַיָּא רְחֵשׁ נַפְשָׁא חַיְתָא וְעוֹפָא יְפָרַח עַל אַרְעָא עַל אַפֵּי רְקִיעָא דִּשְׁמַיָּא:

נפש חיה. שֶׁיְּהֵא בָהּ חַיּוּת:

שרץ. כָּל דָּבָר חַי שֶׁאֵינוֹ גָבוֹהַּ מִן הָאָרֶץ קָרוּי שֶׁרֶץ: בָּעוֹף, כְּגוֹן זְבוּבִים, בַּשְּׁקָצִים, כְּגוֹן נְמָלִים וְחִפּוּשִׁים וְתוֹלָעִים, בַּבְּרִיּוֹת, כְּגוֹן חֹלֶד וְעַכְבָּר וְחֹמֶט וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָהֶם, וְכָל הַדָּגִים:

א׳:כ׳ אור החיים

1וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יִשְׁרְצוּ וְגוֹ׳. פֵּרוּשׁ שֶׁיִּתְהַוּוּ מֵהַמַּיִם בְּרִיּוֹת, וְדָבָר זֶה אֵינוֹ בִּתְמִידוּת אֶלָּא בִּשְׁעַת מַאֲמַר הַבְּרִיאָה, וְאוֹתָם הַבְּרִיּוֹת שֶׁשָּׁרְצוּ הַמַּיִם עָמְדוּ לְעוֹלָם כְּמִין הַבְּהֵמִי אֲשֶׁר הוֹצִיאָה הָאָרֶץ, שֶׁלֹּא הוֹצִיאָה אֶלָּא בִּשְׁעַת הַמַּאֲמָר וְעָמְדוּ לְעוֹלָם כְּמִצְוַת ה׳ לָהֶם שֶׁיִּשְׁרְצוּ וְיִפְרוּ וְיִרְבּוּ. וְאָמְרוֹ שֶׁרֶץ נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה הֵם הַדָּגִים. וְאָמַר לְשׁוֹן שֶׁרֶץ לְהַפְרִישׁ בֵּינוֹ וּבֵין הַמְעוֹפֵף, כִּי זֶה אֵין לוֹ כֹּחַ אֶלָּא בְּסָמוּךְ מַמָּשׁ לָאָרֶץ, וְהַמְּעוֹפֵף יְעוֹפֵף עַל הָאָרֶץ וְאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לְהִסָּמֵךְ, וְעוֹד לוֹ שֶׁיַּגְבִּיהַּ עַד לַשָּׁמַיִם, כְּאָמְרוֹ ״עַל פְּנֵי רְקִיעַ״, וְזוּלַת מַאֲמָר זֶה לֹא הָיוּ הָעוֹפוֹת מַגְבִּיהִים עַד לַשָּׁמַיִם.

And God said, "let swarm, etc.": The explanation [of which] is that creatures should exist from the waters. And this thing is not constant, but [rather only] at the time of the proclamation of the creation, and those creatures that the waters swarmed stood forever - like the animal species which the earth brought forth [and] which it did not not bring forth except at the time of the proclamation [of their creation] and they stood forever - according to the commandment of God to them, that they should swarm and be fruitful and multiply. And its stating, "swarms of living souls;" these are the fish. And it used the expression, swarm, to distinguish between it and between [that] which flies, since [the fish] have no power except immediately adjacent to the earth, and [that] which flies, flies over the earth and does not need to be adjacent to it; and it is also [able to] climb up to the heavens, as it states, "upon the face of the firmament." And without this proclamation, the birds would not climb up to the heavens.

2וְאָמְרוֹ רְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמַיִם – פֵּרוּשׁ: רָקִיעַ הַנִּקְרָא שָׁמַיִם. וְאֵין לְהַקְשׁוֹת לְדִבְרֵיהֶם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה שֶׁאָמְרוּ (בראשית רבה פ״ו) וְזֶה לְשׁוֹנָם: הֵיכָן חַמָּה וּלְבָנָה? בְּרָקִיעַ ב׳, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיִּתֵּן אֹתָם אֱלֹהִים בִּרְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמָיִם״. מִקְרָא מָלֵא הוּא, וְאַנְשֵׁי כְּנֶסֶת הַגְּדוֹלָה פֵּרְשׁוּהָ (נחמיה ט:ו): ״אַתָּה עָשִׂיתָ אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם וּשְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם וְכָל צְבָאָם״, הֵיכָן הֵם צְבָאָם? בְּרָקִיעַ ב׳, עַד כָּאן. לְדִבְרֵיהֶם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה מַה יַּעֲנוּ בְּפָסוּק זֶה ״וְעוֹף יְעוֹפֵף עַל פְּנֵי רְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמָיִם״?

And its stating, "the firmament of the skies," the explanation [of which] is the firmament, that is called the skies. And there is no difficulty about [the] words of [the Sages], of blessed memory, who stated (Bereishit Rabbah 6:6), and these are their words, "Where are the sun and the moon? In the second firmament, as it is stated, 'And God placed them in the firmament of the skies.'...It is an explicit verse and the men of the Great Assembly have explained it (Nehemiah 9:6), 'You have made the skies and the skies of the skies and all of their hosts;' where are their hosts? In the second firmament;" [that one should ask,] according to [the] words of [the Sages], of blessed memory, what will they answer about this verse, "and let birds fly on the face of the skies of the firmament."

3וְנִרְאֶה כִּי עַל פִּי הַנְּקֻדּוֹת יִשְׁתַּנֶּה כָּתוּב זֶה מִקְרָא דְּ״וַיִּתֵּן אוֹתָם״ וְגוֹ׳ (בראשית א:יז), כִּי כָאן כָּתַב קָמָץ תַּחַת רֵי״שׁ שֶׁל רָקִיעַ, וְשָׁם כָּתַב שְׁבָ״א תַּחַת הָרֵי״שׁ שֶׁל רְקִיעַ. וְהִנֵּה כְּשֶׁאָמַר רְקִיעַ בִּשְׁבָ״א יַגִּיד שֶׁהוּא סָמוּךְ, פֵּרוּשׁ רְקִיעַ שֶׁל שָׁמַיִם, וּכְשֶׁיֹּאמַר רָקִיעַ בְּקָמָץ אֵינוֹ סָמוּךְ לְשָׁמַיִם, וּפֵרוּשׁ הוּא רָקִיעַ וְהוּא הַנִּקְרָא שָׁמַיִם, וּבָזֶה לֹא קַשְׁיָא, וְהָבֵן.

And it appears that according to the vowels, this verse becomes different than the verse of "And He placed them, etc;" since here, there is a kamats under the [letter] reish of rakia (firmament) and there, there is a shva under the [letter] reish of rakia. And behold, when it states, rakia with a shva, it is saying that is relational, [and] the explanation [of it] is the firmament of the skies, and when it states, rakia with a kamats, it is not relational to [the word,] skies, [and] its explanation is, 'the firmament and it is called the skies;' and with this, it is not difficult; and understand [it].

א׳:כ"א וַיִּבְרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶת־הַתַּנִּינִ֖ם הַגְּדֹלִ֑ים וְאֵ֣ת כָּל־נֶ֣פֶשׁ הַֽחַיָּ֣ה ׀ הָֽרֹמֶ֡שֶׂת אֲשֶׁר֩ שָׁרְצ֨וּ הַמַּ֜יִם לְמִֽינֵהֶ֗ם וְאֵ֨ת כָּל־ע֤וֹף כָּנָף֙ לְמִינֵ֔הוּ וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי־טֽוֹב׃

1:21 God created the great sea monsters, and all the living creatures of every kind that creep, which the waters brought forth in swarms, and all the winged birds of every kind. And God saw that this was good.

1:21 And God created the great sea-monsters, and every living creature that creepeth, wherewith the waters swarmed, after its kind, and every winged fowl after its kind; and God saw that it was good.

א׳:כ"א וּבְרָא יְיָ יָת תַּנִּינַיָּא רַבְרְבַיָּא וְיָת כָּל נַפְשָׁא חַיְתָא דִּרְחִשָׁא דִּי אַרְחִישׁוּ מַיָּא לִזְנֵיהוֹן וְיָת כָּל עוֹפָא דְפָרַח לִזְנוֹהִי וַחֲזָא יְיָ אֲרֵי טָב:

התנינם. דָּגִים גְּדוֹלִים שֶׁבַּיָּם, וּבְדִבְרֵי אַגָּדָה הוּא לִוְיָתָן וּבֶן זוּגוֹ שֶׁבְּרָאָם זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה וְהָרַג אֶת הַנְּקֵבָה וּמְלָחָהּ לַצַּדִּיקִים לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, שֶׁאִם יִפְרוּ וְיִרְבּוּ לֹא יִתְקַיֵּם הָעוֹלָם בִּפְנֵיהֶם:

נפש החיה. שֶׁיֵּש בָּהּ חַיּוּת:

א׳:כ"א אור החיים

1וַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹהִים וְגוֹ׳. פֵּרוּשׁ: הוֹסִיף ה׳ כֹּחַ בִּב׳ פְּרָטֵי הַבְּרִיאָה שֶׁנִּבְרְאוּ מִן הַמַּיִם, וּמַה שֶׁחָזַר לוֹמַר ״וְאֵת כָּל נֶפֶשׁ הַחַיָּה״ וְגוֹ׳ וְלֹא הִסְפִּיקוּ הַמַּיִם לְהוֹצִיאָם, מַה שֶׁלֹּא מָצִינוּ שֶׁעָשְׂתָה הָאֲדָמָה בְּהוֹצָאַת הַדְּשָׁאִים וְהָעֲשָׂבִים שֶׁהִסְפִּיקָה אִמְרַת ה׳ לָהּ, דַּע כִּי אֵין הַמַּצְמִיחַ וְלֹא הַבּוֹרֵא בּוֹרֵא יוֹתֵר מִמַּה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּכֹחַ תּוֹלַדְתּוֹ, כִּי אֵיךְ יִתֵּן אָדָם מַה שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ, וְהִנֵּה הַמַּיִם וְהֶעָפָר הֵם מְחֻסְּרֵי רוּחַ הַחִיּוּנִית, וּמִנַּיִן לָהֶם רוּחַ לָתֵת בִּבְרוּאֵיהֶם. וַהֲגַם כִּי הָאָרֶץ וְהַמַּיִם יֵשׁ בָּהֶם חִיּוּנִיּוּת דַּק עַד מְאֹד, הֲגַם שֶׁיִּתְּנוּ מִמֶּנּוּ לֹא יִתְּנוּ יוֹתֵר מִמַּה שֶׁבָּהֶם, וְזֶה לֹא יַסְפִּיק לַדָּגִים וְלָעוֹפוֹת, אֲשֶׁר עַל כֵּן לֹא הִסְפִּיק כֹּחָם וְהֻצְרַךְ ה׳ לִבְרֹא לָהֶם רוּחַ הַחִיּוּנִית, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ וַיִּבְרָא וְגוֹ׳ אֵת כָּל נֶפֶשׁ וְגוֹ׳. וַהֲגַם שֶׁבְּצַוֹּתוֹ לַמַּיִם אָמַר ״יִשְׁרְצוּ שֶׁרֶץ נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה״, פֵּרוּשׁ: שֶׁרֶץ שֶׁתִּהְיֶה בּוֹ הֲכָנָה לְקַבֵּל נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה, כִּי יֵשׁ לְךָ לָדַעַת כִּי הַחִיּוּנִי יִרְצֶה הֲכָנָה, וְהוּא אֶמְצָעִי בֵּינוֹ לְבֵין הַחֹמֶר, וְזֶה יֶשְׁנוֹ בְּכֹחַ הַמַּיִם לַעֲשׂוֹתוֹ כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּכֹחָם כֹּחַ רוּחָנִי דַּק.

And God created, etc.: The explanation is that God added power to the two parts of creation that were created from the water. And that which it repeated to say, "and all the living souls, etc." and that the waters did not suffice to bring them out - which we did not find with what was done by the ground in the bringing forth of grasses and herbs, [whereby] the proclamation of God was sufficient for it - you should know that neither a grower nor a creator can create more that what is in the potential of its [own] growth, since how can a person give what he doesn't have; and behold, the water and the dirt lack living spirit, and from where would they have spirit to give to those they create. And even though the earth and the waters have a very fine life force, even if they give from it, they would not [be able] to give more than what is in them, and this would be insufficient for the fish and the birds; so therefore, their power was not enough and God had to create a living spirit and this is [what is meant] when it states, "And He created, etc. all the souls, etc." And if in His command to the waters, He said, "Let the waters swarm with swarms of living souls," the explanation is [that] the swarms be set up to receive living souls. Since you need to know that life force [requires] a setup and that is the intermediary between it and between matter, and the ability to create [such a set up] exists in the waters, since, as we have said, they have a fine spiritual power.

2וּבַתַּנִּינִים הַגְּדוֹלִים עָשָׂה ה׳ שִׁנּוּי בִּבְרִיאָתָם כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ, וְלֹא אָמַר בְּדֶרֶךְ כְּלָל ״וַיִּבְרָא נֶפֶשׁ הַתַּנִּינִים וְאֵת כָּל נֶפֶשׁ״ וְגוֹ׳. בָּזֶה גִּלָּה הַכָּתוּב כִּי מְשֻׁנִּים הֵם מִכָּל מַה שֶׁבַּיָּם, שֶׁמִּלְּבַד שֶׁהוֹלִיד בָּהֶם נֶפֶשׁ, גַּם בְּכֹחַ בְּרִיאָתָם עַצְמָהּ בָּרָא ה׳ בָּהֶם כֹּחַ נוֹסָף אֲשֶׁר אֵין כֹּחַ בַּיָּם לַעֲשׂוֹתוֹ כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ, וְזֶה הוּא הַדָּג הַמֻּפְלָא לִוְיָתָן זֶה, וּכְבָר דְּבָרָיו מְפֹרָשִׁים בְּדִבְרֵיהֶם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (בבא בתרא עד:). וְטַעַם שֶׁלֹּא אָמַר בִּבְרִיאָה זוֹ ״וַיְהִי כֵן״, אֵין לוֹ מָקוֹם, כִּי לֹא יִצְטָרֵךְ לוֹמַר ״וַיְהִי כֵן״ אֶלָּא כְּשֶׁלֹּא יֻזְכַּר אֶלָּא אִמְרוֹת ה׳ לְבַד, תַּגִּיד הַתּוֹרָה ״וַיְהִי כֵן״ כִּי אָמַר וַתֶּהִי, מַה שֶׁאֵין כֵּן כְּשֶׁאוֹמֵר ״וַיִּבְרָא״ – יֵשׁ בִּכְלָלוֹ אֲמִירָה, יֵשׁ בִּכְלָלוֹ הֲוָיָה.

And in the great sea monsters, God made a change in their creation - as we have said - and He didn't state in [a more] general [fashion], "And He created the souls of the sea monsters and all the souls, etc.;" by which the verse revealed that they are different from everything [else] in the waters; since besides that God implanted a soul within them, also in the power of their creation itself, God created an extra power within them; since there is no power within the waters to make it, as we have said. And this is the amazing fish, it is the leviathan, and its matters are explained in [the] words of [the Sages], of blessed memory (Bava Batra 74b). And the reason it did not state about this creation, "and it was so," is that there is no place for it, since it is not needed to say "and it was so" except when only the proclamation of God is stated; [there] the Torah tells "and it was so," since He [had] said, "let there be;" which is not the case when it states, "And He created" - proclamation is included in it, execution is included in it.

א׳:כ"ב וַיְבָ֧רֶךְ אֹתָ֛ם אֱלֹהִ֖ים לֵאמֹ֑ר פְּר֣וּ וּרְב֗וּ וּמִלְא֤וּ אֶת־הַמַּ֙יִם֙ בַּיַּמִּ֔ים וְהָע֖וֹף יִ֥רֶב בָּאָֽרֶץ׃

1:22 God blessed them, saying, “Be fertile and increase, fill the waters in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.”

1:22 And God blessed them, saying: ‘Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.’

א׳:כ"ב וּבָרִיךְ יָתְהוֹן יְיָ לְמֵימָר פּוּשׁוּ וּסְגוּ וּמְלוּ יָת מַיָּא בְּיַמְמַיָּא וְעוֹפָא יִסְגֵּי בְּאַרְעָא:

ויברך אותם. לְפִי שֶׁמְּחַסְּרִים אוֹתָם וְצָדִין מֵהֶם וְאוֹכְלִין אוֹתָם, הֻצְרְכוּ לִבְרָכָה, וְאַף הַחַיּוֹת הֻצְרְכוּ לִבְרָכָה, אֶלָּא מִפְּנֵי הַנָּחָשׁ שֶׁעָתִיד לִקְלָלָה, לְכָךְ לֹא בֵרְכָן, שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא הוּא בִכְלָל:

פרו. לְ' פְּרִי כְּלוֹ' עֲשׁוּ פֵּרוֹת:

ורבו. אִם לֹא אָמַר אֶלָּא פְּרוּ, הָיָה אֶחָד מוֹלִיד אֶחָד וְלֹא יוֹתֵר, וּבָא וּרְבוּ שֶׁאֶחָד מוֹלִיד הַרְבֵּה:

א׳:כ"ב אור החיים

1וַיְבָרֶךְ – טַעַם שֶׁהֻצְרַךְ ה׳ לְבָרֵךְ שֶׁרֶץ הַמַּיִם, מַה שֶׁלֹּא עָשָׂה כֵן בַּנִּבְרָאִים הַיּוֹצְאִים מִן הָאָרֶץ, וְעוֹד לוֹ שֶׁגַּם בְּתוֹלְדוֹת הַמַּיִם עַצְמָם הִטִּיל קִנְאָה, שֶׁלֹּא בֵּרַךְ שֶׁרֶץ הָעוֹף, נִרְאֶה כִּי הַדָּבָר צָרִיךְ לִהְיוֹת כֵּן מִטַּעַם הֶכְרֵחִי לְפִי מַה שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁנוּ כִּי מַה שֶׁצִּוָּה ה׳ לַמַּיִם שֶׁיִּשְׁרְצוּ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא לְפִי שָׁעָה וְלֹא לְאַחֲרֵי כֵן, וּלְקִיּוּם הַמִּין צִוָּה ה׳ שֶׁיִּפְרוּ וְיִרְבּוּ, שֶׁאִם לֹא כֵן הֲרֵי מִינָם כָּלֶה. וְלֶהֱיוֹת שֶׁכְּפִי טֶבַע הַנִּבְרָאִים אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא ה׳ כֹּחַ הַמּוֹלִיד הִיא יְסוֹד הָאֵשׁ, כִּי טֶבַע הַקֹּר אַדְרַבָּה יַפְסִיד כֹּחַ הַהוֹלָדָה, וְצֵא וּלְמַד מֵחָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע גַּם מִדִּבְרֵיהֶם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (שבת קנו:) שֶׁאָמַר ה׳ לְאַבְרָהָם: מַאי דַּעְתָּךְ דְּקָאֵי צֶדֶק וְכוּ׳ דִּכְתִיב (ישעיהו מא:ב) ״צֶדֶק יִקְרָאֵהוּ לְרַגְלוֹ״, יְעֻיַּן שָׁם דִּבְרֵיהֶם. וּכְפִי זֶה הַדָּגִים אֵין לָהֶם מְצִיאוּת כְּפִי טֶבַע הַקָּבוּעַ בַּנִּבְרָאִים לְהוֹלִיד. אֲשֶׁר עַל כֵּן חָזַר ה׳ בְּמַאֲמָרוֹ הַנִּכְבָּד וּבֵרְכָם לֵאמֹר, פֵּרוּשׁ כַּוָּנַת הַבְּרָכָה שֶׁבֵּרְכָם הוּא לוֹמַר שֶׁיּוּכְלוּ לְהוֹלִיד, וְלֹא יִמְנָעֵם קְרִירוּת הַמַּיִם וְלֹא יִצְטָרְכוּ לָצֵאת חוּץ לַמַּיִם לְהִתְחַמֵּם בָּאָרֶץ כְּדֶרֶךְ הַתַּרְנְגוֹלִים (ביצה ז.) דְּסָפְנֵי מֵאַרְעָא, אֶלָּא תּוֹךְ הַמַּיִם יַעֲשׂוּ פֶּרִי.

And He blessed: The reason that God needed to bless that which swarmed from the waters - which He did not do with the creations that came out of the earth - and that, even among those that were born of the water themselves, He brought jealousy by not blessing the swarms of birds; it appears that this must come from an unavoidable reason, [and it] is according to that which I have explained, that that which God commanded the waters to swarm (with creatures) was only for that time and not for afterwards. [Hence,] for the survival of the specie, He commanded that they be fruitful and multiply, since, [had He] not [done] this, the specie would have ended. And given that according to nature, the reproductive facility of the creations that God created, [comes from] the element of fire; as the nature of cold - it is just the opposite - it destroys the reproductive facility. And go and learn form natural science; also from [the] words of [the Sages], of blessed memory, (Shabbat 156b) that God said to Avraham, "what is your thinking [about this], that Saturn lies etc., as it is written (Isaiah 41:2), 'who called righteousness to His feet'" (the Hebrew word, tsedek means both Saturn and righteousness); look there at their words. And according to this, fish do not have the composition that is set in nature for creatures to reproduce and so, therefore God went back with His glorious proclamation and blessed them. "Saying" the explanation [of which] is that the intention of the blessing with which He blessed them is to say that they would be able to reproduce, and that the coldness of the water would not prevent them [from doing so]; and that they would not need to go out of the water to become warmed by the earth, like the chickens (Beitzah 7a) that are [sometimes] fertilized by the ground, but rather they would give off their fruit in the water.

2וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ וּמִלְאוּ אֶת הַמַּיִם בַּיַּמִּים, וְקָשֶׁה לָמָּה הֻצְרַךְ לוֹמַר ״בַּיַּמִּים״ וְלֹא הִסְפִּיק בְּאָמְרוֹ ״וּמִלְאוּ אֶת הַמַּיִם״? אֶלָּא הַכַּוָּנָה הִיא שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ הַיַּמִּים שָׁם יִשְׁרְצוּ, וְזוֹ הִיא בִּרְכַּת הַמְבָרֵךְ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. וְגָמַר אֹמֶר וְהָעוֹף יִרֶב בָּאָרֶץ, כִּי הוּא יִרֶב כְּדֶרֶךְ כָּל הָאָרֶץ, וְנָכוֹן.

And this is [why] it states, "and fill the waters, in the seas;" [as] it is difficult, why is is it needed to state "in the seas" and not suffice with stating, "and fill the waters;" but rather the intention is that within the seas, there will they swarm, and that is the blessing of the Blesser, may He be blessed. And it finishes [by] stating, "and the birds will multiply in the earth," since it will increase in the way of all the earth and [this] is correct.

א׳:כ"ג וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם חֲמִישִֽׁי׃ (פ)

1:23 And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.

א׳:כ"ג וַהֲוָה רְמַשׁ וַהֲוָה צְפַר יוֹם חֲמִישָׁאִי:

א׳:כ"ד וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים תּוֹצֵ֨א הָאָ֜רֶץ נֶ֤פֶשׁ חַיָּה֙ לְמִינָ֔הּ בְּהֵמָ֥ה וָרֶ֛מֶשׂ וְחַֽיְתוֹ־אֶ֖רֶץ לְמִינָ֑הּ וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן׃

1:24 God said, “Let the earth bring forth every kind of living creature: cattle, creeping things, and wild beasts of every kind.” And it was so.

1:24 And God said: ‘Let the earth bring forth the living creature after its kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after its kind.’ And it was so.

א׳:כ"ד וַאֲמַר יְיָ תַּפֵּק אַרְעָא נַפְשָׁא חַיְתָא לִזְנַהּ בְּעִיר וּרְחֵשׁ וְחֵוַת אַרְעָא לִזְנַהּ וַהֲוָה כֵן:

תוצא הארץ. הוּא שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי שֶׁהַכֹּל נִבְרָא מִיּוֹם רִאשׁוֹן, וְלֹא הֻצְרְכוּ אֶלָּא לְהוֹצִיאָם:

נפש חיה. שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ חַיּוּת:

ורמש. הֵם שְׁרָצִים, שֶׁהֵם נְמוּכִים וְרוֹמְשִׂים עַל הָאָרֶץ וְנִרְאִים כְּאִלּוּ נִגְרָרִים שֶׁאֵין הִלוּכָן נִכָּר. כָּל לְשׁוֹן רֶמֶשׂ וְשֶׁרֶץ בִּלְשׁוֹנֵנוּ קונמו"בריש בלע"ז:

א׳:כ"ד אור החיים

1וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים וְגוֹ׳. גַּם זֶה לֹא הָיָה אֶלָּא לְפִי שָׁעָה כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁנוּ בִּבְרִיאַת שֶׁרֶץ הַמַּיִם (בראשית א:כ). וְטַעַם שֶׁלֹּא הֻצְרַךְ לוֹמַר לָהֶם שֶׁיִּפְרוּ, הֲלֹא הִטְבִּיעַ בָּהֶם הַהוֹלָדָה וְהֵם מֵעַצְמָם יָלְדוּ, אֶלָּא שֶׁצִּוָּה לָהֶם שֶׁלֹּא יִתְעָרְבוּ מִין בְּשֶׁאֵינוֹ מִינוֹ, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ לְמִינָהּ וְגוֹ׳:

And God said, etc.: This too was only for that time, as we explained with the creation of the swarms of the waters. And the reason that He did not need to say to them to be fruitful [is that] He implanted in them the ability to reproduce, and they would reproduce on their own. But He did command them not to interbreed, one specie with a different specie; and this is what it states, "according to its specie."

א׳:כ"ה וַיַּ֣עַשׂ אֱלֹהִים֩ אֶת־חַיַּ֨ת הָאָ֜רֶץ לְמִינָ֗הּ וְאֶת־הַבְּהֵמָה֙ לְמִינָ֔הּ וְאֵ֛ת כָּל־רֶ֥מֶשׂ הָֽאֲדָמָ֖ה לְמִינֵ֑הוּ וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי־טֽוֹב׃

1:25 God made wild beasts of every kind and cattle of every kind, and all kinds of creeping things of the earth. And God saw that this was good.

1:25 And God made the beast of the earth after its kind, and the cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the ground after its kind; and God saw that it was good.

א׳:כ"ה וַעֲבַד יְיָ יָת חֵוַת אַרְעָא לִזְנַהּ וְיָת בְּעִירָא לִזְנַהּ וְיָת כָּל רִחֲשָׁא דְאַרְעָא לִזְנוֹהִי וַחֲזָא יְיָ אֲרֵי טָב:

ויעש. תִּקְּנָם בְּצִבְיוֹנָם וּבְקוֹמָתָן:

א׳:כ"ה אור החיים

1וַיַּעַשׂ אֱלֹהִים – פֵּירוּשׁ בְּרִיאַת נֶפֶשׁ הַחִיּוּנִית עַל דֶּרֶךְ שֶׁפֵּירַשְׁנוּ בְּשֶׁרֶץ הַמַּיִם (בראשית א:כא). וְרַשִׁ״י פֵּירֵשׁ בְּאוֹפֶן אַחֵר, וְאֵלּוּ וָאֵלּוּ דִּבְרֵי אֱלֹהִים חַיִּים.

And God made: The explanation is the creation of the life-giving soul, in the way that we explained it with the swarms of the water. And Rashi explained it in a different manner, 'and these and those are the words of the living God.'

א׳:כ"ו וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֔ים נַֽעֲשֶׂ֥ה אָדָ֛ם בְּצַלְמֵ֖נוּ כִּדְמוּתֵ֑נוּ וְיִרְדּוּ֩ בִדְגַ֨ת הַיָּ֜ם וּבְע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם וּבַבְּהֵמָה֙ וּבְכָל־הָאָ֔רֶץ וּבְכָל־הָרֶ֖מֶשׂ הָֽרֹמֵ֥שׂ עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

1:26 And God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. They shall rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the cattle, the whole earth, and all the creeping things that creep on earth.”

1:26 And God said: ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.’

א׳:כ"ו וַאֲמַר יְיָ נַעֲבִיד אֶינָשָׁא בְּצַלְמֵנָא כִּדְמוּתָנָא וְיִשְׁלְטוּן בְּנוּנֵי יַמָּא וּבְעוֹפָא דִּשְׁמַיָּא וּבִבְעִירָא וּבְכָל אַרְעָא וּבְכָל רִחֲשָׁא דְּרָחֵשׁ עַל אַרְעָא:

נעשה אדם. עַנְוְתָנוּתוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּבָּ"ה לָמַדְנוּ מִכָּאן, לְפִי שֶׁאָדָם הוּא בִּדְמוּת הַמַּלְאָכִים וְיִתְקַנְּאוּ בוֹ, לְפִיכָךְ נִמְלַךְ בָּהֶם, וּכְשֶׁהוּא דָן אֶת הַמְּלָכִים הוּא נִמְלָךְ בְּפָמַלְיָא שֶׁלּוֹ, שֶׁכֵּן מָצִינוּ בְאַחְאָב, שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ מִיכָה רָאִיתִי אֶת ה' יֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסְאוֹ וְכָל צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם עוֹמְדִים עָלָיו מִימִינוֹ וּמִשְּׂמֹאלוֹ (מלכים א כ"ב), וְכִי יֵש יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאל לְפָנָיו? אֶלָּא אֵלּוּ מַיְמִינִים לִזְכוּת וְאֵלוּ מַשְׂמְאִילִים לְחוֹבָה, וְכֵן בִּגְזֵרַת עִירִין פִּתְגָמָא וּבְמֵאמַר קַדִּישִׁין שְׁאֵלְתָא (דניאל ד'), אַף כָּאן בְּפָמַלְיָא שֶׁלוֹ נָטַל רְשׁוּת, אָמַר לָהֶם יֵשׁ בָּעֶלְיוֹנִים כִּדְמוּתִי; אִם אֵין כִּדְמוּתִי בַתַּחְתּוֹנִים הֲרֵי יֵשׁ קִנְאָה בְמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית:

נעשה אדם. אַעַ"פִּ שֶׁלֹּא סִיְּעוּהוּ בִיצִירָתוֹ וְיֵשׁ מָקוֹם לַמִּינִים לִרְדּוֹת, לֹא נִמְנַע הַכָּתוּב מִלְּלַמֵּד דֶרֶך אֶרֶץ וּמִדַּת עֲנָוָה שֶׁיְּהֵא הַגָּדוֹל נִמְלָךְ וְנוֹטֵל רְשׁוּת מִן הַקָּטָן; וְאִם כָּתַב אֶעֱשֶׂה אָדָם, לֹא לָמַדְנוּ שֶׁיְּהֵא מְדַבֵּר עִם בֵּית דִינוֹ, אֶלָּא עִם עַצְמוֹ, וּתְשׁוּבַת הַמִּינִים כָּתַב בְּצִדּוֹ, וַיִּבְרָא אֶת הָאָדָם, וְלֹא כָתַב וַיִּבְרְאוּ:

בצלמנו. בִּדְפוּס שֶׁלָּנוּ:

כדמותנו. לְהָבִין וּלְהַשְׂכִּיל:

וירדו בדגת הים. יֵשׁ בַּלָּשׁוֹן הַזֶּה לְשׁוֹן רִדּוּי וּלְשׁוֹן יְרִידָה; זָכָה, רוֹדֶה בַחַיּוֹת וּבַבְּהֵמוֹת, לֹא זָכָה, נַעֲשֶׂה יָרוּד לִפְנֵיהֶם וְהַחַיָּה מוֹשֶׁלֶת בּוֹ:

א׳:כ"ו אור החיים

1וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים נַעֲשֶׂה אָדָם וְגוֹ׳. הַכַּוָּנָה בָּזֶה כִּי לֹא בָּרָא ה׳ אֶת הָאָדָם כִּבְרִיאַת שֶׁרֶץ הַמַּיִם וְשֶׁרֶץ הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר אָמַר לַמַּיִם וְהִשְׁרִיצוּ וְאָמַר לָאָרֶץ וְהוֹצִיאָה, אֶלָּא הוּא הַבּוֹרֵא אָמַר שֶׁהוּא יַעֲשֶׂה הָאָדָם.

And God said, "let us make man, etc.": The intention of this is that God did not create man like the creation of the swarms of the waters and the swarms of the earth, [meaning] that He spoke to the waters and they brought forth the swarms and he spoke to the earth and it put forth [creatures], but rather He, the Creator said that He would make man.

2וְאָמַר נַעֲשֶׂה כִּי הוּא מְקוֹר הָעֲנָוָה, לָזֶה דִּבֵּר בִּלְשׁוֹן רַבִּים, כִּי כֵן יְדַבֵּר יָחִיד הֶעָנָיו, וְלֹא חָשׁ לָתֵת מָקוֹם לְטָעוּת, כִּי הִקְדִּים לוֹמַר ״וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים״ שֵׁם יָחִיד. ה׳ הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים הוּא בִּכְבוֹדוֹ וּבְעַצְמוֹ כִּבְיָכוֹל גָּבַל עֲפָרוֹ וְהֵפִיחַ בּוֹ רוּחַ חַיִּים. עוֹד יִרְצֶה בְּאָמְרוֹ נַעֲשֶׂה בִּלְשׁוֹן רַבִּים, כִּי מִדּוֹתָיו שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא רַבִּים הֵם, י״ג מִדּוֹת רַחֲמִים וְשֵׁם אֱלֹהִים שֶׁהוּא מִדַּת הַדִּין הִסְכִּימוּ יַחַד לִבְרֹא אָדָם.

And He said, "let us make," since He is the source of humility; for this reason, He spoke in the plural form, since this is how a humble individual speaks. And He did not get concerned with giving room for error [that there are other powers besides God which helped in the creation of man], since He preceded [it] by stating, "And God said," [which is in the] singular: the Lord, He is God, He, Himself in His glory - as if it were possible - molded the dirt and blew the spirit of life into it. Its stating "let us make" in the plural form also wants [to teach] that the attributes of God are many; the thirteen attributes of mercy and the name, Elohim, which is the attribute of judgment, agreed together to create man.

3וְאָמְרוֹ בְּצַלְמֵנוּ כִּדְמוּתֵנוּ, אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיְּכַוֵּן לוֹמַר שֶׁיִּהְיֶה בּוֹ צַד הָרַחֲמִים וְצַד הַדִּין, לְהַפְעִיל בָּהֶם דַּרְכֵי הַדִּין וְדַרְכֵי הָרַחֲמִים לַאֲשֶׁר יִכּוֹנוּ, וְהָבֵן. וְהוּא סוֹד אָמְרוֹ (בראשית ב:ז) ״וַיִּיצֶר ה׳ אֱלֹהִים״ וְגוֹ׳. וְאָמְרוֹ וְיִרְדּוּ יַסְכִּים לְפֵרוּשֵׁנוּ, לֶהֱיוֹת שֶׁהַבְּרִיאָה הִיא בְּהִדָּמוּת לַבּוֹרֵא בִּבְחִינוֹת הָרַחֲמִים וְהַדִּין, בְּדִין הוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה מוֹשֵׁל בַּנִּבְרָאִים, כִּי יֵשׁ בּוֹ בְּחִינַת הָרַחֲמִים לָרָאוּי וְלַצָּרִיךְ אֵלָיו, וּלְהָמִית לַמִּתְחַיֵּב בַּדִּין. וְהִשְׁלִיטוֹ בַּכֹּל, וַהֲגַם שֶׁלֹּא הִזְכִּיר שְׁלִיטָה בַּמַּיִם, רָמוּז בְּאָמְרוֹ ״בִּדְגַת הַיָּם״, הֲרֵי הִזְכִּיר הַיָּם בַּנִּשְׁלָטִים.

And [about] its stating, "in our image, in our likeness," it is possible that the intention is to say that there should be a side of mercy and a side of judgment in [man], to implement the ways of judgment and the ways of mercy in what they set up; and understand [it]. And that is the secret in its stating (Genesis 2:7), "And the Lord, God formed, etc." And its stating, "and let them have dominion" is in agreement with our explanation: given that the creation resembles the Creator with respect to the attributes of mercy and judgment, it follows logically that [man] should rule [over] the creations, since he has the attribute of mercy for that which it is fitting and for those that require it, and the [capability] to kill those that are guilty in judgment. And He made him govern everything; and even if it does not mention governance over the waters, it is hinted by its stating, "over the fish of the sea" - behold, it mentions the sea among those governed.

4וּבְדֶרֶךְ רֶמֶז רָמַז בְּאָמְרוֹ לְשׁוֹן יְרִידָה, עַל דֶּרֶךְ מַה שֶׁהוֹדִיעוּנוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (ספר הגלגולים), כִּי בְּאֶמְצָעוּת מַעֲשֵׂי הָאָדָם יֵרֵד בְּמַדְרֵגָתוֹ מִבְּחִינַת אָדָם לִבְחִינַת דָּגִים וְלִבְחִינַת עוֹפוֹת וְלִבְחִינַת בְּהֵמָה וְלִבְחִינַת שְׁרָצִים, כְּפִי עֵרֶךְ הַחֵטְא יִשְׁפַּל אָדָם מִבְּחִינַת מַעֲלָתוֹ עַד אֲשֶׁר יֵרֵד מַטָּה מַטָּה רַחֲמָנָא לִיצְלַן. וְהוּא שֶׁרָמַז כָּאן בִּשְׁעַת הַבְּרִיאָה חֶלְקֵי יְרִידוֹת הַהַדְרָגוֹת שֶׁבָּהֶם יְקַבֵּל עָנְשׁוֹ, וְגַם שֶׁבְּאֶמְצָעוּתָם יַחְזֹר לְשָׁרְשׁוֹ. וְהִקְדִּים לוֹמַר יְרִידַת נֶפֶשׁ אָדָם לְמַדְרֵגַת הַדָּגִים, כִּי יְרִידָה הַמְיֹעֶדֶת לַנְּפָשׁוֹת הָרָמוֹת כִּי יֶחֶטְאוּ הִיא שֶׁתֵּרֵד נַפְשָׁם לְהִתְגַּלְגֵּל בַּדָּגִים, וְלָזֶה יִחֵס הַכָּתוּב לָהֶם בִּמְקוֹמָם אֲסִיפָה כִּי אֵין לָהֶם לְהִצְטַעֵר בְּצַעַר שְׁחִיטַת חֶרֶב אֶלָּא אֲסִיפָתָם מַתֶּרֶת אוֹתָם (חולין כז:). וְאַחַר כָּךְ אָמַר יְרִידָה הַפְּחוּתָה מִמֶּנָּה וְהוּא גִּלְגּוּל הַנֶּפֶשׁ בָּעוֹף, וְזֶה יִצְטָרֵךְ צַעַר יֶתֶר עַל הַדָּגִים, וְצִוָּה ה׳ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בּוֹ חֲצִי שְׁחִיטָה, כְּאוֹתָהּ שֶׁשָּׁנִינוּ רוֹב אֶחָד בָּעוֹף. וְאַחַר כָּךְ אָמַר יְרִידָה בַּבְּהֵמָה שֶׁהִיא בְּחִינָה גְּרוּעָה יוֹתֵר וְצַעֲרוֹ מְרֻבֶּה, כְּאוֹתָהּ שֶׁשָּׁנִינוּ (שם) רוֹב שְׁנַיִם בַּבְּהֵמָה. וְאַחַר כָּךְ אָמַר יְרִידָה שֶׁהִיא בְּדוֹמֵם וְצוֹמֵחַ וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ וּבְכָל הָאָרֶץ, תֵּבַת ״הָאָרֶץ״ תַּגִּיד עַל הַדּוֹמֵם וְתֵבַת ״בְּכָל״ רָמַז בָּהּ הַצּוֹמֵחַ. וְכָל אֵלּוּ הֵם יְרִידוֹת הַנְּפָשׁוֹת אֲשֶׁר יֶשְׁנָם בְּתִקְוַת הַתִּקּוּן לָשׁוּב לְקַדְמוּתָם, כִּי מֵהַדּוֹמֵם יַעֲלֶה לַצּוֹמֵחַ וּמֵהַצּוֹמֵחַ יִכָּנֵס בְּבַעַל חַי בִּלְתִּי מְדַבֵּר, וּמִבַּעַל חַי בִּלְתִּי מְדַבֵּר יַעֲלֶה לְבַעַל חַי מְדַבֵּר. וְיֶשְׁנוֹ עוֹד בִּירִידָה פְּחוּתָה וְהוּא כִּלָּיוֹן שֶׁאֵין אַחֲרָיו תִּקְוָה, וְהִיא יְרִידָה לִבְחִינַת שְׁקָצִים וּרְמָשִׂים. זֶה אָבְדָה תִּקְוָתוֹ, וְהֵם בְּחִינוֹת הָרְשָׁעִים הַמְּמִירִין דָּתָם, פּוֹשְׁעֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר הִפְלִיאוּ עֲשׂוֹת.

And by way of hinting, its using the expression of descent (yeridah) [through the word vayirdu (let them have dominion)] hints by way of what they, of blessed memory, informed us (Zohar, Shemot 94b) that through the actions of man, he descends in his elevation, from the level of man to the level of fish to the level of birds to the level of animals to the level of swarming creatures. According to the severity of the sin, man goes down from the level of his elevation until he descends lower and lower - may God save us - and this is what is hinted here at the time of the creation: the different levels of descent by which he will receive his punishment and also, through which, He will return to his roots. And it began speaking [about] the descent of the soul of man to the level of the fish, since the descent that is designated for the high souls when they sin is that their souls should be reincarnated as fish. And for this reason, the verse attributed to them [that their death be by way of] gathering in their place, as they do not have to suffer the pain of slaughtering with the sword, but rather their being gathered permits them [to be eaten] (Chullin 27b). And afterwards, a descent that is lower than it, and that is the reincarnation of the soul as a bird, and this requires greater pain than fish, and God, may He be blessed, commanded it to be half slaughtered, like that which we learned (Ibid.), [the requirement to render it permissible to eat is the cutting of] the majority of one [of either the esophagus or the trachea] with birds. And afterwards, it stated the descent into animals, which is an aspect that is worse than it, and the pain of which is great, like that which we learned (Ibid.), [the requirement to render it permissible to eat is the cutting of] the majority of two (of both the esophagus and the trachea) with animals. And afterwards, it stated the descent into the inanimate and plants, and that is its stating, "and over all the earth:" the word, the earth, speaks about the inanimate and the word, over all, hints within it to the plants. And all of these descents of souls are those that have the hope of returning to their previous [state], since from the inanimate it goes up to the plant and from the plant it enters the dumb animal and from the dumb animal, it goes up to the animal that speaks (the human being). And there is a descent that is lower, and it is an end that has no hope after it, and it is the descent to the level of 'disgusting and crawling animals,' such that it has lost its hope; and this is the level of the evildoers that exchange their faith - the sinners of Israel that have acted unusually.

א׳:כ"ז וַיִּבְרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ אֶת־הָֽאָדָם֙ בְּצַלְמ֔וֹ בְּצֶ֥לֶם אֱלֹהִ֖ים בָּרָ֣א אֹת֑וֹ זָכָ֥ר וּנְקֵבָ֖ה בָּרָ֥א אֹתָֽם׃

1:27 And God created man in His image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

1:27 And God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.

א׳:כ"ז וּבְרָא יְיָ יָת אָדָם בְּצַלְמֵהּ בְּצַלְמָא דַיְיָ בְּרָא יָתֵהּ דְּכַר וְנוּקְבָא בְּרָא יָתְהוֹן:

ויברא אלהים את האדם בצלמו. בִּדְפוּס הֶעָשׂוּי לוֹ, שֶׁהַכֹּל נִבְרָא בְּמַאֲמָר וְהוּא נִבְרָא בַּיָּדַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַתָּשֶׁת עָלַי כַּפֶּכָה (תהילים קל"ט); נַעֲשָׂה בְחוֹתָם כְּמַטְבֵּעַ הָעֲשׂוּיָה עַל יְדֵי רֹשֶׁם שֶׁקּוֹרִין קוי"ן בלע"ז וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר תִּתְהַפֵּךְ כְּחֹמֶר חוֹתָם (איוב ל"ח):

בצלם אלהים ברא אותו. פֵּרֵשׁ לְךָ שֶׁאוֹתוֹ צֶלֶם הַמְתֻקָּן לוֹ, צֶלֶם דְּיוֹקַן יוֹצְרוֹ הוּא:

זכר ונקבה ברא אותם. וּלְהַלָּן הוּא אוֹמֵר וַיִּקַּח אַחַת מִצַּלְעֹתָיו וגו' (בראשית ב')? מִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה שֶׁבְּרָאוֹ שְׁנֵי פַרְצוּפִים בִּבְרִיאָה רִאשׁוֹנָה, וְאַחַר כָּךְ חֲלָקוֹ. וּפְשׁוּטוֹ שֶׁל מִקְרָא, כָּאן הוֹדִיעֲךָ שֶׁנִּבְרְאוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם בַּשִּׁשִּׁי וְלֹא פֵי' לְךָ כֵּיצַד בְּרִיָּתָן, וּפֵרֵשׁ לְךָ בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר:

א׳:כ"ז אור החיים

1וַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם בְּצַלְמוֹ. פֵּרוּשׁ בְּצַלְמוֹ הַנִּכָּר בָּאָדָם, וְהַכַּוָּנָה שֶׁבָּרָא גָּלְמוֹ וְגַם צַלְמוֹ. וְאַחַר כָּךְ אָמַר בְּצֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים, בָּזֶה הוֹדִיעָנוּ הַצֶּלֶם שֶׁבְּרָאוֹ בּוֹ כִּי הוּא צֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים.

And God created man in His/his image: The explanation of "in his image" is that which is perceivable in man, and the intention is that He created his form and also his image, and afterwards, it states, "in the image of God;" by which it informs us that the image that He created him with is the image of God.

2עוֹד יִרְצֶה לוֹמַר כִּי בָּרָא הָאָדָם בִּב׳ צְלָמִים: הָרִאשׁוֹן צֶלֶם הַנִּכָּר בְּכָל אָדָם, וַאֲפִלּוּ בִּבְנֵי אָדָם הָרֵקִים מֵהַקְּדֻשָּׁה אֲשֶׁר לֹא מִבְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הֵמָּה, וַעֲלֵיהֶם אָמַר בְּצַלְמוֹ פֵּרוּשׁ שֶׁל הַנִּבְרָא. וְהַב׳ הֵם בְּחִינַת הַמְאֻשָּׁרִים עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל נַחֲלַת שַׁדַּי, כְּנֶגֶד אֵלּוּ אָמַר בְּצֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים בְּרָאוֹ. הֲרֵי זֶה בָּא לְלַמְּדֵנוּ כִּי יֵשׁ בַּנִּבְרָאִים ב׳ צְלָמִים: צֶלֶם הַנִּכָּר וְצֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים רוּחָנִי נֶעְלָם, וְהָבֵן:

It also wants to tell [us] that He created man with two images: the first is the image that is recognizable in all men, and even in men that are empty of holiness, 'that they are not from the Children of Israel' - about them it states, "in his image," the explanation [of which] is [the image] of the creature; and the second is the level of the happy ones, the people of Israel, the inheritance of My field - corresponding to those, it states, "in the image of God" He created him. Behold, it comes to teach us that there are two images among the creations; the image that is recognizable [that he is a man] and the image of God, [which is] spiritual and hidden; and understand [this].

א׳:כ"ח וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ אֹתָם֮ אֱלֹהִים֒ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לָהֶ֜ם אֱלֹהִ֗ים פְּר֥וּ וּרְב֛וּ וּמִלְא֥וּ אֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ וְכִבְשֻׁ֑הָ וּרְד֞וּ בִּדְגַ֤ת הַיָּם֙ וּבְע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וּבְכָל־חַיָּ֖ה הָֽרֹמֶ֥שֶׂת עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

1:28 God blessed them and God said to them, “Be fertile and increase, fill the earth and master it; and rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and all the living things that creep on earth.”

1:28 And God blessed them; and God said unto them: ‘Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that creepeth upon the earth.’

א׳:כ"ח וּבָרִיךְ יָתְהוֹן יְיָ וַאֲמַר לְהוֹן יְיָ פּוּשׁוּ וּסְגוּ וּמְלוּ יָת אַרְעָא וּתְקוּפוּ עֲלַהּ וּשְׁלוּטוּ בְּנוּנֵי יַמָּא וּבְעוֹפָא דִּשְׁמַיָּא וּבְכָל חַיְתָא דְּרָחֵשָׁא עַל אַרְעָא:

וכבשה. חָסֵר וָי"ו לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁהַזָּכָר כּוֹבֵשׁ אֶת הַנְּקֵבָה, שֶׁלֹּא תְהֵא יַצְאָנִית, וְעוֹד לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁהָאִישׁ שֶׁדַּרְכּוֹ לִכְבֹּשׁ מְצֻוֶּה עַל פְּרִיָּה וּרְבִיָּה וְלֹא הָאִשָּׁה:

א׳:כ"ח אור החיים

1וַיְבָרֶךְ אוֹתָם. פֵּרוּשׁ שֶׁלֹּא יִכָּרֵת מִין הָאֱנוֹשִׁי, וַיֹּאמֶר וְגוֹ׳ צִוָּה אֵלָיו לִפְרוֹת וְלִרְבּוֹת, שֶׁהֲגַם שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אוֹתָם שֶׁיִּהְיֶה מִין הָאֱנוֹשִׁי קַיָּם לֹא מִפְּנֵי זֶה יִתְרַשְּׁלוּ מִלִּפְרוֹת וְלִרְבּוֹת. וְרָאִיתִי דֵּעוֹת נִפְסָדוֹת בַּנִּבְרָאִים מִבְּנֵי עַמֵּנוּ דִּכְשֶׁיֵּשׁ ג׳ אוֹ ד׳ אַחִים א׳ אוֹ ב׳ מֵהֶן מִשְׁתַּדְּלִים בִּפְרִיָּה וּרְבִיָּה וְאוֹמְרִים כִּי הוּא זֶה קִיּוּם הַמִּין. גַּם בְּאָדָם אֶחָד כְּשֶׁיְּקַיֵּם מִינוֹ תָּבֹא לוֹ הַסְּבָרָא שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁתַּדֵּל עוֹד לִפְרוֹת וְלִרְבּוֹת. לָזֶה אָמַר ה׳ תְּחִלַּת דִּבֶּר ה׳ מִצְוַת ה׳ בָּרָה אָמַר פְּרוּ וּרְבוּ וְלֹא עָשָׂה גְּבוּל לַמִּצְוָה, וַהֲגַם שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אוֹתָם שֶׁלֹּא יִכָּרֵת מִין הָאָדָם מִן הָעוֹלָם. וְגָמַר אֹמֶר וּמִלְאוּ אֶת הָאָרֶץ. וְאָמְרוֹ וְכִבְשֻׁהָ סָמוּךְ לְ״וּמִלְאוּ״ לוֹמַר כִּי בְּאֶמְצָעוּת שֶׁיְּמַלְּאוּ הָאָרֶץ בָּזֶה תִּהְיֶה נִכְבָּשָׁה לִפְנֵיהֶם, כִּי מָקוֹם הֶחָרֵב אֵין אָדָם שׁוֹלֵט בּוֹ כִּי לְצַד שׁוֹמְמוּתוֹ הוּא מִתְמַלֵּא נֶגְדִּיִּים לָאָדָם. עוֹד יִרְצֶה בְּאָמְרוֹ וַיְבָרֶךְ אוֹתָם שֶׁיִּהְיֶה בָּהֶם כֹּחַ הַמּוֹלִיד, וְאַחַר כָּךְ צִוָּה אוֹתָם עַל הַדָּבָר.

And He blessed them: The explanation is that He will not destroy the human specie. And he said, etc.: [by which] He commanded him to be fruitful and multiply; [such that] even if He blessed them that the human specie should continue, they should [still] not slack off from being fruitful and multiplying as a result of this. And I have seen faulty opinions among the creatures, from the children of our people, [that posit] that when there are three or four brothers, one or two of them should make efforts to be fruitful and multiply; and they say that this is [sufficient] for the perpetuation of the specie. And also with one man, when he has [already] perpetuated the specie, this logic comes [to suggest] that he should not put forth more efforts to be fruitful and multiply. For this [reason], God stated [at the beginning of His word, the pure commandment of God and stated, "be fruitful and multiply" and He did not make a limit to the commandment, and [that they are commanded] even if He blessed them that the human specie should not be destroyed from the world; and He finished and stated, "and fill the world." And it stated, "and conquer it" adjacent to "and fill" to say that by way of filling the earth, it will be conquered in front of them; as man does not govern over a deserted place, since from the angle of its desolation, it fills up with man's antagonists. It also wanted [to teach] by stating, "and He blessed them," that they would have the facility to reproduce and afterwards, He commanded them about the matter.

א׳:כ"ט וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים הִנֵּה֩ נָתַ֨תִּי לָכֶ֜ם אֶת־כָּל־עֵ֣שֶׂב ׀ זֹרֵ֣עַ זֶ֗רַע אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י כָל־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְאֶת־כָּל־הָעֵ֛ץ אֲשֶׁר־בּ֥וֹ פְרִי־עֵ֖ץ זֹרֵ֣עַ זָ֑רַע לָכֶ֥ם יִֽהְיֶ֖ה לְאָכְלָֽה׃

1:29 God said, “See, I give you every seed-bearing plant that is upon all the earth, and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit; they shall be yours for food.

1:29 And God said: ‘Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed—to you it shall be for food;

א׳:כ"ט וַאֲמַר יְיָ הָא יְהָבִית לְכוֹן יָת כָּל עִסְבָּא דְּבַר זַרְעֵהּ מִזְדְּרַע דִּי עַל אַפֵּי כָל אַרְעָא וְיָת כָּל אִילָנָא דִּי בֵהּ פֵּירֵי אִילָנָא דְּבַר זַרְעֵהּ מִזְדְּרָע לְכוֹן יְהֵא לְמֵיכָל:

לכם יהיה לאכלה ולכל חית הארץ. הִשְׁוָה לָהֶם בְּהֵמוֹת וְחַיּוֹת לְמַאֲכָל, וְלֹא הִרְשָׁה לְאָדָם וּלְאִשְׁתּוֹ לְהָמִית בְּרִיָּה וְלֶאֱכֹל בָּשָׂר, אַךְ כָּל יֶרֶק עֵשֶׂב יֹאכְלוּ יַחַד כֻּלָם, וּכְשֶׁבָּאוּ בְנֵי נֹחַ הִתִּיר לָהֶם בָּשָׂר, שֶׁנֶאֱמַר כָּל רֶמֶשׂ אֲשֶׁר הוּא חַי וְגוֹ' כְּיֶרֶק עֵשֶׂב שֶׁהִתַּרְתִּי לְאָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן נָתַתִּי לָכֶם אֶת כֹּל:

א׳:כ"ט אור החיים

1וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים הִנֵּה נָתַתִּי לָכֶם וְגוֹ׳. שִׁעוּר הַכָּתוּב הוּא עַל זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ: לֶהֱיוֹת שֶׁכְּבָר אָמַר ״וּמִלְאוּ אֶת הָאָרֶץ וְכִבְשֻׁהָ וּרְדוּ״ וְגוֹ׳, בָּזֶה עָשָׂה אֶת הָאָדָם אָדוֹן וְשַׁלִּיט בְּכָל הַבְּרִיאָה, וְעַתָּה בָּא לוֹמַר תּוֹעֶלֶת הַנְּתִינָה שֶׁהוּא לְאָכְלָה, וּבָזֶה הִרְשָׁה אוֹתָם לֶאֱכוֹל מֵהַצְּמָחִים. וּמִמּוֹצָא דָבָר אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ כִּי מַה שֶׁנָּתַן לָהֶם דְּגַת הַיָּם וְעוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהַבְּהֵמָה אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא לִמְשׁוֹל בָּהֶם, לֹא לֶאֱכוֹל מֵהֶם, כִּי פֵּרַט עַל אֶחָד מֵהַנִּמְשָׁלִים שֶׁהוּא לַאֲכִילָה וְלֹא כֻּלָּם.

And God said to them, "behold I have given you, etc.": The structure of the verse is in the following way: Given that He already stated, "and fill the earth and conquer it and have dominion, etc,." by which He made man master and governor over all the creation, now He came to state the benefit of the giving, which is the eating; and with this He permitted them to eat from the plants. And from the derivation of the matter, you know that that which [God] gave them the fish of the sea and the birds of the skies and the animals is only to rule over them, not to eat them; since He specified one of the ruled [creatures] that it should be for eating, not all of them.

2וְאֶת כָּל הָעֵץ אֲשֶׁר בּוֹ פְרִי עֵץ. כָּאן שָׁלַל עֵץ הַדַּעַת, כִּי אֵינוֹ בְּגֶדֶר זֶה עוֹשֶׂה פְּרִי לְבַד, אֶלָּא שֶׁהוּא עַצְמוֹ פְּרִי. וְשִׁעוּר הַכָּתוּב הוּא עַל זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ: וְאֶת כָּל הָעֵץ – וְלֹא כָּל הָעֵץ בִּכְלָל, אֶלָּא אוֹתוֹ אֲשֶׁר בּוֹ פְרִי עֵץ, וְלֹא אוֹתוֹ שֶׁהוּא עַצְמוֹ פְּרִי, שֶׁהוּא עֵץ הַדַּעַת שֶׁנִּצְטַוָּה עָלָיו אַחַר כָּךְ בְּפֵרוּשׁ. אוֹ יֹאמַר דַּאֲפִלּוּ עֵץ הַדַּעַת בִּכְלָל, וַהֲגַם שֶׁמָּצִינוּ שֶׁנִּצְטַוָּה עָלָיו, כְּבָר אָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (בראשית רבה פכ״א) שֶׁאִם הָיָה מַמְתִּין עַד עֶרֶב שַׁבָּת הָיָה מְקַדֵּשׁ עַל הַיַּיִן עַד כָּאן, וּמִתּוֹךְ דִּבְרֵיהֶם אַתָּה לָמֵד כִּי לֹא נֶאֱסַר אִסּוּר עוֹלָם.

And all of the trees that have fruit of the tree: Here it negates [the inclusion] of the tree of knowledge, since it is not in this category of only making fruit, but [rather] it, itself, is fruit. And the structure of the verse is in the following way: "and all of the trees," but not all of the trees are included: [only] those "that have fruit of the tree," but not one that is fruit itself - which is the tree of knowledge, that he was commanded about afterwards explicitly. Or it is saying that even the tree of knowledge was included [in the permission to eat] and even though we find that he was commanded about [not eating] it, they, of blessed memory, have already stated (Bereishit Rabbah 21:7) that if [Adam] had waited until the eve of Shabbat, he would have sanctified with wine [of that fruit] - so far [their words]; and from their words, you learn that [this] prohibition was not [to be] forbidden forever.

א׳:ל׳ וּֽלְכָל־חַיַּ֣ת הָ֠אָרֶץ וּלְכָל־ע֨וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֜יִם וּלְכֹ֣ל ׀ רוֹמֵ֣שׂ עַל־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־בּוֹ֙ נֶ֣פֶשׁ חַיָּ֔ה אֶת־כָּל־יֶ֥רֶק עֵ֖שֶׂב לְאָכְלָ֑ה וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן׃

1:30 And to all the animals on land, to all the birds of the sky, and to everything that creeps on earth, in which there is the breath of life, [I give] all the green plants for food.” And it was so.

1:30 and to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is a living soul, [I have given] every green herb for food.’ And it was so.

א׳:ל׳ וּלְכָל חֵוַת אַרְעָא וּלְכָל עוֹפָא דִּשְׁמַיָּא וּלְכֹל דְּרָחֵשׁ עַל אַרְעָא דִּי בֵהּ נַפְשָׁא חַיְתָא יָת כָּל יְרוֹק עִסְבָּא לְמֵיכָל וַהֲוָה כֵן:

א׳:ל׳ אור החיים

1וּלְכָל חַיַּת הָאָרֶץ וְגוֹ׳. סָמַךְ הַכָּתוּב חַיַּת הָאָרֶץ עִם הָאֲמוּרִים בְּסָמוּךְ ״לָכֶם יִהְיֶה לְאָכְלָה״ וְגוֹ׳, שֶׁנִּרְאֶה שֶׁנּוֹתֵן מַאֲכַל אָדָם לַבְּהֵמָה בְּהַשְׁוָאָה, וְגָמַר אֹמֶר לְאָכְלָה פַּעַם שְׁנִיָּה סָמוּךְ לְיֶרֶק עֵשֶׂב, שֶׁנִּרְאֶה שֶׁאֲכִילַת בְּהֵמָה וְעוֹף אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא מֵעֵשֶׂב הַשָּׂדֶה. הַכַּוָּנָה הִיא כִּי לֹא בָּרָא ה׳ לִבְהֵמָה חַיָּה וְעוֹף אֶלָּא דַּוְקָא יֶרֶק עֵשֶׂב, וְשֶׁמָּא תֹּאמַר אִם אֵין יֶרֶק עֵשֶׂב נִמְצֵאת הַחַיָּה מֵתָה, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״לָכֶם לְאָכְלָה וּלְכָל חַיַּת הָאָרֶץ״ וְגוֹ׳. נִמְצֵינוּ אוֹמְרִים כִּי הָאָדָם יִחְיֶה מִפֵּרוֹת הָאָרֶץ וּמִפְּרִי הָעֵץ, וְהַחַיָּה וְהָעוֹף מֵהָעֲשָׂבִים וְהַיְּרָקוֹת, וְאִם אֵין מִחְיָה מֵאֵלּוּ הֲרֵי מִחְיָתָהּ מִמַּאֲכַל אָדָם. וְיֵשׁ לִרְמֹז זֶה בְּאָמְרוֹ (דברים יא:טו) ״וְנָתַתִּי עֵשֶׂב בְּשָׂדְךָ לִבְהֶמְתֶּךָ״ וּבָזֶה ״וְאָכַלְתָּ וְשָׂבָעְתָּ״, אֲבָל זוּלַת זֶה תֶּחְסַר הַשְּׂבִיעָה כִּי תֹּאכְלֶנּוּ הַחַיָּה וְהָעוֹף כִּי מְזוֹנוֹתָם מְזוֹנוֹתֶיךָ.

And to all of the animals of the land, etc.: The verse placed "the animals of the earth adjacent to that which was stated proximately, "it shall be for you to eat, etc.," as it appears that He gives the food of people to animals in equal measure. And it finishes by stating, "to eat" a second time next to "green herbs" because it appears that the eating of the animals is only from the herbs of the field. The intention is that the only [thing] that God created for the animals and birds to eat was the herbs of the field. And lest you say, if there are no green herbs [available], then the animals will die, the verse comes to teach, "for you and for all of the animals of the earth to eat, etc." It comes out that we are saying that man will live from the fruit of the earth and from the fruit of the tree, and the animals and the birds from the herbs and vegetables, and if there is no sustenance from those, behold, their sustenance will come from the food of people. And there is a hint to this in its stating (Deuteronomy 11:15), "and I will give herbs in your field for your animal," and through this, "and you will eat and be satiated;" but without this, you will lack satiation, since the animals and the birds will eat it, since their food will be your food.

א׳:ל"א וַיַּ֤רְא אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔ה וְהִנֵּה־ט֖וֹב מְאֹ֑ד וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם הַשִּׁשִּֽׁי׃ (פ)

1:31 And God saw all that He had made, and found it very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

1:31 And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

א׳:ל"א וַחֲזָא יְיָ יָת כָּל דִּי עֲבַד וְהָא תַקִּין לַחֲדָא וַהֲוָה רְמַשׁ וַהֲוָה צְפַר יוֹם שְׁתִיתָאִי:

יום הששי. הוֹסִיף ה' בַּשִּׁשִּׁי בִגְמַר מַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית, לוֹמַר שֶׁהִתְנָה עִמָּהֶם, עַל מְנָת שֶׁיְּקַבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם יִשְׂרָאֵל חֲמִשָּׁה חֻמְּשֵׁי תוֹרָה. דָּבָר אַחֵר יוֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁי, כֻּלָּם תְּלוּיִם וְעוֹמְדִים עַד יוֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁי, הוּא ו' בְּסִיוָן הַמּוּכָן לְמַתַּן תּוֹרָה:

א׳:ל"א אור החיים

1וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים וְגוֹ׳. פֵּרוּשׁ: בְּאֶמְצָעוּת בְּרִיאַת הָאָדָם נִרְאָה מַעֲשֵׂהוּ בִּכְלָלוּתוֹ כִּי טוֹב הוּא, כִּי אִם אֵין אָדָם מַה תּוֹעֶלֶת בְּכָל הַתִּקּוּן וּבְכָל הַבְּרִיאָה וְצִמְחֵי הָאֲדָמָה, כִּי אֵין הַבְחָנַת טוֹבָה נִכֶּרֶת אֶלָּא בְּאֶמְצָעוּת הָאָדָם, כִּי אֵלָיו יֻכַּר וְיֻבְחַן הַטּוֹב וְיוֹדֶה לַמֵּטִיב. וְאָמְרוֹ תֵּבַת וְהִנֵּה מַה שֶׁלֹּא דִּקְדֵּק לוֹמַר בַּיָּמִים שֶׁאָמַר בָּהֶם ״כִּי טוֹב״, לֶהֱיוֹת כִּי הָאָדָם מָצִינוּ לוֹ שֶׁקִּלְקֵל מַעֲשָׂיו וְעָשָׂה מַעֲשֵׂה הָרַע, לָזֶה דִּקְדֵּק לוֹמַר וְהִנֵּה כִּי מַה שֶׁהָיָה אָז לְצַד מַעֲשֵׂה ה׳ טוֹב הָיָה מְאֹד, וְאַחַר כָּךְ הוּא הָאָדָם בִּקֵּשׁ חִשְּׁבוֹנוֹת רַבּוֹת לְצַד הֱיוֹת הַבְּחִירָה בְּיָדוֹ לְהָרַע אוֹ לְהֵיטִיב, וְשָׁלַל הַטּוֹב וְהִוָּה בְּמַעֲשָׂיו בְּחִינַת הָרַע, אֲבָל לְצַד מַעֲשֵׂה ה׳ לֹא בָּרָא אֶלָּא לְצַד הַטּוֹב.

And God saw, etc.: The explanation is that through the creation of man, it could be seen that His entire creation was good; since if there is no man, what is the purpose of all the refinement and of all the creation and the plants of the ground; because the distinction of good is not recognized without the medium of man, as it is to him that good is recognized and distinguished, and he will thank the Bestower of good. And behold: That which it was not exact to state [this] on the [other] days, about which it stated, "it was good," is because [now] we find man that corrupted his actions and performed bad actions; for this reason it [now] was exact to state, "and behold," since what [existed] then, from the angle of the creations of God was very good; and afterwards, it was man that sought many calculations - from the angle of his having the choice in his hand to do evil or to do good - and negated the good and brought out with his actions the aspect of evil; but from the angle of God's creation, He only created that which was good.

2עוֹד יִרְצֶה בְּאָמְרוֹ וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים וְגוֹ׳, כָּאן רָמַז כִּי בִּשְׁעַת בְּרִיאַת הָאָדָם הִבִּיט ה׳ בַּצַּדִּיקִים (בראשית רבה ג), וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ וַיַּרְא וְגוֹ׳ וְהִנֵּה טוֹב שֶׁהֵם הַצַּדִּיקִים. וַהֲגַם שֶׁהִבִּיט בָּרְשָׁעִים, גַּם לָהֶם הֵכִין וְעָשָׂה תִּקּוּן לִבְרִיאָתָם, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ מְאֹד, וְאָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (בראשית רבה פ״ט) ״מְאֹד״ זֶה מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת, שֶׁבְּאֶמְצָעוּתוֹ נִתְקָנִים הַנִּבְרָאִים הַנּוֹטִים מִדֶּרֶךְ הַשֵּׂכֶל. וְלָזֶה כְּנֶגֶד בְּחִינַת הַצַּדִּיקִים אָמַר וְהִנֵּה טוֹב, פֵּרוּשׁ הִנֵּה הִנָּם בְּחִינַת טוֹב מִבְּלִי צֹרֶךְ מָוֶת. וּכְנֶגֶד בְּחִינַת הַמַּטִּים עֲקַלְקַלּוֹתָם יֶשְׁנָם גַּם הֵם בִּבְחִינַת טוֹב בְּאֶמְצָעוּת מְאֹד:

And God created, etc: Here it hints that at the time of the creation of man, God looked at the righteous ones (Bereisht Rabbah 14:1) and that is what [is meant] by its stating, "and He saw, etc. and behold, good," which are the righteous ones. And in that He also saw the evil ones, He also made a solution for them, and that is what [is meant] by its stating, "very." And they, of blessed memory, have stated (Bereishit Rabbah 9:1), "very" - this is [referring] to the angel of death, through which the creatures that lean away from the path of reason are fixed. And for this [reason], corresponding to the aspect of the righteous ones, it stated, "and behold, it was good," the explanation [of which] is that behold they are the aspect of good, without any need for death; and corresponding to the those that lean to their crookedness, they too are in the aspect of good, through the auspices of "very."

3עוֹד יִרְמֹז כָּאן טַעַם הַבְּרִיאָה, לְמָה שֶׁיָּדַעְנוּ כִּי עִקַּר הַכֹּל הוּא הָאָדָם וּבִשְׁבִילוֹ וְאֵלָיו בָּרָא ה׳ כָּל בְּרוּאָיו, וּמֵעַתָּה תָּבֹא הַשְּׁאֵלָה לָאָדָם לָמָּה, לָזֶה אָמַר וְהִנֵּה טוֹב מְאֹד פֵּרוּשׁ שֶׁהֲגַם שֶׁבְּחִינַת נִשְׁמַת הָאָדָם הוּא מִבְּחִינַת הַטּוֹב, עִם כָּל זֶה בְּרָאוֹ ה׳ לַעֲלוֹת בְּמַעֲלוֹת הַטּוֹב יוֹתֵר מִמָּה שֶׁהוּא, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ מְאֹד עַל יְדֵי מַעֲשֵׂה הָאָדָם מִתְעַלֵּית נִשְׁמָתוֹ מִמַּדְרֵגָה לְמַדְרֵגָה, אַשְׁרֵי אֱנוֹשׁ יַעֲשֶׂה זֹּאת.

Also hinted to here is the reason for the creation - according to that which we know that the essence of everything is man, and that because of him and for him did God create all of His creations; and from there comes the question, "why man?" And for this [reason], it stated "and behold, it was very good," the explanation [of which] is that even if the aspect of man's soul is from the aspect of good, nonetheless, God created him to rise up in levels of good more than he [already] is, and that is what [it means when] it states, "very:" through the actions of man, his soul becomes elevated from one level to another. 'Happy is the human that does this.'

ב׳:א׳ וַיְכֻלּ֛וּ הַשָּׁמַ֥יִם וְהָאָ֖רֶץ וְכָל־צְבָאָֽם׃

2:1 The heaven and the earth were finished, and all their array.

2:1 And the heaven and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

ב׳:א׳ וְאִשְׁתַּכְלָלוּ שְׁמַיָּא וְאַרְעָא וְכָל חֵילֵיהוֹן:

ב׳:א׳ אור החיים

1וַיְכֻלּוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְגוֹ׳. מִקְרָא זֶה לֹא יָדַעְנוּ מַה בָּא לְלַמְּדֵנוּ, וְנִרְאֶה כִּי יְכַוֵּן לוֹמַר עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (בראשית רבה סח,ט) הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְקוֹמוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם. גַּם מָצִינוּ כִּי הוּא מָלֵא עוֹלָם, כָּאָמוּר (ישעיהו ו:ג): ״מְלֹא כָל הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדוֹ״, וּמֵעַתָּה אוֹרוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ נִמְצָא בְּהֶקֵּף הָעוֹלָם וּבִפְנִימִיּוּתוֹ. וְצָרִיךְ לָתֵת לֵב לָדַעַת טַעַם הַדָּבָר לָמָּה עָשָׂה ה׳ כָּכָה. וּמְקֻבָּלְנִי מִפִּי זִקְנֵי תּוֹרָה כִּי טַעַם שֶׁעָשָׂה ה׳ הָעוֹלָם כַּדּוּרִי הוּא כְּדֵי שֶׁיַּעֲמֹד וְיִתְקַיֵּם בְּהַשְׁוָאַת כֹּחֵי חֲלָקָיו. וּפֵרוּשָׁן שֶׁל דְּבָרִים הוּא, יֵשׁ לְךָ לָדַעַת שֶׁאֵין תְּשׁוּקָה בָּעוֹלָם עֲרֵבָה וַחֲבִיבָה וְנֶחְמֶדֶת וְנֶאֱהֶבֶת וְנִתְאֶבֶת וּמְקֻוָּה לַנִּבְרָאִים, וּבִפְרָט לְחֶלְקֵי הָרוּחָנִי הַמַּכִּיר וְיוֹדֵעַ בְּחִינַת אוֹר הָאֱלֹהוּת, כְּהַדְּבֵקוּת בְּאוֹרוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ, וְאֵלָיו יִכְסְפוּ כָּל נֶפֶשׁ חִיּוּנִית הַמַּגַּעַת לְהַכִּיר קְצָת מִנֹּעַם אוֹרוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ, תֵּצֵא נַפְשָׁם לַחֲזוֹת בְּנֹעַם ה׳. וּלְךָ לָדַעַת כִּי כָל אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא ה׳ בְּעוֹלָמוֹ, יָצַר בּוֹ ה׳ בְּחִינַת הַהַשְׂכָּלָה וְהַהַבְחָנָה כְּפִי בְּחִינָתוֹ – בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים מְדַבְּרִים וּבִלְתִּי מְדַבְּרִים, וְצוֹמֵחַ וְדוֹמֵם, יֵשׁ לְכָל אֶחָד כֹּחַ מֵהַהַשְׂכָּלָה לְהַכִּיר יוֹצְרוֹ כְּפִי הַשָּׂגָתוֹ. וּבָזֶה תַּשְׂכִּיל לָדַעַת הַעֲמָדַת הָעוֹלָם בְּאֵיזֶה דָּבָר הוּא תָּלוּי וְעוֹמֵד מִבְּלִי הִתְנוֹעֲעוּת, כִּי ה׳ גִּלָּה סוֹדוֹ אֶל יְרֵאָיו וּבְאֶמְצָעוּת הַהֶעָרוֹת הַנֶּאֱמָרִים הֻשַּׂג הַמֻּרְגָּשׁ. וְהוּא כִּי בְּאֶמְצָעוּת אוֹרוֹ הַנֶּעֱרָב וְהַמְקֻוֶּה אֲשֶׁר יְסוֹבֵב כַּדּוּרִיּוּת הָעוֹלָם בְּהַשְׁוָאָה, וְכָל חֵלֶק וְחֵלֶק מֵהַסּוֹבֵב שֶׁל הָעוֹלָם יִתְעַצֵּם בְּכֹחַ אֵשׁ הַתְּשׁוּקָה הַבּוֹעֶרֶת בּוֹ לְהִתְקָרֵב לִבְחִינַת כְּלָלוּת נֵצֶר הַמְקֻוֶּה. וְלִהְיוֹת כִּי כָל בְּחִינַת סִבּוּב הָעוֹלָם תִּשְׁוֶה בּוֹ שִׁעוּר הַתְּשׁוּקָה, בֵּין מִצַּד מַה שֶׁמִּמֶּנּוּ – כִּי אֵין תַּאֲוַת חֵלֶק אֶחָד רַבָּה עַל חֲבֵרוֹ שֶׁבְּאֶמְצָעוּת זֶה יִתְרַבֶּה הִתְעַצְּמוּת הַחֵלֶק הַהוּא וְיֵחָלֵשׁ שֶׁכְּנֶגְדּוֹ, בֵּין מִצַּד מַה שֶׁאֵלָיו הוּא הָאוֹר הַנָּעִים, כִּי אֵינוֹ קָרוֹב לְחֵלֶק מֵהַסּוֹבֵב יוֹתֵר מֵחֲבֵרוֹ שֶׁבָּזֶה יִגְדַּל חֵלֶק מֵהָעוֹלָם בְּכֹחַ הִתְעַצְּמוּתוֹ יוֹתֵר מֵחֵלֶק אַחֵר, אֶלָּא הַכֹּל בְּהַשְׁוָאָה. וְכָל חוּט הַשַּׂעֲרָה מִכָּל חֶלְקֵי הַסּוֹבֵב שֶׁל הָעוֹלָם יִתְעַצֵּם לְהִתְקָרֵב וּמוֹשֵׁךְ לְצַד הַפּוֹנֶה אֵלָיו, וּבְאֶמְצָעוּת הִתְעַצְּמוּת הַנִּמְשָׁךְ מִכָּל סְבִיבוֹת כַּדּוּרִיּוּת הָעוֹלָם נִמְצָא הָעוֹלָם עוֹמֵד וְקַיָּם, וְכָל חֵלֶק מַעֲמִיד אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ בְּאֶמְצָעוּת הָאָמוּר. וְנִמְצָא כָּל הָעוֹלָם תָּקוּעַ בִּיתֵדוֹת וּמַסְמְרֵי חֵשֶׁק הַבּוֹרֵא לְצַד כְּלוֹת וּנְטוֹת רוּחָנִיּוּת שֶׁבּוֹ לְהִתְקָרֵב לְהַנֶּעֱרָב יִתְעַלֶּה שְׁמוֹ. וּבָזֶה אַתָּה מַשִּׂיג טַעַם שֶׁבָּרָא ה׳ הָעוֹלָם כַּדּוּרִי, וְהָבֵן. וּבָזֶה גַּם כֵּן מָצִינוּ טַעַם לָמָּה הָעוֹלָם נִרְקַע וְנִתְקַע בְּלִי הִתְנוֹעֲעוּת, כִּי הַהִתְנוֹעֲעוּת תִּתְהַוֶּה לְצַד הַגְבָּרַת וְהַחְלָשַׁת חֵלֶק מֵחֶלְקֵי הַמַּעֲמִיד, מַה שֶׁאֵין כֵּן בִּמְצִיאוּת זֶה אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהִתְנוֹעֵעַ בְּשׁוּם אֹפֶן.

ויכלו השמים והארץ. Heaven and earth were completed. We are not sure what this verse is meant to teach us. It appears that we must understand it in the context of the saying of our sages that G'd is the מקומו של עולם, G'd is the place of His universe (and not vice versa). We also find statements to the effect that G'd fills the universe, such as Isaiah 6,3: "The whole earth if full of His glory." G'd's light surrounds the entire globe and it fills the globe itself. We need to understand why G'd has arranged things in this manner. I have heard from Torah scholars (who were my teachers) that the reason G'd made the earth spherical is to enable its various parts to endure with equal ease. The rabbis meant that of all the desires, urges and feelings of love in the universe nothing matches in intensity the urge of the spirit which has recognised the light of G'd and its desire to cleave to G'd's light. Every living soul which has been fortunate enough to recognise even a small amount of that light longs to behold visions of the pleasantness that is G'd. Know that G'd has endowed each category of His creatures with a two-tiered intelligence. One tier is the power to perceive, the other tier is the power to analyse. Human beings, i.e. creatures who are endowed with the power of speech, as well as all lower forms of life or even the inert part of nature, all received a degree of intelligence commensurate with their status in the universe which enables them to recognise their Creator. By means of this intelligence we know that the globe continues to exist without faltering. G'd has revealed some of this secret to those who revere Him and by means of these explanations these facts became translated to our senses [as opposed to merely abstract intelligence. Ed.] The force holding up the globe is G'd's beautiful and all-embracing light which surrounds the globe in equal measure. Every section of the revolving earth derives additional strength from the power of the fiery urge that burns within it urging it to cling to the manifestations of G'd's spirit. This is why the globe remains in its position in the universe. [I have abbreviated the author's treatise on what he terms spiritual motivations for keeping "earth on track." I have no way of knowing if the author was familiar with Newton's theories about centrifugal forces, gravitation, etc. Even assuming that he had heard of them, the chances are he would have preferred to account for these movements as having been inspired at least also by spiritual considerations rather than as being merely laws of physics. According to the author the reason for the Torah telling us something at this stage which seemed obvious is to explain the fact that spherical earth which is not propped up by a visible force could remain in place throughout the millenia. We are dealing then with gravitation, etc. as a spiritual force. Ed.]

2וְאֶפְשָׁר כִּי לָזֶה רָמְזוּ זַ״ל בְּנוֹעַם אִמְרֵיהֶם (חגיגה יב:) וְזֶה לְשׁוֹנָם: דְּקָיְמֵי וְלָא יָדְעֵי עַל מָה קָיְמֵי, עַד כָּאן. הַכַּוָּנָה כִּי אִם הָיוּ הַנִּבְרָאִים מַבְחִינִים הַבְחָנָה זוֹ, וְיָדְעוּ רוּם מַעֲלַת חִבַּת הַקֹּדֶשׁ וּתְשׁוּקַת הַנִּבְרָאִים לַנֶּעְלָם הַנֶּעֱרָב, וְיִרְאוּ כַּמָּה הוּא עֹצֶם הַתִּקְוָה וְהַהִתְעַצְּמוּת דּוֹמֵם זֶה שֶׁהוּא הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר מִתְעַצֵּם לְהִתְקָרֵב לֵיהָנוֹת מֵאוֹר הַמְקֻוֶּה, וְלֹא נָהַג רִפְיוֹן בְּשׁוּם חֵלֶק מְסוֹבֵב הָעוֹלָם – יִשְׂאוּ קַל וָחֹמֶר מִזֶּה כַּמָּה צָרִיךְ הָאָדָם לַעֲשׂוֹת, כִּי בּוֹ נִתְרַבֵּית הַהַבְחָנָה וְהַהַשְׂכָּלָה. גַּם יֵשׁ לְךָ לָדַעַת כִּי לֶהֱיוֹת שֶׁכָּל הַנִּבְרָאִים בִּמְלֹא עוֹלָם, כָּל אֲשֶׁר רוּחַ הַחִיּוּנִי בּוֹ, אָמְרוּ זַ״ל (ילקוט תהלים קנ) כִּי אֵין כָּל נֶפֶשׁ מִתְיַשֶּׁבֶת בִּמְקוֹמָהּ כִּי אִם לְצַד שֶׁיֶּשְׁנוֹ לַנִּכְסָף וּמְקֻוֶּה מְלֹא עוֹלָם הַזֶּה, לֹא תִגְעַל הַנֶּפֶשׁ אֶת הַבָּשָׂר. וּלְטַעַם זֶה הֵאִיר ה׳ עוֹלָמוֹ מִכְּבוֹדוֹ, וּכְבוֹדוֹ מָלֵא עוֹלָם, וְנִמְצָא הָעוֹלָם בְּתוֹךְ תּוֹךְ בּוֹרְאוֹ, וְאוֹר הַבּוֹרֵא בְּתוֹךְ כָּל הָעוֹלָם וְסוֹבֵב עוֹלָמוֹ. וּבָזֶה עָמַד וְנִתְקַיֵּם הָעוֹלָם בְּאֶמְצָעוּת הַתְּשׁוּקָה לַמָּצוּי, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ וַיְכֻלּוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ וְכָל צְבָאָם, פֵּרוּשׁ ״וַיְכֻלּוּ״ עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרוֹ (תהלים פד:ג) ״נִכְסְפָה וְגַם כָּלְתָה״. וּבְאֶמְצָעוּת זֶה נִשְׁלְמָה וְנִתְקַיְּמָה הַבְּרִיאָה. וְטַעַם שֶׁהוֹצִיא הַכָּתוּב הָעִנְיָן בְּלָשׁוֹן זֶה ״וַיְכֻלּוּ״, לִרְמֹז כִּי הוּא תְּשׁוּקָה גְּדוֹלָה עַד כְּלוֹת הַחֵלֶק אֶל הַכֹּל, וְהוּא בְּחִינָה גְּדוֹלָה מִבְּחִינַת הַחֵשֶׁק וְהַתְּשׁוּקָה. וְהוּא שֶׁרָמַז דָּוִד בְּאָמְרוֹ ״נִכְסְפָה וְגַם כָּלְתָה״, הֲרֵי זֶה מַגִּיד כִּי בְּחִינָה זוֹ גְּדוֹלָה מִבְּחִינָה שֶׁלְּפָנֶיהָ, וּבְאֶמְצָעוּת בְּחִינָה זוֹ וְהִתְעַצְּמוּתָהּ הָעוֹלָם קַיָּם. וְזֶה הוּא סוֹד קְרִיאָתוֹ ״חַי הָעוֹלָמִים״, וְהָבֵן. וְהוּא סוֹד ״בְּאוֹר פְּנֵי מֶלֶךְ חַיִּים״.

And it is possible that this is what our sages hinted at in Noam Amrei'hem (Chagigah 12a) when they said "and this is their language - that they are established but do not know on what they are established." The intention is that if the creatures were discerning this distinction and knew the exaltedness of the love for the Holy One and the yearning of the creatures for the hidden One, they would see how great is the hope and strengthening of this silence, which is the world that contracts in order to draw near and enjoy the light of the Mikveh, and does not act with weakness in any part of the revolving world. They will then take this lightly and know how much a person needs to do, for in it the discernment and intelligence increase. You should also know that since all creatures fill the entire world, wherever the vital spirit is, as our sages said (Yalkut Tehillim 159), "for no soul rests in its place, but rather it is to the side that it desires and yearns for the fullness of this world, so that the soul will not despise the flesh." And for this reason, the Lord illuminated His world from His glory, and His glory fills the entire world, and the world is found within the midst of its Creator, and the light of the Creator is within the entire world and revolves His world. And in this way, the world stood and was established through the yearning for existence, and this is what it means when it says "and the heaven and the earth were finished, and all their host." The meaning is that they were finished in the sense of yearning that is great until the part is completely exhausted into everything, and this is a great level of desire and yearning, and David hinted at it when he said "for it desires and also longs." This indicates that this level is greater than the preceding one, and through this level and its strengthening, the world exists. And this is the secret of the calling of "He who lives through the worlds" and "the Son," and this is the secret in the light of the King of Life's countenance.

ב׳:ב׳ וַיְכַ֤ל אֱלֹהִים֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י מְלַאכְתּ֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה וַיִּשְׁבֹּת֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י מִכָּל־מְלַאכְתּ֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָֽׂה׃

2:2 On the seventh day God finished the work that He had been doing, and He ceasedaOr “rested.” on the seventh day from all the work that He had done.

2:2 And on the seventh day God finished His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made.

ב׳:ב׳ וְשֵׁיצֵי יְיָ בְּיוֹמָא שְׁבִיעָאָה עֲבִדְתֵּהּ דִּי עֲבָד וְנַח בְּיוֹמָא שְׁבִיעָאָה מִכָּל עֲבִדְתֵּהּ דִּי עֲבָד:

ויכל אלהים ביום השביעי. ר' שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר בָּשָׂר וָדָם, שֶׁאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ עִתָּיו וּרְגָעָיו צָרִיך לְהוֹסִיף מֵחֹל עַל הַקֹּדֶשׁ, הַקָּבָּ"ה שֶׁיּוֹדֵעַ עִתָּיו וּרְגָעָיו, נִכְנָס בֹּו כְּחוּט הַשַּׂעֲרָה, וְנִרְאֶה כְאִלּוּ כִלָּה בוֹ בַיֹּום. דָּ"אַ מֶה הָיָה הָעוֹלָם חָסֵר? מְנוּחָה, בָּאת שַׁבָּת בָּאת מְנוּחָה, כָּלְתָה וְנִגְמְרָה הַמְּלָאכָה:

ב׳:ב׳ אור החיים

1וַיְכַל אֱלֹהִים וְגוֹ׳. פְּשַׁט הַכָּתוּב הוּא שֶׁבָּא לְלַמְּדֵנוּ שֶׁלֹּא תַחְשֹׁב שֶׁעָשָׂה מְלָאכָה אַחֶרֶת אַחַר כָּךְ וְלֹא הוּזְכְּרָה בַּתּוֹרָה, לָזֶה אָמַר וַיְכַל אֱלֹהִים פֵּרוּשׁ: כִּלָּה מַה שֶׁעָלָה בְּדַעְתּוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת. וְכָאן שָׁלַל גַּם כֵּן שֶׁלֹּא עָשָׂה מְלָאכָה אַחַר הַשַּׁבָּת בְּשִׁשָּׁה יָמִים אֲחֵרִים, וְהָבֵן.

ויכל אלוקים ביום השביעי. G'd completed on the seventh day. The plain meaning of the verse is to tell us that G'd did not engage in creational activities that the Torah has not mentioned after that date. The term כלה, completed, includes anything that had been in G'd's mind to do. It also means that G'd did not only desist from work on that Sabbath, but that He did not resume activity on the following six days.

2אֶלָּא שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָתֵת לֵב לְאָמְרוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר אֶלָּא ״וַיְכַל אֱלֹהִים וְגוֹ׳ מְלַאכְתּוֹ״. עוֹד יֵשׁ לְהָעִיר אָמְרוֹ בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי, מַשְׁמַע כִּי בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי עָשָׂה מְלָאכָה וְכִלָּה אוֹתָהּ, וְאֵינוֹ כֵן כִּי בַּיּוֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁי הוּא שֶׁכִּלָּה. וַהֲגַם שֶׁרַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה הִרְגִּישׁוּ לְתַקֵּן זֶה וְאָמְרוּ, וְזֶה לְשׁוֹנָם (בראשית רבה י,ט): רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר בָּשָׂר וָדָם אֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ וְכוּ׳ עַד כָּאן, עִם כָּל זֶה תֵּבַת ״בַּיּוֹם״ אֵינָהּ מְדֻיֶּקֶת, וּלְפִי דִּבְרֵיהֶם פֵּרוּשׁ הוּא כְּאִלּוּ בַּיּוֹם. וּבֶאֱמֶת כִּי דִּבְרֵיהֶם דִּבְרֵי אֱמֶת, אֶלָּא עוֹד יֵשׁ לֶאֱלוֹהַּ מִלִּין וּכְפַטִּישׁ יְפוֹצֵץ.

We must pay close attention to the apparently superfluous words אשר עשה, "which He had done." We must also explore the meaning of the words ביום השביעי, "on the seventh day," which suggest that G'd did perform work on the seventh day but that "He completed it on that day." This was not so, but He had completed all His work already on the sixth day. Our sages already felt the need to correct the impression that G'd had still performed creational work on the seventh day. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, quoted by Rashi and Bereshit Rabbah 10,9, says that human beings who do not know time accurately commence their Sabbath a few minutes early in order not to desecrate it. G'd who is aware of precisely when the Sabbath starts, can afford to do His work until the last second. Even allowing for Rabbi Shimon's comment, the word ביום in that verse is not adequately explained. This word creates the impression that G'd ceased work on the seventh day. Actually, according to our sages the word ביום is justified.

3וְנִרְאֶה שֶׁיְּכַוֵּן הַכָּתוּב לוֹמַר עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (חגיגה יב:) כִּי הָעוֹלָם הָיָה רוֹפֵף וְרוֹעֵד עַד שֶׁבָּאָה שַׁבָּת וְנִתְקַיֵּם הָעוֹלָם וְנִתְיַסֵּד. וְהַכַּוָּנָה הוּא כִּי בְּיוֹם שַׁבָּת בָּרָא ה׳ נֶפֶשׁ הָעוֹלָם, וְהוּא סוֹד אָמְרוֹ ״וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי שָׁבַת וַיִּנָּפַשׁ״. הֲגַם שֶׁחֲזַ״ל (ביצה טז:) דָּרְשׁוּ כֵּיוָן שֶׁיָּצָא שַׁבָּת וַיִּנָּפַשׁ, אֵין זֶה אֶלָּא דֶּרֶךְ דְּרָשׁ שֶׁדָּרְשׁוּ מֵאָמְרוֹ ״וַיִּנָּפַשׁ״ וְלֹא אָמַר ״וְנָפַשׁ״, דָּרְשׁוּ כִּי נִתְכַּוֵּן הַכָּתוּב לִרְמֹז כֵּיוָן שֶׁיָּצָא שַׁבָּת ״וַי״ שֶׁאָבְדָה הַנֶּפֶשׁ, אֲבָל מַשְׁמָעוּת פְּשַׁט הַכָּתוּב אֵינוֹ יוֹצֵא מִמֶּנָּה, שֶׁנִּתְכַּוֵּן לוֹמַר כֵּיוָן שֶׁשָּׁבַת, פֵּרוּשׁ בָּא שַׁבָּת וַיִּנָּפַשׁ, פֵּרוּשׁ נִשְׁפַּע שֶׁפַע הַחִיּוּנִי בְּכָל הַנִּבְרָאִים, כִּי קֹדֶם הַשַּׁבָּת לֹא הָיָה נֶפֶשׁ לְכָל הַנִּבְרָאִים.

They claim that until the Sabbath the world was trembling and shaking until the advent of the Sabbath. On the seventh day G'd gave the earth מנוחה, tranquillity (compare Rashi's second comment on our verse). On the Sabbath G'd created the "soul" of the world, and that is the deeper meaning of the words וביום השביעי שבת וינפש, and on the seventh day He rested and retreated to His Essence. Although our sages have interpreted the word וינפש as a lament about the withdrawal of the additional soul G'd grants to the Jewish people on each Sabbath (Beytzah 17) this is merely homiletics. They base that on the unusual construction וינפש (passive or reflexive) instead of merely, ונפש (ordinary intransitive). The plain meaning is undoubtedly that שבת וינפש, because He rested on the Sabbath and with it the soul arrived. This means that all creatures were granted an abundance of vitality, something they had lacked previously.

4וְכֵן מָצָאנוּ לְרַזַ״ל בְּסֵפֶר הַקָּדוֹשׁ זֹהַר הַתּוֹרָה (זהר, תזריע מד.) שֶׁנָּתְנוּ טַעַם לְמִצְוַת ה׳ לָמוּל בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי וְשֶׁלֹּא לְקָרֵב קָרְבָּן לַה׳ עַד יוֹם הַח׳, כִּי הַטַּעַם הוּא עַד עֲבוֹר עָלָיו יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת וְיִהְיֶה בַּעַל נֶפֶשׁ. וְהוּא שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב וַיְכַל אֱלֹהִים וְגוֹ׳, פֵּרוּשׁ שֶׁכִּלָּה ה׳ בְּאֶמְצָעוּת יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי מְלַאכְתּוֹ, וְחָזַר וּפֵרַשׁ מַה הוּא מְלַאכְתּוֹ שֶׁכִּלָּה, לֹא שֶׁהָיָה חָסֵר דָּבָר מֵעֲשׂוֹתוֹ וְעָלָיו הוּא אוֹמֵר ״וַיְכַל״, אֶלָּא הַכַּוָּנָה הִיא ״אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה״, פֵּרוּשׁ הַמְּלָאכָה שֶׁכְּבָר עָשָׂה עֲדַיִן הָיְתָה חֲסֵרָה דָּבָר הַמַּעֲמִיד, וּבְאֶמְצָעוּת יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי בּוֹ נִגְמַר הָעִנְיָן. וּבָזֶה נִתְיַשֵּׁב מַה שֶׁדִּקְדַּקְנוּ. גַּם בָּזֶה הִרְוַחְנוּ לִמְצֹא בַּתּוֹרָה בְּרִיאַת יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי עַצְמוֹ, כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁהוֹדִיעָה אוֹתָנוּ הַתּוֹרָה בְּרִיאַת יוֹם בְּיוֹמוֹ דִּכְתִיב ״וַיְהִי עֶרֶב״ וְגוֹ׳, הֲרֵי זֶה מַגִּיד הֲוָיַת הָעֶרֶב וַהֲוָיַת הַבֹּקֶר, וְכָאן לֹא מָצִינוּ שֶׁהוֹדִיעַ בְּרִיאַת יוֹם זֶה, וּלְדַרְכֵּנוּ הֲרֵי הוּא אָמוּר. וּלְמַה שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי בְּפָסוּק ״וַיְכֻלּוּ״ שֶׁהוּא לְשׁוֹן תְּשׁוּקָה וְחֵשֶׁק, יָכוֹל לְהִתְפָּרֵשׁ גַּם כֵּן אָמְרוֹ וַיְכַל אֱלֹהִים וְגוֹ׳ עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרוֹ (איוב יד:טו): ״לְמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶיךָ תִכְסֹף״, וּכְתִיב (דברים י:טו): ״רַק בַּאֲבֹתֶיךָ חָשַׁק״, כִּי הָאָדוֹן חָשַׁק וְחָפַץ בְּעוֹלָמוֹ, וְזֶה הָיָה בְּאֶמְצָעוּת יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי שֶׁנִּתְקַיֵּם הָעוֹלָם כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁנוּ, חָשַׁק ה׳ וְנִתְרַצָּה בִּבְרִיּוֹתָיו, וְדָבָר זֶה הוּבָא בְּדִבְרֵיהֶם (שיר השירים ב׳) זַ״ל, וְעַיֵּן בְּסָמוּךְ.

We find a similar idea in the Zohar-Tazria (page 13 Sullam edition) as to why the rite of circumcision cannot be performed before the eighth day, and why an animal is not fit to serve as a sacrifice until the eighth day of its life. In either case one has to wait until at least one Sabbath has passed so that each has attained a נפש, a soul full of vitality. Our verse then describes G'd as putting the finishing touch to His creation by bringing on the Sabbath, not by creating on the Sabbath. The reason the Torah repeats once more מכל מלאכתו אשר עשה, from all His work which He had done, is to emphasise that this work had been done previously, i.e. before the onset of the Sabbath. The word ויכל therefore refers to activity carried out previously. All that had been lacking was something that would give permanence to this universe of ours. The seventh day, i.e. the Sabbath, completed the cycle that provides this permanence. We are therefore entitled to view the Sabbath as one of the seven days of creation. The proof that we are correct may be the very fact that we do not find the usual: "it was evening it was morning the seventh day," meaning there was no בריאה on that day.

5וַיִּשְׁבֹּת בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי וְגוֹמֵר. מִקְרָא זֶה מַה בָּא לְלַמְּדֵנוּ, כִּי הֵם הַדְּבָרִים עַצְמָן הַנֶּאֱמָרִים בְּסָמוּךְ ״וַיְכַל אֱלֹהִים״?

וישבות ביום השביעי. He rested on the seventh day. Here too we must ask for the reason the Torah wrote these lines as they seem to contain the same message as the words immediately prior to them.

6וְנִרְאֶה לוֹמַר עַל דֶּרֶךְ מַה שֶׁאָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (בראשית רבה פ״ז; פסחים נד) כִּי בְּרִיּוֹת נִבְרְאוּ עֶרֶב שַׁבָּת עִם חֲשֵׁכָה, וְלֹא הִסְפִּיקוּ לִגְמֹר בְּרִיאַת גּוּפָם עַד שֶׁקָּדַשׁ הַיּוֹם, וְהֵן הֵם הַמַּזִּיקִים, עַד כָּאן. וְיֵשׁ לָנוּ לְהַשְׂכִּיל זֹאת אֵיךְ יֻצְדַּק לֵאמֹר בְּעֵרֶךְ הַבּוֹרֵא יִתְעַלֶּה שְׁמוֹ שֶׁלֹּא הִסְפִּיק לִגְמֹר וְכוּ׳, הֲלֹא דָּבָר יָדוּעַ לַכֹּל כִּי כְּהֶרֶף עַיִן יָכוֹל לִבְרֹא עוֹלָמוֹת כֻּלָּם. וְצֵא וּלְמַד מַה שֶׁכָּתַבְנוּ בִּתְחִלַּת הַפָּרָשָׁה וְתִרְאֶה קְצָת גְּבוּרוֹתָיו יִתְעַלֶּה שְׁמוֹ.

Perhaps we have to explain these words in connection with Pessachim 54 according to which there were phenomena which were created at dusk on Friday afternoon but which could not be completed before the arrival of the Sabbath. According to our sages some of these phenomena became destructive agents in the universe as a result. This is an amazig statement in view of the tradition that G'd is able to create whole worlds in the time it takes to blink an eyelid! How can one suggest that the Creator ran out of time and was unable to complete His work?! We have explained already at the beginning of the פרשה that G'd created every part of the universe simultaneously. The words מכל מלאכתו suggest that G'd did not complete even such work as was already in progress.

7אָכֵן הַכַּוָּנָה הִיא כִּי רָצָה ה׳ לְהוֹדִיעַ עֹצֶם מַעֲלַת יוֹם הַמְכֻבָּד, כִּי הֲלֹא תֵּדַע שֶׁיִּשְׁתַּנֶּה הַדָּבָר בֵּין מְלָאכָה שֶׁהִתְחִיל בָּהּ וְאֵין בָּהּ הֶפְסֵד לִמְלָאכָה שֶׁכְּבָר הִתְחִיל בָּהּ וְתִפָּסֵד אִם לֹא יִגְמֹר אוֹתָהּ. וְכָאן הוֹדִיעָנוּ הַכָּתוּב כִּי מִלְּבַד שֶׁלֹּא הִתְחִיל בִּמְלָאכָה אַחֶרֶת, אֶלָּא אֲפִלּוּ בִּמְלָאכָה שֶׁהִתְחִיל בָּהּ כְּשֶׁקָּדַשׁ הַיּוֹם גַּם כֵּן שָׁבַת מִלִּגְמוֹר אוֹתָהּ, הֲגַם שֶׁנִּפְסְדָה הַמְּלָאכָה שֶׁהִתְחִיל בָּהּ הֶפְסֵד שֶׁאֵין אַחֲרָיו תִּקּוּן, אַף עַל פִּי כֵן לֹא רָצָה לַעֲשׂוֹת עוֹד. וְהוּא שֶׁרָמַז בְּאָמְרוֹ וַיִּשְׁבֹּת אַחַר שֶׁאָמַר ״וַיְכַל״, כִּי מִלְּבַד שֶׁכִּלָּה וְלֹא הוֹסִיף עוֹד עֲשׂוֹת בְּרִיאָה אַחֶרֶת, אֶלָּא אֲפִלּוּ מַה שֶׁהָיָה בְּיָדוֹ לְהַשְׁלִימוֹ שָׁבַת, פֵּרוּשׁ בָּטֵל גְּמַר הַדָּבָר שֶׁהָיָה בְּיָדוֹ. וְלָזֶה אָמַר מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ, לוֹמַר אֲפִלּוּ מְלָאכָה שֶׁכְּבָר הִתְחִיל בָּהּ, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה וְהִתְחִיל בָּהּ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁבָּא יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי שָׁבַת מִלְּהַשְׁלִימָהּ. וַה׳ עָשָׂה כֵן לְהַרְאוֹת דָּבָר זֶה לֹא לְצַד מְנִיעַת הַיְּכֹלֶת חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, כִּי פְּשִׁיטָא שֶׁבְּהֶרֶף עַיִן בּוֹרֵא כָּהֵנָּה וְכָהֵנָּה רִבֵּי רְבָבוֹת. גַּם אוֹמֵר אֲנִי כִּי לְטַעַם זֶה סִדֵּר ה׳ הַמְּלָאכוֹת שֶׁעָשָׂה בְּסֵדֶר הַיָּמִים דְּבַר יוֹם בְּיוֹמוֹ, כְּדֵי שֶׁיֻּכַּר מַעֲלַת הַשַּׁבָּת, כִּי זוּלַת זֶה יָכוֹל הָיָה ה׳ לַעֲשׂוֹת כָּל הַמַּעֲשֶׂה בְּיוֹם אֶחָד וּבִזְמַן מוּעָט.

What our sages had in mind when they told us about these phenomena and the time they were created is that G'd wanted us to know something about the importance of the Sabbath and the way it is to be observed. Halachah distinguishes between the rules of what is allowed on Friday afternoon close to the Sabbath and what is not. If work has been under way and it awaits only completion there are certain categories of work which may be completed under such circumstances, especially if they are performed in honour of the Sabbath or if financial loss is suffered if one does not complete the work before the Sabbath. If such work has not even been commenced it may not be undertaken until after the Sabbath. In the example in Pessachim the sages taught us that G'd desisted from completing even work He had already begun while it was still the sixth day. This in spite of the fact that non-completion would result in grievous loss to the universe, a loss which was beyond retrieving. This is what the word וישבות alludes to after we had already heard ויכל, that G'd completed creating. Not only did G'd not undertake something new, He did not even complete something that was in the process of coming into being. The reason this word is repeated is also to tell us that it was not G'd's inability to complete an undertaking on time. One of the reasons G'd's activities on each day during the days of creation are always followed by the statement "it was evening, it was morning, etc.," is to mark the contrast with the Sabbath concerning which no such statement is recorded.

ב׳:ג׳ וַיְבָ֤רֶךְ אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־י֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י וַיְקַדֵּ֖שׁ אֹת֑וֹ כִּ֣י ב֤וֹ שָׁבַת֙ מִכָּל־מְלַאכְתּ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁר־בָּרָ֥א אֱלֹהִ֖ים לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃ (פ)

2:3 And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because on it God ceased from all the work of creation that He had done.

2:3 And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it; because that in it He rested from all His work which God in creating had made.

ב׳:ג׳ וּבָרִיךְ יְיָ יָת יוֹמָא שְׁבִיעָאָה וְקַדִּישׁ יָתֵהּ אֲרֵי בֵהּ נַח מִכָּל עֲבִדְתֵּהּ דִּי בְרָא יְיָ לְמֶעְבַּד:

ויברך, ויקדש. בֵּרְכוֹ בַּמָּן, שֶׁכָּל יְמוֹת הַשָּׁבוּעַ יוֹרֵד לָהֶם עֹמֶר לַגֻּלְגֹּלֶת, וּבַשִּׁשִּׁי לֶחֶם מִשְׁנֶה, וְקִדְּשׁוֹ בַּמָּן, שֶׁלֹּא יָרַד כְּלָל בְּשַׁבָּת, וְהַמִּקְרָא כָּתוּב עַל הֶעָתִיד:

אשר ברא אלהים לעשות. הַמְּלָאכָה שֶׁהָיְתָה רְאוּיָה לֵעָשׂוֹת בַּשַּׁבָּת, כָּפַל וַעֲשָׂאָהּ בַּשִּׁשִּׁי כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּפֹרָשׁ בְּב"ר:

ב׳:ג׳ אור החיים

1וַיְבָרֶךְ אֱלֹהִים וְגוֹ׳. צָרִיךְ לָדַעַת מַה הִיא הַבְּרָכָה, וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (בראשית רבה יא,ב) אָמְרוּ בֵּרְכוֹ בַּמָּן וְכוּ׳, וְדִבְרֵיהֶם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה אֵינָם אֶלָּא רֶמֶז בַּכָּתוּב, אֲבָל הַפְּשָׁט לֹא יְדַבֵּר עַל זְמַן מֵהַזְּמַנִּים הָעֲתִידִין.

ויברך אלוקים את יום השביעי. G'd blessed the seventh day. We need to know the exact nature of this blessing which the Torah does not spell out in this instance. Our sages (Mechilta Exodus 20,3) suggested that the blessing was the fact that while the Jewish people were in the desert an extra portion of manna descended on Fridays and they did not have to pick it up on the Sabbath. Such allusions are, of course, not the plain meaning of the verse. The plain meaning of the verse has nothing to do with isolated events two and half millenia in the future.

2וְהַנָּכוֹן בְּמַשְׁמָעוּת הַכָּתוּב הוּא, כִּי לֶהֱיוֹת שֶׁהָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה צָרִיךְ הוּא לְשֶׁפַע הַמְקַיֵּם, וְהוּא בְּחִינַת הָאֲכִילָה וְהַשְּׁתִיָּה וְצָרְכֵי הָאָדָם, וְכֻלָּן מֻשָּׂגִים עַל יְדֵי טֹרַח וִיגִיעָה הַגַּשְׁמִית וְחֻלִּין הִיא, וְהַשֵּׁם כְּשֶׁרָצָה לְקַדֵּשׁ יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי קָדַם וּבֵרְכוֹ שֶׁלֹּא יֶחְסַר בּוֹ דָּבָר, הֲגַם שֶׁאֵין טוֹבַת הָעוֹלָם הַשָּׁפָל מֻשֶּׂגֶת מֵהַפְּרִישׁוּת וְהַקְּדֻשָּׁה אֶלָּא מֵעֵסֶק חוֹל, אַף עַל פִּי כֵן בֵּרְכוֹ שֶׁלֹּא יֶחְסַר טוֹב, וְעוֹד לוֹ שֶׁהוּא יָתֵר עַל שְׁאָר הַיָּמִים לֶחֶם מִשְׁנֶה שָׁלֹשׁ סְעֻדּוֹת וְתַעֲנוּגִים יְתֵרִים, וְזוֹ הִיא בִּרְכָתוֹ וְהוּא דָּבָר הֵפֶךְ הַסֵּדֶר. וּלְמַה שֶׁפֵּרַשׁ בַּזֹּהַר (יתרו פח.) כִּי בְּיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת מִשְׁתַּלְשֵׁל הַשֶּׁפַע שֶׁל כָּל שֵׁשֶׁת יְמֵי הַמַּעֲשֶׂה, יְכֻוַּן עַל זֶה אָמְרוֹ וַיְבָרֶךְ כִּי בוֹ צִוָּה ה׳ אֶת הַבְּרָכָה לְחַיּוּת הָעוֹלָמוֹת.

The fact is that this present world can function only on the basis of an adequate supply of life-sustaining food and drink. All man's physical needs are attained only through toil and a great deal of effort on his part. Such activities are of a very mundane nature. Inasmuch as G'd wanted to sanctify the Sabbath, He first bestowed a blessing on that day so that it should not be devoid of anything. Although the amenities of this "lower" world are not normally attained through asceticism, withdrawal into the four walls of the Torah academy, etc., but through preocccupation with the profane and the mundane, G'd provided His blessing so that not only would there be no lack of the physical comforts but an abundance. This abundance is expressed by the halachah requiring us to have two whole loaves of bread when reciting the benediction over the Sabbath meal, to eat at least three meals on that day, and to enjoy delicacies not eaten on the days of the week. One might have expected the blessing to be of a purely spiritual nature. By not mentioning a spiritual kind of blessing, the Torah alludes to the Sabbath having been endowed by G'd with blessings of a physical nature. This is also what the Zohar meant when it speaks about the abundance of all the six days of creation being channelled into the Sabbath.

3כִּי בוֹ שָׁבַת וְגוֹ׳. צָרִיךְ לָדַעַת כַּוָּנַת הַכָּתוּב בְּמַאֲמָר זֶה. וְנִרְאֶה לְפָרֵשׁ לְפִי מַה שֶׁכָּתַבְנוּ לְמַעְלָה כִּי הָעוֹלָם הָיָה חָסֵר הַקִּיּוּם עַד שֶׁבָּאֲתָה שַׁבָּת וְעָמַד הָעוֹלָם. וְיֵשׁ לְהָעִיר בָּזֶה שֶׁאוֹתָם יָמִים קוֹדֶם שֶׁבָּאָה שַׁבָּת בְּמַה הָיָה הָעוֹלָם עוֹמֵד, וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁהִסְפִּיק לִחְיוֹת בְּאוֹתָן יָמִים בְּלֹא נֶפֶשׁ הַשַּׁבָּת הָיָה מַתְמִיד וְהוֹלֵךְ.

כי בו שבת, for on it He rested, etc. Here too we must explore exactly what the Torah had in mind. We fall back on what we wrote earlier, that the world had lacked the ingredients which assured it of permanence until the Sabbath came into existence. Assuming that this was so, we must ask what had enabled the world to continue up until the Sabbath? Since the world obviously was able to carry on without the נפש it received on the Sabbath, why would its continued existence have been endangered only then?

4אָכֵן מָצִינוּ כִּי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא גִּלָּה הַדָּבָר בְּמַה שֶׁאָמַר (שמות כ:יא) בַּעֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְּרוֹת: ״כִּי שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים עָשָׂה ה׳ אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם״ וְגוֹ׳, הֲרֵי גִּלָּה כִּי בִּשְׁעַת הַבְּרִיאָה לֹא בָּרָא ה׳ כֹּחַ בָּעוֹלָם זוּלַת לַעֲמֹד שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים לְטַעַם הַנּוֹדָע לוֹ גַּם יָדוּעַ לְיוֹדְעֵי אֱמֶת. וְנִתְחַכֵּם ה׳ וּבָרָא יוֹם אֶחָד הוּא יָדוּעַ לַה׳, וּבוֹ בַּיּוֹם חוֹזֵר ה׳ וּמַשְׁפִּיעַ נֶפֶשׁ לָעוֹלָם שִׁעוּר הַמְקַיֵּם עוֹד שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים, וְכֵן עַל זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ. וְזוּלַת זֶה הַיּוֹם הָיָה הָעוֹלָם חָרֵב בִּגְמַר שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים וְחוֹזֵר לְתֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ, וְצָרִיךְ ה׳ לַהֲכִינוֹ פַּעַם ב׳, וּבְאֶמְצָעוּת שַׁבָּת הָעוֹלָם עוֹמֵד. וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ כִּי בוֹ, פֵּרוּשׁ: בְּאֶמְצָעוּת יוֹם זֶה שָׁבַת מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ, וּפֵרֵשׁ מַה הוּא הַמְּלָאכָה – הִיא הַבְּרִיאָה עַצְמָהּ, כִּי לֹא מֵהַתִּקּוּן שֶׁהוּא הַמַּעֲשֶׂה לְבַד שָׁבַת, אֶלָּא גַּם מֵהַבְּרִיאָה. וּכְבָר כָּתַבְתִּי לְמַעְלָה שֶׁהַבְּרִיאָה הִיא יֵשׁ מֵאַיִן, וְהוּא מַה שֶׁנִּבְרָא בְּיוֹם רִאשׁוֹן בְּדִבּוּר אֶחָד, וְהַמַּעֲשֶׂה הוּא הַתִּקּוּן אֲשֶׁר תִּקֵּן דְּבַר יוֹם בְּיוֹמוֹ, וּבְאֶמְצָעוּת יוֹם שַׁבָּת מַשְׁפִּיעַ בִּכְלָלוּת הָעוֹלָמוֹת רוּחַ הַמְקַיֶּמֶת עוֹד שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים.

We find that G'd has revealed the answer to this question in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20,11) where the Torah writes: כי ששת ימים עשה השם את השמים ואת הארץ This means that at the time G'd created the universe He invested it with only enough power to endure six days for reasons known only to Himself and some kabbalists. G'd created one day which would be able to invest the world with staying power for another six days. If G'd had not created the Sabbath, the Tohu Vavohu preceding those six days would have returned and G'd would have had to start the process of creation ex nihilo all over again. Due to the infusion of the "soul" of the Sabbath the universe was placed on a more permanent basis, enabled to renew its batteries, so to speak. The words ובו שבת, mean that by means of this special day, the Sabbath, He was able to rest from all His work. The work referred to is that which only G'd could perform namely to create ex nihilo, something out of nothing. Had it not been for the Sabbath and its נפש, G'd would have had to repeat the process of בריאה, creation. The word עשה refers only to תיקון, improvement, repair. G'd rested from both aspects of creative activity.

5וּלְפִי פֵּרוּשֵׁינוּ זֶה מָצָאנוּ נַחַת רוּחַ בְּמַאֲמָר אֶחָד שֶׁאָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (שבת קיט:) ״כָּל הַמְקַדֵּשׁ וְכוּ׳ וְאוֹמֵר וַיְכֻלּוּ וְגוֹ׳ כְּאִלּוּ נַעֲשָׂה שׁוּתָּף לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית״ עַד כָּאן. וְדִבְרֵיהֶם רְחוֹקִים וּדְחוּקִים לְפִי הַנִּרְאֶה, מִי שָׁמַע כָּזֹאת שֶׁיָּבֹא אָדָם וְיִשְׁתַּתֵּף בְּדָבָר שֶׁכְּבָר נִגְמְרָה מְלַאכְתּוֹ? אֵין אַחַר מַעֲשֶׂה כְּלוּם וּבַמֶּה יֵעָשֶׂה שׁוּתָּף? עוֹד, מַה הִיא הַפְּעֻלָּה הַגְּדוֹלָה הַזֹּאת שֶׁבְּאֶמְצָעוּתָהּ יַשִּׂיג הַשָּׂגָה זוֹ? וְעוֹד, לוּ יִהְיֶה שֶׁיִּהְיֶה מַעֲשֶׂה זֶה גָּדוֹל עַד מְאֹד, מִנַּיִן לָהֶם לוֹמַר דָּבָר זֶה שֶׁהוּא נַעֲשָׂה שׁוּתָּף? וְאִם לְצַד הַגְדָּלַת הַשָּׂכָר, הָיָה לָהֶם לְהַגְדִּיל שְׂכָרוֹ לְחַלֵּק לוֹ בָּרַבִּים (ישעיהו נ״ג:י״ב) וְאֹרֶךְ יָמִים וּגְבוּרָה וְעֹשֶׁר וְכוּ׳, וּמִנַּיִן מָצְאוּ לְהַאֲרִיךְ לָשׁוֹן לְצַד עִילָּאָה לְהִשְׁתַּתֵּף עִמּוֹ בְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית?

When viewed in this light we can understand the statement of our sages that by reciting the benediction over wine on the Sabbath one becomes a partner to G'd in His creation of the universe (Shabbat 119). At first glance these words appear very forced. Who has ever heard of man becoming a retroactive partner in G'd's handiwork, something that He had long since completed? Besides, the act of reciting this paragraph from the Torah does not appear to be such a world-shaking effort that it would qualify us to become G'd's "partners!" What is the source of the statement in the Talmud? If the sages meant that the reward for reciting Kiddush is so great, should it not be awarded in public such as longevity, wealth, and physical prowess being granted to Sabbath-observers?

6וּלְמָה שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי אֱמֶת יֶהְגֶּה חִכָּם וּדְבַר ה׳ בְּפִיהֶם אֱמֶת בְּטַעַם צוֹדֵק, כִּי לֶהֱיוֹת שֶׁהַשַּׁבָּת הוּא הַמְקַיֵּם הָעוֹלָם כָּל שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים, וְאַחַר עֲבוֹר שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים יָבֹא שַׁבָּת אַחֶרֶת וִיחַיֵּהוּ וִיקַיְּמֵהוּ עוֹד שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים אֲחֵרִים. וּלְךָ לָדַעַת כִּי מְצִיאוּת הַשַּׁבָּת בָּעוֹלָם הוּא קִיּוּמוֹ שֶׁמְּקַיְּמִים אוֹתוֹ, כִּי אִם אֵין מְקַיְּמִים שַׁבָּת אֵין שַׁבָּת. וְתִמְצָא שֶׁאָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (שבת קנא:): חַלֵּל עָלָיו שַׁבָּת אַחַת כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּשְׁמֹר שַׁבָּתוֹת הַרְבֵּה, וְאִם אֵין שׁוֹמֵר שַׁבָּת מַה זֹּאת עוֹשָׂה. וְלָזֶה כָּל הַמְקַדֵּשׁ אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת וְכוּ׳, פֵּרוּשׁ מְקַיֵּם וְשׁוֹמֵר קְדֻשָּׁתוֹ, בְּאֶמְצָעוּת זֶה יֶשְׁנוֹ לְשַׁבָּת וּמֵאֶמְצָעוּתוֹ מִתְקַיֵּם הָעוֹלָם. הָרְאֵתָ לָדַעַת כִּי הוּא הַמְקַיֵּם הָעוֹלָם וְאֵין לְךָ שׁוּתָּף גָּדוֹל מִזֶּה כַּדִּין וְכַהֲלָכָה. וּלְךָ לָדַעַת כִּי מִיּוֹם בְּרֹא אֱלֹהִים אָדָם לֹא חָסַר הָעוֹלָם דָּבָר הַמַּעֲמִיד צַדִּיק יְסוֹד עוֹלָם שֶׁהוּא שׁוֹמֵר שַׁבָּת, כִּי אָדָם שׁוֹמֵר שַׁבָּת הָיָה עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם (בראשית רבה כב), וְאַחֲרָיו קָם שֵׁת בְּנוֹ כִּי הוּא הָיָה צַדִּיק גָּמוּר, וְאַחֲרָיו כַּמָּה צַדִּיקִים, וּכְשֶׁזֶּה נוֹפֵל כְּבָר בָּא הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ שׁוֹמֵר שַׁבָּת מְתוּשֶׁלַח וְכוּ׳, נֹחַ, שֵׁם, אַבְרָהָם וְכוּ׳, וּמִשָּׁם לֹא פָּסְקָה שְׁמִירַת שַׁבָּת מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל, וַאֲפִלּוּ בְּמִצְרַיִם הָיוּ שׁוֹמְרֵי שַׁבָּתוֹת כְּמַאֲמָרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (שמות רבה א:לב), וְנָכוֹן.

When we keep in mind my explanation thus far, it will be seen that the Talmud's statement is indeed most appropriate. In view of the fact that the Sabbath provides a secure existence for the six days following it after which another Sabbath repeats the same function, it follows that the very existence of the Sabbath equates with the existence of the universe. Unless there are people who observe the Sabbath there is no Sabbath, i.e. its existence has lost its meaning. Our rabbis have legislated that when one's life is in danger unless one desecrates a law of the Sabbath, one should desecrate a single Sabbath in order to remain alive and observe many subsequent Sabbaths. Assuming that there were no other Sabbath-observers at the time, what good would it do for the person whose life was in to skip the one Sabbath? The world would disintegrate before he would have a chance to observe another Sabbath! It follows that only Sabbath-observers keep the universe going. Therefore the Sabbath-observers have become G'd's "partners" by ensuring that G'd's universe survives for another six days. Observing the Sabbath means to preserve its holiness according to all its laws and customs. Ever since the creation of man the world did not lack at least one person who observed the Sabbath. Adam did so, his son Sheth, and many righteous people after him. Whenever one righteous person died, G'd had already arranged for another righteous person to be born. This chain of individual Sabbath-observers continued through Methusela, Noach, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc., until the Jewish people introduced collective Sabbath-observance. According to our sages, The Israelites observed the Sabbath even while in exile in Egypt (Shemot Rabbah 1,32). The word בהבראם, when they were created, is the reminder that whatever the earth or the waters produced was possible only due to the act of creation G'd performed on the day they were created themselves.

7וַהֲגַם שֶׁכָּתַבְנוּ לְמַעְלָה בְּפֵרוּשׁ פָּסוּק ״וַיְכֻלּוּ״ (בראשית ב:א) כִּי הַעֲמָדַת הָעוֹלָם הוּא בְּחֵשֶׁק הַקְבָּלַת אוֹר הַמַּקִּיף וְהַיָּשָׁר בַּנֶּעֱלָמוֹת, אֵין זֶה מַכְחִישׁ לִדְבָרֵינוּ כָּאן, כִּי זוּלַת הַשַּׁבָּת אֵין הַשָּׂגָה בָּעוֹלָם לְהַכִּיר לִכְסוֹף וְלִכְלוֹת אֶל הַבּוֹרֵא, וְהָבֵן.

When we wrote earlier (2,1) that the spherical world is kept in balance and thus in existence due to the desire of the respective creatures to cleave to the light which surrounds this sphere provided by the Creator, this does not contradict what we have written. Were it not for the Sabbath, no creature would have had sufficient intelligence and desire to want to cleave to the Creator. On that day they were provided with the potential to produce what they produced subsequently.

Parasha: Bereshit · Aliyah: First (Chesed)

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