Bereshit Rabbah 19:3

וְהַנָּחָשׁ הָיָה עָרוּם (בראשית ג, א), כְּתִיב (קהלת א, יח): כִּי בְּרֹב חָכְמָה רָב כָּעַס וְיוֹסִיף דַּעַת יוֹסִיף מַכְאוֹב, עַל יְדֵי שֶׁאָדָם מַרְבֶּה עָלָיו חָכְמָה הוּא מַרְבֶּה עָלָיו כַּעַס, וְעַל יְדֵי שֶׁהוּא מוֹסִיף דַּעַת הוּא מוֹסִיף עָלָיו מַכְאוֹב, אָמַר שְׁלֹמֹה עַל יְדֵי שֶׁהִרְבֵּיתִי עָלַי חָכְמָה הִרְבֵּיתִי עָלַי כַּעַס, וְעַל יְדֵי שֶׁהוֹסַפְתִּי עָלַי דַּעַת הוֹסַפְתִּי עָלַי מַכְאוֹב, שָׁמַעְתָּ מִיָּמֶיךָ אוֹמֵר חֲמוֹר זֶה יוֹצֵא צִינָה עָלָיו, כַּמָּה חֲכָכִים בָּאָה עָלָיו, וְהֵיכָן הֵן יִסּוּרִין מְצוּיִין, עַל בְּנֵי אָדָם. רַב אָמַר אֵין תַּלְמִיד חָכָם צָרִיךְ הַתְרָאָה, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן כִּכְלֵי פִּשְׁתָּן הַדַּקִּים הַבָּאִים מִבֵּית שְׁאָן אִם מִתְפַּחֲמִין קִמְעָא הֵן אֲבוּדִין, אֲבָל כְּלֵי פִּשְׁתָּן הָאַרְבֵּלִיִּין, כַּמָּה הֵן וְכַמָּה דְּמֵיהֶם. תָּנֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל לְפוּם גַּמְלָא שִׁחֲנָא, בְּנוֹהַג שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם שְׁנֵי בְּנֵי אָדָם נִכְנָסִין לִקְפִילִין, חַד אֲמַר אַיְיתֵי קוּפָר צָלִי, וּפִתָּא נְקִיָּה, וַחֲמַר טַב. וְחַד אֲמַר אַיְיתֵי פִּתָּא וּתְרָדִין. דֵּין אָכַל וּמִתְנַזֵּק, וְדֵין אָכַל וְלָא מִתְנַזֵּק, הֱוֵי עַל דֵּין הִיא רַבָּה וְעַל אוֹחֲרָן לֵית הִיא רַבָּה. תָּנֵי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי מֵאִיר, לְפִי גְּדֻלָּתוֹ שֶׁל נָחָשׁ הָיָה מַפַּלְתּוֹ, עָרוּם מִכֹּל, אָרוּר מִכֹּל. רַבִּי הוֹשַׁעְיָא רַבָּה אָמַר דִּקְרָטִים הָיָה עוֹמֵד כְּקָנֶה וְרַגְלַיִם הָיוּ לוֹ. רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר אֶפִּיקוֹרֶס הָיָה. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר כְּגַמָּל הָיָה, טוֹבָה גְּדוֹלָה חָסַר הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁאִלְמָלֵא כֵּן הָיָה אָדָם מְשַׁלֵּחַ פְּרַגְמַטְיָא בְּיָדוֹ וְהָיָה הוֹלֵךְ וּבָא. “The serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field that the Lord God had made. It said to the woman: Did God actually say: You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?” (Genesis 3:1).
“The serpent was…cunning” – it is written: “For with great wisdom is great anger, and he who increases knowledge increases pain” (Ecclesiastes 1:18). By increasing wisdom a person increases anger against himself; by increasing knowledge he brings pain upon himself. Solomon said: Because I increased wisdom for myself I increased anger against myself, and because I increased my knowledge I brought pain upon myself.¹It is because Solomon was so wise that he became overconfident and transgressed (see Bamidbar Rabba 10:4). Have you ever heard anyone say: ‘This donkey is afflicted by a cold?’ [Or:] ‘So many inflammations afflict him.’ [Of course not.] Where is suffering found? It is among human beings.²Who have intelligence.
Rav said: A Torah scholar does not require forewarning.³In order to incur liability for sinning. Most people are not punished unless they have been forewarned that they are committing a forbidden act, but the Torah scholar already knows that what he is doing is forbidden. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: It is like fine linen garments that come from Beit She’an; if they get a bit dirty they are ruined [and it is a great loss]. But the linen garments of Arbel, what is their quality, and what is their value?⁴Being of lower quality, they are not ruined by a little stain, and in any event even if they do get ruined, they do not cost much. Rabbi Yishmael taught: In accordance with the camel, so is its burden.⁵The stronger the camel, the more weight is placed on it. This is a metaphor for what was said before: The higher one’s status is, the greater one’s liability. This is the ordinary way of the world : If two people enter a restaurant, and one says: ‘Bring me a piece of roast meat, white bread, and fine wine,’ and the other says: ‘Give me bread and beets.’ This one ]the first man] eats and suffers,⁶From eating too much rich food. and that one [the second man] eats and does not suffer. The food is too much for this one, but it is not too much for that one. It is taught in the name of Rabbi Meir: The downfall of the serpent was in accordance with its greatness – The more cunning, the more cursed.
Rabbi Hoshaya Rabba said: It [the serpent]⁷Before it was punished and reduced to its current form. stood erect like a reed, and it had legs. Rabbi Yirmeya ben Elazar said: It was a heretic.⁸It said blasphemous things about God (Genesis 3:4–5).
Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar said: It was like a camel. The world lost a great benefit, as were it not so [that the serpent was punished], man would have been able to send merchandise with it and it would have been able to come and go [by itself].⁹Due to its superior intelligence.

וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל הָאִשָּׁה אַף כִּי אָמַר אֱלֹהִים (בראשית ג, א), אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בֶּן סַנְסָן אַרְבָּעָה הֵן שֶׁפָּתְחוּ בְּאַף וְנֶאֶבְדוּ בְּאַף, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן, נָחָשׁ, וְשַׂר הָאוֹפִים, וַעֲדַת קֹרַח, וְהָמָן. נָחָשׁ (בראשית ג, א): וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל הָאִשָּׁה אַף. שַׂר הָאוֹפִים (בראשית מ, טז): אַף אֲנִי בַּחֲלוֹמִי. עֲדַת קֹרַח (במדבר טז, יד): אַף לֹא אֶל אֶרֶץ. הָמָן (אסתר ה, יב): אַף לֹא הֵבִיאָה אֶסְתֵּר. “It said to the woman: Did [af] God actually say…” – Rabbi Ḥanina ben Sansan said: There are four people who began a statement with af and perished by [divine] wrath [af], and they are: The serpent, the baker [in prison with Joseph], the congregation of Koraḥ, and Haman. The serpent – “It said to the woman: Did [af] God actually say…” The baker – “I, too [af], in my dream…” (Genesis 40:16). The congregation of Koraḥ – “Moreover, [af] not to a land…” (Numbers 16:14). Haman – “Moreover, [af] Esther did not bring…” (Esther 5:12).

אָמַר רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא הַשְּׁאֵלָה הַזּוֹ שְׁאֵלוּנִי בְּאַנְטוֹכְיָא, אָמַרְתִּי לָהֶם כִּי יוֹדְעִים אֱלֹהִים אֵין כְּתִיב אֶלָּא כִּי יֹדֵעַ אֱלֹהִים כִּי בְּיוֹם אֲכָלְכֶם. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ דְּסִכְנִין בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר הִתְחִיל אוֹמֵר דֵּלָטוֹרְיָא עַל בּוֹרְאוֹ, אָמַר מֵאִילָן הַזֶּה אָכַל וּבָרָא הָעוֹלָם, וְהוּא אוֹמֵר לָכֶם לֹא תֹאכְלוּ מִמֶּנּוּ, שֶׁלֹא תִבְרְאוּ עוֹלָמוֹת אֲחֵרִים, דְּכָל אִינָשׁ וְאִינָשׁ סָנֵי בַּר אֻמְנָתֵיהּ. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר כָּל שֶׁנִּבְרָא אַחַר חֲבֵרוֹ שַׁלִּיט בַּחֲבֵרוֹ, שָׁמַיִם בָּרִאשׁוֹן, וְרָקִיעַ בַּשֵּׁנִי, אֵינוֹ סוֹבְלָן, אֶתְמְהָא. רָקִיעַ בַּשֵּׁנִי, וּדְשָׁאִים בַּשְּׁלִישִׁי, אֵינָן מְסַפְּקִין אֶת מֵימָיו, דְּשָׁאִים בַּשְׁלִישִׁי, וּמְאוֹרוֹת בָּרְבִיעִי, אֵינָן מְבַשְּׁלִין פֵּרוֹתָיו, מְאוֹרוֹת בָּרְבִיעִי, וְעוֹפוֹת בַּחֲמִישִׁי. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בַּר סִימוֹן זִיז עוֹף טָהוֹר הוּא וּבְשָׁעָה שֶׁהוּא פּוֹרֵחַ מְכַסֶּה גַּלְגַּל חַמָּה, וְאָדָם נִבְרָא אַחַר הַכֹּל לִשְׁלֹט בַּכֹּל, קִדְמוּ וְאִכְלוּ עַד שֶׁלֹא יִבְרָא עוֹלָמוֹת אֲחֵרִים וְהֵן שׁוֹלְטִין בָּכֶם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (בראשית ג, ו): וַתֵּרֶא הָאִשָּׁה כִּי טוֹב וגו', רָאֲתָה דְּבָרָיו שֶׁל נָחָשׁ. “For God knows that, on the day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be as God, knowing good from evil (Genesis 3:5).
Rabbi Tanḥuma said: They asked me this question¹⁵The difficulty is that the latter part of the verse could be translated, “you will be as gods, who know good from evil,” which implies that there are multiple deities. in Antioch. I said to them: “For God knows [yodim]”¹⁶Plural. is not written, but rather, “for God knows [yode’a]¹⁷Singular. that, on the day you eat from it.”¹⁸The very same verse speaks of God in the singular. Therefore, the correct translation of the end of the verse must be: “You will be as God, [becoming people] who know good from evil.”
Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: It began to slander its Creator. It said: ‘He ate from this tree and then created the world, so He says to you: Do not eat from it so you will not create other worlds. For every person hates the craftsman that competes with him.’
Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: [The serpent said:] ‘Everything that was created after its counterpart dominates that counterpart.¹⁹The creations of each day are subservient to the creations created on the following day. The heavens were created on the first day and the firmament on the second. Does it [the firmament] not hold them up? That is a rhetorical question. The firmament was created on the second day and the vegetation on the third – does it [the firmament] not supply water for it? Vegetation was created on the third day and the luminaries on the fourth – do they [the luminaries] not cause its [the earth’s] produce to grow? The luminaries were created on the fourth day and the birds on the fifth – the ziz is a very large bird and when it flies it obscures the orb of the sun.²⁰So there is a bird that overpowers the sun, by blocking it out. Man was created after everything in order to dominate everything. Hurry and eat [the fruit] now, before He creates additional worlds and they will dominate you.’ That is what is written: “The woman saw that the tree was good…” (Genesis 3:6) – she saw²¹That is, she understood and accepted. the arguments of the serpent.

רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר זִמְרָא אָמַר שְׁלשָׁה דְּבָרִים נֶאֶמְרוּ בְּאוֹתוֹ אִילָן, טוֹב לְמַאֲכָל, יָפֶה לָעֵינַיִם, וּמוֹסִיף חָכְמָה, וּשְׁלָשְׁתָּן נֶאֶמְרוּ בְּפָסוּק אֶחָד, וַתֵּרֶא הָאִשָּׁה כִּי טוֹב, מִכָּאן שֶׁהוּא טוֹב, וְכִי תַאֲוָה הוּא לָעֵינַיִם, מִכָּאן שֶׁהוּא יָפֶה לָעֵינַיִם, וְנֶחְמָד הָעֵץ לְהַשְׂכִּיל, מִכָּאן שֶׁמּוֹסִיף חָכְמָה, הֵיךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (תהלים פט, א): מַשְׂכִּיל לְאֵיתָן הָאֶזְרָחִי. וַתִּקַּח מִפִּרְיוֹ וַתֹּאכַל (בראשית ג, ו), אָמַר רַבִּי אַיְבוּ סָחֲטָה עֲנָבִים וְנָתְנָה לוֹ, רַבִּי שִׂמְלָאי אָמַר בְּיִשּׁוּב הַדַּעַת בָּאת עָלָיו, אָמְרָה לֵיהּ מַה אַתָּה סָבוּר שֶׁאֲנִי מֵתָה וְחַוָּה אַחֶרֶת נִבְרֵאת לְךָ (קהלת א, ט): אֵין כָּל חָדָשׁ תַּחַת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ, אוֹ שֶׁמָּא אֲנִי מֵתָה וְאַתְּ יוֹשֵׁב לְךָ הַטְלִיס, (ישעיה מה, יח): לֹא תֹהוּ בְרָאָהּ לָשֶׁבֶת יְצָרָהּ, רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי הִתְחִילָה מְיַלֶּלֶת עָלָיו בְּקוֹלָהּ. גַּם, רִבּוּי, הֶאֱכִילָה אֶת הַבְּהֵמָה וְאֶת הַחַיָה וְאֶת הָעוֹפוֹת, הַכֹּל שָׁמְעוּ לָהּ חוּץ מֵעוֹף אֶחָד וּשְׁמוֹ חוֹל, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (איוב כט, יח): וְכַחוֹל אַרְבֶּה יָמִים. דְּבֵי רַבִּי יַנַּאי אָמְרֵי אֶלֶף שָׁנָה הוּא חַי, וּבְסוֹף אֶלֶף שָׁנָה אֵשׁ יוֹצְאָה מִקִּנּוֹ וְשׂוֹרַפְתּוֹ, וּמִשְׁתַּיֵּר בּוֹ כְּבֵיצָה וְחוֹזֵר וּמְגַדֵּל אֵבָרִים וָחָי. רַבִּי יוּדָן בְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר, אֶלֶף שָׁנִים חַי וּלְבַסּוֹף אֶלֶף שָׁנִים גּוּפוֹ כָּלֶה וּכְנָפָיו מִתְמָרְטִין וּמִשְׁתַּיֵּיר בּוֹ כְּבֵיצָה וְחוֹזֵר וּמְגַדֵּל אֵבָרִים. “The woman saw that the tree was good for eating, and that it was an enticement to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable as a source of wisdom; she took from its fruit and ate; she also gave to her husband with her, and he ate” (Genesis 3:6).
Rabbi Yosei bar Zimra said: Three matters were stated regarding that tree: That it was good for eating, pleasing to the eye, and suited for increasing wisdom” – and the three of them were stated in one verse. “The woman saw that…was good” – from here we learn that it was good; “and that it was an enticement to the eyes” – from here we learn that it was pleasing to the eye; “and that the tree was desirable as a source of wisdom [lehaskil]” – from here we learn that it was suitable for increasing wisdom, just as it says: “A contemplation [maskil] by Eitan the Ezrahite” (Psalms 89:1).
“She took from its fruit and ate” – Rabbi Aivu said: She squeezed grapes²²This is derived from the expression, “she took from its fruit,“ rather than she took its fruit. and gave it to him [Adam]. Rabbi Simlai said: She came to him persuasively. She said to him: ‘What, do you think that I will die and another Eve will be created for you? “There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9).²³So God will not create another woman for you. Or, perhaps [you think that] I will die and you will sit alone? “He did not create it [the world] for emptiness, He formed it to be inhabited”’ (Isaiah 45:18).²⁴So God will not leave you alone either. The only possible outcome is that He will spare both of us.
The Rabbis say: She began sobbing at him plaintively with her voice.
“Also [gam]” is an inclusive term; [as well as Adam,] she also fed the animals, the beasts, and the birds. All of them heeded her [and ate of the fruit]²⁵And that is why animals die. except for one bird that is called ḥol. That is what is written: “I will live many days, like the ḥol” (Job 29:18). The school of Rabbi Yanai says: It lives a thousand years, and at the end of a thousand years, fire emerges from its nest and burns it. An egg-bulk remains of it and it then grows limbs, and lives again. Rabbi Yudan ben Rabbi Shimon says: It lives a thousand years, and at the end of one thousand years, its body wastes away and its wings are shed. But an egg-bulk remains of it and it then grows limbs, and lives again.

וַתִּפָּקַחְנָה עֵינֵי שְׁנֵיהֶם (בראשית ג, ז), וְכִי סוּמִים הָיוּ, רַבִּי יוּדָן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בֶּן זַכַּאי וְרַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אָמַר, מָשָׁל לְעִירוֹנִי שֶׁהָיָה עוֹבֵר לִפְנֵי חֲנוּתוֹ שֶׁל זַגָּג, וְהָיָה לְפָנָיו קֻפָּה מְלֵאָה כּוֹסוֹת וּדְיַטְרוּטִין, וּתְפָשָׂם בְּמַקְלוֹ וְשִׁבְּרָן, עָמַד וּתְפָשׂוֹ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ יָדַע אֲנָא דְּלֵית אֲנָא מֶהֱנֵי מִמָּךְ כְּלוּם, אֶלָּא בּוֹא וְאַרְאֶה לְךָ כַּמָּה טוֹבוֹת אִבַּדְתָּ, כָּךְ הֶרְאָה לָהֶן כַּמָּה דוֹרוֹת אִבְּדוּ. (בראשית ג, ז): וַיֵּדְעוּ כִּי עֵירֻמִּם הֵם, אֲפִלּוּ מִצְוָה אַחַת שֶׁהָיְתָה בְּיָדָן נִתְעַרְטְלוּ הֵימֶנָּהּ. (בראשית ג, ז): וַיִּתְפְּרוּ עֲלֵה תְאֵנָה, אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי עָלֶה שֶׁהֵבִיאוּ תּוֹאֲנָה לָעוֹלָם, וְאָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק קִלְקַלְתְּ עוֹבָדָךְ סַב חוּט וְחַיֵּיט. וַיַּעֲשׂוּ לָהֶם חֲגֹרֹת (בראשית ג, ז), אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא חֲגוֹרָה אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא חֲגֹרֹת, חֲגוֹרֵי חֲגוֹרוֹת, אִסְטִכְיוֹן, גָּלְיוֹן, סְדִינִים, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁעוֹשִׂים לְאִישׁ כָּךְ עוֹשִׂין לְאִשָּׁה, צִלְצְלִין, קוֹלָסִין, סְכָנִין. “The eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; they sewed fig leaves, and they made themselves loincloths” (Genesis 3:7).
“The eyes of both of them were opened” – Had they been blind? Rabbi Yudan in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Zakkai and Rabbi Berekhya in the name of Rabbi Akiva said: This is analogous to a villager who was passing by a glazier’s shop which had a basket filled with goblets and cut glass in front of it, and he grabbed them with his cane and shattered them. He [the glazier] got up and grabbed him. He said to him: ‘I know that I will not be able to get any benefit out of you,²⁶You have no money to pay me for the damage you have done. but come with me [into my shop] and I will show you how much goodness you have destroyed.’ So, too, He showed them [Adam and Eve] how many generations they had destroyed [through their sin].²⁷By introducing death into the world. It is in this sense that their "eyes were opened.”
“They knew that they were naked” – they had been stripped bare of even that one commandment that they had received.
“They sewed fig [te’ena] leaves” – Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai said: It is the leaf that brought grief [to’ana] to the world.
Rabbi Yitzḥak said: [God said to them, in effect:] ‘You have ruined your handiwork, take a thread and sow it up.’²⁸This is a metaphor. Just as when one tears clothing, one is expected to repair it, Adam and Eve were expected to find a solution for the problem they had created – the issue of their being naked.
“And they made themselves loincloths [ḥagorot]” – Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Ḥagora [singular], is not written here, but rather ḥagorot [plural] – several straps: istikhon, galyon, sedinim.²⁹These are names of various types of belts or girdles, worn by men. And just as they made these for the man, so, they made for the woman: tziltzelin, kolasin, sekhanin.

וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ אֶת קוֹל ה' אֱלֹהִים מִתְהַלֵּךְ בַּגָּן לְרוּחַ הַיּוֹם (בראשית ג, ח), אָמַר רַבִּי חַלְּפוֹן שָׁמַעְנוּ שֶׁיֵּשׁ הִלּוּךְ לַקּוֹל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ אֶת קוֹל ה' אֱלֹהִים מִתְהַלֵּךְ בַּגָּן, וְהִלּוּךְ לָאֵשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות ט, כג): וַתִּהֲלַךְ אֵשׁ אָרְצָה, אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא מְהַלֵּךְ אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן אֶלָּא מִתְהַלֵּךְ, מְקַפֵּץ וְעוֹלֶה. עִקַּר שְׁכִינָה בַּתַּחְתּוֹנִים הָיְתָה, כֵּיוָן שֶׁחָטָא אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן נִסְתַּלְּקָה שְׁכִינָה לָרָקִיעַ הָרִאשׁוֹן, חָטָא קַיִן נִסְתַּלְּקָה לָרָקִיעַ הַשֵּׁנִי, דּוֹר אֱנוֹשׁ לַשְׁלִישִׁי, דּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל לָרְבִיעִי, דּוֹר הַפְלָגָה לַחֲמִישִׁי, סְדוֹמִיִּים לַשִּׁשִּׁי, וּמִצְרִיִּים בִּימֵי אַבְרָהָם לַשְּׁבִיעִי. וּכְנֶגְדָן עָמְדוּ שִׁבְעָה צַדִּיקִים, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן, אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב לֵוִי קְהָת עַמְרָם משֶׁה, עָמַד אַבְרָהָם וְהוֹרִידָהּ לַשִּׁשִּׁי, עָמַד יִצְחָק וְהוֹרִידָהּ מִן שִׁשִּׁי לַחֲמִישִׁי, עָמַד יַעֲקֹב וְהוֹרִידָהּ מִן הַחֲמִישִׁי לָרְבִיעִי, עָמַד לֵוִי וְהוֹרִידָהּ מִן הָרְבִיעִי לַשְּׁלִישִׁי, עָמַד קְהָת וְהוֹרִידָהּ מִן הַשְּׁלִישִׁי לַשֵּׁנִי, עָמַד עַמְרָם וְהוֹרִידָהּ מִן הַשֵּׁנִי לָרִאשׁוֹן, עָמַד משֶׁה וְהוֹרִידָהּ מִלְּמַעְלָה לְמַטָּה. אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק כְּתִיב (תהלים לז, כט): צַדִּיקִים יִירְשׁוּ אָרֶץ וגו', וּרְשָׁעִים מַה יַּעֲשׂוּ פוֹרְחִים בָּאֲוִיר, אֶלָּא הָרְשָׁעִים לֹא הִשְׁכִּינוּ שְׁכִינָה בָּאָרֶץ. “They heard the voice of the Lord God moving about in the garden with the day breeze; the man and his wife hid from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:8).
“They heard the voice of the Lord God moving about [mithalekh] in the garden with the day breeze” – Rabbi Ḥalfon said: We have heard that walking about [hilukh] is [an expression] used regarding sound,³⁰Even though “walking about” would seem to be appropriate only for people. as it is stated: “They heard the voice of the Lord God moving about [mithalekh] in the garden,” and that walking about is used regarding fire, as it is stated: “And fire went [vatihalakh] earthward” (Exodus 9:23).
Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Mehalekh is not written here, but rather, mithalekh, [which connotes] leaping up and ascending. The essence of the Divine Presence had been in the lower world, but when Adam the first man sinned the Divine Presence removed itself up to the first firmament; when Cain sinned, it removed itself up to the second firmament; at the generation of Enosh, to the third; at the generation of the Flood, to the fourth; at the generation of the dispersion, to the fifth; upon [the sins of] the Sodomites, to the sixth; upon [the sins of] the Egyptians in the generation of Abraham, to the seventh. Corresponding to them there arose seven righteous men, and these were: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Levi, Kehat, Amram, Moses.³¹Each one the son of the preceding one. Abraham arose and brought it down to the sixth level; Isaac arose and brought it down from the sixth to the fifth; Jacob arose and brought it down from the fifth to the fourth; Levi arose and brought it down from the fourth to the third; Kehat arose and brought it down from the third to the second; Amram arose and brought it down from the second to the first; Moses arose and brought it down from above [in the first firmament] to down below [earth]. Rabbi Yitzḥak said: It is written: “The righteous will inherit the earth [and dwell [veyishkenu] upon it forever…” (Psalms 37:29). And what of the wicked, will they float in the air? It means, rather, that the wicked did not allow the Divine Presence [shekhina] to rest on earth.

וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ, אַל תִּקְרֵי וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ אֶלָּא וַיַּשְׁמִיעוּ, שָׁמְעוּ קוֹלָן שֶׁל אִילָנוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ אוֹמְרִים הָא גַנְבָא דְּגָנַב דַּעְתֵּיהּ דְּבָרְיֵה. דָּבָר אַחֵר שָׁמְעוּ קוֹלָן שֶׁל מַלְאָכִים אוֹמְרִים ה' אֱלֹהִים הוֹלֵךְ לְאוֹתָן שֶׁבַּגָּן. רַבִּי לֵוִי וְרַבִּי יִצְחָק, רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר מֵת אוֹתוֹ שֶׁבַּגָּן, רַבִּי יִצְחָק אָמַר מֵת הָלַךְ לוֹ, אֶתְמְהָא, אָמַר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְרוּחַ הַיּוֹם, לְרֶוַח הַיּוֹם, הֲרֵינִי מְחַיֶּה לוֹ אֶת הַיּוֹם, כָּךְ אָמַרְתִּי לוֹ (בראשית ב, יז): כִּי בְיוֹם אֲכָלְךָ מִמֶּנוּ מוֹת תָּמוּת, אֵין אַתֶּם יוֹדְעִים אִם יוֹם מִשֶּׁלִּי אִם יוֹם אֶחָד מִשֶּׁלָּכֶם, אֶלָּא הֲרֵי אֲנִי נוֹתֵן לוֹ יוֹם אֶחָד מִשֶּׁלִּי שֶׁהוּא אֶלֶף שָׁנִים, וְהוּא חַי תְּשַׁע מֵאוֹת וּשְׁלשִׁים שָׁנָה וּמַנִּיחַ לְבָנָיו שִׁבְעִים, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים צ, י): יְמֵי שְׁנוֹתֵנוּ בָּהֶם שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה. לְרוּחַ הַיּוֹם, רַב אָמַר לְרוּחַ מִזְרָחִית דָּנוּ, לְרוּחַ שֶׁהִיא עוֹלָה עִם הַיּוֹם. זַבְדִּי בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר לְרוּחַ מַעֲרָבִית דָּנוּ, לְרוּחַ שֶׁהִיא שׁוֹקַעַת עִם הַיּוֹם. עַל דַּעְתֵּיהּ דְּרַב הִקְשָׁה עָלָיו, כָּל שֶׁהַיּוֹם עוֹלֶה הוּא מַרְתִּיחַ. וְעַל דַּעְתֵּיהּ דְּזַבְדִּי בֶּן לֵוִי רִיתָה עָלָיו, כָּל שֶׁהַיּוֹם שׁוֹקֵעַ הוּא צוֹנֵן. (בראשית ג, ח): וַיִּתְחַבֵּא הָאָדָם וְאִשְׁתּוֹ, אָמַר רַב אַיְבוּ גָּרְעָה קוֹמָתוֹ וְנַעֲשָׂה שֶׁל מֵאָה אַמָּה. (בראשית ג, ח): בְּתוֹךְ עֵץ הַגָּן, אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי רָמַז לְתוֹלְדוֹתָיו שֶׁיִּהְיוּ נִתָּנִין בַּאֲרוֹנוֹת שֶׁל עֵץ. “They heard [vayishme’u]”³²The underlying question here is: It is impossible to understand “the voice of the Lord God” literally, as this would be ascribing physicality to God. – do not read it vayishme’u, but rather, vayashmiu [they made heard] – they heard the voice of the trees saying: ‘This is the thief who deceived his Creator.’³³Vayashmiu means that they [the trees] made something heard to Adam and Eve.
Another interpretation: They heard the voice of the angels saying: ‘The Lord God is going to those in the garden.’³⁴To punish them. The beginning of the verse should thus be translated: “They heard a voice [saying:] The Lord God is going into the garden.” Rabbi Levi and Rabbi Yitzḥak, Rabbi Levi said: [The angels said:] ‘Is the one in the garden to die [met]?’³⁵Mithalekh is interpreted as two words: Is he going to die [met], that man walking [holekh] in the garden? Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Is he to die [met], for having gone off [halakh] on his own way? That is astonishing. The Holy One blessed be He said to them: “With the day breeze [ruaḥ]” – the expansion [revaḥ] of the day. I will make this day alive for them. This is what I said to him: ‘“As on the day that you eat of it you shall die” (Genesis 2:17), but you do not know whether I meant one of My days or one of your days. But I will grant him one of My days, which is one thousand years.’³⁶Psalms 90:4. He lived nine hundred and thirty years,³⁷Genesis 5:5. and left seventy years for his descendants. That is what is written: “The days of our lives in it are seventy years” (Psalms 90:10).
“With the day breeze [ruaḥ]” – He judged them by the eastern direction [ruaḥ] – by the direction that rises with the day.³⁸The sun. Zavdi ben Levi said: He judged them by the western direction – by the direction that sets with the day. According to Rav’s opinion, [this means that] He treated him harshly, for as long as the day rises it gets hotter. According to Zavdi ben Levi, He treated him leniently, for as long as the day is setting, it gets cooler.
“The man and his wife hid” – Rav Aivu said: His [Adam’s] stature diminished and it became [a mere] one hundred cubits.³⁹Originally he had been much taller. See Bereshit Rabba 8:1.
“[The man and his wife hid …] among the trees [etz] of the garden” – this is an allusion to his descendants who would be placed in wooden [etz] caskets.⁴⁰Because of his sin.

וַיִּקְרָא ה' אֱלֹהִים אֶל הָאָדָם (בראשית ג, ט), אֵיךְ הֲוֵית, אֶתְמוֹל לְדַעְתִּי, וְעַכְשָׁיו לְדַעְתּוֹ שֶׁל נָחָשׁ, אֶתְמוֹל מִסּוֹף הָעוֹלָם וְעַד סוֹפוֹ, וְעַכְשָׁיו בְּתוֹךְ עֵץ הַגָּן. אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חֲנִינָא, כְּתִיב (הושע ו, ז): וְהֵמָּה כְּאָדָם עָבְרוּ בְּרִית, הֵמָּה כְּאָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן, מָה אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן הִכְנַסְתִּיו לְתוֹךְ גַּן עֵדֶן וְצִוִּיתִיו וְעָבַר עַל צִוּוּיִי, וְדַנְתִּי אוֹתוֹ בְּשִׁלּוּחִין וּבְגֵרוּשִׁין, וְקוֹנַנְתִּי עָלָיו אֵיכָה. הִכְנַסְתִּיו לְתוֹךְ גַּן עֵדֶן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ב, טו): וַיַּנִּיחֵהוּ בְגַן עֵדֶן. וְצִוִּיתִיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ב, טז): וַיְצַו ה' אֱלֹהִים עַל הָאָדָם, וְעָבַר עַל הַצִּוּוּי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ג, יא): הֲמִן הָעֵץ אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִיךָ לְבִלְתִּי אֲכָל מִמֶנּוּ אָכָלְתָּ. וְדַנְתִּי אוֹתוֹ בְּשִׁלּוּחִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ג, כג): וַיְשַׁלְּחֵהוּ ה' אֱלֹהִים מִגַּן עֵדֶן. וְדַנְתִּי אוֹתוֹ בְּגֵרוּשִׁין, דִּכְתִיב (בראשית ג, כד): וַיְגָרֶשׁ אֶת הָאָדָם. קוֹנַנְתִּי עָלָיו אֵיכָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיִּקְרָא ה' אֱלֹהִים אֶל הָאָדָם וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ אַיֶכָּה, אֵיכָה כְּתִיב. אַף בָּנָיו הִכְנַסְתִּים לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְצִוִּיתִים וְעָבְרוּ עַל הַצִּוּוּי, דַּנְתִּי אוֹתָם בְּשִׁלּוּחִין וּבְגֵרוּשִׁין וְקוֹנַנְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם אֵיכָה. הִכְנַסְתִּים לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה ב, ז): וָאָבִיא אֶתְכֶם אֶל אֶרֶץ הַכַּרְמֶל. צִוִּיתִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כז, כ): וְאַתָּה תְּצַוֶּה אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. עָבְרוּ עַל צִוּוּיִי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דניאל ט, יא): וְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל עָבְרוּ אֶת תּוֹרָתֶךָ. דַּנְתִּי אוֹתָם בְּשִׁלּוּחִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה טו, א): שַׁלַּח מֵעַל פָּנַי וְיֵצֵאוּ. דַּנְתִּי אוֹתָם בְּגֵרוּשִׁין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (הושע ט, טו): מִבֵּיתִי אֲגָרְשֵׁם, קוֹנַנְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם אֵיכָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (איכה א, א): אֵיכָה יָשְׁבָה. “The Lord God called to the man, and said to him: Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9).
“The Lord God called to the man [and said to him: Where are you [ayeka]?]” – how [eikh] have you become like this? Yesterday⁴¹Previously. It cannot mean “yesterday” literally, because Adam did not yet exist on the previous day. you were loyal to My will, but now to the will of the serpent. Yesterday you extended from one end of the world to the other end, but now you fit “among the trees of the garden”?
Rabbi Abahu said in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina: “But they were like men [adam] who violated the covenant” (Hosea 6:7) – they were like Adam the first man.⁴²Who violated God’s command. They were like Adam the first man, whom I put into the Garden of Eden and commanded him, but he violated the command, and I sentenced him to banishment and expulsion, and I lamented over him: ‘How could it be [eikha]?’⁴³Its spelling is identical to ayeka. I put him into the Garden of Eden, as it is stated: “He placed him in the Garden of Eden” (Genesis 2:15). And I commanded him, as it is stated: “The Lord God commanded the man, saying” (Genesis 2:16). And he violated the command, as it is stated: “Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from it?” (Genesis 3:11). And I sentenced him to banishment, as it is stated: “The Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden” (Genesis 3:23). And I sentenced him to expulsion, as it is stated: “He expelled the man” (Genesis 3:24). And I lamented over him: ‘How could it be [eikha],’ as it is stated: “The Lord God called to the man, and said to him: Where are you [ayeka]?” – eikha is written. So it was with His descendants: I brought them into the Land of Israel, I commanded them and they violated the command, I sentenced them to banishment and expulsion, and I lamented over them: Eikha. I brought them into the Land of Israel, as it is stated: “I brought you to a fruitful land” (Jeremiah 2:7). And I commanded them, as it is stated: “You shall command the children of Israel” (Exodus 27:20). And they violated the command, as it is stated: “All Israel has violated Your Torah” (Daniel 9:11). And I sentenced them to banishment, as it is stated: “Banish them from My presence” (Jeremiah 15:1). And I sentenced them to expulsion, as it is stated: “I will expel them from My house” (Hosea 9:15). And I lamented over them: Eikha, as it is stated: “How [eikha] does…it sit” (Lamentations 1:1).

וַיֹּאמֶר מִי הִגִּיד לְךָ כִּי עֵירֹם אָתָּה הֲמִן הָעֵץ (בראשית ג, יא), אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי לְשׁוֹאֶלֶת חֹמֶץ שֶׁנִּכְנְסָה אֵצֶל אִשְׁתּוֹ שֶׁל חַבָּר, אָמְרָה לָהּ מַה בַּעֲלָהּ עוֹשֶׂה עִמָּךְ, אָמְרָה לָהּ כָּל טוּב הוּא עוֹשֶׂה עִמִּי, חוּץ מֵחָבִית זוֹ שֶׁהִיא מְלֵאָה נְחָשִׁים וְעַקְרַבִּים שֶׁאֵינוֹ מַשְׁלִיטֵנִי עָלֶיהָ, אָמְרָה לָהּ כָּל קוּזְמִיקוֹן שֶׁלּוֹ שָׁם הוּא, וּמְבַקֵּשׁ לִשָּׂא אִשָּׁה אַחֶרֶת וְלִתֵּן אוֹתָהּ לָהּ. מֶה עָשְׂתָה הוֹשִׁיטָה יָדָהּ לְתוֹכָהּ, הִתְחִילוּ מְנַשְׁכוֹת אוֹתָהּ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁבָּא בַּעֲלָהּ שָׁמַע קוֹלָהּ מְצַוְוחָה, אָמַר לָהּ שֶׁמָּא בְּאוֹתָהּ חָבִית נָגַעְתְּ, כָּךְ אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְאָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן הֲמִן הָעֵץ אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִיךָ וגו'. “He said: Who told you that you are naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from it” (Genesis 3:11).
“He said: Who told you that you are naked? Did [you eat] from the tree…?”⁴⁴The underlying question is: Why did God ask Adam if he had eaten the fruit, since He obviously knew the answer. – Rabbi Levi said: This is analogous to a woman who needs to borrow vinegar, so she goes into the house of a snake charmer’s wife. She says to her: ‘How does your husband treat you?’ She answers her: ‘He treats me with all generosity, except for this barrel that is filled with snakes and scorpions, to which he does not allow me access.’ She says to her: ‘All his gems are there, and he wants to marry another woman and give it all to her.’ What did she do? She reached her hand into it, and they began biting her. When her husband came, he heard the sound of her screaming. He said to her: ‘Did you, perhaps, touch that barrel?’ So, the Holy One blessed be He said to Adam the first man: “Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you [not to eat from it?]”⁴⁵You have no one but yourself to blame for your misery.

וַיֹּאמֶר הָאָדָם וגו' (בראשית ג, יב), אַרְבָּעָה הֵן שֶׁהֵקִישׁ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עַל קַנְקַנָּן וּמְצָאָן קַנְקַנִּין שֶׁל מֵימֵי רַגְלַיִם, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן, אָדָם, וְקַיִן, וּבִלְעָם, וְחִזְקִיָּהוּ. אָדָם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיֹּאמֶר הָאָדָם הָאִשָּׁה. קַיִן (בראשית ד, ט): וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל קַיִן אֵי הֶבֶל וגו' וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא יָדַעְתִּי. בִּלְעָם הָרָשָׁע, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר כב, ט י): מִי הָאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה עִמָּךְ, וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם אֶל הָאֱלֹהִים וגו'. חִזְקִיָּהוּ (מלכים ב כ, יד) (ישעיה לט, ג): מָה אָמְרוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה וגו'. אֲבָל יְחֶזְקֵאל מְצָאוֹ בָּקִי מִכֻּלָּם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל לז, ג): בֶּן אָדָם הֲתִחְיֶינָה הָעֲצָמוֹת הָאֵלֶּה וָאֹמַר ה' אֱלֹהִים אַתָּה יָדָעְתָּ, אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בַּר פָּפָּא לְצִפּוֹר שֶׁהָיְתָה נְתוּנָה בְּיַד צַיָּד, פָּגַע בְּאֶחָד אָמַר לוֹ זוֹ שֶׁבְּיָדִי מָה הִיא חַיָּה אוֹ מֵתָה, אָמַר לוֹ אִי בָּעִית חַיָּה, אִי בָּעִית מֵתָה, כָּךְ בֶּן אָדָם הֲתִחְיֶינָה הָעֲצָמוֹת הָאֵלֶּה וָאֹמַר ה' אֱלֹהִים אַתָּה יָדָעְתָּ. “The man said: The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate” (Genesis 3:12).
“The man said…” – there are four people whom the Holy One blessed be He tapped on their jug⁴⁶This is an expression denoting testing someone’s character, as one would tap on a jug to see if there was anything in it. and found that they were jugs filled with urine.⁴⁷Their character was found to be exceedingly poor. They are: Adam, Cain, Bilam, and Hezekiah.⁴⁸All of them were asked questions by God and answered inappropriately. Adam, as it is stated: “The man said: The woman [whom You gave to be with me, she gave me…].” Cain – “The Lord said to Cain: Where is Abel…and he said: I do not know” (Genesis 4:9). The wicked Bilam, as it is stated: “Who are these people with you… Bilam said to God…” (Numbers 22:9–10). Hezekiah – “What did these people say to you?” (II Kings 20:14, Isaiah 39:3).⁴⁹Isaiah asked this of Hezekiah, speaking in God’s name. In all these cases, the people should have realized that God’s question was actually an implied accusation, and they should have immediately admitted their guilt, rather than attempt to actually answer the question. But Ezekiel, He found him more perceptive than all of them, as it is stated: “Son of man, will these bones come to life? And I said: Lord God, You know” (Ezekiel 37:3).⁵⁰He understood that when God asks a question it is not because He needs to know the answer. Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa said: This is analogous to a bird held in a hunter’s hand. He encountered someone and said to him: ‘This thing in my hand, will it live or die?’ He said to him: ‘If you wish it will live, and if you wish it will die.’ So, too, [when God asked Ezekiel] “son of man, will these bones live?” [His response was:] “I said: Lord God, You know.”

וַיֹּאמֶר הָאָדָם הָאִשָּׁה אֲשֶׁר נָתַתָּה וגו' (בראשית ג, יב), הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (איוב ט, לה): אֲדַבְּרָה וְלֹא אִירָאֶנּוּ כִּי לֹא כֵן אָנֹכִי עִמָּדִי, אָמַר אֵינִי כְּאוֹתוֹ שֶׁאָמַר הָאִשָּׁה אֲשֶׁר נָתַתָּה עִמָּדִי וגו', הוּא שָׁמַע לְדִבְרֵי אִשְׁתּוֹ אֲבָל אֲנִי לֹא שָׁמַעְתִּי לְדִבְרֵי אִשְׁתִּי. אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא דִּינָה אִשְׁתּוֹ שֶׁל אִיּוֹב הָיְתָה, עַל כֵּן אָמַר לָהּ (איוב ב, י): כְּדַבֵּר אַחַת הַנְּבָלוֹת תְּדַבֵּרִי גַּם אֶת הַטּוֹב נְקַבֵּל מֵאֵת הָאֱלֹהִים, אֲקַבֵּל אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן אֶלָּא נְקַבֵּל, נָאִים בְּטוֹבָה וְלֹא נָאִים בְּפֻרְעָנוּת, אֶתְמְהָא. (איוב ב, י): בְּכָל זֹאת לֹא חָטָא אִיּוֹב בִּשְׂפָתָיו, בִּשְׂפָתָיו לֹא חָטָא אֲבָל בְּלִבּוֹ חָטָא. אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא וְאָכַלְתִּי אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא וָאֹכֵל, אָכַלְתִּי וְאֹכַל. אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן לֹא נִטְרַד מִגַּן עֵדֶן עַד שֶׁחֵרֵף וְגִדֵּף, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ישעיה ה, ב): וַיְקַו לַעֲשׂוֹת עֲנָבִים וַיַּעַשׂ בְּאֻשִׁים. (בראשית ג, יב): וַתֹּאמֶר הָאִשָּׁה הַנָּחָשׁ הִשִּׁיאַנִי וָאֹכֵל, גֵּירַנִי, חִיְּבַנִי, וְהִטְעַנִי. גֵירַנִי, הֵיךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (תהלים פט, כג): לֹא יַשִּׁיא אוֹיֵב בּוֹ, חִיְּבַנִי, הֵיךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (דברים כד, י): כִּי תַשֶּׁה בְרֵעֲךָ. הִטְעַנִי, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (דברי הימים ב לב, טו): אַל יַשִּׁיא אֶתְכֶם חִזְקִיָּהוּ. “The man said: The woman whom You gave…” – that is what is written: “I would speak, and I would not fear Him; for it is not so that I am, with myself [imadi]” (Job 9:35) – I am unlike the one who said: “The woman whom You gave to me [imadi]…” He heeded his wife’s words, but I did not heed my wife’s words.⁵¹Job’s wife told him, “Blaspheme God and die” (Job 2:9). Unlike Adam, Job didn’t take his wife’s advice. This is why Job said that he was unlike imadi, a word that alludes to Adam.
Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Dina⁵²Jacob’s daughter. was Job’s wife. That is why he said to her: “You are speaking as one of the disgusting women [nevalot] would speak.⁵³Regarding Dina it is written: “As he performed a disgusting act [nevala] in Israel to lie with Jacob's daughter” (Genesis 34:7). Shall we accept the good from God, [and not accept the bad]?” (Job 2:10). “Shall I accept,” is not written here, but rather, “shall we accept [nekabel]”⁵⁴Although it was only Job who was suffering. – should we be pleased with the good but not be pleased with the bad?⁵⁵Nekabel is interpreted as “pleased [na’im] about accepting [kabel].” That was a rhetorical question. “With all this, Job did not sin with his lips” (Job 2:10) – [the implication is:] with his lips he did not sin, but in his heart he did sin.
Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: “And I ate [veakhalti]”⁵⁶This is unambiguously in past tense. is not written here, but rather, “vaokhel”⁵⁷This word may indicate past or future tense. – I ate and I will eat again.⁵⁸He defiantly declared that he would do it again.
Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: Adam the first man was banished only after he blasphemed and spoke sacrilegiously.⁵⁹By being defiant towards God, as was just explained. That is what is written: “He hoped to produce grapes, but it produced sour grapes” (Isaiah 5:2).
“The Lord God said to the woman: What is this you have done? The woman said: The serpent enticed me, and I ate” (Genesis 3:13).
“The woman said: The serpent enticed me [hishiani], and I ate” – [hishiani has three meanings:] It enticed me, it brought liability upon me, and it misled me. It enticed me, as it says: “The enemy will not entice [yashi] you” (Psalms 89:23). It brought liability upon me, as it says: “When you lend [tashe] to your neighbor” (Deuteronomy 24:10).⁶⁰Through the loan, monetary liability is created, and the serpent’s evil behavior brought her liability for sin. It misled me, as it says: “Now, do not allow Hezekiah to mislead [yashi] you” (II Chronicles 32:15).