bereshit raba 12

 

Chapter 12

These are the generations of heaven and earth as they were created (Genesis 2:4) - it is written "These are but glimpses of His ways" [the mere whisper that we perceive of Him; who can understand the thunder of His mighty deeds?] (Job 26:14). Rav Huna said: everything you see are but glimpses of the ways of the Holy One of Blessing. And what are "the mere whisper that we perceive of Him; who can understand the thunder of His mighty deeds?" Rav Huna said when this thunder comes out as completed, no creature can withstand it, it's not written "we understand" rather, "he understand" - [the singular masculine applies to] the ones who are able to understand His hints and His logic. Said Rav Huna: If you can't withstand His order of the thunder, all the more so [it is the case] with the order of the world. This is surprising! And if a person tells you that they can withstand the order of the world, tell them: You can't withstand the presence of a king of flesh and blood, you tell me that you can withstand the presence of the King of Kings, the Holy One of Blessing? This is surprising!Said Rav Nachman, it is similar to a thicket of reeds, which no one could enter into because whoever would enter into it would lose their way. What did a smart person? He cut and enter, cut and enter. He entered through the cut way and exited through the way that was cut. Rav Nachman said: , this is similar to a great palace with many doors, in which whoever entered got lot. What did a smart person do? He took a clue of rope and tied it to the entrance, unwind it, entered in the way of the rope and came out by the way of the rope. All began to enter and come out by the way of the rope. Said Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai: this is similar to a king of flesh and blood that build a palace and his subjects came in and said: Oh, if the support beams were higher it would be nice. Oh, if the walls were taller it would be nice. Oh, if the roof was higher it would be nice. Lest a person will come and say: Oh, if I had three eyes, if I had three legs it would be good for me, this is surprising! "That was made long ago" is not written, rather "[My thoughts also turned to appraising wisdom and madness and folly. For what will the man be like who will come in front of the King] that made him long ago?" as if it were, the King of Kings the Holy One of Blessing, and His judging court every single limb of yours, and set you in your palace [mechon], as it says "Do you pay Ad-nai back, O dull and witless people? Is He not the Father who created you, who fashioned you and made you endure [yechonen]?" (Deut. 32:6) Said Rabbi Levi Bar Chayeta: A king of flesh and blood, when he builds a palace, if he puts its water spout in its entrance, it is not pleasant. But the Holy One of Blessing, created the human being, put a water spout on his entrance and he is pleasant, and it is his/His praise. Said Rabbi Yitzchak Bar Merion: it is written "And E-lohim formed the Human" (Gen. 2:4) and why does the text say "created"? The Holy One, as it were, felt pride about His world, and says 'come see the creature I created, and the form I made'. Said Rabbi Yitzchak bar Merion: it is written "these are the generations of the heaven and the land in their creation" - their Creator praises them, and who is going to defend them? Their Creator exalts them, and who will find blemish on them? Rather, they are pleasant and they are praised, as it is written "these are the generations of the heavens and the land, as they were created, on the day that Ad-nai E-lohim made land and heaven.

... seven things were taken away from Adam Harishon after he ate from the tree of knowing, including among them] his brilliance, his life, and his stature / zivo v’chayyav v’qomato...

All that you see, they are generations of heavens and earth, as it is said: “In beginning, Elohim created heavens and earth” [Gn 1:1]. On the second [day] He created from the upper ones / min ha`elyonim, as it is said: “And Elohim said: Let there be a firmament” On the third He created from the lower ones / min hatachtonim: “And Elohim said: Let the earth sprout”. On the fourth He created from the upper ones: “Let there be lights” On the fifth He created from the lower ones: “Let the waters swarm” On the sixth He came to create Adam. He said: If I create him from the upper ones, then the upper ones will be greater than the lower ones by one creation, and there won’t be peace in the world; and if I create him from the lower ones, then the lower ones will be greater than the upper ones by one creation, and there won’t be peace in the world. Rather, here am I [going to] create him from the upper ones and the lower ones, for the sake of peace / bish’vil shalom... ‘And YHVH Elohim formed him dirt from the ground’—from the lower ones; ‘and He blew in his nostrils life’s breath / nishmat chayyim’ [Gn 2:7]—from the upper ones.

... the Holy One created the upper ones and the lower ones in one [act of] creation.