📖 Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 12

חִבָּה יְתֵרָה חִבַּב הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְאָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן, שֶׁבְּרָאוֹ בְּמָקוֹם טָהוֹר, בִּמְקוֹם בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, וְהִכְנִיסוֹ לְאַפַּדְנוֹ. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ב, טו): ״וַיִּקַּח ה' אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם וַיַּנִּחֵהוּ בְגַן עֵדֶן״. מֵאֵי זֶה מָקוֹם לְקָחוֹ? מִבֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, וְהִכְנִיסוֹ לְפַּלָּטִין שֶׁלּוֹ – זֶה גַּן עֵדֶן. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיַּנִּחֵהוּ בְגַן עֵדֶן לְעָבְדָהּ וּלְשָׁמְרָהּ״. וְשֶׁמָּא תֹּאמַר כִּי יֵשׁ מְלָאכָה בְּגַן עֵדֶן לְפַתֵּחַ וּלְשַׁדֵּד אֶת הָאֲדָמָה. וְלֹא כָל הָאִילָנוֹת נִצְמָחִין מֵאֲלֵיהֶן?

ADAM IN PARADISE WITH love abounding did the Holy One, blessed be He, love the first man, inasmuch as He created him in a pure locality, in the place of the Temple, and He brought him into His palace, as it is said, "And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it" (Gen. 2:15). From which place did He take him? From the place of the Temple, and He brought him into His palace, which is Eden, as it is said, "And he put him into the garden of Eden to dress it" (ibid.). Perhaps thou wilt say: To plough (the fields) and cast out the stones from the ground. But did not all the trees grow up of their own accord?

אוֹ שֶׁמָּא תֹּאמַר: יֵשׁ מְלָאכָה בְּגַן עֵדֶן לְהַשְׁקוֹת אֶת הַגָּן? וַהֲלֹא כְּבָר נָהָר יוֹצֵא מֵעֵדֶן לְהַשְׁקוֹת אֶת הַגָ��ן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְנָהָר יֹצֵא מֵעֵדֶן״ וְכוּ'.

Perhaps thou wilt say: There was some other work (to be done) in the garden of Eden, (such as) to water the garden. But did not a river flow through and issue forth from Eden, and water the garden, as it is said, || "And a river went out of Eden to water the garden" (Gen. 2:10)?

וּמַה הַלָּשׁוֹן הַזֶּה ״לְעָבְדָהּ וּלְשָׁמְרָהּ״? לֹא אָמַר ״לְעָבְדָהּ וּלְשָׁמְרָהּ״ אֶלָּא לַעֲסֹק בְּדִבְרֵי תוֹרָה וְלִשְׁמֹר אֶת כָּל מִצְוֹתֶיהָ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לִשְׁמֹר אֶת דֶּרֶךְ עֵץ הַחַיִּים״, וְאֵין עֵץ חַיִּים אֶלָּא תּוֹרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״עֵץ חַיִּים הִיא לַמַּחֲזִיקִים בָּהּ״.

What then is the meaning of this expression: "to dress it and to keep it"? (The text) does not say "to dress it and to keep it" except (in the sense) of being occupied with the words of the Torah and keeping all its commandments, as it is said, "to keep the way of the tree of life" (Gen. 3:24). But the "tree of life" signifies only the Torah, as it is said, "It is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon it" (Prov. 3:18).

וְהָיָה אָדָם מְטַיֵּל בְּגַן עֵדֶן כְּאַחַד מִמַּלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״אֲנִי יָחִיד בְּעוֹלָמִי, אַף זֶה יָחִיד בְּעוֹלָמוֹ. אֲנִי אֵין פְּרִיָּה וְרְבִיָּה לְפָנַי, אַף זֶה אֵין פְּרִיָּה וְרְבִיָּה לְפָנָיו. הוּא שֶׁבְּרָאָנוּ״. לֹא טוֹב הֱיוֹת הָאָדָם לְבַדּוֹ.

And (Adam) was at his leisure in the garden of Eden, like one of the ministering angels. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: I am alone in My world and this one (Adam) also is alone in his world. There is no propagation before Me and this one (Adam) has no propagation in his life; hereafter all the creatures will say: Since there was no propagation in his life, it is he who has created us. It is not good for man to be alone, as it is said, "And the Lord God said, It is not good for man to be alone; I will make him an help meet for him …" (Gen. 2:18).

רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: (אם זכה לא לנגדו כנגדו, ואם לא לנגדו) [״אַל תִּקְרֵי 'כְּנֶגְדּוֹ' אֶלָּא 'לְנֶגְדּוֹ'. אִם זָכָה – תִּהְיֶה לוֹ עֵזֶר, וְאִם לָאו – לְנֶגְדּוֹ לְהִלָּחֵם״.]

Rabbi Jehudah said: If he be worthy she shall be an help meet for him; if not, she shall be against him to fight him.

וְכֵיוָן שֶׁשָּׁמְעָה הָאָרֶץ הַלָּשׁוֹן הַזֶּה, עוֹד רָעֲדָה וְרָעֲשָׁה וְאָמְרָה לִפְנֵי בּוֹרְאָהּ: ״רִבּוֹן הָעוֹלָמִים, אֵין לִי כֹּחַ לָזוּן צֹאנוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם!״ אָמַר לָהּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״אֲנִי וְאַתְּ נָזוּן צֹאנוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם״, וְחָצוּ בֵּין שְׁנֵיהֶם: הַלַּיְלָה שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְהַיּוֹם לָאָרֶץ. מֶה עָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא? בָּרָא שְׁנַת חַיִּים, וְאָדָם שׁוֹכֵב וְיָשֵׁן וְהוּא מְזוֹנוֹ וּרְפוּאָתוֹ וְחַיִּים לוֹ וּמָנוֹחַ לוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״יָשַׁנְתִּי אָז יָנוּחַ לִי״. וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא סוֹמֵךְ עִם הָאָרֶץ וּמַשְׁקֶה אוֹתָהּ וְהִיא נוֹתֶנֶת פֵּרוֹתֶיהָ מָזוֹן לְכָל הַבְּרִיּוֹת. אֲבָל מְזוֹנוֹתָיו שֶׁל אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן – ״בְּעִצָּבוֹן תֹּאכֲלֶנָּה כָּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ״.

When the earth heard this expression thereupon it trembled and quaked, crying before its Creator: Sovereign of all worlds ! I have not the power to feed the multitude of mankind. The Holy One, blessed be He, replied: I and thou will (together) feed the multitude of mankind. They agreed to divide (the task) between themselves: the night was for the Holy One, blessed be He, || and the day (was apportioned) to the earth. What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He created the sleep of life, so that man lies down and sleeps whilst He sustains him and heals him and (gives) him life and repose, as it is said, "I should have slept: then had I been at rest" (Job 3:13). The Holy One, blessed be He, supports (man) with the earth, giving it water; and it yields its fruit and food for all creatures—but the first man's food "in toil shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life" (Gen. 3:17).

חָס הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עַל אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן שֶׁלֹּא לְהַכְאִיבוֹ, וְהִפִּיל עָלָיו שְׁנַת תַּרְדֵּמָה וְיָשַׁן לוֹ. וְלָקַח עֶצֶם מִצַּלְעוֹתָיו וּבָשָׂר מִלִּבּוֹ וַעֲשָׂאָהּ עֵזֶר, וְהֶעֱמִידָהּ כְּנֶגְדּוֹ. וְהֵקִיצוֹ מִשְּׁנָתוֹ וְרָאָה אוֹתָהּ שֶׁהִיא עוֹמֶדֶת כְּנֶגְדּוֹ וְאָמַר: ״זֹאת הַפַּעַם עֶצֶם מֵעֲצָמַי וּבָשָׂר מִבְּשָׂרִי״. עַד שֶׁהָיָה לְבַדּוֹ נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ אָדָם.

The Holy One, blessed be He, had compassion upon the first man (Adam), and, in order that he should not feel any pain, He cast upon him the sleep of deep slumber, and He made him sleep whilst He took one of his bones from his side and flesh from his heart and made it into an help (meet for him) and placed her opposite to him. When he awoke from his sleep he saw her standing opposite to him. And he said, "Bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh" (Gen. 2:28). As long as he was alone he was called Adam (man).

רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: עַל שֵׁם אֲדָמָה שֶׁלּוּקַח מִמֶּנָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ אָדָם. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן קָרְחָה אוֹמֵר: עַל שֵׁם בָּשָׂר וָדָם נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ. וּמִשֶּׁבָּנָה לוֹ עֵזֶר ״אֵשׁ״ שְׁמוֹ, וְהִיא ״אֵשׁ״.

Rabbi Jehudah said: Because of the name Adamah (ground) whence he was taken, his name was called Adam. Rabbi Joshua ben Ḳorchah said: He was called Adam because of his flesh and blood (dām). He said to him: Adam ! Adam ! And when an help-mate had been built for him, his name was called êsh (fire), and she (was called) êsh (fire).

מָה עָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא? נָתַן שְׁמוֹ יוֹ״ד הֵ״א יָהּ, אָמַר: אִם הוֹלְכִים בִּדְרָכַי וְשׁוֹמְרִים מִצְוֹתַי, הֲרֵי שְׁמִי נָתוּן בֵּינֵיהֶם וּמַצִּיל אוֹתָם מִכָּל צָרָה. וְאִם לָאו, אֲנִי נוֹטֵל אֶת שְׁמִי מִבֵּינֵיהֶם וְהֵם נַעֲשִׂים אֵשׁ וְהָאֵשׁ אוֹכֶלֶת אֵשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי אֵשׁ הִיא עַד אֲבַדּוֹן תֹּאכֵל וּבְכָל תְּבוּאָתִי תְשָׁרֵשׁ״.

What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He put His name (יה) between their (names), saying: If they go in My ways || and keep all My precepts, behold My name is given to them, it will deliver them from all distress. If they do not (walk in My ways), behold I will take away My name from their (names), and they will become êsh (fire). And fire consumes fire, as it is said, "For it is a fire that consumeth unto destruction" (Job 31:12).

עֶשֶׂר חֻפּוֹת עָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְאָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן בְּגַן עֵדֶן, וְכֻלָּם שֶׁל אֲבָנִים טוֹבוֹת וּמַרְגָּלִיּוֹת וְשֶׁל זָהָב. וַהֲלֹא לֶחָתָן אֵין עוֹשִׂין לוֹ אֶלָּא חֻפָּה אַחַת, וּלְמֶלֶךְ עוֹשִׂין לוֹ שָׁלֹשׁ חֻפּוֹת, וְלַחֲלֹק כָּבוֹד לְאָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן עָשָׂה לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עֶשֶׂר בְּגַן עֵדֶן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל כח יג): ״בְּעֵדֶן גַּן אֱלֹהִים הָיִיתָ כָּל אֶבֶן יְקָרָה״. הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ עֶשֶׂר חֻפּוֹת, וְהָיוּ הַמַּלְאָכִים מְתוֹפְפִים בְּתֻפִּים וּמְרַקְּדִין כִּנְקֵבוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל כח יג): ״מְלֶאכֶת תֻּפֶּיךָ וּנְקָבֶיךָ בָּךְ״.

The Holy One, blessed be He, made ten wedding canopies for Adam in the garden of Eden. They were all (made) of precious stones, pearls, and gold. Is it not a fact that only one wedding canopy is made for every bridegroom, whilst three wedding canopies are made for a king? But in order to bestow special honour upon the first man, the Holy One, blessed be He, made ten (wedding canopies) in the garden of Eden, as it is said, "Wast thou in Eden the garden of God; was every precious stone thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold?" (Ezek. 28:13). Behold these are the ten canopies. The angels were playing upon timbrels and dancing with pipes, as it is said, "The workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was with thee" (ibid.).

בְּיוֹם שֶׁנִּבְרָא בּוֹ אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל כח יג) ״בְּיוֹם הִבָּרַאֲךָ כּוֹנָנוּ״, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת: ״בּוֹאוּ וְנִגְמֹל חֶסֶד לְאָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן וּלְעֶזְרוֹ, שֶׁעַל מִדַּת גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים הָעוֹלָם עוֹמֵד״. אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״חֲבִיבָה גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים מִזְּבָחִים וְעוֹלוֹת שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל עֲתִידִין לְהַקְרִיב לְפָנַי עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (הושע ו ו) ״כִּי חֶסֶד חָפַצְתִּי וְלֹא זָבַח״.

On the day when the first man was created, as it is said, "In the day when thou wast created they were prepared" (ibid.), the Holy One, blessed be He, said to the ministering angels: Come, let us descend and render loving service to the first man and to his help-mate, for the world rests upon the attribute of the service of loving-kindness. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: More beloved is the service of loving-kindness than the sacrifices and burnt-offerings which Israel will bring in the future upon the altar before Me, as it is said, || "For I desire love, and not sacrifice" (Hos. 6:6).

וְהָיוּ מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת מְהַלְּכִין וְהוֹלְכִין לְפָנָיו כְּמוֹ רוֹעִים הַמְּשַׁמְּרִים אֶת הַחֻפּוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים צא יא): ״כִּי מַלְאָכָיו יְצַוֶּה לָּךְ לִשְׁמָרְךָ בְּכָל דְּרָכֶיךָ״, וְאֵין דֶּרֶךְ זוֹ אֶלָּא דֶּרֶךְ חֲתָנִים. וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כְּחָתָן, מַה דַּרְכּוֹ שֶׁל חָתָן לַעֲמֹד וּלְבָרֵךְ לַכַּלָּה בְּתוֹךְ חֻפָּתָהּ, כָּךְ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עָמַד וּבֵרַךְ לְאָדָם וּלְעֶזְרוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְבָרֶךְ אֹתָם אֱלֹהִים״.

The ministering angels were going to and fro and walking before him like friends who guard the wedding canopies, as it is said, "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways" (Ps. 91:11). (The word) "way" here means only the way of bridegrooms. The Holy One, blessed be He, was like a precentor. What is the custom observed by the precentor? He stands and blesses the bride in the midst of her wedding chamber. Likewise the Holy One, blessed be He, stood and blessed Adam and his help-mate, as it is said, "And God blessed them" (Gen. 1:28).