קהילות לומדות - בראשית א'-ה'

(1) "and god saw the evil of man was great" it says: there is a person who's fortune is with wisdom and knowledge and skill, r yudan says the ability of the prophets is great for they compare a creation to its creator, as it says: i heard the voice of a man from inside the river. r yehuda the son of simon says i have a verse which is more logical than this as it says: and on the shape of a chair was the shape of a man standing above it. we expound on the verse above, that his fortune was with wisdom,this refers to the verse "and god made the earth with wisdom"

(4) "And God regretted that he made man on earth" (Bereishit 6:6). Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemia [each interpreted this]. Rabbi Yehuda says, "[God said] that I regret that I created man below [on earth] since if I had created him above [in heaven] he would not have rebelled against Me." Rabbi Neḥemia says, "[God said] that I am consoled that I created man below [on earth] since if I had created him above [in heaven], then just as he incited the lower worlds against Me, so too he would incite the upper worlds against Me." Rabbi Aivu says "[God said] that I regret that I created the evil inclination, since if I had not created it, he would not have rebelled against Me." Rabbi Levi says "[God said] that I am consoled that I made man and placed him on the earth [where he eventually dies]." "And He was sad to His heart". Rabbi Berekhia says "There is an allegory to a prince who built a palace by way of an architect. He saw the palace and it was not pleasing to him. At whom should he be angry? Not at the architect?! So too, 'and He was sad to His heart.'" Rabbi Asi says "There is an allegory to a prince who did business by way of a middleman and he lost money. At whom should he complain? Not at the middleman?! So too, 'and He was sad to His heart.'" Once, an apikores asked Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa, "Don't you say that the Holy One blessed is He sees the future?" Rabbi Yehoshua replied "Indeed." The apikores retorted "But isn't it written 'and He was sad on His heart'?!" [i.e. Didn't God know that He would later regret the decision?] Rabbi Yehoshua said "Has a male child ever been born to you?" He said "Indeed". Rabbi Yehoshua asked "What did you do [when your son was born]?" He said "I was happy and made everyone happy". Rabbi Yehoshua said "But didn't you know that your son will die in the end?" He said "At the time of joy I am joyous; at the time of mourning I am mournful". Rabbi Yehoshua said "So too is the work [of creation] before the Holy One blessed is He." As Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says "The Holy One blessed is He mourned over the world for seven days before the Flood came". What is the reason [for comparing sadness to mourning]? It says "and He was sad to His heart" and there is no sadness without mourning, as it says "[The king] was sad about his son" (I Shmuel 19:3).