The Stranger, The Orphan, The Widow, Adam and Eve

בראשית IN THE BEGINNING — Rabbi Isaac said: The Torah which is the Law book of Israel should have commenced with the verse (Exodus 12:2) “This month shall be unto you the first of the months” which is the first commandment given to Israel. What is the reason, then, that it commences with the account of the Creation? Because of the thought expressed in the text (Psalms 111:6) “God declared to God's people the strength of God's works (i.e. God gave an account of the work of Creation), in order that God might give them the heritage of the nations.” For should the peoples of the world say to Israel, “You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations of Canaan”, Israel may reply to them, “All the earth belongs to the Holy Blessed One, God created it and gave it to whom God pleased. When God willed God gave it to them, and when God willed God took it from them and gave it to us” (Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 187).

ברא אלהים GOD [AS JUDGE] CREATED — It does not state 'ברא ה “The Lord (the Merciful One) created, because at first God intended to create it (the world) to be placed under the attribute (rule) of strict justice, but God realized that the world could not thus endure and therefore gave precedence to Divine Mercy allying it with Divine Justice. It is to this that what is written in (Genesis 2:4) alludes — “In the day that the Lord God made earth and heaven”.

This text is related (to Ps. 34:15), “Depart from evil and do good; [seek peace and pursue it].” The Torah did not command [them] to go in pursuit of the commandments. Rather [it says] (in Deut. 22:6), “When you come on a bird's nest”; (in Exod. 23:4) “When you encounter the ox of one who hates you”; (in Exod. 23:5) “When you see the donkey of one who hates you”; (in Deut. 24:20) “when you beat your olive tree”; (in Deut. 24:21), “When you gather the grapes of your vineyard”; and (in Deut. 23:25) “When you go into your neighbor's vineyard.” If [these situations] present themselves to you, you are given a command concerning them; but [you are] not to go in pursuit of them. In the case of peace, however, (according to Ps. 34:15), “seek peace,” wherever you are; “and pursue it,” wherever else it may be. And this is what Israel did. Although the Holy Blessed One, had said to them (in Deut. 2:24), “begin to take possession, and engage them in battle,” they went in pursuit of peace. So is it stated (in Numb. 21:21) “Then Israel sent messengers….”

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 humankind. The Holy Blessed One, replied: I and thou will (together) feed the multitude of humankind. They agreed to divide (the task) between themselves: the night was for the Holy Blessed One and the day (was apportioned) to the earth. What did the Holy Blessed One do? God created the sleep of life, so that humans lie down and sleeps whilst God sustains them and heals them and (gives) them life and repose, as it is said, "I should have slept: then had I been at rest" (Job 3:13). The Holy Blessed One supports (humans) with the earth, giving it water; and it yields its fruit and food for all creatures—but the first human's food "in toil shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life" (Gen. 3:17).

How did he kill him? He inflicted numerous bruises upon his body with a stone. He smote him over his entire body, from his hands and feet to his throat, for he had no way of knowing from where his soul would depart. When the Holy Blessed One asked him: Where is Abel, your brother? he replied: “I know not; am I my brother’s keeper? (Gen. 4:9). You are the guardian of all, yet You seek him from me!” This may be compared to a thief who steals during the night but is not apprehended while committing the crime. When the watchman seizes him the next morning and asks: “Why did you steal those utensils?”, the thief replies: “I am a thief and I did not neglect my profession. Your job is to keep watch at the gate. Why did you neglect your duties? Now you question me?” So Cain retorted: “True, I slew him, but You created the evil inclination within me. Since You are the guardian of all, why did You permit me to slay him? You who are called the I killed him, for if You had accepted my sacrifice as You accepted his, I would not have been envious of him.” The Holy Blessed One replied immediately: What have you done? The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto Me (ibid., v. 10). This verse indicates that he inflected numerous wounds upon Abel.