Midrash sur La Genèse 2:11

“The name of one is Pishon…” (Bereshit 2:11) This is Migdal Pishtan and its waters flow abundantly. “…that is the one that encompasses all the land of Havilah…” (ibid.) There was not yet a place called Havilah, and it says that the river encompasses it? That is strange! Rather, “tell the end from the beginning…” (Yeshayahu 46:10) “…where there is gold,” (Bereshit 2:11) gold there certainly was. “And the gold of that land is good…” (Bereshit 2:12) R’ Yitzchak said ‘happy is he in whose house it is, happy is he in whose company it is.’ R’ Abahu said ‘the Holy One gave a great good to His world – a man breaks a gold piece into smaller pieces, and he can buy many things with it.’ Resh Lakish said ‘the world was not fit to use gold, why was it created? For the Holy Temple, as it says “And the gold of that land is good…” like that which it says “…this good mountain and the Lebanon.” (Devarim 3:25) “…there is the crystal and the onyx stone.” (Bereshit 2:12) R’ Ibo said ‘you think this is referring to the crystal of apothecaries? Let another verse clarify it for you “…and its appearance was like the appearance of crystal.” (Bamidbar 11:7) Just as this refers to a precious stone, so too that refers to a precious stone.’

Another interpretation (Gen. 8:16): [GO FORTH FROM THE ARK]. David said to the Holy One (in Ps. 142:8 [7]): Sovereign of the World, BRING MY SOUL OUT OF PRISON.⁵⁰Tanh., Gen. 2:11; cf. Gen. R. 34:1. When Noah was within the ark, he prayed constantly. Thus it is stated (in Ps. 32:6): THEREFORE, LET EVERY SAINT PRAY TO YOU IN A TIME WHEN YOU MAY BE FOUND, THAT WHEN THE GREAT WATERS OVERFLOW, THEY WILL NOT REACH HIM. And what did he pray? BRING MY SOUL OUT OF PRISON. The Holy One said to him: It is a decree from me that twelve months be fulfilled (in the ark). Unless they are fulfilled, you are not going forth. Even so Isaiah has stated (in Is. 49:8f.): IN AN ACCEPTABLE TIME I HAVE ANSWERED YOU … SAYING TO THOSE WHO ARE BOUND: GO FORTH. These (who were bound) are Noah and his sons, who were prohibited (literally: bound) from sexual intercourse.⁵¹See Gen. R. 31:12; 34:7. Joseph also acted in this way when he saw the years of famine that were going to come.⁵²Ta‘an. 11a. He engaged in sexual intercourse for being fruitful and multiplying before they came, as stated (in Gen. 41:50): AND UNTO JOSEPH WERE BORN TWO SONS BEFORE THE YEAR OF FAMINE CAME. Likewise Noah and his sons, the cattle, the wild beasts, and the fowl acted in this way.⁵³yTa‘an. 1:6 (64d). They did not engage in sexual intercourse for being fruitful and multiplying when they had entered the ark, for so had the Holy One commanded them when they had entered the ark. Where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Gen. 7:7): AND THERE WENT INTO THE ARK NOAH AND HIS SONS, the males by themselves; ALSO HIS WIFE AND HIS SONS' WIVES, the females by themselves.⁵⁴See Sanh. 108b. Thus all the days that Noah was in the ark, Noah, his sons, and all who were with him were prohibited (literally: bound) from sexual intercourse. The Holy One said to them: How can I be destroying the world in anger while you are building it up! When the flood passes on, however, you will engage in sexual intercourse for being fruitful and multiplying, as stated (in Is. 49:9): SAYING TO THOSE WHO ARE BOUND (i.e., PROHIBITED): GO FORTH. So, when the earth had become dry, the Holy One said to him (in Gen. 8:16): GO FORTH FROM THE ARK, [YOU AND YOUR WIFE] (with male and female mentioned together). Thus he released (i.e., permitted) them to be fruitful and multiply. And he also released the cattle, the wild beasts, and the fowl, as stated (in vs. 17): AND LET THEM ABOUND IN THE EARTH, BE FRUITFUL, AND MULTIPLY. Noah said to him: Sovereign of the World, might you possibly bring < another > flood to the world? He said to him: Thus have I sworn: I am not bringing another flood, as stated (in Gen. 8:21): THEN THE LORD SMELLED THE PLEASING ODOR; SO THE LORD SAID IN HIS HEART: I WILL NOT AGAIN CURSE THE GROUND ANY MORE…. How did he swear to him? Our masters say he swore to him by the covenant of Abraham, which is cited (in Neh. 9:7): AND YOU MADE A COVENANT WITH HIM (Abraham). So also Isaiah said (in Is. 54:9): FOR THIS IS LIKE THE WATERS OF NOAH TO ME: [AS I SWORE THAT THE WATERS OF NOAH WOULD NEVERMORE GO OVER THE EARTH]. You find, nevertheless, that forty days in every year these waters made a mark on the world until Solomon arose and built the Temple. Then those forty days ceased, as stated (in I Kings 6:38): AND IN THE ELEVENTH YEAR IN THE MONTH OF BUL … < THE HOUSE WAS FINISHED >. What is the meaning of IN THE MONTH OF BUL? In the month that the cattle are given mixed fodder (BLYM) from the house.⁵⁵Cf. yRH 1:2 (56d). Another interpretation: IN THE MONTH OF BUL: In the time that the earth turns into clods (bulim bulim). Another interpretation: IN THE MONTH OF BUL: < BUL > is lacking the letter M to correspond with the forty days that were cut off from the world.⁵⁶The letter M (mem) in Hebrew also represents the number forty. When mem is prefixed to bul, the word for flood results. Now, if the Holy One has sworn to Noah by the covenant of our father Abraham and fulfilled < the oath >, he will certainly fulfill the three oaths he has sworn to Zion. These are the three oaths: {He swore by the covenant of our father Abraham, as stated (in Is. 54:9): FOR THIS IS LIKE THE WATERS OF NOAH TO ME.} He swore by his own soul, so to speak, as stated (in Amos 6:8): THE LORD GOD HAS SWORN BY HIS OWN SOUL. He has also sworn by the Sabbath (ShBT), as stated (in Exod. 31:17): < IT > (the Sabbath) IS A SIGN BETWEEN ME AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL FOREVER; FOR IN SIX DAYS THE LORD MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH, AND ON THE SEVENTH DAY HE RESTED (ShBT) AND WAS REFRESHED. {And it is written} [And he has sworn by Torah, as stated] (in Is. 62:8): THE LORD HAS SWORN BY HIS RIGHT HAND. This is Torah, as stated (in Deut. 33:2): AT HIS RIGHT HAND A FIERY LAW (dat) FOR THEM.⁵⁷Ber. 6a. And what did he swear to Jerusalem? That he would build it up. Thus it is stated (in Ps. 147:2): THE LORD BUILDS UP JERUSALEM. R. Samuel bar Nahmani said: It is an aggadic tradition that Jerusalem will not be built up until all the exiles are gathered. If someone says to you that all the exiles have been gathered but Jerusalem is not built up, do not believe < him >, since it is stated: THE LORD BUILDS UP JERUSALEM, and afterwards (ibid., cont.): HE GATHERS THE EXILED ONES OF ISRAEL. Israel said to the Holy One: Sovereign of the World, has not Jerusalem already been built up and destroyed? He said to them: It was destroyed and you went into exile from it because of your sins. Now, however, I will build it up and never destroy it, as stated (in Ps. 102:17 [16]): FOR THE LORD HAS BUILT UP ZION; HE HAS APPEARED IN HIS GLORY.

(6) "And He took one of his ribs." Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachman said: from one of his sides, as it says: "And for the side of the tabernacle" (Exodus 26:20). Shmuel said: He took one rib from between two other ribs. 'From under it' was not written, rather "from under them." Rabbi Hanina the son of Rav Idi: from the beginning of the book until now there has not been a samech, once Eve was created, Satan was created with her. And if you want to argue that man is the one that circles, the reply is that the text is talking about the rivers [that encircle Eden]. Rabbi Hanina bar Yitzchak said: The Holy one, Blessed be He, decorated his bottom so that he would not be disgraceful like an animal. Rabbi Ami and Rabbi Yannai; one said: He made his buttocks a cover so that he would not be pained when he sat down, and one said: He made him covers. Rabbi Levi and Rabbi Ami; one said: he made him bury, and one said: he made him burial garments.