מדרש על בראשית 3:6

Why were women enjoined to perform these three duties? The Holy One, blessed be He, said: Adam, the first of My creatures, was commanded not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge, yet concerning Eve, it is written: And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food … she gave also unto her husband with her and did eat (Gen. 3:6). In that way she brought about his death and, as it were, shed his blood, and the law prescribes: Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed (Gen. 9:6). That is why woman’s blood is made to flow. She is required to abstain from sexual relations during menstruation to atone for the blood of Adam that she was responsible for shedding.

[(Gen. 18:1:) THEN THE LORD WAS AWESOME UNTO HIM.]⁹The verse is traditionally rendered, THEN THE LORD APPEARED UNTO HIM. In the unvocalized text, however, APPEARED can be translated WAS AWESOME; and so the midrash understands it. This text is related (to Is. 66:1-3): THUS SAYS THE LORD: THE HEAVENS ARE MY THRONE … FOR ALL THESE THINGS HAS MY HAND MADE … < BUT UNTO THIS PERSON WILL I LOOK: UNTO ONE WHO IS POOR AND OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT, WHO TREMBLES AT MY WORD, WHO > ¹⁰Translations generally interpret what follows as referring to someone evil who is being contrasted with the ONE WHO IS POOR AND OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT. SLAUGHTERS THE OX, WHO SLAYS A HUMAN, WHO SACRIFICES THE LAMB…. Who is trembling at the words of the Holy One? This is Abraham, < for > (according to Gen. 18:1) THEN THE LORD WAS AWESOME UNTO HIM…. What is written (in Is. 66:2)? BUT ON THIS PERSON WILL I LOOK: UNTO ONE WHO IS POOR AND OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT, WHO TREMBLES AT MY WORD. Now, if you want to know that the text is speaking about Abraham, see what is written (in vs. 3): WHO SLAUGHTERS THE OX. This is Abraham (according to Gen. 18:7): THEN ABRAHAM RAN UNTO THE HERD, < TOOK A CALF >…. (Is. 66:3, cont.:) WHO SLAYS A HUMAN < refers to > the one who killed Nimrod, < and > Nimrod is Amraphel (of Gen. 14).¹¹Targum Ps. Joh. to Gen. 14:1; ‘Eruv. 53a; Gen. R. 42:4; Tanh., Gen. 3:6; also PRK 8:2; PR 18:3. (Is. 66:3, cont.:) WHO SACRIFICES THE LAMB. When? When he offered up his son Isaac as stated (in Gen. 22:8): GOD WILL SEE TO THE LAMB [FOR A BURNT OFFERING], MY SON.

Another interpretation: “Also, Vashti the queen made a women’s banquet.” Why did Scripture see fit to publicize the banquet of Vashti? Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa said: Why to that extent? It is to inform you of the [degree] of luxury to which Esther was entering. Rabbi Meir said: If it is so for those who anger Him, all the more so for those who perform His will.
Alternatively, “Also [gam], Vashti the queen” – also [gam] is nothing but an amplification. Just as that one [Aḥashverosh’s banquet] was with six treasures, so was this one [Vashti’s banquet] with six treasures. Just as that one was with a great variety of expenditures, so was this one with a great variety of expenditures. Just as that one was a feast of the Land of Israel, so was this one a feast of the Land of Israel. Just as that one was with the vestments of the High Priest, so was this one with the vestments of the High Priest. Rabbi Berekhya said: Like that raven that flaunts both what is its own and what is not its own.
Another interpretation: “Also, Vashti the queen.” “Also” [gam] – also the time had arrived for the foundation [mashtota] of Vashti⁹The play on words is between Vashti and mashtota. [to be overturned]. The time had come for Vashti to be cut down [ligamem].¹⁰A play on gam. The time had come for Vashti to be harvested. The time had come for Vashti to be trampled [like a grape].¹¹The association of Vashti with the harvesting or trampling of grapes is a play on the word gam, which sounds similar to guma, the pit or depression in which grapes were pressed. Rabbi Huna said: Her time had arrived to die; that is what you say: “She took of its fruit¹²The tree of knowledge of good and evil. and ate and she also [gam] gave to her husband…” (Genesis 3:6).