1)

What is the significance of the 'Voice' that they heard in the Garden? What was Hashem doing there?

1.

Rashi, Seforno and Targum Yonasan 1 : Hashem, Kevayachol, was walking round the Garden, as He did every day, seeing to its needs, and that is what Adam and Chavah heard and went to hide.

2.

Ramban: Whenever the term "Mis'halech" 2 (the reflexive) is used in connection with Hashem, it refers to a revelation (or the departure) of the Shechinah, accompanied by a powerful wind. Here too, the Shechinah was accompanied by a strong 3 wind. Refer to 3:8:2:2 and 3:8:2:1.


1

This seems to tally with a list of commentaries cited by the Ramban who learn like this - in fact, it was the voice that they heard walking around the garden.

2

Rosh: The angels claimed that Adam was like a Meis ("Mis'halech" is a contraction of Meis Holech) - to which Hashem replied, "le'Ru'ach ha'Yom" - Arvi'ach (I will widen) his day to be like Mine (to live a thousand years).

3

The wind here was not a powerful one, so as not to frighten and confuse Adam and Chavah.

2)

What is the meaning of the words, "le'Ru'ach ha'Yom"?

1.

Rashi: It refers to the west direction, where the sun was about to set at the end of the day. 1

2.

Ramban: It refers to the strong wind that accompanied the Shechinah. Refer to 3:8:2:2.


1

Gur Aryeh: The sun is called day, since it is the cause of daytime. Adam sinned in the tenth hour [of the day, counting from sunrise]; so the sun was in the west (Rashi, based on Sanhedrin 38b).

3)

Why did Adam and Chavah hide when they heard the Voice of Hashem in the Garden?

1.

Seforno: In fulfillment of the Pasuk, "And He (Hashem) shall not see in you any nakedness" (Devarim 23:15).

2.

Targum Yonasan: They were actually trying to hide from Hashem out of shame (as is evident from his explanation in Pasuk 10). 1


1

Since they now had a Yetzer ha'Ra, whose strategy is to make a person believe that he can hide from Hashem.

4)

How is it possible to hide from Hashem?

1.

Maharal (Chidushei Agados, Vol. 3. p. 153, to Sanhedrin 38b): The deeper meaning is that Adam wanted to remove himself from Hashem's [Providence]; Adam felt that man should fall into the natural order. This is what Chazal mean that Adam extended his Orlah (ibid.); 1 the Orlah represents the covering caused by nature, and Milah is above nature. 2

2.

Refer to 3:8:3.2*.


1

See Maharal further regarding other opinions in the Gemara.

2

Refer to 17:9:1.1:1.

5)

The Gemara (Chulin 139b) asks, "What is the source in Torah for Haman?", and it answers with our verse, "ha'Min ha'Etz." What is the connection?

1.

Da'as Zekenim: Hashem said that it would have been proper to hang Adam on the tree; but rather, Hashem would suspend and preserve [that judgment], and later hang Haman on it.

QUESTIONS ON RASHI

6)

Rashi writes: "'They heard' - the voice of Hashem... that He was walking (Mis'halech) in the garden." It seems that Rashi is merely adding the phrase "that He was." What is Rashi explaining?

1.

Gur Aryeh: We might have understood that they heard the voice [of Hashem] moving in the garden; but then the appropriate verb would be "Holech." The reflexive verb "Mis'halech" shows that they heard Hashem Himself walking in the garden. 1


1

The verb form "Hispa'el" indicates that the verb's subject does something by itself, willingly and autonomously. A voice does not move of its own accord, but is rather set in motion by another.

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