Parashat Chayei Sarah 5781
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Shareוַיִּהְיוּ֙ חַיֵּ֣י שָׂרָ֔ה מֵאָ֥ה שָׁנָ֛ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְשֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֑ים שְׁנֵ֖י חַיֵּ֥י שָׂרָֽה׃ וַתָּ֣מָת שָׂרָ֗ה בְּקִרְיַ֥ת אַרְבַּ֛ע הִ֥וא חֶבְר֖וֹן בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וַיָּבֹא֙ אַבְרָהָ֔ם לִסְפֹּ֥ד לְשָׂרָ֖ה וְלִבְכֹּתָֽהּ׃
Sarah’s lifetime—the span of Sarah’s life—came to one hundred and twenty-seven years. Sarah died in Kiriath-arba—now Hebron—in the land of Canaan; and Abraham proceeded to mourn for Sarah and to bewail her.
וְאַבְרָהָ֣ם זָקֵ֔ן בָּ֖א בַּיָּמִ֑ים וַֽיהוָ֛ה בֵּרַ֥ךְ אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֖ם בַּכֹּֽל׃
Abraham was now old, advanced in years, and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
וְאַבְרָהָם זָקֵן. זֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב: אֵשֶׁת חַיִל עֲטֶרֶת בַּעְלָהּ (משלי יב, ד), זֶה אַבְרָהָם שֶׁהָיָה מְקוֹנֵן עַל שָׂרָה. מַה כְּתִיב לְמַעְלָה מִן הָעִנְיָן, וַתָּמָת שָׂרָה וְגוֹ'. הִתְחִיל אַבְרָהָם לִבְכּוֹת עָלֶיהָ וְלוֹמַר, אֵשֶׁת חַיִל מִי יִמְצָא. בָּטַח בָּהּ לֵב בַּעְלָהּ (משלי יב לא), אֵימָתַי? בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאָמַר לָהּ: אִמְרִי נָא אֲחֹתִי אָתְּ. גְּמָלַתְהוּ טוֹב וְלֹא רָע כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיהָ. דָּרְשָׁה צֶמֶר וּפִשְׁתִּים, בֵּין יִצְחָק לְיִשְׁמָעֵאל, שֶׁאָמְרָה, גָּרֵשׁ הָאָמָה הַזֹּאת וְאֶת בְּנָהּ. הָיְתָה כָּאֳנִיּוֹת סוֹחֵר, וַתֻּקַּח הָאִשָּׁה בֵּית פַּרְעֹה, וְעוֹד, וַיִּשְׁלַח אֲבִימֶלֶךְ. וַתָּקָם בְּעוֹד לַיְלָה, אֵימָתַי? וַיַּשְׁכֵּם אַבְרָהָם בַּבֹּקֶר. זָמְמָה שָׂדֶה וַתִּקָּחֵהוּ, זָמְמָה וְנָטְלָה שְׂדֵה הַמַּכְפֵּלָה וְשָׁם נִקְבְּרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְאַחֲרֵי כֵן קָבַר אַבְרָהָם אֶת שָׂרָה. חָגְרָה בְעוֹז מָתְנֶיהָ, אֵימָתַי? כְּשֶׁבָּאוּ הַמַּלְאָכִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיְמַהֵר אַבְרָהָם הָאֹהֱלָה אֶל שָׂרָה וְגוֹ'.
And Abraham was old, and well stricken in years (Gen. 24:1). Scripture states elsewhere in reference to this verse: A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband (Prov. 12:4). This verse alludes to Abraham, who mourned for Sarah, for it was written previously: And Sarah died (Gen. 23:2). Abraham began to weep for her, saying: A woman of valor who can find? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her (Prov. 31:10). When did he demonstrate his trust in her? When he said to her: Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister (Gen. 12:13). She doeth him good and not evil all the days of her life (Prov. 31:12). She seeketh between wool and flax (ibid., v. 13) alludes to her decision to separate Isaac and Ishmael when she said to her husband: Cast out this bondwoman and her son (Gen. 21:10). She is like the merchant ships (Prov. 31:14); For the woman was taken to Pharaoh’s house (Gen. 12:15), and later Abimelech sent her away. She riseth also while it is yet night (Prov. 31:15). When did that happen? At the time Abraham arose early in the morning (Gen. 22:3). She considereth a field and buyeth it (Prov. 31:16). She thought about the field of Machpelah and acquired it. Ultimately she was buried there, as it is said: And after this, Abraham buried Sarah, his wife (Gen. 23:19). She girdeth her loins with strength (for the birth of Isaac) (Prov. 31:17). When was that? When the angels appeared, as it is said: And Abraham went into the tent unto Sarah (Gen. 18:6).
טָעֲמָה כִּי טוֹב סַחְרָהּ, כְּשֶׁבָּאוּ עֲלֵיהֶם הַמְּלָכִים, דִּכְתִיב: וַיֵּחָלֵק עֲלֵיהֶם לַיְלָה. יָדֶיהָ שִׁלְּחָה בַכִּישׁוֹר, שֶׁהָיְתָה נוֹתֶנֶת מַאֲכָל לָעוֹבְרִים וְשָׁבִים. כַּפָּהּ פָּרְשָׂה לֶעָנִי, שֶׁהָיְתָה נוֹתֶנֶת צְדָקוֹת וּמַלְבֶּשֶׁת עֲרֻמִּים. לֹא תִירָא לְבֵיתָהּ מִשָּׁלֶג, מִגֵּיהִנָּם. לָמָּה? כִּי כָל בֵּיתָהּ לָבֻשׁ שָׁנִים, שְׁנַיִם, שַׁבָּת וּמִילָה. מַרְבַדִּים עָשְׂתָה לָּה, אֵלּוּ בִגְדֵי כְהֻנָּה. מִפְּרִי כַפֶּיהָ נָטְעָה כָּרֶם, זֶה יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: כִּי כֶרֶם ה' צְבָאוֹת בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל (ישעיה ה, ז). נוֹדָע בַשְּׁעָרִים בַּעְלָהּ, כְּשֶׁבִּקֵּשׁ מִבְּנֵי חֵת תְּנוּ לִי אֲחֻזַּת קֶבֶר. סָדִין עָשְׂתָה, זוֹ הַמִּילָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: סוֹד ה' לִירֵאָיו (תהלים כה, יד). עוֹז וְהָדָר לְבוּשָׁהּ, אֵלּוּ עַנְנֵי כָבוֹד שֶׁהָיוּ מַקִּיפִין אֶת הָאֹהֶל שֶׁלָּה. פִּיהָ פָּתְחָה בְחָכְמָה, אֵימָתַי? בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאָמְרָה לוֹ: בֹּא נָא אֶל שִׁפְחָתִי (בראשית טז, ב). צוֹפִיָּה הֲלִיכוֹת בֵּיתָהּ, שֶׁבְּכָל יוֹם הָיְתָה מְצַפָּה אֵימָתַי יַחְזְרוּ הַמַּלְאָכִים שֶׁבִּשְּׂרוּהָ שׁוֹב אָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ (בראשית יח, י).
Who perceiveth that her merchandise is good (Prov. 31:18). That was when the kings attacked them, as it is written: And he divided himself against them by night (Gen. 14:15). She stretcheth out her hand to the poor (Prov. 31:19), by giving food to passers-by. Yea, she reacheth forth her hand to the needy (ibid., v. 20); for she gave charity and clothed the naked. She is not afraid of the snow for her household (ibid., v. 21); that is, she did not fear Gehenna. And why not? Because her entire household possessed garments (shanim, punning on shnayim, “two”) (ibid.): Sabbath and circumcision. She maketh for herself coverlets (ibid., v. 22): These were the priestly garments. From the fruit of her hand she planted a vineyard (ibid., v. 16). This refers to Israel, as it is said: For a vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel (Isa. 5:7). Her husband is known in the gates (Prov. 31:23); that is, when he pleaded with the sons of Seth: Give me a possession of a burial place (Gen. 23:4). She maketh linen garments (Prov. 31:24) refers to the circumcision that took place, as it is said: The counsel of the Lord is with them that fear Him (Ps. 25:14). Strength and dignity are her clothing (Prov. 31:25) alludes to the clouds of glory that encircled her tent. She openeth her mouth with wisdom (ibid. 39:26). When was that? When she said to Abraham: Go, I pray thee, unto thy handmaid (Gen. 16:2). She looketh well to the ways of her household (Prov. 31:27) indicates that she watched every day for the return of the angel who had informed her: I will certainly return unto thee (Gen. 18:10).
כְּשֶׁמֵּתָה שָׂרָה, כָּתַב עָלָיו שֶׁבֵּרֲכוֹ. לָמָּה? שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיוּ בָאֵי עוֹלָם אוֹמְרִים: לֹא נִתְבָּרֵךְ אַבְרָהָם אֶלָּא מֵחֲמַת שָׂרָה, אֶלָּא הֲרֵינִי מְבָרְכוֹ אַחַר מִיתָתָהּ. לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: וַה' בֵּרַךְ אֶת אַבְרָהָם, לָמָּה, כִּי אֶחָד קְרָאתִיו וַאֲבָרְכֵהוּ (ישעיה נא, ב). וַה' בֵּרַךְ אֶת אַבְרָהָם בַּכֹּל, בִּזְכוּת מָה? בִּזְכוּת שֶׁהִפְרִישׁ מַעֲשֵׂר מִכֹּל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיִתֶּן לוֹ מַעֲשֵׂר מִכֹּל (בראשית יד, כ). לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: וַה' בֵּרַךְ אֶת אַבְרָהָם.
It is written that after Sarah’s death, the Holy One, blessed be He, blessed Abraham. Why did He do that? Lest future generations declare that Abraham was blessed only because of Sarah. (And so He said to Himself:) I will bless him after her death. Hence it is written: And the Lord had blessed Abraham. Whence do we know that Sarah was already dead when He blessed him? It is said: When he was but one, I called him, and I blessed him (Isa. 51:2). And the Lord blessed Abraham in all things (Gen. 24:1). What merit had he acquired? He set aside tithes from all his possessions, as it is said: And He gave him a tenth of all (Gen. 14:20).6The law of tithes requires that a tenth part of one’s earnings be set aside for charitable purposes. See Jewish Encyclopedia 12:150. Hence it is written: And the Lord blessed Abraham in all things.
וַיֹּסֶף אַבְרָהָם וַיִּקַּח אִשָּׁה. יְלַמְּדֶנּוּ רַבֵּנוּ, כַּמָּה תְפִלּוֹת אָדָם מִתְפַּלֵּל בַּיּוֹם? רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן אָמַר, לְפִי שֶׁהַיּוֹם מִשְׁתַּנֶּה שָׁלֹשׁ פְּעָמִים בְּכָל יוֹם, לְפִיכָךְ צָרִיךְ הָאָדָם לְהִתְפַּלֵּל שָׁלֹש פְּעָמִים בְּכָל יוֹם, בְּשַׁחֲרִית הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ בַּמִּזְרָח, וּבַצָּהֳרַיִם בְּאֶמְצַע הָרָקִיעַ, וּבַמִּנְחָה בַּמַּעֲרָב. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר, אַבְרָהָם תִּקֵּן תְּפִלַּת הַבֹּקֶר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיַּשְׁכֵּם אַבְרָהָם בַּבֹּקֶר (בראשית יט, כז). יִצְחָק תִּקֵּן תְּפִלַּת מִנְחָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיֵּצֵא יִצְחָק לָשׂוּחַ בַּשָּׂדֶה לִפְנוֹת עָרֶב (בראשית כד, סג). יַעֲקֹב תִּקֵּן תְּפִלַּת הָעֶרֶב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיִּפְגַּע בַּמָּקוֹם וַיָּלֶן שָׁם כִּי בָא הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ (בראשית כח, יא).
And Abraham took another wife (Gen. 25:1). May our master teach us: How many times should one pray each day? R. Samuel the son of Nahman declared: Since there are three periods in each day, a man should pray three times every day—in the morning, when the sun is in the east; at noon, when the sun is at its zenith; and in the afternoon, when the sun is in the west. R. Joshua the son of Levi stated: Abraham established the morning prayer, as it is said: And Abraham arose early in the morning (Gen. 22:3); Isaac instituted the afternoon prayer, as it is said: And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at eventide (ibid. 24:63); and Jacob introduced the evening prayer, as it is said: And he lighted upon the place and tarried there all night because the sun was setting (ibid. 28:1).
רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא כְּשֶׁהָיָה מִתְפַּלֵּל עִם הַצִּבּוּר, הָיָה מִתְפַּלֵּל כְּדַרְכּוֹ. וּכְשֶׁהָיָה מִתְפַּלֵּל בֵּינוֹ לְבֵין עַצְמוֹ, אָדָם מַנִּיחוֹ בְּזָוִית זוֹ וּמוֹצְאוֹ בְּזָוִית אַחֶרֶת, מִפְּנֵי כְּרִיעוֹת וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוָיוֹת.
When R. Akiba prayed with the congregation, he did so in the usual way, but when he prayed by himself, one would leave him standing in one corner (of the room) only to find him in another corner as a consequence of his kneeling and prostrating himself.
וּמָה רָאוּ לְתַקֵּן שָׁלֹש תְּפִלּוֹת? כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּהֵא אָדָם מוֹסִיף בִּתְפִלָּתוֹ. וְלֹא בַּתְּפִלָּה בִּלְבַד, אֶלָּא אַף בַּתּוֹרָה יְהֵא מוֹסִיף וְהוֹלֵךְ. וְלֹא בַּתּוֹרָה בִּלְבַד, אֶלָּא אַף בַּבָּנִים. אִם נָשָׂא אִשָּׁה וָמֵתָה, יִשָּׂא אַחֶרֶת וְיַעֲמִיד מִמֶּנָּה בָּנִים. תֵּדַע לְךָ, שֶׁהֲרֵי אַבְרָהָם שֶׁמֵּתָה אִשְׁתּוֹ, לֹא יָשַׁב לוֹ אֶלָּא לָקַח אִשָּׁה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיֹּסֶף אַבְרָהָם וַיִּקַּח אִשָּׁה.
Why were prayers instituted three time a day? It was so that a man might add to this (minimal) number of prayers. The same goes for the commandments of Torah study and producing children. For the Torah teaches that if a man’s wife dies, he should remarry and produce additional children. You know this to be so from the fact that after Abraham’s wife died, he did not live alone. He remarried, as it is said: And Abraham took another wife.
רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר, בַּבֹּקֶר זְרַע אֶת זַרְעֶךָ, אִם הֶעֱמַדְתָּ תַּלְמִידִים בְּנַעֲרוּתְךָ, אַל תֶּחְדַּל לְךָ מִלְּהַעֲמִיד בְּזִקְנוּתֶךָ. מַעֲשֶׂה בְּרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא, שֶׁהָיוּ לוֹ שְׁלֹש מֵאוֹת תַּלְמִידִים בְּנַעֲרוּתוֹ וּמֵתוּ כֻּלָּם. וְאִלּוּלֵי שֶׁהֶעֱמִיד שִׁבְעָה תַלְמִידִים בְּזִקְנוּתוֹ, לֹא הָיָה תַלְמִיד שֶׁיְּהֵא קוֹרֵא עַל שְׁמוֹ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, בַּבֹּקֶר זְרַע אֶת זַרְעֶךָ, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסִי, אִם לָקַחְתָּ אִשָּׁה בְּבַחֲרוּתֶךָ וְיָלְדָה וָמֵתָה, קַח אִשָּׁה אַחֶרֶת בְּזִקְנוּתְךָ, כִּי אֵינְךָ יוֹדֵעַ וְגוֹ'. וּמִמִּי אַתָּה לָמֵד? מֵאַבְרָהָם, שֶׁבְּנַעֲרוּתוֹ לֹא הוֹלִיד אֶלָּא שְׁנַיִם, וּבְזִקְנוּתוֹ הוֹלִיד שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר.
R. Akiba said: In the morning sow thy seed (Eccles. 11:6) means that if you have trained disciples in your youth, you should not cease to do so in your old age. It is related that R. Akiba had three hundred disciples during his earlier years, but that all of them died. Had he not raised seven disciples in his old age, no one would have survived to speak in his name. Another explanation of In the morning, sow thy seed: R. Yosé held that this means: If you marry in your youth and your wife bears a child and then dies, you must remarry in your later years, for you have no way of knowing which offspring will be the worthiest. From whom do you learn this? From Abraham, for during his earlier years he had only two sons, but in his old age he had twelve more.
וַיֹּסֶף אַבְרָהָם. מַה כְּתִיב לְמַעְלָה מִן הָעִנְיָן? וַיְבִיאֶהָ יִצְחָק הָאֹהֶלָה. מִכָּאן אַתָּה לָמֵד, שֶׁאִם מֵתָה אִשְׁתּוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם וְיֵשׁ לוֹ בָנִים, שֶׁלֹּא יִשָּׂא עַד שֶׁיַּשִּׂיא אֶת בָּנָיו וְאַחַר כָּךְ יִשָּׂא אִשָּׁה לְעַצְמוֹ, שֶׁכָּךְ עָשָׂה אַבְרָהָם אַחַר מִיתַת שָׂרָה, הִשִּׂיא אֶת יִצְחָק וְאַחַר כָּךְ נָשָׂא אִשָּׁה לְעַצְמוֹ. מִנַּיִן? מִן מַה שֶּׁכָּתוּב, וַיְבִיאֶהָ יִצְחָק, וְאַחַר כָּךְ וַיֹּסֶף אַבְרָהָם. אָמַר יִצְחָק, אֲנִי לָקַחְתִּי אִשָּׁה וְאָבִי עוֹמֵד בְּלֹא אִשָּׁה. מֶה עָשָׂה? הָלַךְ וְהֵבִיא לוֹ אִשָּׁה. רַבִּי אוֹמֵר, הִיא הָגָר, הִיא קְטוּרָה. וְלָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמָהּ קְטוּרָה? שֶׁהָיְתָה קְשׁוּרָה כַּנּוֹד.
And Abraham took another wife (Gen. 25:1). What is written previously concerning this matter? And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent (Gen. 24:67). You learn from this that if a man’s wife should die, leaving him sons, he should not remarry until his sons are betrothed. Only then should he remarry. Abraham did so. After Sarah’s death, he first betrothed Isaac and then took a wife for himself. Where do we learn this? It is written: Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and after: Abraham took another wife. Isaac said to himself: “I have taken a wife, but my father is without a wife.” What did Isaac do? He went and bought him (Abraham) a wife. Rabbi said: Hagar and Keturah were one and the same person. Why then was she called Keturah? Because she had been bound up (keshurah) like a water bag.8Indicating that she was a virgin.
וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ אוֹמְרִים: אִשָּׁה אַחֶרֶת לָקָח. וּמַה טַּעַם שֶׁל רַבִּי שֶׁאוֹמֵר, הָגָר הִיא קְטוּרָה. שֶׁכָּתוּב בְּיִצְחָק, וְיִצְחָק בָּא מִבּוֹא בְּאֵר לַחַי רֹאִי. אוֹתָהּ שֶׁכָּתוּב בָּהּ, וַתִּקְרָא שֵׁם ה' הַדֹּבֵר אֵלֶיהָ אַתָּה אֵל רֳאִי (בראשית טז, יג). מִכָּאן אַתָּה לָמֵד, שֶׁהִיא הָגָר,
Our sages, however, maintained that she was actually a different wife. Rabbi insisted: Hagar and Keturah were one and the same person, since it is written about Isaac: And Isaac came from the way of Beer-lahai-roi (Gen. 24:62); that is, from the well of which it is written: And she called the name of the Lord that spoke to her, Thou art a God of seeing (ibid. 16:13). From this you learn that she must have been Hagar.9A well opened for Hagar after she and Ishmael were sent away (Gen. 21:19). God saw her plight.
דָּבָר אַחֵר, לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמָהּ קְטוּרָה? שֶׁנָּאִים מַעֲשֶׂיהָ כַּקְּטֹרֶת. וַתֵּלֶד לוֹ אֶת זִמְרָן וְאֶת יָקְשָׁן וְאֶת מְדָן וְגוֹ'. הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר, וְהָיָה רֵאשִׁיתְךָ מִצְעָר וְאַחֲרִיתְךָ יִשְׂגֶּה מְאֹד. אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה הַצַּדִּיקִים מוֹלִידִים טוֹבִים וְרָעִים, אֲבָל לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא כֻּלָּם יִהְיוּ צַדִּיקִים לְעוֹלָם יִירְשׁוּ אָרֶץ נֵצֶר מַטָּעַי (ישעיה ס, כא). וְאוֹמֵר: הַקָּטֹן יִהְיֶה לָאֶלֶף וְהַצָּעִיר לְגוֹי עָצוּם אֲנִי ה' בְּעִתָּהּ אֲחִישֶׁנָּה (ישעיה ס, כב). וְכֵן יְהִי רָצוֹן אָמֵן.
Another comment on why she was called Keturah: Her deeds were as pleasant as the fragrance of incense (ketar). And she bore him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, etc. (ibid. 25:2). Therefore Scripture says: Though thy beginning was small, yet thy end shall greatly increase (Job 8:7). The Holy One, blessed be He, proclaimed: The righteous beget good and wicked sons in this world, but in the world-to-come all of them shall be righteous and shall inherit the land forever (Isa. 60:2). And it says also: The smallest shall become a thousand, and the least a mighty nation; I, the Lord, will hasten it in its time (ibid., v. 22). And so may it be.
וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁבְּיוֹם שֵׁנִי נִבְרֵאת גֵּיהִנֹּם, דִּכְתִיב: כִּי עָרוּךְ מֵאֶתְמוּל תָּפְתֶּה, מִן הַיּוֹם שֶׁיָּכוֹל לוֹמַר אָדָם אֶתְמוֹל וְלֹא שִׁלְשׁוֹם. וְאֵימָתַי יָכוֹל אָדָם לוֹמַר אֶתְמוֹל? בַּיּוֹם הַשֵּׁנִי שֶׁיּוֹם אֶחָד בְּשַׁבָּת לְפָנָיו. וְאַחַר כָּךְ בָּרָא יַבָּשָׁה בַּשְּׁלִישִׁי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: יָסַד אֶרֶץ עַל מְכוֹנֶיהָ בַּל תִּמּוֹט עוֹלָם וָעֶד. וְעָשָׂה אֶחָד עָרוֹם וְאֶחָד לָבוּשׁ. בָּשָׂר וָדָם יֵשׁ לוֹ שְׁנֵי עֲבָדִים, הִפְשִׁיט כְּסוּת הָאֶחָד, הִלְבִּישׁוֹ לַחֲבֵרוֹ. כָּךְ אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: יִקָּווּ הַמַּיִם מִתַּחַת הַשָּׁמַיִם אֶל מָקוֹם אֶחָד וְתֵרָאֶה הַיַּבָּשָׁה. וְכִסָּה אֶת הַתְּהוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: תְּהוֹם כַּלְּבוּשׁ כִּסִּיתוֹ וְגוֹ'.
Whence do we know that Gehenna was created on the second day? From the verse For a hearth is ordered of yesterday (Isa. 30:33). It was the day on which a man could refer only to yesterday and not to “the day before yesterday.” When could a man refer to yesterday? Only on the second day (of Creation), which was preceded by the first day of the week. After that He created the dry land on the third day of the week, as it is said: Who didst establish the earth upon its foundations, that it should never be moved forever and ever (Ps. 104:5). He covered one part of the world, and uncovered another. To what may this be compared? To a man who owns two slaves, and strips the clothing from one in order to cloth the other. The Holy One, blessed be He, did likewise. He gathered the waters beneath the heavens to one place, and in that way uncovered the earth while covering the deep, as it is said: Thou didst cover the deep as with a vesture (ibid., v. 6).