Derasha 8 on Bereishis 1:1

TT #8 · Parashas Bereishis · First Aliyah · Passuk 1

Complete Passuk

בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to Chagigah 12a (verified).

E-Daf image (Chagigah 12a)

Core Text

Core Textוּכְתִיב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר (בְּרֵאשִׁית ב׳:ד׳) ״בְּיוֹם עֲשׂוֹת ה׳ אֱלֹהִים אֶרֶץ וְשָׁמָיִם״ — קָשׁוּ קְרָאֵי אַהֲדָדֵי. אָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ: כְּשֶׁבָּרָא בָּרָא שָׁמַיִם וְאַחַר כָּךְ אָרֶץ, וּכְשֶׁנָּטָה נָטָה אָרֶץ וְאַחַר כָּךְ שָׁמַיִם.
English of Core Text: One verse says “...earth and heaven” (Bereishis 2:4). The verses contradict each other. Reish Lakish said: When He created, He created heaven and afterward earth; when He spread them out, He spread out earth and afterward heaven.
On the daf / in context: The Gemara notes the reverse order in Bereishis 2:4 and resolves the apparent contradiction by distinguishing the act of creation from the act of spreading/stretching the cosmos.
Type of Learning: Custom (resolving order of creation verses)
What Is Learned: Heaven was created first; the reverse order in chapter 2 refers to the subsequent spreading of the firmament.