Derasha 1 on Bereishis 1:12

TT #37 · Parashas Bereishis · First Aliyah · Passuk 12

Complete Passuk

וַתּוֹצֵ֨א הָאָ֜רֶץ דֶּ֠שֶׁא עֵ֣שֶׂב מַזְרִ֤יעַ זֶ֙רַע֙ לְמִינֵ֔הוּ וְעֵ֧ץ עֹֽשֶׂה־פְּרִ֛י אֲשֶׁ֥ר זַרְעוֹ־ב֖וֹ לְמִינֵ֑הוּ וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי־טֽוֹב׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to Chullin 60b (verified).

E-Daf image (Chullin 60b)

Core Text

Core Textרַב אַסִּי רָמֵי: בִּתְלָת בְּשַׁבְּתָא כְּתִיב וַתּוֹצֵא הָאָרֶץ דֶּשֶׁא, וּכְתִיב בַּשִּׁשִּׁי בְּשַׁבָּת ״וְכֹל שִׂיחַ הַשָּׂדֶה טֶרֶם יִהְיֶה בָאָרֶץ״ — מְלַמֵּד שֶׁיָּצְאוּ דְּשָׁאִים וְעָמְדוּ עַל פֶּתַח קַרְקַע עַד שֶׁבָּא אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן וּבִקֵּשׁ עֲלֵיהֶם רַחֲמִים וְיָרְדוּ גְּשָׁמִים וְצָמְחוּ, לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִתְאַוֶּה לִתְפִלָּתָן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים.
English of Core Text: Rav Assi raised a contradiction: On the third day of the week it is written “And the earth brought forth grass,” and on the sixth day it is written “and no shrub of the field was yet in the earth” — this teaches that the grasses emerged and stood at the opening of the ground until Adam the first man came and requested mercy for them, and rains fell and they sprouted, to teach you that the Holy One, blessed be He, desires the prayer of the righteous.
On the daf / in context: The Gemara resolves the apparent contradiction between day three and day six by saying the vegetation was ready but waited for Adam’s prayer.
Type of Learning: Custom (prayer of the righteous as catalyst)
What Is Learned: The plants were prepared on day three but waited for Adam’s prayer before fully emerging, showing God’s desire for the prayer of the righteous.