Derasha 2 on Bereishis 2:1

TT #65 · Parashas Bereishis · First Aliyah · Passuk 1 (ch. 2)

Complete Passuk

וַיְכֻלּ֛וּ הַשָּׁמַ֥יִם וְהָאָ֖רֶץ וְכָל־צְבָאָֽם׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to Rosh Hashanah 11a (verified).

E-Daf image (Rosh Hashanah 11a)

Core Text

Core Textאָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: כָּל מַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית בְּקוֹמָתָן נִבְרְאוּ, לְדַעְתָּן נִבְרְאוּ, לְצִבְיוֹנָן נִבְרְאוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַיְכֻלּוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ וְכָל צְבָאָם — אַל תִּקְרֵי צְבָאָם אֶלָּא צִבְיוֹנָם.
English of Core Text: Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: All the works of creation were created in their full stature, according to their will, according to their desire, as it is said “And the heaven and the earth were completed and all their host (tzeva’am)” — read not “tzeva’am” but “tzivyonam” (their desire).
On the daf / in context: In the discussion of whether the world was created in Nisan or Tishrei, this derasha establishes that creatures were formed fully mature and willingly.
Type of Learning: Custom (creatures formed fully and willingly)
What Is Learned: Every created being was brought into existence at full size, with consent, and according to its own preferred form.