Derasha 4 on Bereishis 2:4

TT #71 · Parashas Bereishis · Second Aliyah · Passuk 4

Complete Passuk

אֵ֣לֶּה תוֹלְד֧וֹת הַשָּׁמַ֛יִם וְהָאָ֖רֶץ בְּהִבָּֽרְאָ֑ם בְּי֗וֹם עֲשׂ֛וֹת יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶ֥רֶץ וְשָׁמָֽיִם׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to Yerushalmi Chagigah 2:1 (verified).

Core Text

Core Textאֶרֶץ וְשָׁמַיִם — בְּכָל מָקוֹם הִקְדִּים הַכָּתוּב שָׁמַיִם לָאָרֶץ, וְכָאן הִקְדִּים אָרֶץ לַשָּׁמַיִם, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁשְּׁנֵיהֶם שְׁקוּלִים הֵם.
English of Core Text: “Earth and heaven” — in every place Scripture puts heaven before earth, and here it puts earth before heaven; this teaches that the two are equal.
On the daf / in context: The reversed order in this verse is taken to indicate the equal standing of heaven and earth.
Type of Learning: Custom (equal weight of heaven and earth)
What Is Learned: The reversal of the usual order teaches that heaven and earth are of equal status.