Derasha 6 on Bereishis 2:6

TT #78 · Parashas Bereishis · Second Aliyah · Passuk 6

Complete Passuk

וְאֵ֖ד יַֽעֲלֶ֣ה מִן־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְהִשְׁקָ֖ה אֶֽת־כָּל־פְּנֵ֥י הָֽאֲדָמָֽה׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to Yerushalmi Taanis 3:3 (verified).

Core Text

Core Textתַּנְיָא, לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ שֶׁל עָנָן אֵד? מִפְּנֵי שֶׁשּׁוֹבֵר לַמַּפְקִיעֵי שְׁעָרִים.
English of Core Text: It was taught: Why is the cloud called “ed”? Because it breaks those who force up prices (price-gougers).
On the daf / in context: A midrashic play: the rising mist/cloud is associated with the breaking of those who inflate market prices (perhaps through the economic effects of rain).
Type of Learning: Custom (etymology of “ed”)
What Is Learned: The cloud is called “ed” because it breaks the power of price-gougers.