Derasha 3 on Bereishis 2:14

TT #94 · Parashas Bereishis · Second Aliyah · Passuk 14

Complete Passuk

וְשֵׁ֨ם הַנָּהָ֤ר הַשְּׁלִישִׁי֙ חִדֶּ֔קֶל ה֥וּא הַֽהֹלֵ֖ךְ קִדְמַ֣ת אַשּׁ֑וּר וְהַנָּהָ֥ר הָֽרְבִיעִ֖י ה֥וּא פְרָֽת׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to Bechoros 55b (verified).

E-Daf image (Bechoros 55b)

Core Text

Core Textאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: כָּל הַנְּהָרוֹת לְמַטָּה מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה נְהָרוֹת, וּשְׁלֹשָׁה נְהָרוֹת לְמַטָּה מִפְּרָת. וְהָא כְּתִיב וְהַנָּהָר הָרְבִיעִי הוּא פְרָת? אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק: הוּא פְרָת דְּמֵעִיקָּרָא.
English of Core Text: Rav Yehudah said in the name of Rav: All rivers are lower than three rivers, and the three rivers are lower than the Euphrates. But it is written “and the fourth river is the Euphrates”? Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak said: It is the Euphrates of the original [source].
On the daf / in context: The hierarchy of rivers is established; the Euphrates is the primary source from which the others ultimately derive.
Type of Learning: Custom (hierarchy of rivers / primacy of Euphrates)
What Is Learned: The Euphrates is the highest/source river; the others are subordinate to it.