Derasha 3 on Bereishis 4:10

TT #165 · Parashas Bereishis · Fourth Aliyah · Passuk 10

Complete Passuk

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מֶ֣ה עָשִׂ֑יתָ ק֚וֹל דְּמֵ֣י אָחִ֔יךָ צֹעֲקִ֥ים אֵלַ֖י מִן־הָֽאֲדָמָֽה׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to Sanhedrin 37a (verified).

E-Daf image (Sanhedrin 37a)

Core Text

Core Textאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב חִיָּא: מְלַמֵּד שֶׁעָשָׂה קַיִן בְּהֶבֶל אָחִיו חַבּוּרוֹת חַבּוּרוֹת, פְּצָעִים פְּצָעִים, שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה יוֹדֵעַ מֵהֵיכָן נְשָׁמָה יוֹצֵאת עַד שֶׁהִגִּיעַ לְצַוָּארוֹ.
English of Core Text: Rav Yehudah son of Rav Chiyya said: This teaches that Kayin inflicted on Hevel his brother many wounds, many blows, for he did not know from where the soul departs until he reached the neck.
On the daf / in context: The multiplicity of wounds explains the plural “bloods” and portrays Kayin’s ignorance of how to kill.
Type of Learning: Custom (multiple wounds until the neck)
What Is Learned: Kayin struck Hevel repeatedly, not knowing where the soul exits, until he struck the neck.