Derasha 1 on Bereishis 4:13

TT #167 · Parashas Bereishis · Fourth Aliyah · Passuk 13

Complete Passuk

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר קַ֖יִן אֶל־יְהֹוָ֑ה גָּד֥וֹל עֲוֺנִ֖י מִנְּשֹֽׂא׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to Sanhedrin 101b (verified).

E-Daf image (Sanhedrin 101b)

Core Text

Core Textתָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: קַיִן בָּא בַּעֲלִילָה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, דִּכְתִיב גָּדוֹל עֲוֺנִי מִנְּשֹׂא. אָמַר לְפָנָיו: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, כְּלוּם גָּדוֹל עֲוֺנִי מִשִּׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא שֶׁעֲתִידִים לַחֲטֹא לְפָנֶיךָ וְאַתָּה סוֹלֵחַ לָהֶם.
English of Core Text: The Sages taught: Kayin came with a claim before the Holy One, blessed be He, as it is written “My iniquity is too great to bear.” He said before Him: Master of the Universe, is my iniquity greater than [that of] the six hundred thousand who are destined to sin before You, and You forgive them?
On the daf / in context: Kayin’s words are read as an argument from the future forgiveness of Israel’s sins.
Type of Learning: Custom (Kayin’s claim of disproportionate punishment)
What Is Learned: Kayin argued that his sin was not greater than the future sins of Israel for which forgiveness would be granted.