“The Lord God said: It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make a helper for him alongside him” (Genesis 2:18). “The Lord God said: It is not good that [the man] should be” – we learned: The world was created with ten [divine] utterances.1Avot 5:1. These are: “In the beginning [God created the heavens and the earth]” (Genesis 1:1);2Although the words “God said” are not written here, it was through God’s command that the heavens and earth were created (see Psalms 33:6). “the wind3The Midrash interprets the word ruaḥ to mean wind, unlike the more common translation, “spirit.” of God hovered [over the surface of the water]” (Genesis 1:2);4Here too, although the words “God said” are not written, it was through God’s command that the wind came about.
“God said: Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3); “God said: Let there be a firmament” (Genesis 1:6); “God said: “Let the water be gathered” (Genesis 1:9). “God said: Let the earth sprout [grass]” (Genesis 1:11). “God said: Let there be lights” (Genesis 1:14). “God said: Let the water swarm” (Genesis 1:20).
“God said: “Let the earth produce” (Genesis 1:24). “God said: Let us make man” (Genesis 1:26). Menaḥem bar Yosei removes: “The wind of God hovered,” and inserts: “The Lord God said: It is not good that the man should be.” Rabbi Yaakov ben Kurshai said: A special utterance was devoted specifically to the wind.5Rabbi Yaakov concurs with the original count of the ten utterances.