“The woman saw that the tree was good for eating, and that it was an enticement to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable as a source of wisdom; she took from its fruit and ate; she also gave to her husband with her, and he ate” (Genesis 3:6). Rabbi Yosei bar Zimra said: Three matters were stated regarding that tree: That it was good for eating, pleasing to the eye, and suited for increasing wisdom” – and the three of them were stated in one verse.
“The woman saw that…was good” – from here we learn that it was good; “and that it was an enticement to the eyes” – from here we learn that it was pleasing to the eye; “and that the tree was desirable as a source of wisdom [lehaskil]” – from here we learn that it was suitable for increasing wisdom, just as it says: “A contemplation [maskil] by Eitan the Ezrahite” (Psalms 89:1). “She took from its fruit and ate” – Rabbi Aivu said: She squeezed grapes22This is derived from the expression, “she took from its fruit,“ rather than she took its fruit. and gave it to him [Adam].
Rabbi Simlai said: She came to him persuasively. She said to him: ‘What, do you think that I will die and another Eve will be created for you? “There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9).23So God will not create another woman for you. Or, perhaps [you think that] I will die and you will sit alone?
“He did not create it [the world] for emptiness, He formed it to be inhabited”’ (Isaiah 45:18).24So God will not leave you alone either. The only possible outcome is that He will spare both of us. The Rabbis say: She began sobbing at him plaintively with her voice. “Also [gam]” is an inclusive term; [as well as Adam,] she also fed the animals, the beasts, and the birds.
All of them heeded her [and ate of the fruit]25And that is why animals die. except for one bird that is called ḥol. That is what is written: “I will live many days, like the ḥol” (Job 29:18). The school of Rabbi Yanai says: It lives a thousand years, and at the end of a thousand years, fire emerges from its nest and burns it. An egg-bulk remains of it and it then grows limbs, and lives again.
Rabbi Yudan ben Rabbi Shimon says: It lives a thousand years, and at the end of one thousand years, its body wastes away and its wings are shed. But an egg-bulk remains of it and it then grows limbs, and lives again.