God Walks In The Garden

"And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking about in the garden toward the cool of the day" (Genesis 3:8). Rabbi Chalafon said: We have learned that there is walking for a voice, as it is said: "And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking about in the garden," and walking for fire, as it is said: "And fire ran along upon the ground" (Exodus 9:23). Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: It is not written here "walking" but rather "walking about" -- leaping up and ascending. The essence of the Divine Presence was in the lower realms. When Adam, the first man, sinned, the Divine Presence withdrew to the first firmament. Cain sinned, and it withdrew to the second firmament. The generation of Enosh, to the third. The generation of the Flood, to the fourth. The generation of the Dispersion, to the fifth. The Sodomites, to the sixth. And the Egyptians in the days of Abraham, to the seventh. And corresponding to them seven righteous men arose, and these are they: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Levi, Kehat, Amram, Moses. Abraham arose and brought it down to the sixth. Isaac arose and brought it down from the sixth to the fifth. Jacob arose and brought it down from the fifth to the fourth. Levi arose and brought it down from the fourth to the third. Kehat arose and brought it down from the third to the second. Amram arose and brought it down from the second to the first. Moses arose and brought it down from above to below. Rabbi Yitzchak said: It is written, "The righteous shall inherit the land" and so forth (Psalms 37:29). And the wicked, what shall they do -- fly about in the air? Rather, the wicked did not cause the Divine Presence to dwell on the earth.