“The Lord God said to the serpent: Because you did this…” – Rabbi Ḥiyya taught: When it comes to showing honor, one begins with the greatest one, but when it comes to disgrace, one begins with the lesser one. When it comes to showing honor, one begins with the greatest one, as it is stated: “Moses said to Aaron, to Elazar, and to Itamar” (Leviticus 10:6). When it comes to disgrace, one begins with the lesser one, as it is stated: “The Lord God said to the serpent,” [then] “to the woman He said: I will increase your suffering and your pregnancy” (Genesis 3:16), [then] “to Adam, He said: Because you heeded your wife’s voice” (Genesis 3:17).
It teaches that initially the serpent was cursed, then Eve was cursed, and then Adam was cursed. All creatures cohabit front facing back, with the exception of two who mate back to back, and they are the camel and the dog, and with the exception of three who mate face to face because the Divine Presence spoke to them. These are: man, the serpent, and the fish. Man, as it is stated: “To Adam, He said: Because you heeded your wife’s voice” (Genesis 3:17); the serpent – “the Lord God said to the serpent” (Genesis 3:14); the fish – “The Lord said to the fish, and it spewed Jonah” (Jonah 2:11).