“The Lord God sent him out of the Garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken” (Genesis 3:23). “The Lord God sent him out of the Garden of Eden” – Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda said: He sent him out of the Garden of Eden in this world, and he [also] sent him out of the Garden of Eden of the World to Come. Rabbi Neḥemya said: He sent him out of the Garden of Eden in this world, but not that of the World to Come.
According to Rabbi Yehuda’s opinion, He dealt with him harshly. According to Rabbi Neḥemya’s opinion, He dealt with him mercifully. Rabbi Huna said: Rabbi Ada bar Ahava and Rabbi Hamnuna disagreed. One said in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda, and one said in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Neḥemya.
The following supports Rabbi Neḥemya: “I, in justice [betzedek], will see Your face; Your image will fill my waking vision” (Psalms 17:15). When the one who was created in Your image awakens, at that moment, “I, in justice [betzedek], will see Your face” – at that moment I will exonerate him from that decree. At that moment, “behold, the man has become as one of us.” Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: When He created him, He created him through the attribute of justice and the attribute of mercy, and when He expelled him, He expelled him through the attribute of justice and the attribute of mercy.18Concerning both Adam’s creation and his banishment, God is referred to as “Hashem Elohim,” indicating His attribute of mercy and His attribute of strict justice.
“Hen haadam” – O Adam [hah haadam], were you unable to observe your command for even one hour? It was a rhetorical question. Rabbi Yehuda ben Pedaya expounded: Who will remove the dust from your eyes, Adam the first man,19This is what people will say of Adam in future generations, after he was dead and buried. and reveal that you were unable to observe the command for even one hour? Your descendants wait for orla20It is prohibited to eat fruit that grows on a tree during the first three years after it is planted.
That fruit is called orla. three years, as it is stated: “Three years it shall be sealed off for you; it shall not be eaten” (Leviticus 19:23).21You were unable to be even “like one of us” of the later generations. Rav Huna said: When bar Kappara heard this, he said: You have expounded well, my sister’s son.