“God blessed them and God said to them: Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it, and dominate over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over every living creature that crawls upon the earth” (Genesis 1:28). “And dominate over the fish of the sea” – Rabbi Ḥanina said: If they merit it, [they will] dominate [redu], but if not, they will fall [yeredu].42They will become victims to the predations of animals.
Rabbi Yaakov of Kefar Ḥanin said: One who fulfills “in our image, in our likeness – “And dominate”; those who do not fulfill “in our image, in our likeness” – they will fall [yeredu]. Rabbi Yaakov of Kefar Ḥanan said: Let the one who is “in our image, in our likeness”43Man. come “and dominate” the one who does not resemble being “in our image, in our likeness.”44The animals. “God blessed them” – there we learned: A virgin should marry on a Wednesday and a widow on a Thursday.”45Ketubot 2a. Why?
It is because a blessing [for fertility] is written in connection with these days. But, is it not so, that a blessing [for fertility] is written only in connection with Thursday and Friday?46Genesis 1:22 and 1:28. Bar Kapara said: Wednesday means on the eve of Thursday, and Thursday means on the eve of Friday.47The marriage that takes place during the day is consummated at night. Rabbi Elazar in the name of Rabbi Yosei Ben Zimra: “[Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth] and subdue it” [vekhivshuha]48Plural. – it is written [as if it should be read] vekhovshah49Singular. – the man alone is commanded regarding procreation, but not the woman.
Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Beroka says: Both the man and the woman [are commanded]. Regarding both of them it says: “God blessed them […and said: Be fruitful, and multiply…].” Vekhivshuha – it is written [as if it should be read] vekhovshah50Meaning: And subdue her. – the man restrains his wife so she should not go out in public,51In an inappropriate manner. as any woman who goes out in public will ultimately falter.
From where do we derive it? It is from Dina, as it is stated: “Dina went out” (Genesis 34:1) – and she ultimately faltered. That is what is written: “Shekhem saw her…” (Genesis 34:2). Rabbi Yirmeya, Rabbi Abahu, and Rabbi Yitzḥak bar Maryon in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina: The halakha is in accordance with Rabbi Yoḥanan.52Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Beroka.