(Gen. 2:4, end:) IN THE DAY THAT THE LORD MADE EARTH AND HEAVEN. The Bet Shammay say: The conception of creation came by night; and the doing, by day. The Bet Hillel say: The conception came either by day or by night, and he completed work with the sun on the horizon. R. Levi said in the name of R. Hama bar Hanina: On every day the Holy One created three creations.
On the first he created heaven, earth, and the light. On the second he created the firmament, Gehinnom, and the ministering angels. On the third, trees, herbs, and rivers. On the fourth, sun, moon, and stars.
On the fifth, fish, Leviathan, and fowl. Now on the sixth, there were six things to create, those for the Sabbath eve and those for the Sabbath. These were the following (according to Gen. 1:24): LET THE EARTH BRING FORTH (1) THE LIVING CREATURE AFTER ITS KIND, (2) CATTLE, (3) CREEPING THINGS, AND (4) BEAST OF THE EARTH, plus Adam and Eve. The work of Adam, Eve, and of the beasts was completed.
Then, when he had completed these, he wanted to create the rest; but the Sabbath was holy, as stated (in Gen. 2:1-3): THEN THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH WERE FINISHED…. SO GOD FINISHED ON THE SEVENTH DAY.