Adam and Pharaoh in Habakkuk's Terrible and Dreadful One

"When a person has on the skin of his flesh, etc." (Leviticus 13:2). This is what Scripture says: "Terrible and dreadful is he, etc." (Habakkuk 1:7). This verse speaks of Adam the first man, and of Pharaoh, and of Edom, [and of Sennacherib, and of Nebuchadnezzar,] and of human beings. How does it speak of Adam the first man? When the Holy One, blessed be He, created (the world) Adam the first man — Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: He created him in His likeness, as it is said, "And God created the human in His image, etc." (Genesis 1:27). And He created him from one end of the world to its other end, as it is said, "For ask now of the former days that were before you, since the day that God created the human upon the earth, and from one end of the heavens to the other end of the heavens" (Deuteronomy 4:32). And he ruled over the whole world, as it is said, "And rule over the fish of the sea, etc." (Genesis 1:28). And it says, "And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be, etc." (Genesis 9:2). Therefore it is said "terrible." "And dreadful is he" — this is Adam the first man. "From him his judgment and his dignity go forth" (Habakkuk 1:7) — this is Eve, who went forth from him and caused him to die, [as it is said,] "And she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate" (Genesis 3:6). [And from where do we know that she went forth from him? For thus it is written, "Bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh"] (Genesis 2:23). Thus, "terrible and dreadful is he." [Another interpretation:] "Terrible and dreadful is he" — this is Pharaoh, who was a kosmokrator (world ruler), as it is said, "A ruler of peoples, and he released him" (Psalms 105:20). "From him his judgment and his dignity go forth" — this is Moses, who was raised within his house, and he thought that he was the son of his daughter, as it is said, "And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son" (Exodus 2:10). He arose and brought upon him ten plagues, as it is said, "[And now, go, and I will send you to Pharaoh]" (Exodus 3:10), "and this staff you shall take in your hand, with which you shall perform the signs" (Exodus 4:17). Rabbi Yehudah said: The staff was a load of forty se'ah, and it was of sapphire, and the ten plagues were engraved upon it, as a notarikon: DeTzaKh ADaSh BeAChaB. And Moses would look at the staff and see the plague that was fitting to come, and bring it upon Pharaoh. Thus, "terrible and dreadful."