Adam as Terumah and the Curse on the Ground in Tanchuma

"And these are the ordinances" (Exodus 21:1). This is what Scripture says: "By justice a king establishes the land" (Proverbs 29:4) — this is the Holy One, blessed be He. "But a man of offerings tears it down" (ibid.) — this is Adam, the first man, who was set apart as a heave-offering (terumah). Rabbi Yose ben Qetsartah said: From where do we know that he was set apart as a heave-offering? As it is said, "But a mist went up from the earth" and so forth (Genesis 2:6), and afterward, "And the Lord formed" and so forth (ibid. 2:7) — like that priest's wife who puts water into her dough and afterward takes off the challah-portion. Thus you say, "But a man of offerings tears it down," for the Holy One, blessed be He, commanded him: from this you may eat and from that you shall not eat, and he transgressed the command. What did he bring about? "Cursed is the ground because of you" (Genesis 3:17) — hence, "tears it down."