The Two Yods of Vayyitzer and the Two-Faced First Man

Rav Nachman bar Rav Chisda expounded: what is the meaning of "and He formed" [vayyitzer] written with two yods? There are two inclinations in man, a good inclination and an evil inclination. Rav Nachman bar Rav Yitzchak objected: concerning a beast, where vayyitzer is not written - so too the evil inclination does not rule it? Yet we see that it bites and kicks and tramples. Rather, it is as Rabbi Yirmiyah ben Eliezer taught: the Holy One, blessed be He, created the first man with two faces, as it is said, "behind and before You have formed me" (Psalms 139:5). And it is written, "and the LORD built the rib" (Genesis 2:22). One sage said it means a face, and one said it means a tail. It is well for the one who says a face - this is why it is written "behind and before You have formed me." But for the one who says a tail, what is "behind and before"? As Rabbi taught: "behind" - to the work of creation [man was last, made only on the eve of the Sabbath]; and "before" - to the punishment of the flood, as it is written, "and He blotted out every living thing, from man to beast" (Genesis 7:23) - man first and then beast. It is well for the one who says a face - this is why it is written "and He formed"; but for the one who says a tail, what is "and He formed"? As Rabbi Shimon ben Pazi taught: woe to me from my inclination [yitzri], woe to me from my Maker [yotzri]. It is well for the one who says a face - this is why it is written "male and female He created them" (Genesis 5:2); but for the one who says a tail, what is "male and female"? As Rabbi Abbahu taught: in the beginning it arose in thought to create two, and in the end only one was created. It is well for the one who says a face - this is why it is written "and He closed up the flesh in its place"; but for the one who says a tail, what is "and He closed up"? It was needed only for the place of the incision. It is well for the one who says a tail - this is why it is written "and He built"; but for the one who says a face, what is "and He built"? As Rabbi Shimon ben Menasya taught: this teaches that the Holy One, blessed be He, braided Eve's hair and brought her to Adam, for in the coastal towns they call braiding binyata [building].