This question, believe it or not, has occupied Jewish thinkers for centuries. And it all stems from a seemingly simple verse in Leviticus (26:42): “I will remember My covenant with Jacob, also My covenant with Isaac, also My covenant with Abraham I will remember, and the land I will remember.” Seems straightforward, right? But as we find in Vayikra Rabbah 36, that last phrase, “and the land I will remember,” opens a whole can of worms... or rather, a whole cosmos of possibilities.
The text dives into this debate between the schools of Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel, two major rabbinic schools of thought from the first century. Beit Shammai, known for their stricter interpretations, argued that the heavens came first. They saw it as analogous to a king building a throne before its footstool. Think about it: "The heavens are My throne, and the earth is My footstool," as Isaiah (66:1) tells us. Makes sense, right?
But Beit Hillel, typically more lenient, took the opposite view. They posited that the earth was created first, like a king building the foundation of a palace before adding the upper stories. And they found support in Genesis 2:4: “On the day that the Lord God made earth and heavens.” See? Earth then heavens!
It's a classic rabbinic back-and-forth, with each side finding scriptural support for their claims. Rabbi Tanhuma even chimes in, saying that Psalm 102:26 ("You set the foundations of earth in the past; the heavens are Your handiwork") supports Beit Hillel. But Rabbi Hanina cleverly points out that Beit Hillel can actually refute Beit Shammai's prooftext from the very same verse. It’s like a theological chess match!
Rabbi Yoḥanan, quoting the Sages, offers a fascinating compromise: in terms of creation, the heavens came first, but in terms of completion, the earth was first. So, maybe it's not an either/or situation, but a matter of perspective.
Then comes Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai, who throws a bit of a curveball into the mix. He wonders aloud how such esteemed scholars could disagree on something so fundamental. His take? The heavens and the earth were created simultaneously, like a stew pot and its lid! In those days, you see, pottery was made by forming a closed vessel and then separating the top to create the lid. This idea is echoed in Isaiah 48:13: "My hand also laid the foundation of the earth and My right hand measured the heavens.”
Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Shimon then expands on this idea of equivalence. He points out that even though the Torah usually lists things in a certain order (heavens before earth, young pigeons before doves, Moses before Aaron), there are exceptions that show their essential equality. He brings the example of Leviticus 12:6 ("And a dove or a young pigeon"), Exodus 6:26 ("It is Aaron and Moses"), and Numbers 32:12 ("except Caleb son of Yefuneh the Kenizite, and Joshua son of Nun"). It’s all about balance and recognizing the inherent worth of each element. He even touches on honoring parents, noting that while the father is usually mentioned first, Leviticus 19:3 ("Each of you shall fear his mother and his father") puts them on equal footing.
Finally, the text brings us back to where we started, to that verse about remembering the covenants. Just as the heavens and earth, Moses and Aaron, fathers and mothers, all have their place and importance, so too do Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. By stating "I will remember My covenant with Jacob," even after mentioning Abraham and Isaac, the verse is teaching us that all three patriarchs are equivalent. Each played a crucial role in shaping the Jewish people and our relationship with God.
So, what does this all mean? Maybe it's not about definitively answering the question of which came first. Perhaps the real point is to appreciate the intricate tapestry of creation and the ongoing dialogue within our tradition. It's about recognizing the validity of different perspectives and understanding that even in disagreement, there can be profound wisdom.
Next time you look up at the sky, or feel the earth beneath your feet, remember this ancient debate. Remember the stew pot and its lid, and the idea that even seemingly opposing forces can be part of a unified whole. And maybe, just maybe, you'll catch a glimpse of the divine dance that brought it all into being.