[(Gen. 3:22:) BEHOLD, THE HUMAN.] This text is related (to Prov. 24:30): I PASSED BY THE FIELD OF A LAZY ONE, AND BY THE VINEYARD OF ONE LACKING CHARACTER.⁵⁷ I PASSED BY THE FIELD OF A LAZY ONE. This is Adam who was too lazy to do penance. AND BY THE VINEYARD OF ONE LACKING CHARACTER. This is Eve, who (according to Gen. 3:18) heeded the words of the serpent. (Prov. 24:31:) AND BEHOLD, IT WAS ALL GROWN OVER WITH THISTLES, in that they have filled the whole world with troubles. (Ibid., cont.:) BRAMBLES COVERED ITS FACE, in that it is stated (in Gen. 3:18): THORN AND THISTLE IT SHALL BRING FORTH FOR YOU . (Prov. 24:31, cont.:) AND ITS STONE WALL WAS BROKEN DOWN, in that the serpent ⁵⁸ has demolished the wall of the world.⁵⁹ When the hurtful decrees (of Gen. 3:14-19) were ordained over them; he began mourning (in Gen. 3:22): BEHOLD (HN),⁶⁰ can also be an abbreviation for Hazkarat Nefashot, a memorial prayer for the dead. THE HUMAN.

footnotes: ⁵⁷ Gen. R. 21:3. ⁵⁸ See Lev. R. 26:2. ⁵⁹ I.e., opened the way to lawlessness. Unlike the serpent, rabbinical law became a fence around the Torah. ⁶⁰ HN