---
title: "Pirkê de Rabbi Eliezer"
author: "Attributed to Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus"
translator: "Gerald Friedlander"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Rabbinic"
section: 18 of 53
url: https://scriptura.si/works/pirkei-de-rabbi-eliezer-friedlander/18/
cite: "Attributed to Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus, tr. Gerald Friedlander, Pirkê de Rabbi Eliezer, section 18. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/pirkei-de-rabbi-eliezer-friedlander/18/"
---

# Pirkê de Rabbi Eliezer

*Attributed to Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus, tr. Gerald Friedlander*

A Midrashic retelling of creation, the patriarchs and the Exodus, with rich Jewish legend.

## 18. Chapter 18 · The Creation on the Eve of the Sabbath

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/pirkei-de-rabbi-eliezer-friedlander/18/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/pirkei-de-rabbi-eliezer-friedlander/18/#p-N

[¶0] Ten things were created (on the eve of the Sabbath) in the tvihght (namely) : - the mouth of the earth ; the mouth of the well ; the mouth of the ass ; the rainbow ; ' the Manna ; " the Shamir ; the shape of the alphabet ; the Titing and the tables (of the law) ; and the ram of Abraham. (Some sages say : the destroying spirits also, and the sepulchre of Moses, and the ram of Isaac ; and other sages say : the tongs also.)

[¶1] At the seventh hour (of the day-“on Friday'), the first man entered the garden of Eden, and the ministering angels were praising before him,' and dancing before him, and escorting him into the garden of Eden ; and at twilight at the eve of Sabbath, he was driven forth, and he went out. The ministering angels were crying aloud concerning him, saying to him :” Man “in glory tarrieth not overnight, when he is like the beasts that pass away” - (Ps. xlix. 12).

[¶2] No murderer has been slain in the world during the six days of creation, and wilt Thou commence (to do this) with me ? 2 Is this its sanctity, and is this its blessing? as it is said, " And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it " (Gen. ii. 3). By the merit of the Sabbath day Adam was saved from the judgment of Gehinnom. When Adam perceived the power of the Sabbath, he said : Not for nought did the Holy One, blessed be He, bless and hallow the Sabbath day. He began to observe (the Sabbath) and to utter a psalm for the Sabbath day, and he said : " A psalm, a song for the Sabbath day" (Ps. xcii. 1). Rabbi Simeon said : The first man said this psalm, and it was forgotten throughout all the generations until IMoses came and renewed it according to his name, " A psalm, a song for the Sabbath day " (ibid.), for the day which is entirely Sabbath and rest in the life of eternity." of Gehinnom, as it is said, " It is good to confess to the Lord " (ibid.). is said, " And he took ten men of the elders of the city " (Ruth iv. 2).2

[¶3] The Holy One, blessed be He, said : I desire of Israel the meditation of their mouths like the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings, as it is said, " With the meditation of II the harp " (Ps. xeii. 3). days of the king ; his years shall be as many generations " (ibid. Ixi. 6). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him : Thou wilt add days to the days of (the king Messiah) ; I also will add to his years in the future which is to come, as though they were many generations, as it is said, " His years shall be as many generations " (ibid.). I have given to God praise, and song (lauding) His works, as it is said, " I will sing of the works of thy hands " (ibid. xcii. 4). knowest) that they and their works are an evil iniquity for the days of the Messiah. The Holy One, blessed be He, has only multiplied them in order to destroy them from this world and from the world to come, as it is said, " To have them destroyed for ever and ever. And thou, O Lord, art on high for evermore " (ibid. 7, 8). David saw that the wicked increased like grass, (so as) to cover the face of all the earth, and that all the worshippers of idols flourished, and that they and their works were iniquity, and he did not say " Hallelujah " ("praise ye the Lord") until he perceived that in the future they would be destroyed froni this world and from the world to come ; and he said " Hallelujah," as it is said, " Sinners shall be consumed out of the earth, and the wicked shall be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord " (ibid. civ. 35). (Then will He be) King exalted ' in the heights and in the depths, as it is said, " And thou, O Lord, art on high for evermore " (ibid. xcii. 8).

[¶4] “But my horn hast thou exalted like that of the reem” (ibid. 10). Just as the horns of the reem are taller than those of all beasts and animals, and it gores to its right and to its left, likewise (is it with) Menachem, son of 'Ammiel, son of Joseph his horns are taller than those of all kings, and he will gore in the future towards the four corners of the heavens, and concerning him Moses said this verse, “His firstling bullock, majesty is his, and his horns are the horns of the reem : with them he shall gore the peoples all of them, even the ends of the earth” (Deut. xxxiii. 17). All ' the kings will rise up against him to slay him, as it is said, “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers (take counsel together)” (Ps. ii. 2). And Israel who (will be) in the Land (of Palestine) (will experience) great trouble, but in their troubles they (will be) like a green olive, as it is said, “I am anointed with fresh oil” (ibid. xcii. 10).io “Mine eyes have looked on mine enemies” (ibid. 11). The Israelites in the Land (of Israel i) behold the downfall of their enemies, as it is said, “Mine eyes have looked on mine enemies” (ibid.). And such who in the future will come against them (Israel), their ears shall hear of their destruction, as it is said, “INIine ears have heard concerning the evil-doers that rise up against me” (ibid.). be He, gather them from an impure land and (plant them) in a pure land, as it is said, “They that are planted in the house of the Lord” (ibid.). Like this grass, they shall blossom and sprout forth in the Temple, as it is said, “In the courts of our God they shall flourish” (ibid.).