Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, we first encounter the dramatic plea of Lamech to his wives, Adah and Zillah, as he addresses the tragic killings of Cain and a young lad, and the reckoning of generations that must follow. Following this, the Torah describes how Adam and Chavah are comforted with the birth of Sheis, who is born in the likeness and image of Adam, establishing a new lineage of shemira and avodas Hashem after the tragic loss of Hevel.

We then begin the historical record of the generations of Adam, tracing the long lifespans of the early fathers of the world. The Torah details the years of Sheis, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Yered, and Chanoch, showing how the world was populated and how the early generations lived for hundreds of years in the early era of creation.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

פָּסוּק א

Pasuk 1

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd he saidלֶמֶךְLamechלְנָשָׁיוto his wivesעָדָהAdahוְצִלָּהand Zillahשְׁמַעַןhearקוֹלִיmy voiceנְשֵׁיwives ofלֶמֶךְLamechהַאְזֵנָּהgive ear toאִמְרָתִיmy speechכִּיforאִישׁa manהָרַגְתִּיI have slainלְפִצְעִיby my woundוְיֶלֶדand a childלְחַבֻּרָתִי׃by my bruise

רַשִׁ״י

שמעןhearקולי.my voiceשֶׁהָיוּfor they wereפּוֹרְשׁוֹתseparatingמִמֶּנּוּfrom himמִתַּשְׁמִישׁ,from marital relationsלְפִיbecauseשֶׁהָרַגthat he killedאֶת—קַיִןKayinוְאֶתand —תּוּבַלTuvalקַיִןKayinבְּנוֹ,his sonשֶׁהָיָהfor wasלֶמֶךְLemechסוּמָאblindוְתוּבַלand TuvalקַיִןKayinמוֹשְׁכוֹ,was leading himוְרָאָהand he sawאֶת—קַיִןKayinוְנִדְמָהand he appearedלוֹto himכְּחַיָּהlike an animalוְאָמַרand he saidלְאָבִיוto his fatherלִמְשֹׁךְto drawבַּקֶּשֶׁתthe bowוַהֲרָגוֹ,and he killed himוְכֵיוָןand onceשֶׁיָּדַעthat he knewשֶׁהוּאthat heקַיִןKayinזְקֵנוֹhis grandfatherהִכָּהhe struckכַּףpalmאֶלagainstכַּףpalmוְסָפַקand clappedאֶת—בְּנוֹhis sonבֵינֵיהֶםbetween themוַהֲרָגוֹ,and killed himוְהָיוּand wereנָשָׁיוhis wivesפּוֹרְשׁוֹתseparatingמִמֶּנּוּfrom himוְהוּאand heמְפַיְּסָן:appeased them

רַשִׁ״י

שמעןhearקולי.my voiceלְהִשָּׁמַעto obeyלִיmeלְתַשְׁמִישׁ,for intimacyוְכִיand is itאִישׁa manאֲשֶׁרwhomהָרַגְתִּיI slewלְפִצְעִיby my woundingהוּאheנֶהֱרַג,was slainוְכִיand didאֲנִיIפְצַעְתִּיוwound himמֵזִידintentionallyשֶׁיְּהֵאthat should beהַפֶּצַעthe woundקָרוּיcalledעַלbyשְׁמִי?my nameוְיֶלֶדand a childאֲשֶׁרwhomהָרַגְתִּי,I slewלְחַבֻּרָתִיby my blowנֶהֱרַג?was slainכְּלוֹמַר,meaning to sayעַלbyיְדֵיmeans ofחַבֻּרָתִי?my blowבִּתְמִיהָ,as a questionוַהֲלֹאand beholdשׁוֹגֵגunintentionalאֲנִיam Iוְלֹאand notמֵזִיד,intentionalלֹאnotזֶהוּthis isפִּצְעִיmy woundוְלֹאand notזֶהוּthis isחַבֻּרָתִי:my blow

רַשִׁ״י

פצע.woundמַכַּתa blow ofחֶרֶבa swordאוֹorחֵץan arrowמקא"דורהmacheureבְּלַעַז:in foreign tongue

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

כִּיifשִׁבְעָתַיִםsevenfoldיֻקַּםwill be avengedקָיִןCainוְלֶמֶךְand Lamechשִׁבְעִיםseventyוְשִׁבְעָה׃and sevenfold

רַשִׁ״י

כיIfשבעתיםsevenfoldיקםshall be avengedקין.CainקַיִןCainשֶׁהָרַגwho killedמֵזִידintentionallyנִתְלָהit was suspendedלוֹfor himעַדuntilשִׁבְעָהsevenדוֹרוֹת,generationsאֲנִיIשֶׁהָרַגְתִּיwho killedשׁוֹגֵגinadvertentlyלֹאnotכָּלallשֶׁכֵּןthe more soשֶׁיִּתָּלֶהthat it should suspendלִיfor meשְׁבִיעִיּוֹתseven generationsהַרְבֵּה:many

רַשִׁ״י

שבעיםSeventyושבעה.and sevenלְשׁוֹןa term ofרִבּוּיmultiplicity ofשְׁבִיעִיּוֹתsevensאָחַזhe tookלוֹ,for himselfכָּךְsoדָּרַשׁexpoundedרַבִּיRabbiתַּנְחוּמָא.TanchumaוּמִדְרַשׁAnd the MidrashבְּרֵאשִׁיתBereishisרַבָּהRabbahלֹאdid notהָרַגkillלֶמֶךְLamechכְּלוּם,anythingוְנָשָׁיוand his wivesפּוֹרְשׁוֹתwere separatingמִמֶּנּוּfrom himמִשֶּׁקִיְּמוּsince they fulfilledפְּרִיָהfruitfulnessוּרְבִיָּה,and multiplicationלְפִיbecauseשֶׁנִּגְזְרָהthat was decreedגְּזֵרָהa decreeלְכַלּוֹתto destroyזַרְעוֹthe offspringשֶׁלofקַיִןKayinלְאַחַרafterשִׁבְעָהsevenדוֹרוֹת,generationsאָמְרוּthey saidמָהwhyאָנוּshould weיוֹלְדוֹתgive birthלַבֶּהָלָה?for terrorלְמָחָרtomorrowהַמַּבּוּלthe Floodבָּאcomesוְשׁוֹטֵףand sweeps awayאֶת—הַכֹּלeverythingוְהוּאAnd heאוֹמֵרsaysלָהֶןto themוְכִיDid indeedאִישׁa manהָרַגְתִּיI killלְפִצְעִי?for my woundingוְכִיand didאֲנִיIהָרַגְתִּיkillאֶת—הֶבֶל,Hevelשֶׁהָיָהwho wasאִישׁa manבְּקוֹמָהin statureוְיֶלֶדand a childבַּשָּׁנִים,in yearsשֶׁיְּהֵאthat should beזַרְעִיmy offspringכָּלֶהdestroyedבְּאוֹתוֹfor thatעָוֹן?sinוּמַהAnd ifקַּיִןKayinשֶׁהָרַגwho killedנִתְלָהwas suspendedלוֹfor himשִׁבְעָהsevenדוֹרוֹת,generationsאֲנִיIשֶׁלֹּאwho did notהָרַגְתִּי,killלֹאis it notכָּ"שֶׁall the more soשֶׁיִּתָּלוּthat should be suspendedלִיfor meשְׁבִיעִיּוֹתsevensהַרְבֵּה?manyוְזֶהוּAnd this isקַלan argumentוָחֹמֶרa fortioriשֶׁלofשְׁטוּת,foolishnessאִםifכֵּןsoאֵיןdoes notהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy Oneגּוֹבֶהcollectאֶת—חוֹבוֹHis debtוּמְקַיֵּםand fulfillאֶת—דְּבָרוֹ:His word

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

וַיֵּדַעAnd knewאָדָםAdamעוֹדagainאֶת—אִשְׁתּוֹhis wifeוַתֵּלֶדand she boreבֵּןa sonוַתִּקְרָאand she calledאֶת—שְׁמוֹhis nameשֵׁתShesכִּיforשָׁתprovidedלִיfor meאֱלֹהִיםGodזֶרַעoffspringאַחֵרanotherתַּחַתin place ofהֶבֶלHevelכִּיforהֲרָגוֹkilled himקָיִן׃Kayin

רַשִׁ״י

וידעAnd knewאדםAdamוְגוֹ'.etc.בָּאcameלוֹ·לֶמֶךְLamechאֵצֶלtoאָדָםAdamהָרִאשׁוֹןthe Firstוְקָבַלand complainedעַלaboutנָשָׁיו,his wivesאָמַרHe saidלָהֶם:to themוְכִיIs it indeedעֲלֵיכֶםupon youלְדַקְדֵּקto be overparticularעַלconcerningגְּזֵרָתוֹthe decreeשֶׁלofמָקוֹם?the Omnipresentאַתֶּםyouעֲשׂוּdoמִצְוַתְכֶםyour mitzvahוְהוּאand Heיַעֲשֶׂהwill doאֶת—שֶׁלּוֹ.HisאָמְרוּThey saidלוֹ:to himקְשֹׁטcorrectעַצְמְךָyourselfתְּחִלָּה,firstוַהֲלֹאfor beholdפָּרַשְׁתָּyou separatedמֵאִשְׁתְּךָfrom your wifeזֶהthisמֵאָהone hundredוּשְׁלֹשִׁיםand thirtyשָׁנָהyearsמִשֶּׁנִּקְנְסָהsince was decreedמִיתָהdeathעַלthroughיָדְךָ:your handמִיָּדImmediatelyוַיֵּדַעand knewאָדָםAdamוְגוֹמֵר.etc.וּמַהוּAnd what isעוֹד,yetלְלַמֵּדto teachשֶׁנִּתּוֹסְפָהthat was addedלוֹto himתַאֲוָהdesireעַלuponתַּאֲוָתוֹhis desireבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbah:

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

וּלְשֵׁתAnd to Sheisגַּםalsoהוּאheיֻלַּדwas bornבֵּןa sonוַיִּקְרָאand he calledאֶת—שְׁמוֹhis nameאֱנוֹשׁEnoshאָזthenהוּחַלit was begunלִקְרֹאto callבְּשֵׁםby the name ofיְהוָה׃Hashem

רַשִׁ״י

אזThenהוחל.it was begunלְשׁוֹןan expression ofחֻלִּין,profanityלִקְרֹאto callאֶת—שְׁמוֹתthe names ofהָאָדָםmanוְאֶתand —שְׁמוֹתthe names ofהָעֲצַבִּיםthe idolsבִּשְׁמוֹby the nameשֶׁלofהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy One blessed be Heלַעֲשׂוֹתָןto make themעֲ"זָidolatryוְלִקְרוֹתָןand to call themאֱלֹהוּת:deity

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

זֶהThisסֵפֶרis the book ofתּוֹלְדֹתthe generations ofאָדָםAdamבְּיוֹםon the day ofבְּרֹאthe creation ofאֱלֹהִיםGodאָדָםmanבִּדְמוּתin the likeness ofאֱלֹהִיםGodעָשָׂהHe madeאֹתוֹ׃him

רַשִׁ״י

זהThis isספרthe book ofתולדותthe generations ofאדם.Adamזוֹthisהִיאisסְפִירַתthe enumeration ofתּוֹלְדוֹתthe generations ofאָדָם,Adamוּמִדְרְשֵׁיand Midrashic explanations ofאַגָּדָהAggadahיֵשׁthere areרַבִּים:many

רַשִׁ״י

ביוםOn the dayבראHe createdוגו'.etc.מַגִּידThis teachesשֶׁבַּיּוֹםthat on the dayשֶׁנִּבְרָאthat he was createdהוֹלִיד:he begot

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

זָכָרMaleוּנְקֵבָהand femaleבְּרָאָםHe created themוַיְבָרֶךְand He blessedאֹתָםthemוַיִּקְרָאand He calledאֶת—שְׁמָםtheir nameאָדָםManבְּיוֹםon the day ofהִבָּרְאָם׃their being created

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

וַיְחִיAnd livedאָדָםAdamשְׁלֹשִׁיםthirtyוּמְאַתand a hundredשָׁנָהyearsוַיּוֹלֶדand he begotבִּדְמוּתוֹin his likenessכְּצַלְמוֹafter his imageוַיִּקְרָאand he calledאֶת—שְׁמוֹhis nameשֵׁת׃Seth

רַשִׁ״י

שלשיםthirtyומאתand one hundredשנה.yearsעַדuntilכָּאןhereפָּרַשׁhe separatedמִןfromהָאִשָּׁהthe wifeבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbah:

פָּסוּק ח

Pasuk 8

וַיִּהְיוּAnd wereיְמֵיthe days ofאָדָםAdamאַחֲרֵיafterהוֹלִידוֹhis begettingאֶת—שֵׁתShethשְׁמֹנֶהeightמֵאֹתhundredשָׁנָהyearsוַיּוֹלֶדand he begotבָּנִיםsonsוּבָנוֹת׃and daughters

פָּסוּק ט

Pasuk 9

וַיִּהְיוּAnd wereכָּלallיְמֵיthe days ofאָדָםAdamאֲשֶׁרthatחַיhe livedתְּשַׁעnineמֵאוֹתhundredשָׁנָהyearsוּשְׁלֹשִׁיםand thirtyשָׁנָהyearsוַיָּמֹת׃and he died

פָּסוּק י

Pasuk 10

וַיְחִיAnd livedשֵׁתShesחָמֵשׁfiveשָׁנִיםyearsוּמְאַתand one hundredשָׁנָהyearsוַיּוֹלֶדand he begotאֶת—אֱנוֹשׁ׃Enosh

פָּסוּק יא

Pasuk 11

וַיְחִיAnd livedשֵׁתShethאַחֲרֵיafterהוֹלִידוֹhis begettingאֶת—אֱנוֹשׁEnoshשֶׁבַעsevenשָׁנִיםyearsוּשְׁמֹנֶהand eightמֵאוֹתhundredשָׁנָהyearsוַיּוֹלֶדand he begotבָּנִיםsonsוּבָנוֹת׃and daughters

פָּסוּק יב

Pasuk 12

וַיִּהְיוּAnd wereכָּלallיְמֵיthe days ofשֵׁתShethשְׁתֵּיםtwoעֶשְׂרֵהtenשָׁנָהyearsוּתְשַׁעand nineמֵאוֹתhundredשָׁנָהyearsוַיָּמֹת׃and he died

פָּסוּק יג

Pasuk 13

וַיְחִיAnd livedאֱנוֹשׁEnoshתִּשְׁעִיםninetyשָׁנָהyearsוַיּוֹלֶדand he begotאֶת—קֵינָן׃Kenan

פָּסוּק יד

Pasuk 14

וַיְחִיAnd livedאֱנוֹשׁEnoshאַחֲרֵיafterהוֹלִידוֹhis begettingאֶת—קֵינָןKenanחֲמֵשׁfiveעֶשְׂרֵהtenשָׁנָהyearsוּשְׁמֹנֶהand eightמֵאוֹתhundredשָׁנָהyearsוַיּוֹלֶדand he begotבָּנִיםsonsוּבָנוֹת׃and daughters

פָּסוּק טו

Pasuk 15

וַיִּהְיוּAnd wereכָּלallיְמֵיthe days ofאֱנוֹשׁEnoshחָמֵשׁfiveשָׁנִיםyearsוּתְשַׁעand nineמֵאוֹתhundredשָׁנָהyearsוַיָּמֹת׃and he died

פָּסוּק טז

Pasuk 16

וַיְחִיAnd livedקֵינָןKeinanשִׁבְעִיםseventyשָׁנָהyearsוַיּוֹלֶדand he begotאֶת—מַהֲלַלְאֵל׃Mahalalel

פָּסוּק יז

Pasuk 17

וַיְחִיAnd livedקֵינָןKeinanאַחֲרֵיafterהוֹלִידוֹhis begettingאֶת—מַהֲלַלְאֵלMahalalelאַרְבָּעִיםfortyשָׁנָהyearsוּשְׁמֹנֶהand eightמֵאוֹתhundredשָׁנָהyearsוַיּוֹלֶדand he begotבָּנִיםsonsוּבָנוֹת׃and daughters

פָּסוּק יח

Pasuk 18

וַיִּהְיוּAnd wereכָּלallיְמֵיthe days ofקֵינָןKenanעֶשֶׂרtenשָׁנִיםyearsוּתְשַׁעand nineמֵאוֹתhundredשָׁנָהyearsוַיָּמֹת׃and he died

פָּסוּק יט

Pasuk 19

וַיְחִיAnd livedמַהֲלַלְאֵלMahalalelחָמֵשׁfiveשָׁנִיםyearsוְשִׁשִּׁיםand sixtyשָׁנָהyearsוַיּוֹלֶדand he begotאֶת—יָרֶד׃Yared

פָּסוּק כ

Pasuk 20

וַיְחִיAnd livedמַהֲלַלְאֵלMahalalelאַחֲרֵיafterהוֹלִידוֹhis begettingאֶת—יֶרֶדYeredשְׁלֹשִׁיםthirtyשָׁנָהyearsוּשְׁמֹנֶהand eightמֵאוֹתhundredשָׁנָהyearsוַיּוֹלֶדand he begotבָּנִיםsonsוּבָנוֹת׃and daughters

פָּסוּק כא

Pasuk 21

וַיִּהְיוּAnd wereכָּלallיְמֵיthe days ofמַהֲלַלְאֵלMahalalelחָמֵשׁfiveוְתִשְׁעִיםand ninetyשָׁנָהyearsוּשְׁמֹנֶהand eightמֵאוֹתhundredשָׁנָהyearsוַיָּמֹת׃and he died

פָּסוּק כב

Pasuk 22

וַיְחִיAnd livedיֶרֶדYeredשְׁתַּיִםtwoוְשִׁשִּׁיםand sixtyשָׁנָהyearsוּמְאַתand one hundredשָׁנָהyearsוַיּוֹלֶדand he begotאֶת—חֲנוֹךְ׃Chanoch

פָּסוּק כג

Pasuk 23

וַיְחִיAnd livedיֶרֶדYeredאַחֲרֵיafterהוֹלִידוֹhis begettingאֶת—חֲנוֹךְChanochשְׁמֹנֶהeightמֵאוֹתhundredשָׁנָהyearsוַיּוֹלֶדand he begotבָּנִיםsonsוּבָנוֹת׃and daughters

פָּסוּק כד

Pasuk 24

וַיִּהְיוּAnd wereכָּלallיְמֵיthe days ofיֶרֶדYeredשְׁתַּיִםtwoוְשִׁשִּׁיםand sixtyשָׁנָהyearsוּתְשַׁעand nineמֵאוֹתhundredשָׁנָהyearsוַיָּמֹת׃and he died

פָּסוּק כה

Pasuk 25

וַיְחִיAnd livedחֲנוֹךְChanochחָמֵשׁfiveוְשִׁשִּׁיםand sixtyשָׁנָהyearsוַיּוֹלֶדand he begotאֶת—מְתוּשָׁלַח׃Metushelach

פָּסוּק כו

Pasuk 26

וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְAnd walkedחֲנוֹךְEnochאֶתwithהָאֱלֹהִיםGodאַחֲרֵיafterהוֹלִידוֹhis begettingאֶת—מְתוּשֶׁלַחMethuselahשְׁלֹשׁthreeמֵאוֹתhundredשָׁנָהyearsוַיּוֹלֶדand he begotבָּנִיםsonsוּבָנוֹת׃and daughters

פָּסוּק כז

Pasuk 27

וַיְהִיAnd wasכָּלallיְמֵיthe days ofחֲנוֹךְChanochחָמֵשׁfiveוְשִׁשִּׁיםand sixtyשָׁנָהyearsוּשְׁלֹשׁand threeמֵאוֹתhundredשָׁנָה׃years

פָּסוּק כח

Pasuk 28

וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְAnd walkedחֲנוֹךְChanochאֶתwithהָאֱלֹהִיםthe Godוְאֵינֶנּוּand he was notכִּיforלָקַחtookאֹתוֹhimאֱלֹהִים׃God

רַשִׁ״י

ויתהלךAnd walkedחנוך.Chanochצַדִּיקrighteousהָיָהhe wasוְקַלand easyבְּדַעְתּוֹin his mindלָשׁוּבto returnלְהַרְשִׁיעַ,to become wickedלְפִיכָךְthereforeמִהֵרhastenedהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy Oneוְסִלְּקוֹand removed himוֶהֱמִיתוֹand caused him to dieקֹדֶםbeforeזְמַנּוֹ,his timeוְזֶהוּand this isשֶׁשִּׁנָּהthat changedהַכָּתוּבthe Scriptureבְּמִיתָתוֹin his deathלִכְתֹּבto writeוְאֵינֶנּוּand he was notבָּעוֹלָםin the world–לְמַלְּאוֹתto completeשְׁנוֹתָיוhis years‏בראשיתBereishisרבהRabbah:

רַשִׁ״י

כיForלקחtookאותו.himלִפְנֵיbeforeזְמַנּוֹ,his timeכְּמוֹlikeהִנְנִיbehold I amלֹקֵחַtakingמִמְּךָfrom youאֶת—מַחְמַדthe desire ofעֵינֶיךָyour eyesיחזקאלYechezkelכ"ד24:

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah begins with Lamech's defense to his wives regarding his killings and the divine protection promised to Cain's line, followed by the birth of Sheis to Adam and Chavah, and the birth of Enosh, during whose time people began to call upon the name of Hashem. The Torah then lists the genealogy from Adam through Chanoch, detailing the exact years each lived, the children they begot, and their eventual deaths, highlighting Chanoch who walked with Elokim and was taken by Him before his time.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

The Torah tells us that after the terrible tragedy of Hevel being killed and the world falling into chaos, "Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, meaning, 'Hashem has provided me with another offspring in place of Hevel.'" Think about the sheer brokenness Adam and Chava were experiencing. They had lost both of their sons in one day, one murdered, the other a wandering exile. Lichoira, they could have easily given up on the future of the world. Yet, they chose to rebuild, to start over, and to bring new life into a dark world.

This is the ultimate yesod of Jewish survival and our personal avodah. When things go wrong, when we experience a painful setback, a loss, or a spiritual fall, the yetzer hara wants us to stay down. He whispers that there is no point in trying again because the past is ruined. But the Torah is teaching us that the only way forward is to do what Adam HaRishon did: you pick up the pieces, you put your trust in Hashem, and you start building again from scratch.

Today, if you find yourself dwelling on a past failure, a missed opportunity, or a spiritual slip-up, do not let it paralyze you. Take a deep breath, realize that Hashem gives us the strength to begin anew at any moment, and take one small, positive step forward to rebuild your day.