塞弗·哈巴希尔 10

1Rabbi Bun said, "Why is it written 'I was set up from eternity [מעולם], from the beginning [מראש], before the earth' (Proverbs 8:23)? What is 'from eternity [מעולם]'? That it must be concealed [להעלימו] from the whole world. As it is written, '[God] also puts eternity [העולם] in their hearts [i.e. - minds]' (Ecclesiastes 3:11) — Don’t read 'eternity [העולם], rather 'hidden [העלם]. The Torah said, 'I was first, [in order] to be head [ראש] of the world,' as it is said 'I was set up from eternity, from a head [מראש].' And if you would say, 'Perhaps the earth preceded her,' the Torah says 'From before the earth' (Proverbs 8:23), as it is said, 'In the beginning [בראשית], Elohim created the Heaven and the Earth' (Genesis 1:1). And why does it say 'created'? [With the 'head' were] the needs for everything created, and afterward Elohim. And what is written after it? 'The Heavens and the Earth.' (Genesis 1:1)."