Genesis 2:6 - Divine mist nourishes creation.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi (Bereshit 2:6) explains that this verse describes the state of the world before rain was created. The "mist" (אֵד) refers to a vapor that rose from the earth to water the ground, serving as the primary source of irrigation before Hashem later established the system of rain (גשם). This demonstrates that the world initially functioned differently before the completion of creation.

Midrashic Interpretation

The Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 13:6) elaborates that this mist was a miraculous phenomenon, rising like pillars of vapor to nourish the earth. It emphasizes that Hashem provided for the world's needs even before the natural order was fully established. The Midrash contrasts this with the later system of rain, which requires human prayer and merit (תפילה וזכות) to bring sustenance.

Rambam's Perspective

In Moreh Nevuchim (2:30), Rambam discusses this verse as part of the Torah's description of natural processes. He explains that the mist represents the natural evaporation and condensation cycle, showing that the Torah acknowledges scientific principles within its narrative of creation.

Kabbalistic Insight

The Zohar (Bereshit 73b) interprets the mist as representing the divine flow of sustenance (השפעה) from the upper worlds to the physical earth. This mist symbolizes the spiritual nourishment that precedes and enables physical growth, reflecting the hidden spiritual mechanisms that underlie natural phenomena.

Halachic Implication

• The Gemara (Taanit 2a) derives from this verse that agricultural success originally depended solely on divine providence, unlike the later system where human effort (through prayer and mitzvot) plays a role in bringing rain.
• This forms the basis for understanding why we recite prayers for dew (טל) and rain (גשם) at different times in the Jewish calendar.