(Mishnah): And not about Ma'aseh Bereishis with two.

(R. Ba citing Rav Yehudah): This is like R. Akiva. (He forbids Arayos with three, and he is more stringent about Ma'aseh Bereishis.) However, according to R. Yishmael, we expound [Ma'aseh Bereishis with two];

Pesak: R. Yudah bar Pazi sat and expounded "at the beginning, the world was water on water.'' This shows that the Halachah follows R. Yishmael.

(R. Yudah bar Pazi): At the beginning, the world was water on water (i.e. totally liquid, for it was very hot). What is the source? "V'Ru'ach Elokim Merachefes Al Pnei ha'Mayim'';

Then He made it into snow (cooled it, and the outside solidified somewhat) - "Mashlich Karcho k'Fitim'';

He returned and made it land (totally solid) - "Ki la'Sheleg Yomar Hevei Aretz'', and the land stands on [the lower] water - "l'Roka ha'Aretz Al ha'Mayim.'' (We explained this like SHA'AREI TORAS ERETZ YISRAEL.)

The water stands on mountains - "Al Harim Ya'amdu Mayim.'' The mountains stand on wind - "Ki Hinei Yotzer Harim u'Vorei Ru'ach'';

The wind depends on a storm - "Ru'ach Se'arah Oseh Devaro.'' Ha'Kadosh Baruch Hu made a storm like an amulet hanging from His hand - "umi'Tachas Zero'os Olam.''

"Ki Hinei Yotzer Harim...'' - this is one of six verses that Rebbi would read them and cry. (Below we explain why.)

[The second verse is] "Bikshu Es Hash-m Kol Anvei ha'Aretz...'' (one pursues righteous judgment and seeks humility, and perhaps he will be spared on the day of Hash-m's anger. Also the next verses express Safek about the fate of people with great attributes.) "Sin'u Ra v'Ahavu Tov...'' "Yiten be'Afar Pihu...''

"Ki Es Kol ha'Ma'aseh...'' (judgment will be on all actions, even what is hidden, i.e. Shogeg).

"Va'Yomer Shmuel El Sha'ul Lamah Hirgaztani...'' - [Shmuel] said to him, you had no way to anger your Creator, except through me, that you [conjured me up from death, and] made me your idolatry?! (HA'GAON RAV C. KANIEVSKY, SHLITA) Don't you know that just like they punish the one who worships, they punish the one who is worshipped?!

And not only this - rather, I thought that it is the day of judgment, and I feared!

There is a Kal v'Chomer - if Shmuel, the Rebbi of Nevi'im, for it says about him "va'Yeda Kol Yisrael mi'Dan v'Ad Be'er Sheva'', feared the day of judgment, how much the more so we must!

[The first verse] "Ki Hinei Yotzer Harim... [u'Magid l'Adam Mah Secho'' - Rebbi cried, because] even matters without sin are written for a man on his ledger (e.g. an unnecessary frivolous conversation that one has with his wife before intimacy - Bavli 5b).

Question: Do they tell a man (judge him for) air that comes from his mouth (what he intended to say, but did not say)?

Answer (R. Chagai citing R. Ya'avetz): [Yes.] "Yotzer Harim u'Vorei Ru'ach'' (Hash-m creates even from mere breath, i.e. He records what one intended to say).

(R. Chagai citing R. Ya'avetz): [The verse continues "Oseh Shachar Eifah'' - Shachar is] morning, [and Eifah is] Tohu (void), darkness and thick darkness. (Since Hash-m makes light out of darkness, one must fear His judgment greatly -ALEI TAMAR, mostly based on RADAL.)

R. Yudah bar Pazi citing R. Yosi bei R. Yehudah: Adriyanus [Kaiser] asked Akilas the convert "is it true what you say that the world stands on Ru'ach?'' He said "yes''. [Adriyanus] said "how can you show me?''

Akilas asked him to bring small camels; he did. Akilas loaded them with heavy burdens, and made them stand and crouch [until they] choked from lack of breath. He told [Adriyanus] "stand them up!''

Adriyanus: After you choked them [can I raise them]?! Akilas said "I removed only their Ru'ach from them.'' (Just like animals stand on Ru'ach, you should know that also the land stands on Ru'ach.)