Why did Hashem refer specifically to the enmity between Chavah and the snake, and not between Adam and the snake?
Rashi: Because the snake's plan was that Adam would eat the fruit first and die, and that he would then be free to marry Chavah. 1 It only approached Chavah because women are easier to persuade, and because they know how to persuade their husbands. 2
Seforno: Because she is looked down upon, even in her own eyes (See Seforno inside). 3
Targum Yonasan: It mentions Chavah because it goes on to refer to her offspring until the end of time (versus those of the snake).
To what sort of battle is the Pasuk referring?
Ramban: Man has an advantage over the snake in that he will pound the snake on the head, whereas it will bite his heel, at which point he will crush its brains.
Seforno: Refer to 3:15:3:3.
Targum Onkelos: 'He will remember what you did to him in the beginning, while you will bear him a grudge at the end'.
Targum Yonasan: 'When the woman's sons keep the Mitzvos of the Torah, they will pound your head, and when they forsake the Mitzvos of the Torah, you will bite them on the heel'. 1
Targum Yonasan: 'They will ultimately be cured however, but you will not; they will settle down peacefully in the days of King Mashi'ach'.
What are the connotations of "Hu Yeshufcha Rosh, ve'Atah Teshufenu Akeiv"?
Rashi (in Bereishis 49:17): It means 'You will hiss at his heel'.
Seforno: Bearing in mind that the snake is the Yeitzer ha'Ra, the Pasuk means that at first, if Chavah (Adam), will allow their imagination to allow their fear of the harm that the sin in all its aspects, causes, they will overcome their desire by minimizing the pleasures of the sin. But if they do not, then, in the end, the Yeitzer ha'Ra will cause them to sin by making their imagination maximize the pleasure - and the dreaded harm will follow.
Peninim mi'Shulchan ha'G'ra: The snake takes a small vengeance. It is hit on the head, and bites on the heel. A true Chacham takes vengeance only like a snake (Yoma 22b).
Seeing as the Torah uses the same word for both, the Living Torah (R. Aryeh Kaplan) translates it as 'He will strike you ... and you will strike him ... .'
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "... Adam would die when he would eat first; and [then] you would marry Chavah." The snake was taking a risk; if Chavah were to eat first and die, how would he marry her?
Gur Aryeh: The snake thought that a woman's nature is to honor her husband by serving him first. Upon eating, Adam would die instantly, and Chavah would of course refrain from eating. 1
Both assumptions were wrong. It seems from verse 3:6 that it was Chavah who ate first (compare to Gur Aryeh regarding Noach and the dove; refer to 8:11:0.1:1 ). Also, Hashem allowed Adam to live for many hundreds of years. (CS)
Rashi writes: "'You will hiss at his heel' - You will no longer have any height [i.e. no longer stand erect]." Why does Rashi explain this way?
Gur Aryeh: Why does hissing at man's heel constitute a curse? It must be because the snake can now only reach his heel, for it will no longer stand erect.
Rashi writes: "... you will bite him on his heel - and kill him even from there." Why does Rashi add this?
Gur Aryeh: The Torah could have written explicitly that the snake's height would be lowered. Rather, this shows an additional curse; because the snake has a lethal bite, people will hurry to kill it first.
Rashi writes: "... The Torah uses a parallel expression of 'Neshifah' for both." What alternate word could the Torah have used?
Gur Aryeh: It could have written regarding the snake, 'Tishechenu Akev' - 'you shall bite at the heel.' Instead, it writes "Teshufenu" - "you will hiss;" to be parallel to the earlier word "Yeshufecha."
