Kabbalah Library
Zohar for All, Volume 10
When the Creator Expelled Adam HaRishon from the Garden of Eden
210. When the Creator drove Adam HaRishon from the Garden of Eden, he feared that section called “bottom land” because there is no measure to it. It is written about it, “A land of utter gloom like darkness, as the shadow of death, without order, where light is like darkness.”
211. He repented and entered the water of the Gihon up to his neck. The Creator had mercy on him and raised him to the place called Adamah [earth], which is one of seven lands, and there he bore Cain and Abel.
212. When Cain killed Abel, the Creator sentenced him to wander in the land, as it is written, “You have driven me out this day from the face of the earth, and I shall hide from You, and I shall be wandering around in the earth.” The Creator accepted him in repentance and raised him to Arka.
213. When Shet [Seth] was born, the Creator raised him to Adam HaRishon above all the lands, to Tevel, in the place of the Land of Israel in Hebron, and there He carved him a grave and made a cave inside a cave, near the Garden of Eden, and there was his burial place, and the burial of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the mothers.
214. The Cave of Machpelah is near the door to the Garden of Eden. When Eve died, Adam came to bury her there. He smelled there of the scents of the Garden of Eden, that scent which was there. He wanted to carve more; a voice came out and said, “Enough.” At that time, he stood and carved no further, and there he was buried. Who dealt with him? His son, Shet, who was in his image and in his own likeness.
215. The Creator dealt with him when he was created, and dealt with him when he died, and no one knew of him until Abraham the patriarch came and went in there and saw him, and smelled the smell of the perfumes of the Garden of Eden, and heard the voice of the ministering angels saying “Adam HaRishon is buried there,” and Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be ready for this place.” He saw the candle burning and went out. Promptly, his passion was for that place.
216. Before Abraham came, many asked to be buried there, and the ministering angels were guarding that place. They would see the fire burning there and could not get in, until Abraham came and bought the place.
