"And it came to pass at the end of days"

Synopsis

Rabbi Shimon tells us that "the end of days" means impurity, while "the end of right" is holiness. He says that Cain's offering was not accepted because it "came to pass" "at the end of days," so it came from the Other Side. Abel included a small portion for the Other Side in his offering with the largest portion for God, while Cain included the largest portion for the Other Side. We are also told that Job did not properly arrange his offering either.

Cain Daniel Fruit Ground Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness) Offering

42. He opened the discussion, saying: "And in process of time (lit. 'at the end of days') it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering to Hashem" (Beresheet 4:3). "At the end of days," has a secret meaning; it is "the end of days (Heb. yamim)," WHICH IS IMPURITY, rather than 'the end of right (Heb. yamin; also 'days')', WHICH IS HOLINESS. He rejected the 'end of right (Heb. yamin)' and sought to bring near the "end of days (Heb. yomin)." We have established that it is written: "But go you your way till the end be" (Daniel 12:13). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Daniel: "But go you your way till the end be." He kept asking Him: 'which end? the end of days or end of right?', until He said to him: 'The end of the right.'

42. פָּתַח וְאָמַר וַיְהִי מִקֵּץ יָמִים וַיָּבֵא קַיִן מִפְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה מִנְחָה לַיְיָ'. וַיְהִי מִקֵּץ יָמִים, רָזָא אִיהוּ, מִקֵּץ יָמִים, וְלָא מִקֵּץ יָמִין, דָּחָה לְקֵּץ יָמִין, וְקָרִיב לְקֵּץ יָמִים. וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא, דִּכְתִּיב וְאַתָּה לֵךְ לַקֵּץ. אָמַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְדָנִיאֵל וְאַתָּה לֵךְ לַקֵּץ. אָמַר לֵיהּ, לְאָן קֵץ, לְקֵּץ הַיָּמִים אוֹ לְקֵּץ הַיָּמִין, עַד דְּאָמַר לֵיהּ לְקֵּץ הַיָּמִין.

Cain David Fear Offering Other Side

Abel Cain Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness) Offering Other Side

44. Come and behold: it is written, "And Abel, he also brought" (Beresheet 4:4). What is the meaning of "he also"? Its purpose is to add everything, one within the other - MEANING THAT IN THE OFFERING OF ABEL THERE WAS ALSO A PORTION FOR THE OTHER SIDE, AND IN THE OFFERING OF CAIN THERE WAS ALSO A PORTION FOR HOLINESS. HOWEVER, WITH ABEL, the whole and main part of his offering was to the Holy One, blessed be He, and he gave a portion for the Other Side, as is written: "And of the fat parts thereof" (Ibid.); THE FATTEST AND BEST WAS FOR THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE. But with Cain, the main was for "the end of days," WHICH IS THE OTHER SIDE, and he gave only a small portion to the Holy One, blessed be He. Therefore, he and his offering were rejected.

44. ת"ח מָה כְּתִיב, וְהֶבֶל הֵבִיא גַּם הוּא. מַאי גַּם הוּא. לְאַסְגָּאָה כֹּלָּא דָּא בְּדָא. קָרְבָּנָא כֹּלָּא וְעִקָרָא דִּילֵיהּ הֲוָה לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְיָהִיב חוּלָקֵיהּ לְסִטְרָא אַחֲרָא, כד"א וּמֵחֶלְבֵיהֶן. וְקַיִן, עִקָּרָא עָבֵד מִקֵּץ יָמִים, וְיָהַב חוּלָקָא לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְעַל דָּא אִתְדָחָא אִיהוּ וְקָרְבָּנֵיהּ.

Female Job Male Offering Other Side Sacrifice

45. About Job, it is written: "And his sons used to go and feast... And when the days of their feasting were gone about" (Iyov 1:4-5), and also, "And they used to send and call for their three sisters to eat and drink with them" (Ibid.). This was the main portion HE GAVE to the Other Side, and only afterwards did he offer burnt offerings. Now, a burnt offering (Heb. olah) is male rather than female, and wholly rises (Heb. olah) up, but he did not offer a sacrifice that would properly include it as well, MEANING TO ALSO GIVE A PORTION TO THE OTHER SIDE.

45. בְּאִיּוֹב מַה כְּתִיב, וְהָלְכוּ בָנָיו וְעָשׂוּ מִשְׁתֶּה וְגוֹ'. וּכְתִיב וַיְהִי כִּי הִקִּיפוּ יְמֵי הַמִּשְׁתֶּה. וּכְתִיב וְשָׁלְחוּ וְקָרְאוּ לִשְׁלֹשֶׁת אַחְיוֹתֵיהֶם לֶאֱכוֹל וְלִשְׁתּוֹת עִמָּהֶם, דְּדָא אִיהוּ עִקָּרָא לְסִטְרָא אַחֲרָא. וּלְבָתַר אַקְרִיב עוֹלוֹת, וְעוֹלָה אִיהוּ דְּכַר, וְלָא נוּקְבָּא, וְסַלְּקָא לְעֵילָּא, וְקָרְבָּנָא לָא קָרִיב לְאַכְלְלָא לֵיהּ כַּדְקָא יֵאוֹת.