Pirqé de-Rabbi Éliézer

Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer (also Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer; פרקי דרבי אליעזר "Chapters/Lectures of Rabbi Eliezer"; abbreviated PdRE) is an aggadic-midrashic work on the Torah containing exegesis and retellings of biblical stories. The composition has enjoyed widespread circulation and recognition ever since its composition. It is quoted by rishonim under various names, including Pirkei Rabbi Eliezer ha-Gadol, Pirkei Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus, Baraita de-Rabbi Eliezer and Haggadah de-Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus. Traditionally, it is ascribed to the tanna Eliezer ben Hurcanus and his disciples. Leopold Zunz has suggested that the book has had interpolations made to copies owned by private citizens in the 8th century. Isaak Jost first noticed the inclusion of 8th century interpolations. According to Jewish Encyclopedia it was composed in Italy shortly after 830. Scholars unanimously agree that Pirke de-Rabbi Eliezer is a work of the 8th or 9th century. The earliest citation of it is in a fragment from Pirqoi ben Baboi. The work is divided into 54 chapters, which may be divided into seven groups, as follows: Ch. 1-2: Introduction to the entire work, dealing with the youth of R. Eliezer ben Hyrcanus, his thirst for knowledge, and his settlement at Jerusalem. Ch. 3-11 (corresponding to Genesis 1–2): The six days of the Creation. On the first day occurred the creation of four kinds of angels and of the 47 clouds. The second day: the creation of heaven, other angels, the fire in mankind (impulse), and the fire of Gehenna. The third day: the division of the waters, fruit-trees, herbs, and grass. The fourth day: creation of the lights; astronomy and the determination of the intercalation. The leap-year reckoning is imparted to Adam, Enoch, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The fifth day: birds and fishes; enumeration of the kinds which may be eaten. Also, the story of Jonah, which is said to belong to the fifth day. The sixth day: God's conference with the Torah in regard to the way in which man should be created.