Was Adam a Vegetarian?

Garments of skin: There are those who say that originally Adam was just bone and flesh and now skin formed over him. And there are those who say "garments for their skin." And others say that there is a beast that looks like man and that God commanded him to shed his skin. But we should not inquire about this, just believe that God made for Adam and his woman garments of skin. And who can tell the greatness of God and who can recount his acts, and there is no way to understand his greatness.

What was Adam's first clothing? Skin of fingernail and a cloud of glory covered him. And when he ate from the fruit of the tree, his skin fell off and the nail with it and the cloud moved away and he saw himself naked....

[As a punishment God] cut off the snake's legs and commanded him to remove his skin.

R. Eliezer says: From the skin that the snake shedd God made garments of glory for Adam and his helper as it says, "And God made for Adam and his wife garments of skin and he dressed them." At twilight on Shabbat Adam sat and was thinking to himself, "Oy. Maybe the snake who tricked me on erev Shabbat will come and bite my heel." A pillar of fire was sent to him to bring him light and to protect him from all evil. Adam saw the pillar of fire and rejoiced and said, "Now I know that God is with him." And he spread out his hands to the fire and blessed, "[who creates the] lights of the fire."

§ Rav Yehuda says that Rav says: Meat was not permitted to Adam, the first man, for consumption, as it is written: “And God said: Behold, I have given you every herb that brings forth seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree that gives forth seed; for you it shall be for food, and for every animal of the earth” (Genesis 1:29–30) but eating the animals of the earth is not permitted to you. But when the children of Noah came, God permitted them to eat meat; as it is stated: “Every moving thing that lives shall be for food for you; as the green herb I have given you all” (Genesis 9:3).

The Gemara raises an objection to the assertion that eating meat was prohibited to Adam, from the verse: “And have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that creeps upon the land” (Genesis 1:28). What, is it not stated with regard to consumption, i.e., doesn’t this verse mean that people may eat the meat of animals? No, the verse is referring to using animals for labor. The Gemara asks: But are fish capable of performing labor? The Gemara answers: Yes, they are capable, in accordance with the statement of Raḥava; as Raḥava asked the following question: If one drove a wagon to which a goat and a shibbuta fish were harnessed together, what is the halakha? Has he violated the prohibition of diverse kinds?

Come and hear a proof that it was permitted for Adam to eat meat: “And have dominion…and over the fowl of the air.” What, is it not stated with regard to consumption? The Gemara answers: No, it is referring to labor. The Gemara asks: But are birds capable of performing labor? The Gemara answers: Yes, they are capable, as Rabba bar Rav Huna raises a dilemma: If one threshed with geese and chickens, what is the halakha according to the opinion of Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Yehuda?

Come and hear a proof from the phrase: “And have dominion…and over every living thing that creeps upon the land.” The Gemara answers: That phrase comes to include the snake, which was capable of performing labor when it was created. As it is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Shimon ben Menasya says: Woe over a great attendant that has been lost to the world; as had the snake not been cursed that it should go on its belly, there would have been two fine snakes at the disposal of each and every one of the Jewish people. One he would send to the north, and the other one he would send to the south, to bring him precious sandalbonim, a type of precious stone, and other precious stones and pearls. Moreover, he would attach a strap under his snake’s tail like a harness to an animal, and use it to take dirt out to his garden and to rebuild his ruin, as he does with other animals.. The Gemara raises an objection from a baraita to the assertion that eating meat was prohibited to Adam: Rabbi Yehuda ben Teima would say: Adam, the first man, would dine in the Garden of Eden, and the ministering angels would roast meat for him and strain wine for him. The snake glanced at him and saw his glory, and was jealous of him, and for that reason the snake incited him to sin and caused his banishment from the Garden. The Gemara answers: There the reference is to meat that descended from heaven, which was created by a miracle and was not the meat of animals at all. The Gemara asks: Is there such a thing as meat that descends from heaven? The Gemara answers: Yes, it is like this incident: As Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥalafta was walking along the way, he encountered those lions that were roaring at him, intending to eat him. He said: “The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their food from God” (Psalms 104:21). Two thighs of an animal descended from heaven for him. The lions ate one of these thighs, and they left the other one. He took it and entered the study hall, and inquired about it: Is this thigh a kosher item or a non-kosher item? The Sages said to him: Certainly it is kosher, as a non-kosher item does not descend from heaven. In connection to that story, it is related that Rabbi Zeira asked Rabbi Abbahu: If the likeness of a donkey had descended for him, what would the halakha have been? Would it have been permitted? Rabbi Abbahu said to him: Foolish bird [yarud nala]. The Sages already said to him that a non-kosher item does not descend from heaven; therefore, it must be kosher.