But from the beginning of the creation,.... Of the world, or of man: מתחלת ברייתו של עולם, "from the beginning of the creation of the world", is a way of speaking often used by the Jews r: the phrase "of the creation" is left out in the Syriac and Persic versions; and so it was in Beza's most ancient copy, and it is only read, "from the beginning", as in Mt 19:4,8, Matthew 19:4,
God made them male and female; the first that were created, Adam and Eve, the first parents of mankind, the first couple that came together were one male and one female; so that there could be no polygamy or divorce: Adam could not have more wives than one: nor could he put away Eve, and marry another; no provision was made for any such usages and practices; Matthew 19:4. In the Complutensian edition, it is added, "and said", the following words.
r Bereshit Rabba, sect. 3. fol. 2. 3. & sect. 4. fol. 4. 1.