Parashat Noach

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Parashat Noach

Contents

Noach's Ark

Noach's Family

Noach was a righteous man, with good deeds,[1] the main generations of the righteous.[1] He was perfect in his generations who walked in the ways of Hashem who encouraged him, unlike Avraham who would strengthened himself in his righteousness.[1] If Noach would have lived in the Generation of Avraham in some ways[2] he would have been more righteous[1] but in other ways[2] he would not have been considered of any importance.[1] He was righteous in compression of the 20 from Adom to Avraham but once Avraham appeared Noach was no longer considered righteous.[3]

Noach had three sons; Shem, Cham, and Yafes. Noach's family was listed to indicate that now all the earlier generations were irrelevant.[3] Nach witnesed the world in three states: Preflood, Flood and Postflood[3] and Elifaz Hatimni, Beldad HaShuchi and Tzofer Hanamasi.[3] THe name Noach denotes pleasantness, since Noach was pleasant to Hashem, People, Upper Realms, Lower Realms, In This World and in the Next World.[3] Noach was very wise.[3]

World's Perversion

The world became corrupted with immorality[4] idolatry[4] and full of robbery.[4] These were all caused by their opposition to the Tzadikim of their generation; Mesushelach and Noach,[5] and not receiving their oral teaching of Holiness[5] leading them to twist all the teachings.[5] Hashem saw the corruption and how all creatures including cattle, beasts and birds had corrupted their ways by mating with members of other species.[6]

Hashem told Noach that he plans on destroying all life on the world due to their immorality and idolatry which brings death to the world, killing both good and bad.[7] Despite this their final verdict was sealed only because of mass robbery.[7] Even the earth would be destroyed, blotted out and obliterated to the depth of a plowshare, 3 Tefachim,[7] roughly a foot (27 cm).

Instruction of Ark

Hashem told Noach to make for himself an ark of gopher wood, which sounds like gophris - sulphur which they were decreed to be destroyed with.[8] He should make the ark with compartments which would serve as dwelling places for the domestic animals and wild beasts.[8] He was to caulk it both inside and outside with pitch, due to the strength of the water.[8] Moshe's ark which was in calm waters was coated with clay inside and pitch only on the outside.[8] Also so the righteous Moshe should not smell the bad odor of pitch.[8]

Noach was to size it: 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide and 30 cubits high. He was to make a window[9] which would server as a skylight for the ark as well as a[2] precious stone, which would generate light.[9]

Its roof should slant upwards narrowing to the width of one cubit which was flat and was not pointed to the end,[9] so the waters should run down.[9] It should have a door on its side, so that the rain should not enter it. It would have three stories one above the other,[9] a bottom for garbage, second story for animal dwelling, and an upper third story for the people.[9]

Although Hashem had many ways to save Noach, he did so through the ark, giving his generation a chance to repent as they inquired about Noach working on it for 120 years and replied that Hashem planed on bringing a flood to the world.[8]

Flood Warning

Hashem announced that He is bringing a flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which there is the spirit of life, from beneath the heavens. Hashem was now ready to agree to the angels who urged Him long ago not to create man.[10] All that is upon the earth would perish. This flood would wear everything out, mix everything up and move everything from high ground to low ground and floated everything down to Bavel which is deep,[10] it was therefore called a בלה, בלבל, הוביל - מבול.[10]

Hashem will uphold His covenant with Noach that the fruits will not rot and become moldy[11] and that he should not be killed by the wicked of his generation.[11] Noach is to enter the ark with his sons, wife and daughter-in-laws, they are prohibited to have marital relations.[11]

Noach is to bring with him into the ark at least[12] two of each living thing, of all flesh, to preserve their life. These should include one male and one female.[12] This included even demons.[12] Two from each kind of bird, animal and ground creeper, that did not have relations with other species and corrupts their way,[13] will come on their own[13] to Noach so he could preserve their life. Those that whom the ark let them enter[13] and did not reject, were to be saved.

Noach is to take for himself and gather every food that is eaten and it should be for him and them to eat. Noach did according to all that Hashem had commanded him, specifically the building of the ark.[14]

Entering Ark Command

Hashem told Noach to enter the ark along with his household for he has found him a righteous man in his generation. This praise was in front of Noach, therefore Hashem did not call him a 'perfectly righteous man' since we tell only partial praise in a person’s presence and all of it in his absence. [15]

From all the clean animals Noach should take seven pairs of husband and wife. From the animals that are not clean, Noach should only take two, a single husband and wife. Since Noach studied Torah he knew which animals were going to distained to be pure for the Jewish Nation.[16] More kosher animal were taken, so Noach could offer sacrifices from them upon leaving the ark.[16] Also, from the clean[17] birds of the skies, Noach was to take seven pairs, male and female, to keep their seed alive on the face of the earth.

Hashem declared that in another seven days, He will make it rain upon the earth for forty days and forty nights, and He will blot out all beings that He created off the face of the earth. Hashem took into consideration the honor of the tzadik Mesushelach who had passed away when Noach turned 600 and delayed the retribution for an additional[18] seven days of his mourning,[18] above the originally decreed 120 year period.[18] A flood of 40 days was decreed upon them, corresponding to the 40 days it takes to form a fetus, as retribution for burdening their Creator to to form illegitimate children.[18]

Noach did all that Hashem commanded him and entered the Ark.[19]

Entering the Ark

Noach was 600 years old when the when the waters flooded the earth. Noach, his 3 sons, his wife and 3 daughter-in-laws entered the ark because of the waters of the flood. The men entered separately from the women to symbolize that it they were prohibited to have martital relations while the world what suffering.[20] Noach had little faith and was not fully certain the flood would take place, he therefore did not enter the ark until he was forced to by the water.[20] Sets of two, male and female from the clean animals, unclean animals, birds and land creeps arrived on their own[21] to Noach and the ark, just like Hashem commanded. At least one set of two arrived from each species.[21]

The people of his generation threatened to kill Noach and break the ark, if they see him entering it. Hashem announced that he would bring Noach into the ark before their eyes and they would see whose plan prevailed.[22] Therefore Noach entered the ark in middle of the day with his sons; Shem, Cham and Yefes, along with his wife and the daughter in laws. They were accompanied by every type of beast, domestic animal, land creeper, birds and flying creatures with appearance of feathers,[23] including locusts. [23] All flesh that contained spirit of life, came in sets of two, male and female to Noach and the ark, as Hashem had commanded him. Hashem then shut him in the ark, sealing it from water[24] and protecting him from the masses who wanted to break the ark by surrounding it with bear and lions who would kill them.[24]

The Flood

After the seven day extension, on the 600th year of Noach's life, on the 17th of the second month of the year (Which was either Cheshvon or Iyar),[25] all the springs of the great depths ruptured to emit their waters[25] and the portals of the sky opened bringing the flood waters upon the earth. Sine that generation had sinned with 'great' evil they were now punished measure for measure with the waters of the 'great' depths.[25]

Hashem began the flood with mercy bringdown light rains that would have concluded as rains of blessing had they repented. When they did not, it turned into a flood.[26] There was rain upon the earth for forty days and forty nights, lasting until the 28th of Kislev[26] (12 Cheshvon + 28 Kislev).[26] In truth, it rained for 41 days but the first was not counted since it did not rain during its proceeding night.[26]

When the forty days of flood upon the earth began, the waters increased and lifted the ark, and raising it off the earth. Like all loaded ships, the bottom of the ark remained submerged 11 cubits in the water.[27] The waters became powerful, greatly increased on their own[28] upon the earth, the ark moving above the waters. When the waters became exceedingly powerful upon the earth, all the tall mountains found under the heavens, became covered by water. The mountains were covered by an additional 15 cubits of water above their highest peaks.[29]

Destruction of Life

All flesh perished that moved upon the earth, including all birds, cattle, beasts, creeping creatures that creep upon the earth and all humans. Everything that breathed the spirit of life in its nostrils,[30] that were on dry land died. However the fish that were in the ocean did not die.[30]


The Flood[31] obliterated all beings that were upon the face of the earth, including man, animal, birds of the skys and creeping things. They were obliterated from the earth. Only Noach and those with him in the ark survived. Although Noach survived, it was rough experience for him as well. He was groaning and spitting blood because of the burden taking care of the cattle and beasts.[31] He was also wounded after the lion struck him when he delayed feeding it.[31] This was to eradicate any misdoings of Noach while still in This World, so he would not be punished in the next.[31]

Ending of Flood

The water prevailed upon the earth for one hundred and fifty days. Hashem remembered Noach and all the beasts and cattle that were with him in the ark. This was due to the prayers of Noach and his sons that transformed the Divine attribute of Justice into the attribute of mercy.[32] Hashem also remembered the merits of the animals, that they did not corrupt their ways before the flood and that they did not have marital relationships in ark.[33] Hashem passed a spirit of consolation and calm before Him[34] regarding the events[35] of the earth, calming the anger[36] and the waters subsided.

Rainbows

Rainbows are caused by light refracting and dispersing through airborne droplets of water. Before the Flood, the atmosphere air was extremely clean and refined and water droplets would not hang in it. Only after the Flood whose waters contaminated the world with an influx of and its influx of sulphur and scorched all living and vegetation matter, which were then absorbed by the earth, did the atmosphere become polluted. This caused the air and clouds to thicken and only then did water drops start clinging in it, causing the rainbow effect.[37]

Permitting of Meat

They were now permitted to eat animal meat which had not been allowed until then, just like they had been permitted to eat vegetation at the time of Adom.[38]

Genealogy of Shem

The descendants of Shem are listed to indicate that now the families of Yefes and Cham were considered irrelevant.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Rashi Berashis 6:9
  2. ^ a b c Shover Zadim Parshas Noach
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Baal Haturim Berashis 6:1
  4. ^ a b c Rashi Berashis 6:11
  5. ^ a b c Likutay Halachos, Hilchos Reshis Hagaz 5
  6. ^ Rashi Berashis 6:12
  7. ^ a b c Rashi Berashis 6:13
  8. ^ a b c d e f Rashi Berashis 6:14
  9. ^ a b c d e f Rashi Berashis 6:16
  10. ^ a b c Rashi Berashis 6:17
  11. ^ a b c Rashi Berashis 6:18
  12. ^ a b c Rashi Berashis 6:19
  13. ^ a b c Rashi Berashis 6:20
  14. ^ Rashi Berashis 6:22
  15. ^ Rashi Berashis 7:1
  16. ^ a b Rashi Berashis 7:2
  17. ^ Rashi Berashis 7:3
  18. ^ a b c d Rashi Berashis 7:4
  19. ^ Rashi Berashis 7:5
  20. ^ a b Rashi Berashis 7:7
  21. ^ a b Rashi Berashis 7:9
  22. ^ Rashi Berashis 7:13
  23. ^ a b Rashi Berashis 7:14
  24. ^ a b Rashi Berashis 7:16
  25. ^ a b c Rashi Berashis 7:11
  26. ^ a b c d Rashi Berashis 7:12
  27. ^ Rashi Berashis 7:17
  28. ^ Rashi Berashis 7:18
  29. ^ Rashi Berashis 7:20
  30. ^ a b Rashi Berashis 7:22
  31. ^ a b c d Rashi Berashis 7:23
  32. ^ Rashi Berashis 8:1
  33. ^ Rashi Berashis 8:1
  34. ^ Rashi Berashis 8:1
  35. ^ Rashi Berashis 8:1
  36. ^ Rashi Berashis 8:1
  37. ^ Shover Zadim Noach based on Tiferes Yonason Berashis 9:12
  38. ^ Rashi Berashis 30


 
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