“Noah was five hundred years old and Noah begot Shem, Ham, and Yefet” (Genesis 5:32). “Noah was five hundred years old” – it is written: “Happy is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the wicked” (Psalms 1:1). “Happy is the man” – this is Noah. “Who has not walked in the counsel of the wicked, has not stood in the path of sinners [and has not sat in the company of scoffers]” (Psalms 1:1), Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda says: In three generations – in the generation of Enosh, the generation of the Flood, and the generation of the Dispersion.1Noah resisted the influence of those generations and remained righteous. This is alluded to in the three expressions of resistance to sin in the Psalms verse. Rabbi Neḥemya says: In the generation of the Flood and the generation of the Dispersion, but as for the generation of Enosh, he was still a minor.2Noah was eighty-four years old when Enosh died, and with life expectancy in those days approaching one thousand, people were not considered accountable until they were one hundred years old (see next section). According to the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda, who said: “Happy is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the wicked,” this is the generation of Enosh; “has not stood in the path of sinners,” this is the generation of the Flood; “and has not sat in the company of scoffers,” this is the generation of the Dispersion; “but whose desire is in the Torah of the Lord” (Psalms 1:2) – these are the seven mitzvot that he [Noah] was commanded; “and he meditates on His Torah day and night” (Psalms 1:2) – as he derived one matter from another. He said: ‘What is the reason that the Holy One blessed be He set the number of the pure animals more than the impure animals? Is it not because He wants me to sacrifice an offering from them?’ Immediately, “he took from every pure animal…[and offered up offerings]” (Genesis 8:20). “He will be like a tree planted by streams of water” (Psalms 1:3), as the Holy One blessed be He implanted him in the ark; “which gives its fruit in season” (Psalms 1:3), this is Shem; “whose leaf does not wither” (Psalms 1:3), this is Ḥam; “and whatever he does he will prosper” (Psalms 1:3), this is Yefet.
“Noah begot three sons, Shem, Ḥam, and Yefet” (Genesis 6:10).It is written: “Planted in the House of the Lord, they blossom in the courts of our God” (Psalms 92:14). “Planted in the House of the Lord,” this is Noah, whom the Holy One blessed be He implanted in the ark; “they blossom in the courts of our God,” – “Noah begot…Shem, Ḥam, and Yefet.” “They will continue to yield fruit even in old age; they will remain full and fresh” (Psalms 92:15). “They will continue to yield fruit [even in old age],” this is Noah;3Who begot children at age five hundred. “they will remain full and fresh” – “Noah begot.” Rabbi Yudan said: What is the reason that all the generations begot children at one hundred years or at two hundred years, but this one [Noah] begot at five hundred years? However, the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘If they will be wicked, I do not want them to be eradicated by the water;4He did not want to upset Noah. if they will be righteous, I would be imposing upon him [Noah] to make several arks for them. So the Holy One blessed be He suppressed his [Noah’s] fount,5His ability to procreate. and he begot only at five hundred years. Rabbi Neḥemya said in the name of Rabbi Eliezer son of Rabbi Yosei HaGelili: [It was so that] even Yefet, who was the eldest, would not yet be one hundred years old – when he became subject to punishment6In those days, as explained above. – when the Flood came. Rabbi Ḥanina said: In the future there will be no death except for idolaters. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Neither for Israel, nor for idolaters, as it is stated: “[He will destroy death forever, and] the Lord God will wipe tears from all faces” (Isaiah 25:8). What does Rabbi Ḥanina do with “from all faces”? It is from the faces of Israel. But is it not written: “As the youth will die when he is one hundred years old”? (Isaiah 65:20). This supports Rabbi Ḥanina. What does Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi do with it? [It means that at that age] he will be fit for punishment. But is it not written: “Like sheep, they are destined for the grave; death will shepherd them. The upright will rule over them”? (Psalms 49:15). This supports Rabbi Ḥanina. What does Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi do with it? Because in this world, there was Pharaoh at his time, Sisera at his time, Sennacherib at his time,7They were all punished. but in the future, the Holy One blessed be He will appoint the angel of death as the permanent sentry.8To administer eternal punishment. They will not rise up from the dead in the future, but those who are alive at that time will not die. That is what is written: “The upright will rule over them in the morning; their form will be consumed in the grave,9Literally, their form will wear out the grave. an abode [zevul] for him” (Psalms 49:15) – this teaches that the grave may wear away, but their bodies will not wear away.10But will be subject to eternal torment. Why to that extent? [“An abode for him”] – because they extended their hands against the Temple, as it is written: “I have built You an abode [zevul]” (I Kings 8:13).
“Noah begot three sons, Shem, Ḥam, and Yefet” – but was Yefet not the eldest?, Initially, however, you should deal with the one who was righteous, born circumcised, the one whom the Holy One blessed be He associated His name with him,11“Blessed be the Lord, God of Shem” (Genesis 9:26). from whom Abraham was destined to descend, who served as High Priest,12See Genesis 14:18. Malkitzedek is identified with Shem (see Bereshit Rabbah 56:10). and in whose territory the Temple was built.13Malkitzedek was king of Salem, which is Jerusalem (see Bereshit Rabbah 56:10). Shimon bar Ḥuta said: [Shem takes precedence] because the Holy One blessed be He delayed the punishment [of the post-Flood generation], from the Flood until the Dispersion, the numerical value of his letters – three hundred and forty years.14This is according to the midrash (Bereshit Rabba 38:2) that states that they began building the Tower of Babel immediately after the Flood.
“It was when man began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them” (Genesis 6:1). “It was when man began [heḥel],” Rabbi Simon said: In three places this language is stated as an expression of rebellion: “then commenced [huḥal] proclaiming the name of the Lord” (Genesis 4:26);15In the generation of Enosh. “it was when man began [heḥel]”; “he began [heḥel] to be a mighty one in the earth” (Genesis 10:8).16Nimrod. They raised an objection to him: But is it not written [as well]: “And this is what they have begun [haḥilam] to do” (Genesis 11:6)?17At the Tower of Babel. He struck upon the head of Nimrod and said of him: ‘This is the one who incited them to rebel against Me.’18The rebellion of the Tower of Babel and that of Nimrod are one and the same, so there are still only three cases. “To multiply on the face of the earth,” [this teaches] that they would spill their seed on trees and stones.19“On the face of the earth.” Because they were steeped in sexual profligacy, that is the reason He increased the number of their females.20Expecting that the multitude of women would curb their unnatural sexual appetites. That is what is written: “It was when man began…daughters were born to them.” The wife of Rabbi Shimon son of Rabbi (Ami),21This word was included in error and should be ignored. bore a female offspring. Rabbi Ḥiyya the Great saw him and said to him: ‘The Holy One blessed be He has begun to bless you!’ He said to him: ‘From where do you know this?’ He said to him: ‘As it is written: “It was when man began to multiply…and daughters were born to them.”’ He went to his father, [Rabbi], who said to him: ‘Did that Babylonian22Rabbi Ḥiyya. gladden you?’ He said to him: ‘Yes, and this is what he said to me.’ He said to him: ‘Nevertheless, even though there is a need for wine and a need for vinegar, there is more need for wine than for vinegar. There is a need for wheat and a need for barley, but there is more need for wheat than for barley.’23There is need for girls and boys, but more need for boys. When a man marries his daughter and pays out his [marriage] expenditures, he says to her: ‘May you never return here!’24See next paragraph. The reason boys are more desirable is that boys remain more connected to the family after marriage, whereas girls are gone from the house for good. Rabban Gamliel married off his daughter. She said to him: ‘Father, pray for me.’ He said to her: ‘May you never return here!’ She bore a male offspring and said to him: ‘Father, pray for me.’ He said to her: ‘May the word ‘Woe’ never cease from your mouth!’ She said to him: ‘Father, upon the two joyous occasions that I experienced you cursed me!’ He said to her: ‘Both of them are prayers. Because there will be peace in your house, you will never return here.25You will never be divorced and have to return home. And because your son will live long, the word ‘Woe’ will not cease from your mouth: Woe that my son did not drink yet, woe that my son did not eat yet, woe that my son did not go to the synagogue!’
“The children of the great men [beneihaelohim] saw the daughters of man, that they were fair, and they took for themselves wives, from whomever they chose” (Genesis 6:2). “The children of the great men [benei haelohim] saw,” Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai called them [when translating this verse into Aramaic] “the children of judges.” Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai used to curse anyone who would call them [translating the words literally, as] “children of god.”26In Hebrew Elohim can mean either “God” or “judge” (Exodus 22:8), but in Aramaic Elohaya can only mean “God,” so translating the word in this manner would be blasphemous. Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai taught: Any breach [in morals] that is not [begun] by prominent men is not a breach.27The common people follow the example of their leaders. [The saying goes:] If the priests steal the idols, who will ever take an oath in their names, or who will ever sacrifice to them?28By stealing the idols, the priests, through their actions, prove the powerlessness of those gods, so naturally all its worshippers will no longer take it seriously. Why are these [great men] referred to as benei haelohim? Rabbi Ḥanina and Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, both of them say: It is because they lived long lives without pain and without suffering.29As if they were divine beings. [And why were they granted such extraordinarily long lives?] Rabbi Ḥana said in the name of Rabbi Yosei: In order to track astronomical phenomena and [make the relevant] calculations.30The cycles of some heavenly bodies are many years long. Only if someone lives a very long life can they note this and make astronomical calculations. The Rabbis say: So that they would receive theirs and that of the coming generations.31During their lengthy lives they had a chance to accumulate much liability for punishment, to the extent that God had to bring the Flood. The future generations would then look back on the Flood and learn not to be as sinful as their forebears. “That they were fair [tovot]” – Rabbi Yudan said: The word is written tovot [without vavs].32With this spelling, the word indicates “beautification.” When they would adorn a woman for her [marriage to her] husband, the prominent man would enter and consort with her first, [before her husband]. That is what is written: “That they were fair [tovot]” – these are the unmarried girls.33Who were violated just prior to their weddings. “They took for themselves wives from whomever they chose”34The words “from whomever they chose” should be omitted (Radal). – these are married women. “From whomever they chose” – these are males and animals.35They sinned also through homosexuality and bestiality. Rabbi Huna said in the name of Rabbi: The generation of the Flood was not obliterated from the world until they wrote marriage contracts for males and animals.36That is, they made such unions official and legal. Rabbi Simlai said: Anywhere sexual immorality is found, a chaotic catastrophe comes to the world, which kills the righteous along with the wicked.37As with the Flood, which killed everyone on earth except Noah and his family. Rabbi Azarya and Rabbi Yehuda bar Rabbi Simon said in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: The Holy One blessed be He is slow to anger regarding everything except for sexual immorality. What is the source? “The children of the great men [benei haelohim] saw….” What is written [immediately] thereafter? “The Lord said: I will obliterate man” (Genesis 6:7). Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said in the name of bar Pedaya [regarding Lot and the people of Sodom]: All night long, Lot was begging [the angels] for mercy for the people of Sodom, and they were receptive to him. [But] once they [the people of Sodom] said: “Bring them out to us, that we may know them” (Genesis 19:5), meaning, by sexual relations, they [the angels] said to him: “Whom else do you have [here] [po]” (Genesis 19:12), [meaning, what else can there possibly be in your mouth [peh]] to plea in their favor?’ From here on, it is impossible for you to plea in their favor.
“The Lord said: My spirit will not abide in man for eternity, for he too is flesh and his days will be one hundred and twenty years” (Genesis 6:3). “The Lord said: My spirit will not abide [yadon] in man,” Rabbi Yishmael ben Rabbi Yosei said: I will not place My spirit in them when I give the reward of the righteous in the future, about which it is stated: “I will place My spirit in them” (Ezekiel 36:27). Rabbi Yanai and Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, both of them said: In the future, there will be no Gehenna; rather, there will be a day that [through its heat] will burn the wicked. What is the source? “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, and all the criminals and all the doers of wickedness will be as straw; the day that is coming will burn them” (Malachi 3:19). The Rabbis say: There will be Gehenna, as it is stated: “The utterance of the Lord, for whom there is a fire in Zion and a furnace for Him in Jerusalem” (Isaiah 31:9). Rabbi Yehuda bar Rabbi Ilai said: There will be neither a [hot] day nor Gehenna, but rather there will be a fire that will emerge from the body of the wicked one himself and burn him, as it is stated: “Conceive stubble, give birth to straw, your spirit is a fire that will consume you” (Isaiah 33:11). Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Ilai said: What is, “My spirit will not abide [yadon]”? These spirits will never come before Me for judgment.38The members of the generation of the Flood will not even be resurrected to be sentenced. Rabbi Huna said in the name of Rav Aḥa: When I restore the spirit [of man] to its scabbard [nadan], I will not return their spirit to their scabbards.39The body is considered a “scabbard” that houses the soul within it (Daniel 7:15). The generation of the Flood will not come to life with the others at the final resurrection. Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: I will not fill them up with My spirit when I fill mankind up with My spirit,40As a scabbard is completely filled with the sword it holds. because in this world the spirit is infused in only one limb [the heart], but in the future, it will be infused throughout the body. That is what is written: “I will place My spirit within you” (Ezekiel 36:27). Rabbi Yudan ben Beteira said: I [God] will never again judge man with this sentence.41Bringing a destructive flood upon mankind. Rav Huna said in the name of Rabbi Yosef: “I will not continue [to curse the ground because of man … and I will not continue [to smite all life as I have done]” (Genesis 8:21)42The Midrash will explain the repetition of “I will not continue.” –it is powerful, it is powerful.43The repetition indicates the intensity of God’s commitment, as if He were declaring an oath (see Isaiah 54:9). The Rabbis say: “I will not continue” – for the [present] sons of Noah; “and I will not continue” – for [future] generations. [God said:] ‘I had said that My spirit would hold sway [dana] over them, but they did not want [this]; therefore, I will cause them to be entangled [meshagem] with suffering. I had said that My spirit would control them, but they did not disavow [their sinful ways]; therefore I will cause them to be entangled [meshagem] with one another,’44And they will enter into disputes and deadly feuds with one another, thus incurring the death penalty. as Rabbi Elazar said: The only one who incurs liability for harming a human is one who is a human like him. Rabbi Natan said: Wolves and dogs also.45They also incur the death penalty if they kill a human. Rabbi Huna bar Guryon said: Even a rod, even a strap.46If they bring about the death of a person they are destroyed. That is what is written: “For the yoke of its burden and the bar on its shoulder, the rod that oppresses it, You have broken as on the day of Midyan [keyom midyan]” (Isaiah 9:3) – on the day of judgment [beyom hadin]. Rabbi Aḥa said: Even non-fruit bearing trees are destined to give a reckoning.47If they cause the death of a person. The Rabbis say [this same concept] from here: “For man is like the tree of the field” (Deuteronomy 20:19) – just as man gives a reckoning, so, too, trees give a reckoning. Rabbi Yehoshua bar Neḥemya said: [God said:] ‘I will not judge their spirit separately, as they are flesh and blood,48And they must experience physical suffering. but I will bring upon them a shortening of the years that I had allotted them in this world, and then I will cause them to be entangled [meshagem] with suffering.’ Rabbi Aivu said: [God said:] ‘Who caused them to rebel against Me, is it not because I did not cause them to be entangled [meshagem] with suffering?’49Therefore, from now on mankind will be subject to physical suffering for their sins. This door, what keeps it standing? It is its hinges [shegam].50Just as hinges support the door and allow it to function, so too physical suffering is good for man and induces him to grow spiritually. Rabbi Elazar said: Anyplace where there is no justice, there is justice.51Wherever justice is not practiced on earth, justice from God will be meted out. Rabbi Beivai son of Rabbi Ami, in accordance with the approach of Rabbi Elazar: “My spirit will not abide” [Lo yadon, ruḥi].”52This is expounded to mean: If they do not judge [lo yadon], My spirit [ruḥi] will judge. Rabbi Meir said: [God said:] ‘They did not exercise the attribute of justice below, so I will not exercise the attribute of justice On High.’53But rather, I will judge with wrath and fury. That is what is written: “Behold, their remnant has gone away from them, and they die without wisdom” (Job 4:21) – without the wisdom of the Torah. “From morning to evening they are broken; forever unnoticed [mibeli mesim], they perish” (Job 4:20) – mesim is nothing other than judgment, just as it says: “These are the ordinances that you shall place [tasim] before them” (Exodus 21:1). Rabbi Yosei HaGelili said: I will not judge them with the attribute of justice along with a corresponding attribute of mercy.54But with the attribute of justice alone. Rabbi says: “He said” – the generation of the Flood said to the Lord: ‘He shall not judge [us]!’55Here, the verse currently under discussion, “Vayomer Hashem lo yadon” is being interpreted as: “They said: Hashem, He shall not judge us!” Rabbi Akiva said: “Why has the wicked man mocked God, saying to himself: You will not seek” (Psalms 10:13) – [by this that man means:] there is no justice and no Judge.56God does not judge man for his deeds. However, in fact there is justice and there is a Judge.57As the following verses in Psalms respond. Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa said: Even Noah, who survived from among them, it is not that he was worthy, but rather, the Holy One blessed be He foresaw that Moses was destined to descend from him, as it is stated: “For he too [Beshagam]” – this is an allusion to Moses, as the numerical value of this word [beshagam] is the same numerical value as that word [Moshe]. The Rabbis derive it from here: “His days will be one hundred and twenty years” – and Moses lives one hundred and twenty years.
“The giants were on the earth in those days, and also thereafter, when the children of the great ones consorted with the daughters of man, and they bore them children; they are the mighty who were from ancient times, the men of renown” (Genesis 6:4). “The giants were on the earth in those days.” They were called by seven names: Eimim, Refa’im, Giborim, Zamzumim, Anakim, Avim, Nefilim. Eimim – as anyone who saw them, fear of them [eimatan] would descend upon them. Refa’im – as anyone who saw them, his heart would become soft [rafeh] like wax. Giborim58Meaning, mighty men. – Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said, in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: The marrow of the femur of one of them measured eighteen cubits. Zamzumim – Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina said: Intimidating military commanders.59Zamzumim is because they would be constantly ready [mezumanim] for battle.Anakim – the Rabbis and Rabbi Aḥa, the Rabbis say: They would wear numerous necklaces upon necklaces [anakim].60This is an indication of their wealth – anak is one of the words for necklace. Rabbi Aḥa said: It was as though they wore the sun as a necklace,61They lifted up their heads arrogantly towards the sun. and said: ‘[Go away and] let the rain fall upon us.’ Avim – as they brought annihilation upon the world and were themselves annihilated from the world, as they caused the world to be annihilated, just as it says: “A ruin, a ruin, a ruin [ava] I will render it” (Ezekiel 21:32). Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Shimon said: Because they were as expert in soil as snakes, as in the Galilee they call snakes avya. Nefilim – as they toppled [hipilu] the world, fell from the world, and filled the world with stillborns [nefalim] with their immorality.62It was common for immoral women to abort their illegitimate fetuses. “And also thereafter,” Yehuda bar Rav Ami said: The later [generations] did not learn from the earlier ones; the generation of the Flood did not learn from the generation of Enosh, and the generation of the Dispersion did not learn from the generation of the Flood. “And also thereafter, when the children of the great ones consorted with the daughters of man,” Rabbi Berekhya said: A woman would go out to the marketplace and would see a young man and desire him. She would go and engage in intercourse and would produce a young man like him. “The men of renown [shem]”63Literally, ‘name.’ – Rabbi Aḥa said: [Job said, of the wicked:] “They are loathsome people and also people without name ” (Job 30:8), and here you say, [of the generation of the Flood:] “The men of name”? However, it is because they brought desolation [hishimu] to the world, they were annihilated [hushamu] from the world, and they caused the world to become desolate [yishom]. Rabbi Levi in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: Men whose names were articulated above. It is as Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said; all these names are expressions of rebellion: “Irad” (Genesis 4:18) – ‘I will expel [ored] them from the world’; “Meḥuyael” (Genesis 4:18) – ‘I will eradicate [moḥeh] them from the world’; “Metushael” (Genesis 4:18) – ‘I will uproot [matish] them from the world’; [“Lemekh” (Genesis 4:18)] – ‘What do I have to do with Lemekh64Lemekh is an acronym for ma li valakh – what need do I have of you? and his offspring?’ Rabbi Yoḥanan said: “They are the mighty who were from ancient times, the men of renown” – who detailed their actions? It was [Job’s friends,] Elifaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Tzofar the Naamatite. Rabbi says: Had the book of Job come to the world only to detail for us the deeds of the [generation of the] Flood, it would have been sufficient. Rabbi Ḥanin said: Had Elihu65Job’s fourth friend. come to the world only to explain to us the process of rainfall, it would have been sufficient, as Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Every time “ora” is mentioned by Elihu it refers only to rainfall.66See Job 36:30; 36:32; 37:3; 37:11. Rabbi Hoshaya Rabba said: It refers only to the giving of the Torah, just as it says: “For the commandment is a lamp and the Torah is light [or]” (Proverbs 6:23). Rabbi Aḥa said in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: Contention is as troublesome as the generation of the Flood. Here “men of renown” is stated, and elsewhere [concerning Koraḥ’s rebellion]: “Distinguished of the convocation, men of renown” (Numbers 16:2) is stated. Just as “men of renown” stated there refers to contention, so, too, “men of renown” stated here refers to contention.
וַיְהִי נֹחַ בֶּן חֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה (בראשית ה, לב), כְּתִיב (תהלים א, א): אַשְׁרֵי הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר לֹא הָלַךְ בַּעֲצַת רְשָׁעִים. אַשְׁרֵי הָאִישׁ, זֶה נֹחַ. אֲשֶׁר לֹא הָלַךְ בַּעֲצַת רְשָׁעִים וּבְדֶרֶךְ חַטָּאִים לֹא עָמָד, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה וְרַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר בִּשְׁלשָׁה דוֹרוֹת, בְּדוֹר אֱנוֹשׁ וּבְדוֹר הַמַּבּוּל וּבְדוֹר הַפְלָגָה. רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה אוֹמֵר בְּדוֹר הַמַּבּוּל וּבְדוֹר הַפְלָגָה, אֲבָל בְּדוֹר אֱנוֹשׁ הָיָה קָטָן. עַל דַּעְתֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה דְּאָמַר אַשְׁרֵי הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר לֹא הָלַךְ בַּעֲצַת רְשָׁעִים, זֶה דּוֹר אֱנוֹשׁ. וּבְדֶרֶךְ חַטָּאִים לֹא עָמָד, זֶה דּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל. וּבְמוֹשַׁב לֵצִים לֹא יָשָׁב, זֶה דּוֹר הַפְלָגָה. (תהלים א, ב): כִּי אִם בְּתוֹרַת ה' חֶפְצוֹ, אֵלּוּ שֶׁבַע מִצְווֹת שֶׁנִּצְטַוָּה. (תהלים א, ב): וּבְתוֹרָתוֹ יֶהֱגֶה יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה, שֶׁהָגָה דָּבָר מִתּוֹךְ דָּבָר, אָמַר מַה טַּעַם רִבָּה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בִּטְהוֹרִים יוֹתֵר מִטְּמֵאִים, לֹא שֶׁהוּא רוֹצֶה לְהַקְרִיב מֵהֶם קָרְבָּן, מִיָּד (בראשית ח, כ): וַיִּקַּח מִכֹּל הַבְּהֵמָה הַטְּהֹרָה וגו', (תהלים א, ג): וְהָיָה כְּעֵץ שָׁתוּל עַל פַּלְגֵי מָיִם, שֶׁשְּׁתָלוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בַּתֵּבָה. (תהלים א, ג): אֲשֶׁר פִּרְיוֹ יִתֵּן בְּעִתּוֹ, זֶה שֵׁם, (תהלים א, ג): וְעָלֵהוּ לֹא יִבֹּל, זֶה חָם. (תהלים א, ג): וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה יַצְלִיחַ, זֶה יֶפֶת.
“Noah was five hundred years old and Noah begot Shem, Ham, and Yefet” (Genesis 5:32).
“Noah was five hundred years old” – it is written: “Happy is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the wicked” (Psalms 1:1). “Happy is the man” – this is Noah. “Who has not walked in the counsel of the wicked, has not stood in the path of sinners [and has not sat in the company of scoffers]” (Psalms 1:1), Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda says: In three generations – in the generation of Enosh, the generation of the Flood, and the generation of the Dispersion.1Noah resisted the influence of those generations and remained righteous. This is alluded to in the three expressions of resistance to sin in the Psalms verse. Rabbi Neḥemya says: In the generation of the Flood and the generation of the Dispersion, but as for the generation of Enosh, he was still a minor.2Noah was eighty-four years old when Enosh died, and with life expectancy in those days approaching one thousand, people were not considered accountable until they were one hundred years old (see next section).
According to the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda, who said: “Happy is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the wicked,” this is the generation of Enosh; “has not stood in the path of sinners,” this is the generation of the Flood; “and has not sat in the company of scoffers,” this is the generation of the Dispersion; “but whose desire is in the Torah of the Lord” (Psalms 1:2) – these are the seven mitzvot that he [Noah] was commanded; “and he meditates on His Torah day and night” (Psalms 1:2) – as he derived one matter from another. He said: ‘What is the reason that the Holy One blessed be He set the number of the pure animals more than the impure animals? Is it not because He wants me to sacrifice an offering from them?’ Immediately, “he took from every pure animal…[and offered up offerings]” (Genesis 8:20).
“He will be like a tree planted by streams of water” (Psalms 1:3), as the Holy One blessed be He implanted him in the ark; “which gives its fruit in season” (Psalms 1:3), this is Shem; “whose leaf does not wither” (Psalms 1:3), this is Ḥam; “and whatever he does he will prosper” (Psalms 1:3), this is Yefet.
וַיּוֹלֶד נֹחַ שְׁלשָׁה בָנִים אֶת שֵׁם אֶת חָם וְאֶת יָפֶת (בראשית ו, י), כְּתִיב (תהלים צב, יד): שְׁתוּלִים בְּבֵית ה' בְּחַצְרוֹת אֱלֹהֵינוּ יַפְרִיחוּ, שְׁתוּלִים בְּבֵית ה', זֶה נֹחַ שֶׁשְּׁתָלוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בַּתֵּבָה. בְּחַצְרוֹת אֱלֹהֵינוּ יַפְרִיחוּ, וַיּוֹלֶד נֹחַ אֶת שֵׁם אֶת חָם וְאֶת יָפֶת. (תהלים צב, טו): עוֹד יְנוּבוּן בְּשֵׂיבָה דְּשֵׁנִים וְרַעֲנַנִּים יִהְיוּ. עוֹד יְנוּבוּן, זֶה נֹחַ. דְּשֵׁנִים וְרַעֲנַנִּים יִהְיוּ, וַיּוֹלֶד נֹחַ, אָמַר רַבִּי יוּדָן מַה טַּעַם כָּל דּוֹרוֹת הוֹלִידוּ לְמֵאָה שָׁנִים וּלְמָאתַיִם שָׁנָה, וְזֶה הוֹלִיד לַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה, אֶלָּא אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אִם רְשָׁעִים הֵם אֵין רְצוֹנִי שֶׁיֹּאבְדוּ בַּמַּיִם, וְאִם צַדִּיקִים הֵם אַטְרִיחַ עָלָיו וְיַעֲשֶׂה לָהֶם תֵּבוֹת הַרְבֵּה, וְכִיבֵּשׁ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַעֲיָנוֹ וְהוֹלִיד לַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה. רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בְּנוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הַגְּלִילִי אָמַר אֲפִלּוּ יֶפֶת שֶׁהוּא הַגָּדוֹל לִכְשֶׁיָּבוֹא הַמַּבּוּל אֵינוֹ בֶּן מֵאָה שָׁנָה שֶׁרָאוּי לָעֳנָשִׁים. אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא אֵין מִיתָה לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא אֶלָּא בְּעוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים בִּלְבָד, רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר לֹא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וְלֹא בְּעוֹבְדֵי כוֹכָבִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה כה, ח): וּמָחָה ה' אֱלֹהִים דִּמְעָה מֵעַל כָּל פָּנִים, מָה עָבִיד לֵיהּ רַבִּי חֲנִינָא מֵעַל כָּל פָּנִים, מֵעַל פְּנֵיהֶם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְהָכְתִיב (ישעיה סה, כ): כִּי הַנַּעַר בֶּן מֵאָה שָׁנָה יָמוּת, וְהָא מְסַיֵּעַ לֵיהּ לְרַבִּי חֲנִינָא. מָה עָבִיד לֵיהּ רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי, רָאוּי לְכָל עֳנָשִׁים, וְהָא כְתִיב (תהלים מט, טו): כַּצֹּאן לִשְׁאוֹל שַׁתּוּ מָוֶת יִרְעֵם וַיִּרְדּוּ בָם יְשָׁרִים, וְהָא מְסַיֵּעַ לֵיהּ לְרַבִּי חֲנִינָא. מָה עָבִיד לֵיהּ רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי, לְפִי שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה פַּרְעֹה בִּשְׁעָתָן, סִיסְרָא בִּשְׁעָתָן, סַנְחֵרִיב בִּשְׁעָתָן, אֲבָל לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עוֹשֶׂה מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת סְטַטְיוֹנָר שֶׁלָּהֶם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים מט, טו): וַיִּרְדּוּ בָם יְשָׁרִים לַבֹּקֶר וְצוּרָם לְבַלּוֹת שְׁאוֹל מִזְּבֻל לוֹ, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁשְּׁאוֹל בָּלָה וְגוּפָן אֵינָהּ בָּלָה, וְכָל כָּךְ לָמָּה עַל שֶׁפָּשְׁטוּ יְדֵיהֶם בִּזְבוּל, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (מלכים א ח, יג): בָּנֹה בָּנִיתִי בֵּית זְבֻל לָךְ.
“Noah begot three sons, Shem, Ḥam, and Yefet” (Genesis 6:10).It is written: “Planted in the House of the Lord, they blossom in the courts of our God” (Psalms 92:14). “Planted in the House of the Lord,” this is Noah, whom the Holy One blessed be He implanted in the ark; “they blossom in the courts of our God,” – “Noah begot…Shem, Ḥam, and Yefet.” “They will continue to yield fruit even in old age; they will remain full and fresh” (Psalms 92:15). “They will continue to yield fruit [even in old age],” this is Noah;3Who begot children at age five hundred. “they will remain full and fresh” – “Noah begot.”
Rabbi Yudan said: What is the reason that all the generations begot children at one hundred years or at two hundred years, but this one [Noah] begot at five hundred years? However, the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘If they will be wicked, I do not want them to be eradicated by the water;4He did not want to upset Noah. if they will be righteous, I would be imposing upon him [Noah] to make several arks for them. So the Holy One blessed be He suppressed his [Noah’s] fount,5His ability to procreate. and he begot only at five hundred years. Rabbi Neḥemya said in the name of Rabbi Eliezer son of Rabbi Yosei HaGelili: [It was so that] even Yefet, who was the eldest, would not yet be one hundred years old – when he became subject to punishment6In those days, as explained above. – when the Flood came.
Rabbi Ḥanina said: In the future there will be no death except for idolaters. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Neither for Israel, nor for idolaters, as it is stated: “[He will destroy death forever, and] the Lord God will wipe tears from all faces” (Isaiah 25:8). What does Rabbi Ḥanina do with “from all faces”? It is from the faces of Israel. But is it not written: “As the youth will die when he is one hundred years old”? (Isaiah 65:20). This supports Rabbi Ḥanina. What does Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi do with it? [It means that at that age] he will be fit for punishment.
But is it not written: “Like sheep, they are destined for the grave; death will shepherd them. The upright will rule over them”? (Psalms 49:15). This supports Rabbi Ḥanina. What does Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi do with it? Because in this world, there was Pharaoh at his time, Sisera at his time, Sennacherib at his time,7They were all punished. but in the future, the Holy One blessed be He will appoint the angel of death as the permanent sentry.8To administer eternal punishment. They will not rise up from the dead in the future, but those who are alive at that time will not die. That is what is written: “The upright will rule over them in the morning; their form will be consumed in the grave,9Literally, their form will wear out the grave. an abode [zevul] for him” (Psalms 49:15) – this teaches that the grave may wear away, but their bodies will not wear away.10But will be subject to eternal torment. Why to that extent? [“An abode for him”] – because they extended their hands against the Temple, as it is written: “I have built You an abode [zevul]” (I Kings 8:13).
וַיּוֹלֶד נֹחַ שְׁלשָׁה בָנִים אֶת שֵׁם אֶת חָם וְאֶת יָפֶת, וַהֲלוֹא יֶפֶת הוּא הַגָּדוֹל, אֶלָּא בַּתְּחִלָּה אַתָּה דוֹרֵשׁ שֶׁהָיָה צַדִּיק, וְנוֹלַד כְּשֶׁהוּא מָהוּל, וְשֶׁיִּחֵד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שְׁמוֹ עָלָיו, וְשֶׁאַבְרָהָם עָתִיד לָצֵאת מִמֶּנּוּ, שֶׁשִּׁמֵּשׁ בִּכְהֻנָּה גְדוֹלָה, וְשֶׁנִּבְנֶה בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ בִּתְחוּמוֹ. שִׁמְעוֹן בַּר חוּטָה אָמַר שֶׁמִּנְיַן אוֹתִיּוֹתָיו תָּלָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְדוֹרוֹת מִן הַמַּבּוּל וְעַד הַהַפְלָגָה, שְׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת וְאַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה.
“Noah begot three sons, Shem, Ḥam, and Yefet” – but was Yefet not the eldest?, Initially, however, you should deal with the one who was righteous, born circumcised, the one whom the Holy One blessed be He associated His name with him,11“Blessed be the Lord, God of Shem” (Genesis 9:26). from whom Abraham was destined to descend, who served as High Priest,12See Genesis 14:18. Malkitzedek is identified with Shem (see Bereshit Rabbah 56:10). and in whose territory the Temple was built.13Malkitzedek was king of Salem, which is Jerusalem (see Bereshit Rabbah 56:10). Shimon bar Ḥuta said: [Shem takes precedence] because the Holy One blessed be He delayed the punishment [of the post-Flood generation], from the Flood until the Dispersion, the numerical value of his letters – three hundred and forty years.14This is according to the midrash (Bereshit Rabba 38:2) that states that they began building the Tower of Babel immediately after the Flood.
וַיְהִי כִּי הֵחֵל הָאָדָם (בראשית ו, א), אָמַר רַבִּי סִימוֹן בִּשְׁלשָׁה מְקוֹמוֹת נֶאֱמַר בַּלָּשׁוֹן הַזֶּה, לְשׁוֹן מֶרֶד (בראשית ד, כו): אָז הוּחַל, וַיְהִי כִּי הֵחֵל, (בראשית י, ח): הוּא הֵחֵל לִהְיוֹת גִּבֹּר בָּאָרֶץ. אֲתִיבָן לֵיהּ וְהָכְתִיב (בראשית יא, ו): וְזֶה הַחִלָּם לַעֲשׂוֹת, אָמַר לָהֶם קִיפַּח עַל רֹאשׁוֹ שֶׁל נִמְרֹד וְאָמַר לָהֶם זֶה הִמְרִידָן עָלָי. (בראשית ו, א): לָרֹב עַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה, שֶׁהָיוּ שׁוֹפְכִים אֶת זַרְעָם עַל הָעֵצִים וְעַל הָאֲבָנִים, וּלְפִי שֶׁהָיוּ שְׁטוּפִים בִּזְנוּת לְפִיכָךְ הִרְבָּה לָהֶם נְקֵבוֹת, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (בראשית ו, א): וַיְהִי כִּי הֵחֵל הָאָדָם, וּבָנוֹת יֻלְּדוּ לָהֶם, רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בַּר אַמֵּי יָלְדָה אִשְׁתּוֹ נְקֵבָה, חֲמָתֵיהּ רַבִּי חִיָּא רַבָּה אֲמַר לֵיהּ הִתְחִיל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְבָרְכֶךָ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ מְנָא לָךְ הָא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ דִּכְתִיב: וַיְהִי כִּי הֵחֵל הָאָדָם לָרֹב וגו', עָלָה אֵצֶל אָבִיו אָמַר לוֹ שִׂמַּחֲךָ הַבַּבְלִי, אָמַר לוֹ כֵּן וְכֵן אָמַר לִי, אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַף עַל פִּי כֵן צֹרֶךְ לְיַיִן וְצֹרֶךְ לְחֹמֶץ, צֹרֶךְ יַיִן יֶתֶר מִן הַחֹמֶץ. צֹרֶךְ לְחִטִּין וְצֹרֶךְ לִשְׂעוֹרִים, צֹרֶךְ לְחִטִּין יוֹתֵר מִן הַשְּׂעוֹרִים. מִשֶּׁהָאָדָם מֵשִׂיא אֶת בִּתּוֹ וּמוֹצִיא יְצִיאוֹתָיו הוּא אוֹמֵר לָהּ לֹא יְהִי לִיךְ מַחֲזוֹרֵי לְהָכָא. רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אַסֵּיב בְּרַתֵּיהּ, אֲמַרָה לֵיהּ אַבָּא צַלֵּי עֲלַי, אֲמַר לָהּ לָא יְהֵי לִיךְ מַחְזוֹרֵי לְהָכָא. יָלְדָה בֵּן זָכָר אֲמַרָה לֵיהּ אַבָּא צַלֵּי עֲלַי, אֲמַר לָהּ לָא יִשְׁלֵה וַוי מִפּוּמִיךְ. אָמְרָה לוֹ אַבָּא שְׁתֵּי שְׂמָחוֹת שֶׁבָּאוּ לִי אַתָּה מְקַלְּלֵנִי. אֲמַר לָהּ תַּרְתֵּיהֶן צְלָוָנָן, מִן גּוֹ דְּאַתְּ הַוְיָא שְׁלָם בְּבֵיתָךְ לָא יְהִי לִיךְ מַחֲזוֹרֵי לְהָכָא, וּמִן גּוֹ דַּהֲוֵי בְּרִיךְ קַיָּם, לָא יִשְׁלֵה וַוי מִפּוּמִיךְ, וַוי דְּלָא שָׁתֵי בְּרִי, וַוי דְּלָא אָכַל בְּרִי, וַוי דְּלָא אָזֵיל בְּרִי לְבֵי כְּנִשְׁתָּא.
“It was when man began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them” (Genesis 6:1).
“It was when man began [heḥel],” Rabbi Simon said: In three places this language is stated as an expression of rebellion: “then commenced [huḥal] proclaiming the name of the Lord” (Genesis 4:26);15In the generation of Enosh. “it was when man began [heḥel]”; “he began [heḥel] to be a mighty one in the earth” (Genesis 10:8).16Nimrod. They raised an objection to him: But is it not written [as well]: “And this is what they have begun [haḥilam] to do” (Genesis 11:6)?17At the Tower of Babel. He struck upon the head of Nimrod and said of him: ‘This is the one who incited them to rebel against Me.’18The rebellion of the Tower of Babel and that of Nimrod are one and the same, so there are still only three cases.
“To multiply on the face of the earth,” [this teaches] that they would spill their seed on trees and stones.19“On the face of the earth.” Because they were steeped in sexual profligacy, that is the reason He increased the number of their females.20Expecting that the multitude of women would curb their unnatural sexual appetites. That is what is written: “It was when man began…daughters were born to them.”
The wife of Rabbi Shimon son of Rabbi (Ami),21This word was included in error and should be ignored. bore a female offspring. Rabbi Ḥiyya the Great saw him and said to him: ‘The Holy One blessed be He has begun to bless you!’ He said to him: ‘From where do you know this?’ He said to him: ‘As it is written: “It was when man began to multiply…and daughters were born to them.”’ He went to his father, [Rabbi], who said to him: ‘Did that Babylonian22Rabbi Ḥiyya. gladden you?’ He said to him: ‘Yes, and this is what he said to me.’ He said to him: ‘Nevertheless, even though there is a need for wine and a need for vinegar, there is more need for wine than for vinegar. There is a need for wheat and a need for barley, but there is more need for wheat than for barley.’23There is need for girls and boys, but more need for boys. When a man marries his daughter and pays out his [marriage] expenditures, he says to her: ‘May you never return here!’24See next paragraph. The reason boys are more desirable is that boys remain more connected to the family after marriage, whereas girls are gone from the house for good.
Rabban Gamliel married off his daughter. She said to him: ‘Father, pray for me.’ He said to her: ‘May you never return here!’ She bore a male offspring and said to him: ‘Father, pray for me.’ He said to her: ‘May the word ‘Woe’ never cease from your mouth!’ She said to him: ‘Father, upon the two joyous occasions that I experienced you cursed me!’ He said to her: ‘Both of them are prayers. Because there will be peace in your house, you will never return here.25You will never be divorced and have to return home. And because your son will live long, the word ‘Woe’ will not cease from your mouth: Woe that my son did not drink yet, woe that my son did not eat yet, woe that my son did not go to the synagogue!’
וַיִּרְאוּ בְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים (בראשית ו, ב), רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי קָרֵא לְהוֹן בְּנֵי דַיָּנַיָא, רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי מְקַלֵּל לְכָל מַאן דְּקָרֵא לְהוֹן בְּנֵי אֱלָהַיָּא, תָּנֵי רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי כָּל פִּרְצָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ מִן הַגְּדוֹלִים אֵינָהּ פִּרְצָה, כֻּמְרַיָא גָּנְבוּ אֱלָהַיָּא מַאן מוֹמֵי בֵּיהּ אוֹ מַאן מְקָרֵב. וְלָמָּה קוֹרֵא אוֹתָן בְּנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים, רַבִּי חֲנִינָא וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ תַּרְוֵיהוֹן אָמְרִין שֶׁהִרְבּוּ יָמִים בְּלֹא צַעַר וּבְלֹא יִסּוּרִין. רַבִּי חָנָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אָמַר כְּדֵי לַעֲמֹד עַל הַתְּקוּפוֹת וְעַל הַחִשְׁבוֹנוֹת. רַבָּנָן אָמְרִין כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּטְלוּ שֶׁלָּהֶם וְשֶׁל דּוֹרוֹת הַבָּאִים אַחֲרֵיהֶם. (בראשית ו, ב): כִּי טֹבֹת הֵנָּה, אָמַר רַבִּי יוּדָן טֹבֹת כְּתִיב, מִשֶּׁהָיוּ מְטִיבִין אִשָּׁה לְבַעֲלָהּ הָיָה גָדוֹל נִכְנַס וּבוֹעֲלָהּ תְּחִלָּה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב כִּי טֹבֹת הֵנָּה, אֵלּוּ הַבְּתוּלוֹת, (בראשית ו, ב): וַיִּקְחוּ לָהֶם נָשִׁים מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר בָּחָרוּ, אֵלּוּ נְשֵׁי אֲנָשִׁים. מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר בָּחָרוּ, זֶה זָכָר וּבְהֵמָה. רַבִּי הוּנָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אָמַר דּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל לֹא נִמּוֹחוּ מִן הָעוֹלָם עַד שֶׁכָּתְבוּ גִּמּוֹמְסִיּוֹת לְזָכָר וְלִבְהֵמָה. אָמַר רַבִּי שִׂמְלָאי בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁאַתָּה מוֹצֵא זְנוּת, אַנְדְּרוֹלוֹמוּסְיָא בָּאָה לָעוֹלָם וְהוֹרֶגֶת טוֹבִים וְרָעִים. רַבִּי עֲזַרְיָה וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה בַּר רַבִּי סִימוֹן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר עַל הַכֹּל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַאֲרִיךְ אַפּוֹ חוּץ מִן הַזְּנוּת, מַאי טַעְמָא וַיִּרְאוּ בְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים וגו', וּמַה כְּתִיב בַּתְרֵיהּ (בראשית ו, ז): וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶמְחֶה אֶת הָאָדָם, רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בַּר לֵוִי בְּשֵׁם פְּדָיָה אָמַר כָּל אוֹתוֹ הַלַּיְלָה הָיָה לוֹט מְבַקֵּשׁ רַחֲמִים עַל הַסְּדוֹמִיִּים וְהָיוּ מְקַבְּלִין מִיָּדוֹ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁאָמְרוּ לוֹ (בראשית יט, ה): הוֹצִיאֵם אֵלִינוּ וְנֵדְעָה אֹתָם לְתַשְׁמִישׁ, אָמְרוּ לוֹ (בראשית יט, יב): עֹד מִי לְךָ פֹה לְלַמֵּד סָנֵגוֹרְיָא עֲלֵיהֶם, מִכָּאן וָאֵילָךְ אֵין לְךָ לְלַמֵּד עֲלֵיהֶם סָנֵגוֹרְיָא.
“The children of the great men [benei haelohim] saw the daughters of man, that they were fair, and they took for themselves wives, from whomever they chose” (Genesis 6:2).
“The children of the great men [benei haelohim] saw,” Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai called them [when translating this verse into Aramaic] “the children of judges.” Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai used to curse anyone who would call them [translating the words literally, as] “children of god.”26In Hebrew Elohim can mean either “God” or “judge” (Exodus 22:8), but in Aramaic Elohaya can only mean “God,” so translating the word in this manner would be blasphemous. Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai taught: Any breach [in morals] that is not [begun] by prominent men is not a breach.27The common people follow the example of their leaders. [The saying goes:] If the priests steal the idols, who will ever take an oath in their names, or who will ever sacrifice to them?28By stealing the idols, the priests, through their actions, prove the powerlessness of those gods, so naturally all its worshippers will no longer take it seriously.
Why are these [great men] referred to as benei haelohim? Rabbi Ḥanina and Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, both of them say: It is because they lived long lives without pain and without suffering.29As if they were divine beings. [And why were they granted such extraordinarily long lives?] Rabbi Ḥana said in the name of Rabbi Yosei: In order to track astronomical phenomena and [make the relevant] calculations.30The cycles of some heavenly bodies are many years long. Only if someone lives a very long life can they note this and make astronomical calculations. The Rabbis say: So that they would receive theirs and that of the coming generations.31During their lengthy lives they had a chance to accumulate much liability for punishment, to the extent that God had to bring the Flood. The future generations would then look back on the Flood and learn not to be as sinful as their forebears.
“That they were fair [tovot]” – Rabbi Yudan said: The word is written tovot [without vavs].32With this spelling, the word indicates “beautification.” When they would adorn a woman for her [marriage to her] husband, the prominent man would enter and consort with her first, [before her husband]. That is what is written: “That they were fair [tovot]” – these are the unmarried girls.33Who were violated just prior to their weddings. “They took for themselves wives from whomever they chose”34The words “from whomever they chose” should be omitted (Radal). – these are married women. “From whomever they chose” – these are males and animals.35They sinned also through homosexuality and bestiality. Rabbi Huna said in the name of Rabbi: The generation of the Flood was not obliterated from the world until they wrote marriage contracts for males and animals.36That is, they made such unions official and legal.
Rabbi Simlai said: Anywhere sexual immorality is found, a chaotic catastrophe comes to the world, which kills the righteous along with the wicked.37As with the Flood, which killed everyone on earth except Noah and his family.
Rabbi Azarya and Rabbi Yehuda bar Rabbi Simon said in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: The Holy One blessed be He is slow to anger regarding everything except for sexual immorality. What is the source? “The children of the great men [benei haelohim] saw….” What is written [immediately] thereafter? “The Lord said: I will obliterate man” (Genesis 6:7). Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said in the name of bar Pedaya [regarding Lot and the people of Sodom]: All night long, Lot was begging [the angels] for mercy for the people of Sodom, and they were receptive to him. [But] once they [the people of Sodom] said: “Bring them out to us, that we may know them” (Genesis 19:5), meaning, by sexual relations, they [the angels] said to him: “Whom else do you have [here] [po]” (Genesis 19:12), [meaning, what else can there possibly be in your mouth [peh]] to plea in their favor?’ From here on, it is impossible for you to plea in their favor.
וַיֹּאמֶר ה' לֹא יָדוֹן רוּחִי בָּאָדָם (בראשית ו, ג), אָמַר רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי אֵינִי נוֹתֵן רוּחִי בָּהֶם בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאֲנִי נוֹתֵן מַתַּן שְׂכָרָן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל לו, כז): וְאֶת רוּחִי אֶתֵּן בְּקִרְבְּכֶם. רַבִּי יַנַּאי וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ, תַּרְוֵיהוֹן אָמְרִין אֵין גֵּיהִנֹּם לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא אֶלָּא יוֹם הוּא שֶׁמְלַהֵט אֶת הָרְשָׁעִים, מַה טַּעַם (מלאכי ג, יט): כִּי הִנֵּה הַיּוֹם בָּא בֹּעֵר כַּתַּנּוּר וְהָיוּ כָל זֵדִים וְכָל עֹשֵׂה רִשְׁעָה קַשׁ וְלִהַט אֹתָם הַיּוֹם הַבָּא. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי יֵשׁ גֵּיהִנֹּם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה לא, ט): נְאֻם ה' אֲשֶׁר אוּר לוֹ בְּצִיּוֹן וְתַנּוּר לוֹ בִּיְרוּשָׁלָיִם. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בַּר רַבִּי אִלְעָי אָמַר לֹא יוֹם וְלֹא גֵּיהִנֹּם אֶלָּא אֵשׁ הִיא שֶׁתִּהְיֶה יוֹצֵאת מִגּוּפוֹ שֶׁל רָשָׁע וּמְלַהַטְתּוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה לג, יא): תַּהֲרוּ חֲשַׁשׁ תֵּלְדוּ קַשׁ רוּחֲכֶם אֵשׁ תֹּאכַלְכֶם. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי אִלְעָי מַהוּ לֹא יָדוֹן רוּחִי עוֹד אֵין הָרוּחוֹת הַלָּלוּ נִדּוֹנוֹת לְפָנַי לְעוֹלָם. רַבִּי הוּנָא בְּשֵׁם רַב אֲחָא אָמַר בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאֲנִי מַחֲזִיר הָרוּחַ לִנְדָנָה אֵינִי מַחֲזִיר רוּחָן לְנִדְנֵיהֶן. אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּא בַּר אַבָּא אֵינִי מְמַלֵּא רוּחִי בָּהֶן בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאֲנִי מְמַלֵּא רוּחִי בָּאָדָם, לְפִי שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה הָרוּחַ הִיא נִבְזֶקֶת בְּאֶחָד מֵאֵבָרָיו, אֲבָל לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא הִיא נִבְזֶקֶת בְּכָל הַגּוּף, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (יחזקאל לו, כז): וְאֶת רוּחִי אֶתֵּן בְּקִרְבְּכֶם. אָמַר רַבִּי יוּדָן בֶּן בְּתֵירָא עוֹד אֵינִי דָּן אֶת הַדִּין הַזֶּה לְעוֹלָם. רַב הוּנָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹסֵף אָמַר (בראשית ח, כא): לֹא אֹסִף, וְלֹא אֹסִף, לִסְגֵּי לִסְגֵּי. רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי לֹא אֹסִף לִבְנֵי נֹחַ, לֹא אֹסִף לְדוֹרוֹת, אֲנִי אָמַרְתִּי שֶׁתְּהֵא רוּחִי דָּנָה בָּהֶן וְהֵן לֹא בִּקְּשׁוּ, הֲרֵי אֲנִי מְשַׁגְּמָן בְּיִסּוּרִין. אֲנִי אָמַרְתִּי שֶׁתְּהֵא רוּחִי דָנָה בָּהֶן וְהֵן לֹא כִּחֲשׁוּ, הֲרֵינִי מְשַׁגְּמָן אֵלּוּ בְּאֵלּוּ, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אֵין לְךָ שֶׁהוּא מִתְחַיֵּב בָּאָדָם הַזֶּה אֶלָּא אָדָם כַּיּוֹצֵא בּוֹ. רַבִּי נָתָן אוֹמֵר אֲפִלּוּ זְאֵב וְכֶלֶב. רַבִּי הוּנָא בַּר גּוּרְיוֹן אָמַר אֲפִלּוּ מַקֵּל אֲפִלּוּ רְצוּעָה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ישעיה ט, ג): כִּי אֶת עֹל סֻבֳּלוֹ וְאֵת מַטֵּה שִׁכְמוֹ שֵׁבֶט הַנֹּגֵשׂ בּוֹ הַחִתֹּתָ כְּיוֹם מִדְיָן, כְּיוֹם הַדִּין. אָמַר רַבִּי אַחָא אַף אִילָנֵי סְרַק עֲתִידִין לִתֵּן דִּין וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן. רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי מֵהָכָא (דברים כ, יט): כִּי הָאָדָם עֵץ הַשָּׂדֶה, מָה הָאָדָם נוֹתֵן דִּין וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן, אַף עֵצִים נוֹתְנִין דִּין וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בַּר נְחֶמְיָה אֵינִי דָן רוּחָן בְּעַצְמָן, שֶׁבָּשָׂר וָדָם הֵן, אֶלָּא הֲרֵי אֲנִי מֵבִיא עֲלֵיהֶם מִעוּט שָׁנִים שֶׁקָּצַבְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, וְאַחַר כָּךְ אֲנִי מְשַׁגְּמָן בְּיִסּוּרִין. אָמַר רַבִּי אַיְבוּ מִי גָרַם לָהֶם שֶׁיִּמְרְדוּ בִּי לֹא עַל יְדֵי שֶׁלֹא שִׁגַּמְתִּי אוֹתָם בְּיִסּוּרִין, הַדֶּלֶת הַזּוֹ מִי מַעֲמִידוֹ שְׁגָמָיו. אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁאֵין דִּין יֵשׁ דִּין. רַבִּי בֵּיבֵי בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי אַמֵּי בְּשִׁיטַת רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר (בראשית ו, ג): לֹא יָדוֹן רוּחִי. אָמַר רַבִּי מֵאִיר הֵן לֹא עָשׂוּ מִדַּת הַדִּין לְמַטָּה, אַף אֲנִי אֵינִי עוֹשֶׂה מִדַּת הַדִּין לְמַעְלָה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (איוב ד, כא): הֲלֹא נִסַּע יִתְרָם בָּם יָמוּתוּ וְלֹא בְחָכְמָה, בְּלֹא חָכְמַת הַתּוֹרָה. (איוב ד, כ): מִבֹּקֶר לָעֶרֶב יֻכַּתּוּ מִבְּלִי מֵשִׂים לָנֶצַח יֹאבֵדוּ, וְאֵין מֵשִׂים אֶלָּא דִּין, הֵיךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (שמות כא, א): וְאֵלֶּה הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים אֲשֶׁר תָּשִׂים לִפְנֵיהֶם. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הַגְּלִילִי עוֹד אֵינִי דָן מִדַּת הַדִּין כְּנֶגֶד מִדַּת רַחֲמִים. רַבִּי אוֹמֵר וְיֹאמַר דּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל לַה' לֹא יָדוֹן. אָמַר רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא (תהלים י, יג): עַל מֶה נִאֵץ רָשָׁע אֱלֹהִים אָמַר בְּלִבּוֹ לֹא תִדְרשׁ, לֵית דִּין וְלֵית דַּיָּן, אֲבָל אִית דִּין וְאִית דַּיָּן. אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בַּר פַּפָּא אֲפִלּוּ נֹחַ שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּיֵּר מֵהֶם לֹא שֶׁהָיָה כְּדַי, אֶלָּא שֶׁצָּפָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁמּשֶׁה עָתִיד לַעֲמֹד מִמֶּנּוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּשַׁגָּם, זֶה משֶׁה, דְּחוּשְׁבְּנֵיהּ דְּדֵין הוּא חוּשְׁבְּנֵיהּ דְּדֵין. רַבָּנָן מַיְיתוּ לָהּ מֵהָכָא, וְהָיוּ יָמָיו מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה, וּמשֶׁה חַי מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה.
“The Lord said: My spirit will not abide in man for eternity, for he too is flesh and his days will be one hundred and twenty years” (Genesis 6:3).
“The Lord said: My spirit will not abide [yadon] in man,” Rabbi Yishmael ben Rabbi Yosei said: I will not place My spirit in them when I give the reward of the righteous in the future, about which it is stated: “I will place My spirit in them” (Ezekiel 36:27).
Rabbi Yanai and Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, both of them said: In the future, there will be no Gehenna; rather, there will be a day that [through its heat] will burn the wicked. What is the source? “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, and all the criminals and all the doers of wickedness will be as straw; the day that is coming will burn them” (Malachi 3:19). The Rabbis say: There will be Gehenna, as it is stated: “The utterance of the Lord, for whom there is a fire in Zion and a furnace for Him in Jerusalem” (Isaiah 31:9). Rabbi Yehuda bar Rabbi Ilai said: There will be neither a [hot] day nor Gehenna, but rather there will be a fire that will emerge from the body of the wicked one himself and burn him, as it is stated: “Conceive stubble, give birth to straw, your spirit is a fire that will consume you” (Isaiah 33:11).
Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Ilai said: What is, “My spirit will not abide [yadon]”? These spirits will never come before Me for judgment.38The members of the generation of the Flood will not even be resurrected to be sentenced. Rabbi Huna said in the name of Rav Aḥa: When I restore the spirit [of man] to its scabbard [nadan], I will not return their spirit to their scabbards.39The body is considered a “scabbard” that houses the soul within it (Daniel 7:15). The generation of the Flood will not come to life with the others at the final resurrection.
Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: I will not fill them up with My spirit when I fill mankind up with My spirit,40As a scabbard is completely filled with the sword it holds. because in this world the spirit is infused in only one limb [the heart], but in the future, it will be infused throughout the body. That is what is written: “I will place My spirit within you” (Ezekiel 36:27).
Rabbi Yudan ben Beteira said: I [God] will never again judge man with this sentence.41Bringing a destructive flood upon mankind.
Rav Huna said in the name of Rabbi Yosef: “I will not continue [to curse the ground because of man … and I will not continue [to smite all life as I have done]” (Genesis 8:21)42The Midrash will explain the repetition of “I will not continue.” –it is powerful, it is powerful.43The repetition indicates the intensity of God’s commitment, as if He were declaring an oath (see Isaiah 54:9). The Rabbis say: “I will not continue” – for the [present] sons of Noah; “and I will not continue” – for [future] generations.
[God said:] ‘I had said that My spirit would hold sway [dana] over them, but they did not want [this]; therefore, I will cause them to be entangled [meshagem] with suffering. I had said that My spirit would control them, but they did not disavow [their sinful ways]; therefore I will cause them to be entangled [meshagem] with one another,’44And they will enter into disputes and deadly feuds with one another, thus incurring the death penalty. as Rabbi Elazar said: The only one who incurs liability for harming a human is one who is a human like him. Rabbi Natan said: Wolves and dogs also.45They also incur the death penalty if they kill a human. Rabbi Huna bar Guryon said: Even a rod, even a strap.46If they bring about the death of a person they are destroyed. That is what is written: “For the yoke of its burden and the bar on its shoulder, the rod that oppresses it, You have broken as on the day of Midyan [keyom midyan]” (Isaiah 9:3) – on the day of judgment [beyom hadin]. Rabbi Aḥa said: Even non-fruit bearing trees are destined to give a reckoning.47If they cause the death of a person. The Rabbis say [this same concept] from here: “For man is like the tree of the field” (Deuteronomy 20:19) – just as man gives a reckoning, so, too, trees give a reckoning.
Rabbi Yehoshua bar Neḥemya said: [God said:] ‘I will not judge their spirit separately, as they are flesh and blood,48And they must experience physical suffering. but I will bring upon them a shortening of the years that I had allotted them in this world, and then I will cause them to be entangled [meshagem] with suffering.’ Rabbi Aivu said: [God said:] ‘Who caused them to rebel against Me, is it not because I did not cause them to be entangled [meshagem] with suffering?’49Therefore, from now on mankind will be subject to physical suffering for their sins. This door, what keeps it standing? It is its hinges [shegam].50Just as hinges support the door and allow it to function, so too physical suffering is good for man and induces him to grow spiritually.
Rabbi Elazar said: Anyplace where there is no justice, there is justice.51Wherever justice is not practiced on earth, justice from God will be meted out. Rabbi Beivai son of Rabbi Ami, in accordance with the approach of Rabbi Elazar: “My spirit will not abide” [Lo yadon, ruḥi].”52This is expounded to mean: If they do not judge [lo yadon], My spirit [ruḥi] will judge. Rabbi Meir said: [God said:] ‘They did not exercise the attribute of justice below, so I will not exercise the attribute of justice On High.’53But rather, I will judge with wrath and fury. That is what is written: “Behold, their remnant has gone away from them, and they die without wisdom” (Job 4:21) – without the wisdom of the Torah. “From morning to evening they are broken; forever unnoticed [mibeli mesim], they perish” (Job 4:20) – mesim is nothing other than judgment, just as it says: “These are the ordinances that you shall place [tasim] before them” (Exodus 21:1). Rabbi Yosei HaGelili said: I will not judge them with the attribute of justice along with a corresponding attribute of mercy.54But with the attribute of justice alone.
Rabbi says: “He said” – the generation of the Flood said to the Lord: ‘He shall not judge [us]!’55Here, the verse currently under discussion, “Vayomer Hashem lo yadon” is being interpreted as: “They said: Hashem, He shall not judge us!” Rabbi Akiva said: “Why has the wicked man mocked God, saying to himself: You will not seek” (Psalms 10:13) – [by this that man means:] there is no justice and no Judge.56God does not judge man for his deeds. However, in fact there is justice and there is a Judge.57As the following verses in Psalms respond.
Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa said: Even Noah, who survived from among them, it is not that he was worthy, but rather, the Holy One blessed be He foresaw that Moses was destined to descend from him, as it is stated: “For he too [Beshagam]” – this is an allusion to Moses, as the numerical value of this word [beshagam] is the same numerical value as that word [Moshe]. The Rabbis derive it from here: “His days will be one hundred and twenty years” – and Moses lives one hundred and twenty years.
הַנְּפִלִים הָיוּ בָאָרֶץ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם (בראשית ו, ד), שִׁבְעָה שֵׁמוֹת נִקְרְאוּ לָהֶם, אֵימִים, רְפָאִים, גִּבּוֹרִים, זַמְזֻמִּים, עֲנָקִים, עַוִּים, נְפִלִים. אֵימִים, שֶׁכָּל מִי שֶׁרָאָה אוֹתָן הָיְתָה אֵימָתָן נוֹפֶלֶת עָלָיו. רְפָאִים, שֶׁכָּל מִי שֶׁרָאָה אוֹתָן הָיָה לִבּוֹ רָפֶה כְּשַׁעֲוָה. גִּבּוֹרִים, רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר מֹחַ קוּלִיתוֹ שֶׁל אֶחָד מֵהֶם הָיְתָה נִמְדֶדֶת י"ח אַמָּה. זַמְזֻמִּים, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר חֲנִינָא מְנַטְרוֹמִין מְגִיסְטֵי מִלְחָמָה. עֲנָקִים, רַבָּנָן וְרַבִּי אַחָא, רַבָּנָן אָמְרוּ שֶׁהָיוּ מַרְבִּים עֲנָקִים עַל גַּבֵּי עֲנָקִים [פרוש תכשיטיז], רַבִּי אַחָא אָמַר שֶׁהָיוּ עוֹנְקִים גַּלְגַּל חַמָּה, וְאוֹמְרִים הוֹרֵד לָנוּ גְשָׁמִים. עַוִּים, שֶׁצָּדוּ אֶת הָעוֹלָם וְשֶׁהֻצְדוּ מִן הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁגָּרְמוּ לָעוֹלָם שֶׁיִּצּוֹד, הֵיךְ מַה דְּאַתְּ אָמַר (יחזקאל כא, לב): עַוָּה עַוָּה עַוָּה אֲשִׂימֶנָּה. אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן שֶׁהָיוּ בְּקִיאִים בַּעֲפָרוֹת כִּנְחָשִׁים. בְּגָלִילָא צָוְחִין לְחִוְיָא אִוְיָא. נְפִלִים, שֶׁהִפִּילוּ אֶת הָעוֹלָם, וְשֶׁנָּפְלוּ מִן הָעוֹלָם וְשֶׁמִּלְּאוּ אֶת הָעוֹלָם נְפָלִים בַּזְנוּת שֶׁלָּהֶם. (בראשית ו, ד): וְגַם אַחֲרֵי כֵן, יְהוּדָה בַּר רַבִּי אַמֵּי אָמַר, אַחֲרָאֵי לָא יִלְּפוּן מִן קֳדָמָאֵי, דּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל לֹא לָקְחוּ מוּסָר מִדּוֹר אֱנוֹשׁ, וְדוֹר הַפְלָגָה מִדּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל. (בראשית ו, ד): וְגַם אַחֲרֵי כֵן אֲשֶׁר יָבֹאוּ בְּנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים אֶל בְּנוֹת הָאָדָם, אָמַר רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה הָיְתָה אִשָּׁה יוֹצֵאת בַּשּׁוּק וְהָיְתָה רוֹאָה בָּחוּר וּמִתְאַוָּה לוֹ וְהָיְתָה הוֹלֶכֶת וּמְשַׁמֶּשֶׁת אֶת מִטָּתָהּ וְהָיְתָה מַעֲמֶדֶת בָּחוּר כַּיּוֹצֵא בּוֹ. אַנְשֵׁי הַשֵּׁם (בראשית ו, ד), אָמַר רַבִּי אֲחָא (איוב ל, ח): בְּנֵי נָבָל גַּם בְּנֵי בְלִי שֵׁם, וְאַתְּ אֲמַרְתְּ אַנְשֵׁי הַשֵּׁם, אֶלָּא שֶׁהִשִּׁימוּ אֶת הָעוֹלָם, וְשֶׁהוּשַׁמּוּ מִן הָעוֹלָם, וְשֶׁגָּרְמוּ לָעוֹלָם שֶׁיִּשֹּׁוֹם. רַבִּי לֵוִי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן אָמַר אֲנָשִׁים שֶׁנִּתְפָּרְשׁוּ שְׁמוֹתָן לְמַעְלָן, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי כָּל הַשֵּׁמוֹת הַלָּלוּ לָשׁוֹן מַרְדּוּת הֵן, עִירָד, עוֹרְדָּן אֲנִי מִן הָעוֹלָם. מְחוּיָאֵל, מוֹחָן אֲנִי מִן הָעוֹלָם. מְתוּשָׁאֵל, מַתִּישָׁן אֲנִי מִן הָעוֹלָם. מַה לִּי לְלֶמֶךְ וּלְתוֹלְדוֹתָיו. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן הֵמָּה הַגִּבֹּרִים אֲשֶׁר מֵעוֹלָם אַנְשֵׁי הַשֵּׁם, וּמִי פֵּרַשׁ מַעֲשֵׂיהֶן, אֱלִיפַז הַתֵּימָנִי, וּבִלְדַּד הַשּׁוּחִי, וְצוֹפַר הַנַּעֲמָתִי. רַבִּי אוֹמֵר אִלּוּ לֹא בָּא אִיּוֹב לָעוֹלָם אֶלָּא לְפָרֵשׁ לָנוּ מַעֲשֶׂה הַמַּבּוּל, דַּיּוֹ. אָמַר רַבִּי חָנִין אִלּוּ לֹא בָּא אֱלִיהוּא אֶלָּא לְפָרֵשׁ לָנוּ מַעֲשֵׂה יְרִידַת הַגְּשָׁמִים, דַּיּוֹ, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן כָּל אוֹרָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בֶּאֱלִיהוּא אֵינָהּ אֶלָּא בִּירִידַת גְּשָׁמִים. רַבִּי הוֹשַׁעְיָה רַבָּה אָמַר אֵינָהּ אֶלָּא בְּמַתַּן תּוֹרָה, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (משלי ו, כג): כִּי נֵר מִצְוָה וְתוֹרָה אוֹר. רַבִּי אַחָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר, קָשָׁה הִיא הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת כְּדוֹר הַמַּבּוּל, נֶאֱמַר כָּאן אַנְשֵׁי הַשֵּׁם, וְנֶאֱמַר לְהַלָּן (במדבר טז, ב): קְרִאֵי מוֹעֵד אַנְשֵׁי שֵׁם, מַה אַנְשֵׁי הַשֵּׁם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר לְהַלָּן מַחֲלֹקֶת אַף אַנְשֵׁי שֵׁם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר כָּאן מַחֲלֹקֶת.
“The giants were on the earth in those days, and also thereafter, when the children of the great ones consorted with the daughters of man, and they bore them children; they are the mighty who were from ancient times, the men of renown” (Genesis 6:4).
“The giants were on the earth in those days.” They were called by seven names: Eimim, Refa’im, Giborim, Zamzumim, Anakim, Avim, Nefilim. Eimim – as anyone who saw them, fear of them [eimatan] would descend upon them. Refa’im – as anyone who saw them, his heart would become soft [rafeh] like wax. Giborim58Meaning, mighty men. – Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said, in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: The marrow of the femur of one of them measured eighteen cubits. Zamzumim – Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina said: Intimidating military commanders.59Zamzumim is because they would be constantly ready [mezumanim] for battle. Anakim – the Rabbis and Rabbi Aḥa, the Rabbis say: They would wear numerous necklaces upon necklaces [anakim].60This is an indication of their wealth – anak is one of the words for necklace. Rabbi Aḥa said: It was as though they wore the sun as a necklace,61They lifted up their heads arrogantly towards the sun. and said: ‘[Go away and] let the rain fall upon us.’ Avim – as they brought annihilation upon the world and were themselves annihilated from the world, as they caused the world to be annihilated, just as it says: “A ruin, a ruin, a ruin [ava] I will render it” (Ezekiel 21:32). Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Shimon said: Because they were as expert in soil as snakes, as in the Galilee they call snakes avya. Nefilim – as they toppled [hipilu] the world, fell from the world, and filled the world with stillborns [nefalim] with their immorality.62It was common for immoral women to abort their illegitimate fetuses.
“And also thereafter,” Yehuda bar Rav Ami said: The later [generations] did not learn from the earlier ones; the generation of the Flood did not learn from the generation of Enosh, and the generation of the Dispersion did not learn from the generation of the Flood.
“And also thereafter, when the children of the great ones consorted with the daughters of man,” Rabbi Berekhya said: A woman would go out to the marketplace and would see a young man and desire him. She would go and engage in intercourse and would produce a young man like him.
“The men of renown [shem]”63Literally, ‘name.’ – Rabbi Aḥa said: [Job said, of the wicked:] “They are loathsome people and also people without name ” (Job 30:8), and here you say, [of the generation of the Flood:] “The men of name”? However, it is because they brought desolation [hishimu] to the world, they were annihilated [hushamu] from the world, and they caused the world to become desolate [yishom]. Rabbi Levi in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: Men whose names were articulated above. It is as Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said; all these names are expressions of rebellion: “Irad” (Genesis 4:18) – ‘I will expel [ored] them from the world’; “Meḥuyael” (Genesis 4:18) – ‘I will eradicate [moḥeh] them from the world’; “Metushael” (Genesis 4:18) – ‘I will uproot [matish] them from the world’; [“Lemekh” (Genesis 4:18)] – ‘What do I have to do with Lemekh64Lemekh is an acronym for ma li valakh – what need do I have of you? and his offspring?’
Rabbi Yoḥanan said: “They are the mighty who were from ancient times, the men of renown” – who detailed their actions? It was [Job’s friends,] Elifaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Tzofar the Naamatite. Rabbi says: Had the book of Job come to the world only to detail for us the deeds of the [generation of the] Flood, it would have been sufficient. Rabbi Ḥanin said: Had Elihu65Job’s fourth friend. come to the world only to explain to us the process of rainfall, it would have been sufficient, as Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Every time “ora” is mentioned by Elihu it refers only to rainfall.66See Job 36:30; 36:32; 37:3; 37:11. Rabbi Hoshaya Rabba said: It refers only to the giving of the Torah, just as it says: “For the commandment is a lamp and the Torah is light [or]” (Proverbs 6:23).
Rabbi Aḥa said in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: Contention is as troublesome as the generation of the Flood. Here “men of renown” is stated, and elsewhere [concerning Koraḥ’s rebellion]: “Distinguished of the convocation, men of renown” (Numbers 16:2) is stated. Just as “men of renown” stated there refers to contention, so, too, “men of renown” stated here refers to contention.