Bereishit - Genesis - Chapter 6
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| 1And it came to pass when man commenced to multiply upon the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them. | ×וַֽיְהִי֙ כִּֽי־הֵחֵ֣ל ×”Ö¸Ö½×Ö¸×“Ö¸Ö”× ×œÖ¸×¨Ö¹Ö–×‘ ×¢Ö·×œÖ¾×¤Ö°Ö¼× ÖµÖ£×™ ×”Ö¸Ö½×ֲדָמָ֑ה ×•Ö¼×‘Ö¸× Ö–×•Ö¹×ª יֻלְּד֥וּ לָהֶֽ×: | |
| 2That the sons of the nobles saw the daughters of man when they were beautifying themselves, and they took for themselves wives from whomever they chose. | בוַיִּרְ×֤וּ ×‘Ö°× Öµ×™Ö¾×”Ö¸Ö½×ֱלֹהִי×Ö™ ×Ö¶×ªÖ¾×‘Ö°Ö¼× Ö£×•Ö¹×ª ×”Ö¸Ö½×Ö¸×“Ö¸Ö”× ×›Ö´Ö¼Ö¥×™ טֹבֹ֖ת ×”ÖµÖ‘× Ö¸Ö¼×” וַיִּקְח֤וּ לָהֶ×Ö™ × Ö¸×©Ö´×Ö”×™× ×žÖ´×›Ö¹Ö¼Ö–×œ ×ֲשֶ×֥ר בָּחָֽרוּ: | |
| the sons of the nobles: Heb. ×‘Ö°Ö¼× Öµ×™ ×”Ö¸×ֱלֹהִי×, the sons of the princes (Targumim) and the judges (Gen. Rabbah 26:5). Another explanation: ×‘Ö°Ö¼× Öµ×™ ×”Ö¸×Ö±×œÖ¹×”Ö´×™× are the princes who go as messengers of the Omnipresent. They too mingled with them (Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer, ch. 22). Every ×Ö±×œÖ¹×”Ö´×™× in Scripture is an expression of authority, and the following proves it (Exod. 4:16): “And you shall be to him as a lord (לֵ×לֹהִי×)”; (ibid. 7:1): “See, I have made you a lord (×ֶלֹהִי×).” | ×‘× ×™ ×”×-להי×: ×‘× ×™ ×”×©×¨×™× ×•×”×©×•×¤×˜×™×. (דבר ×חר ×‘× ×™ ×”×-×œ×”×™× ×”× ×”×©×¨×™× ×”×”×•×œ×›×™× ×‘×©×œ×™×—×•×ª×• של מקו×, ××£ ×”× ×”×™×• ×ž×ª×¢×¨×‘×™× ×‘×”×). כל ×-×œ×”×™× ×©×‘×ž×§×¨× ×œ×©×•×Ÿ מרות, וזה יוכיח (שמות ד טז) ו×תה תהיה לו ל×-להי×, (×©× ×– ×) ר××” × ×ª×ª×™×š ×-להי×: | |
| when they were beautifying themselves: Heb., טֹבֹת. Said Rabbi Judan: It is written טבת [i.e., instead of טובות. Thus it can be read טָבַת, meaning to beautify.] When they would beautify her, adorned to enter the nuptial canopy, a noble would enter and have relations with her first (Gen. Rabbah 26:5). | ×›×™ טבת ×”× ×”: ×מר רבי יודן טבת כתיב, כשהיו מטיבין ×ותה מקושטת ×œ×™×›× ×¡ לחופה, ×”×™×” גדול × ×›× ×¡ ובועלה תחלה: | |
| from whomever they chose: Even a married woman, even males and animals (Gen. Rabbah ad loc.). | מכל ×שר בחרו: ××£ בעולת בעל, ××£ הזכר והבהמה: | |
| 3And the Lord said, "Let My spirit not quarrel forever concerning man, because he is also flesh, and his days shall be a hundred and twenty years." | גוַיֹּ֣×מֶר יְהֹוָ֗ה לֹֽ×־יָד֨וֹן רוּחִ֤י בָֽ×ָדָ×Ö™ ×œÖ°×¢Ö¹×œÖ¸Ö”× ×‘Ö°Ö¼×©Ö·××’Ö¸Ö¼Ö–× ×”Ö£×•Ö¼× ×‘Ö¸×©Ö¸×‚Ö‘×¨ וְהָי֣וּ יָמָ֔יו מֵ×Ö¸Ö¥×” ×•Ö°×¢Ö¶×©Ö°×‚×¨Ö´Ö–×™× ×©Ö¸×× Ö¸Ö½×”: | |
| Let My spirit not quarrel forever: Let My spirit not complain and quarrel because of man. | ×œ× ×™×“×•×Ÿ רוחי ב×ד×: ×œ× ×™×ª×¨×¢× ×•×™×¨×™×‘ רוחי עלי בשביל ×”×ד×: | |
| forever: for a long time. Behold My spirit is quarreling within Me whether to destroy or to have mercy. Let this quarrel in My spirit not endure forever, i.e., for a long time. | לעול×: ל×ורך ימי×, ×”× ×” רוחי × ×“×•×Ÿ בקרבי ×× ×œ×”×©×—×™×ª ו×× ×œ×¨×—×, ×œ× ×™×”×™×” מדון ×–×” ברוחי לעול×, כלומר ל×ורך ימי×: | |
| because he is also flesh: Heb. בְּשַ××’Ö¸Ö¼×, like בְּשֶ××’Ö·Ö¼×, i.e., because this is also in him that he is [only] flesh, and nevertheless, he does not subordinate himself before Me. What if he were fire or a hard substance? [i.e., How much greater would his insubordination be!] Similar to this, (Jud. 5:7): “Until I Deborah arose (שַ×קַּמְתִּי)”, as if it were written שֶ×קַּמְתִּי, and similarly, (ibid. 6:17): “that You (שָ××ַתָּה) are speaking with me,” as if it were written שֶ××ַתָּה. So too, בְּשַ××’Ö¸Ö¼× is like בְּשֶ××’Ö·Ö¼×. | ×‘×©×’× ×”×•× ×‘×©×¨: כמו בשג×, כלומר בשביל ×©×’× ×–×ת בו ×©×”×•× ×‘×©×¨, ו××£ על פי כן ××™× ×• × ×›× ×¢ ×œ×¤× ×™, ומה ×× ×™×”×™×” ×ש ×ו דבר קשה, ×›×™×•×¦× ×‘×• (×©×•×¤×˜×™× ×” ×–) עד שקמתי דבורה, כמו שקמתי. וכן (×©× ×• ×™×–) ש×תה מדבר עמי, כמו ש×תה, ××£ ×‘×©×’× ×›×ž×• בשג×: | |
| and his days shall be: Until a hundred and twenty years I will delay My wrath towards them, but if they do not repent, I will bring a flood upon them. Now if you ask: from the time that Japheth was born until the Flood are only a hundred years, [I will answer that] there is no [sequence of] earlier and later events in the Torah. This decree had already been issued twenty years before Noah begot children, and so we find in Seder Olam (ch. 28). There are many Aggadic midrashim on the words ×œÖ¹× ×™Ö¸×“×•Ö¹×Ÿ, but this is its clear, simple explanation. | והיו ימיו וגו': עד מ××” ×•×¢×©×¨×™× ×©× ×” ××ריך ×œ×”× ×פי ו×× ×œ× ×™×©×•×‘×• ××‘×™× ×¢×œ×™×”× ×ž×‘×•×œ. ו×× ×ª×מר ×ž×©× ×•×œ×“ יפת עד המבול ××™× ×• ××œ× ×ž××” ×©× ×”, ×ין ×ž×•×§×“× ×•×ž×וחר בתורה, כבר היתה הגזירה גזורה ×¢×©×¨×™× ×©× ×” ×§×•×“× ×©×”×•×œ×™×“ × ×— תולדות, וכן ×ž×¦×™× ×• בסדר ×¢×•×œ× (פרק ×›×—). יש מדרשי ×גדה ×¨×‘×™× ×‘×œ× ×™×“×•×Ÿ, ×בל ×–×” ×”×•× ×¦×—×¦×•×— פשוטו: | |
| 4The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of the nobles would come to the daughters of man, and they would bear for them; they are the mighty men, who were of old, the men of renown. | ×“×”Ö·× Ö°Ö¼×¤Ö´×œÖ´Öž×™× ×”Ö¸×™Ö£×•Ö¼ בָ×ָ֘רֶץ֘ ×‘Ö·Ö¼×™Ö¸Ö¼×žÖ´Ö£×™× ×”Ö¸×”Öµ×Ö’ ×•Ö°×’Ö·Ö£× ×ַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֗ן ×ֲשֶ×֨ר יָבֹ֜×וּ ×‘Ö°Ö¼× ÖµÖ¤×™ ×”Ö¸Ö½×ֱלֹהִי×Ö™ ×Ö¶×œÖ¾×‘Ö°Ö¼× Ö£×•Ö¹×ª ×”Ö¸Ö½×Ö¸×“Ö¸Ö”× ×•Ö°×™Ö¸Ö½×œÖ°×“Ö–×•Ö¼ ×œÖ¸×”Ö¶Ö‘× ×”ÖµÖ§×žÖ¸Ö¼×” ×”Ö·×’Ö´Ö¼×‘Ö¹Ö¼×¨Ö´Ö›×™× ×ֲשֶ×֥ר ×žÖµÖ½×¢×•Ö¹×œÖ¸Ö–× ×Ö·× Ö°×©Öµ×Ö¥×™ הַשֵּֽ××: | |
| The Nephilim: [They were called × Ö°×¤Ö´×™×œÖ´×™× because they fell (× Ö¸×¤Ö°×œ×•Ö¼) and caused the world to fall (הִפִּילוּ) (Gen. Rabbah 26:7), and in the Hebrew language it means giants (Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer, ch. 22 and Targum Jonathan). | ×”× ×¤×œ×™×: על ×©× ×©× ×¤×œ×• והפילו ×ת העול×, ובלשון עברית לשון ×¢× ×§×™× ×”×•×: | |
| in those days: in the days of the generation of Enosh and the children of Cain. | ×‘×™×ž×™× ×”×”×: בימי דור ×× ×•×© ×•×‘× ×™ קין: | |
| and also afterward: Although they had seen the destruction of the generation of Enosh, when the ocean rose up and inundated a third of the world, the generation of the Flood did not humble themselves to learn from them. — [from Mechilta Yithro, Massechta Bachodesh 6; Sifrei Ekev 743] | ×•×’× ×חרי כן: ××£ על פי שר×ו ב×בדן של דור ×× ×•×© שעלה ××•×§×™×™× ×•×¡ והציף שליש העול×, ×œ× × ×›× ×¢ דור המבול ללמוד מה×: | |
| when…would come: They [the mothers] would bear giants like them [the fathers]. — [from Gen. Rabbah 26:7] | ×שר יב×ו: היו יולדות ×¢× ×§×™× ×›×ž×•×ª×: | |
| mighty men: to rebel against the Omnipresent. — [Yelammednu, Batei Midrashoth, p. 148] | הגבורי×: למרוד במקו×: | |
| the men of renown: Heb. ×Ö·× Ö°×©Öµ××™ הַשֵּ×× Those who were called by name: Irad, Mechujael, Methushael, who were so named because of their destruction, for they were wiped out (מְחוּיָ×ֵל from × Ö´×žÖ¼×•Ö¹×—×•Ö¼) and uprooted; (מְתוּשָ××ֵל from הֻתָּש×וּ). Another explanation: men of desolation (שִ×מָּמוֹן), who made the world desolate. — [from Gen. Rabbah 26:7] | ×× ×©×™ הש×: ×ותן ×©× ×§×‘×• בשמות עירד, מחוי×ל, מתוש×ל, ×©× ×§×¨×ו על ×©× ×בדן ×©× ×ž×•×—×• והותשו. דבר ×חר ×× ×©×™ שממון, ששממו ×ת העול×: | |
| 5And the Lord saw that the evil of man was great in the earth, and every imagination of his heart was only evil all the time. | ×”×•Ö·×™Ö·Ö¼Ö£×¨Ö°× ×™Ö°×”Ö¹×•Ö¸Ö”×” ×›Ö´Ö¼Ö¥×™ רַבָּ֛ה רָעַ֥ת ×”Ö¸Ö½×Ö¸×“Ö¸Ö–× ×‘Ö¸Ö¼×ָ֑רֶץ וְכָל־יֵ֨צֶר֙ מַחְשְ×בֹ֣ת לִבּ֔וֹ רַ֥ק רַ֖ע כָּל־הַיּֽוֹ×: | |
| 6And the Lord regretted that He had made man upon the earth, and He became grieved in His heart. | ×•×•Ö·×™Ö´Ö¼× Ö¸Ö¼Ö£×—Ö¶× ×™Ö°×”Ö¹×•Ö¸Ö”×” כִּֽי־עָשָׂ֥ה ×ֶת־הָֽ×Ö¸×“Ö¸Ö–× ×‘Ö¸Ö¼×ָ֑רֶץ וַיִּתְעַצֵּ֖ב ×ֶל־לִבּֽוֹ: | |
| And the Lord regretted that He had made: Heb. ×•Ö·×™Ö´× Ö¸Ö¼×—Ö¶×. It was a consolation to Him that He had created him [man] of the earthly beings, for had he been one of the heavenly beings, he would have caused them to rebel. [This appears in Genesis Rabbah (27:40). | ×•×™× ×—× ×”' ×›×™ עשה: × ×—×ž×” היתה ×œ×¤× ×™×• שבר×ו ×‘×ª×—×ª×•× ×™×, ש×לו ×”×™×” מן ×”×¢×œ×™×•× ×™× ×”×™×” ממרידן: | |
| and He became grieved: [I.e.,] man [became grieved], | ויתעצב: ×”×ד×: | |
| in His heart: [the heart] of the Omnipresent. It entered the thought of God to cause him [man] grief. This is the translation of Onkelos [i.e., Onkelos supports the view that וַיִּתְעַצֵּב refers to man]. Another explanation of ×•Ö·×™Ö´Ö¼× Ö¸Ö¼×—Ö¶×: The thought of the Omnipresent turned from the standard of clemency to the standard of justice. It entered His thoughts to reconsider what to do with man, whom He had made upon the earth. And similarly, every expression of × Ö´×—×•Ö¼× in Scripture is an expression of reconsidering what to do. [For example] (Num. 23:19): “Nor the son of man that He should change His mind (×•Ö°×™Ö´×ªÖ°× Ö¶×—Ö¸×)”; (Deut. 32:36): “And concerning His servants He will change His mind (×™Ö´×ªÖ°× Ö¶×—Ö¸×)”; (Exod. 32:14): “And the Lord changed His intent concerning the evil (×•Ö·×™Ö´Ö¼× Ö¸Ö¼×—Ö¶×)”; (I Sam. 15:11): “I regret (× Ö´×—Ö·×žÖ°×ªÖ´Ö¼×™) that I made [Saul] king.” These are all an expression of having second thoughts. | ×ל לבו: של מקו×, עלה במחשבתו של ×ž×§×•× ×œ×”×¢×¦×™×‘×•, זהו ×ª×¨×’×•× ××•× ×§×œ×•×¡. דבר ×חר ×•×™× ×—×, × ×”×¤×›×” מחשבתו של ×ž×§×•× ×ž×ž×“×ª ×¨×—×ž×™× ×œ×ž×“×ª הדין, עלה במחשבה ×œ×¤× ×™×• מה לעשות ב××“× ×©×¢×©×” ב×רץ, וכן כל לשון × ×™×—×•× ×©×‘×ž×§×¨× ×œ×©×•×Ÿ × ×ž×œ×š מה לעשות (במדבר ×›×’ יט) ובן ××“× ×•×™×ª× ×—×, (×“×‘×¨×™× ×œ×‘ לו) ועל עבדיו ×™×ª× ×—×, (שמות לב יד) ×•×™× ×—× ×”' על הרעה, (שמו×ל ×' טו ×™×) × ×—×ž×ª×™ ×›×™ המלכתי, ×›×•×œ× ×œ×©×•×Ÿ מחשבה ×חרת ×”×: | |
| and He became grieved: Heb. וַיִּתְעַצֵּב, He mourned over the destruction of His handiwork [i.e., according to this second view, וַיִּתְעַצֵּב refers to God], like (II Sam. 19:3): “The king is saddened (× Ö¶×¢Ö±×¦Ö·×‘) over his son.” This I wrote to refute the heretics: A gentile asked Rabbi Joshua ben Korchah, “Do you not admit that the Holy One, blessed be He, foresees the future?” He [Rabbi Joshua] replied to him, “Yes.” He retorted, “But it is written: and He became grieved in His heart!” He [Rabbi Joshua] replied, “Was a son ever born to you?” “Yes,” he [the gentile] replied. “And what did you do?” he [Rabbi Joshua] asked. He replied, “I rejoiced and made everyone rejoice.” “But did you not know that he was destined to die?” he asked. He [the gentile] replied, “At the time of joy, joy; at the time of mourning, mourning.” He [Rabbi Joshua] said to him, “So is it with the work of the Holy One, blessed be He; even though it was revealed before Him that they would ultimately sin, and He would destroy them, He did not refrain from creating them, for the sake of the righteous men who were destined to arise from them.” - [from Gen. Rabbah 27:4] | ויתעצב ×ל לבו: × ×ª×בל על ×בדן מעשה ידיו, כמו (ש"ב יט ×’) × ×¢×¦×‘ המלך על ×‘× ×•. וזו כתבתי לתשובת ×”×ž×™× ×™×, גוי ×חד ש×ל ×ת רבי יהושע בן קרחה, ×מר לו ×ין ××ª× ×ž×•×“×™× ×©×”×§×‘"×” רו××” ×ת ×”× ×•×œ×“, ×מר לו הן. ×מר לו ×•×”× ×›×ª×™×‘ ויתעצב ×ל לבו, ×מר לו × ×•×œ×“ לך בן זכר מימיך, ×מר לו הן. ×מר לו ומה עשית, ×מר לו שמחתי ושימחתי ×ת הכל. ×מר לו ×•×œ× ×”×™×™×ª יודע שסופו למות, ×מר לו בשעת ×—×“×•×ª× ×—×“×•×ª×, בשעת ××‘×œ× ×בל×. ×מר לו כך מעשה הקב"×”, ××£ על פי שגלוי ×œ×¤× ×™×• שסופן ×œ×—×˜×•× ×•×œ×בדן ×œ× × ×ž× ×¢ מלבר×ן בשביל ×”×¦×“×™×§×™× ×”×¢×ª×™×“×™× ×œ×¢×ž×•×“ מה×: | |
| 7And the Lord said, "I will blot out man, whom I created, from upon the face of the earth, from man to cattle to creeping thing, to the fowl of the heavens, for I regret that I made them." | זוַיֹּ֣×מֶר יְהֹוָ֗ה ×ֶמְחֶ֨ה ×ֶת־הָֽ×Ö¸×“Ö¸Ö¤× ×ֲשֶ×ר־בָּרָ֨×תִי֙ מֵעַל֨ ×¤Ö°Ö¼× ÖµÖ£×™ ×”Ö¸Ö½×ֲדָמָ֔ה מֵֽ×ָדָ×Ö™ עַד־בְּהֵמָ֔ה עַד־רֶ֖מֶשׂ וְעַד־ע֣וֹף הַשָּ××žÖ¸Ö‘×™Ö´× ×›Ö´Ö¼Ö¥×™ × Ö´×—Ö·Ö–×žÖ°×ªÖ´Ö¼×™ ×›Ö´Ö¼Ö¥×™ עֲשִׂיתִֽ×: | |
| And the Lord said,"I will blot out man: He is dust, and I will bring water upon him, and I will blot him out. Therefore, the expression מִחוּי is used. — [from Tan. Buber, Noah 4] | וי×מר ×”' ×מחה ×ת ×”×ד×: ×”×•× ×¢×¤×¨ ו××‘×™× ×¢×œ×™×• ×ž×™× ×•×מחה ×ותו, לכך × ×מר לשון מחוי: | |
| from man to cattle: They too corrupted their way (Gen. Rabbah 28:8). Another explanation: Everything was created for man’s sake, and since he will be annihilated, what need is there for these [the animals]? (Sanh. 108a). | מ××“× ×¢×“ בהמה: ××£ ×”× ×”×©×—×™×ª×• דרכ×. דבר ×חר הכל × ×‘×¨× ×‘×©×‘×™×œ ×ד×, וכיון ×©×”×•× ×›×œ×” מה צורך ב×לו: | |
| for I regret that I made them: I am thinking what to do about having made them. | ×›×™ × ×—×ž×ª×™ ×›×™ עשיתי×: חשבתי מה לעשות ×œ×”× ×¢×œ ×שר עשיתי×: | |
| 8But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. | ×—×•Ö°× Ö¹Ö•×—Ö· ×žÖ¸Ö¥×¦Ö¸× ×—ÖµÖ–×Ÿ ×‘Ö°Ö¼×¢Öµ×™× ÖµÖ¥×™ יְהֹוָֽה: | |
| 9These are the generations of Noah, Noah was a righteous man he was perfect in his generations; Noah walked with God. | ט×ֵ֚לֶּה תּֽוֹלְדֹ֣ת × Ö¹Ö”×—Ö· × Ö¹Ö—×—Ö· ×Ö´Ö¥×™×©× ×¦Ö·×“Ö´Ö¼Ö›×™×§ ×ªÖ¸Ö¼×žÖ´Ö¥×™× ×”Ö¸×™Ö¸Ö–×” בְּדֹֽרֹתָ֑יו ×ֶת־הָֽ×Ö±×œÖ¹×”Ö´Ö–×™× ×”Ö´×ªÖ°×”Ö·×œÖ¶Ö¼×šÖ°Ö¾× Ö¹Ö½×—Ö·: | |
| These are the generations of Noah—Noah was a righteous man: Since Scripture mentions him, it tells his praise, as it is said (Prov. 10:7): “The mention of a righteous man is for a blessing.” - [Pesikta Rabbathi 12]. Another explanation [for why the names of the children are not mentioned immediately following “These are the generations of Noah”]: To teach you that the main generations [progeny] of the righteous are good deeds. — [Mid. Tan. Noah 2] | ×לה תולדות × ×— × ×— ×יש צדיק: הו×יל והזכירו ספר בשבחו, ×©× ×מר (משלי ×™ ×–) זכר צדיק לברכה. דבר ×חר ללמדך, שעיקר ×ª×•×œ×“×•×ª×™×”× ×©×œ ×¦×“×™×§×™× ×ž×¢×©×™× ×˜×•×‘×™×: | |
| in his generations: Some of our Sages interpret it [the word בְּדֹרֹתָיו] favorably: How much more so if he had lived in a generation of righteous people, he would have been even more righteous. Others interpret it derogatorily: In comparison with his generation he was righteous, but if he had been in Abraham’s generation, he would not have been considered of any importance. — [Sanh. 108a, Gen. Rabbah 30:9, Tan. Noach 5] | בדורותיו: יש ×ž×¨×‘×•×ª×™× ×• ×“×•×¨×©×™× ×ותו לשבח, כל שכן ש×לו ×”×™×” בדור ×¦×“×™×§×™× ×”×™×” צדיק יותר, ויש ×©×“×•×¨×©×™× ×ותו ×œ×’× ××™, לפי דורו ×”×™×” צדיק, ו×לו ×”×™×” בדורו של ××‘×¨×”× ×œ× ×”×™×” × ×—×©×‘ לכלו×: | |
| Noah walked with God: But concerning Abraham, Scripture says (below 24:40): “[the Lord] before Whom I walked.” Noah required [God’s] support to uphold him [in righteousness], but Abraham strengthened himself and walked in his righteousness by himself. — [Tan. Noach 5] | ×ת ×”×לה ×™× ×”×ª×”×œ×š × ×—: וב××‘×¨×”× ×”×•× ×ומר (×™×– ×) התהלך ×œ×¤× ×™, (כד מ) ×שר התהלכתי ×œ×¤× ×™×•, × ×— ×”×™×” צריך סעד לתומכו, ×בל ××‘×¨×”× ×”×™×” מתחזק ומהלך בצדקו מ×ליו: | |
| walked: (הִתְהַלֶּךְ) is here in the past tense. The following is the usage of the “lammed” : in the “heavy” (כָּבֵד) form [this refers to conjugations with a dagesh in one of the root letters, in this case, in the lammed], one form can be used [both] for the future [really the imperative] and the past tense. For example, (Gen. ibid. 13): “Rise, walk (הִתְהַלֵּךְ)” is the future (i.e., imperative). “Noah walked (הִתְהַלֶּךְ)” is the past. (I Sam. 12:19): “Pray (הִתְפַּלֵּל) for your servants” is future (i.e., imperative), and (I Kings 8:42) “and he will come and pray (וְהִתְפַּלֵּל) toward this house” is past, only that the “vav” at the beginning converts it to the future. — [as explained by Mizrachi] | התהלך: לשון עבר, וזהו שמושו של למד בלשון כבד, משמשת ×œ×”×‘× ×•×œ×©×¢×‘×¨ בלשון ×חד, (×©× ×™×’ ×™×–) ×§×•× ×”×ª×”×œ×š להב×, התהלך × ×—, לשעבר, (ש"× ×™×‘ יט) התפלל בעד עבדיך להב×, (×ž×œ×›×™× × ×— מב) ×•×‘× ×•×”×ª×¤×œ×œ ×ל הבית ×”×–×”, לשון עבר, ××œ× ×©×”×•×™"ו שבר×שו הופכו להב×: | |
| 10And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. | יוַיּ֥וֹלֶד × Ö¹Ö–×—Ö· שְ×לשָ×Ö£×” ×‘Ö¸× Ö´Ö‘×™× ×ֶת־שֵ×Ö–× ×Ö¶×ªÖ¾×—Ö¸Ö¥× ×•Ö°×ֶת־יָֽפֶת: | |
| 11Now the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth became full of robbery. | ×™×וַתִּשָּ×חֵ֥ת ×”Ö¸×ָ֖רֶץ ×œÖ´×¤Ö°× ÖµÖ£×™ ×”Ö¸Ö½×Ö±×œÖ¹×”Ö´Ö‘×™× ×•Ö·×ªÖ´Ö¼×žÖ¸Ö¼×œÖµÖ¥× ×”Ö¸×ָ֖רֶץ חָמָֽס: | |
| was corrupt: Heb. וַתִּשָּ×חֵת is an expression of immorality and idolatry. (other editions add: immorality, “for all flesh had corrupted (הִשְ×חִית) its way,” and idolatry), as in (Deut. 4:16): “Lest you deal corruptly (תַּשְ×חִיתוּן).” - [Sanh. 56b, 57a] | ותשחת: לשון ערוה ועבודה זרה, כמו (×“×‘×¨×™× ×“ טז) פן תשחיתון, ×›×™ השחית כל בשר וגו': | |
| and the earth became full of robbery: Heb. חָמָס, robbery. (other editions add: as it is said (Jonah 3:8): “and of the dishonest gain (הֶחָמָס) which is in their hands.”) - [Sanh. 108a] | ×•×ª×ž×œ× ×”×רץ חמס: גזל: | |
| 12And God saw the earth, and behold it had become corrupted, for all flesh had corrupted its way on the earth. | ×™×‘×•Ö·×™Ö·Ö¼Ö§×¨Ö°× ×Ö±×œÖ¹×”Ö´Ö›×™× ×ֶת־הָ×ָ֖רֶץ ×•Ö°×”Ö´× ÖµÖ¼Ö£×” × Ö´×©Ö°×חָ֑תָה כִּֽי־הִשְ×חִ֧ית כָּל־בָּשָׂ֛ר ×ֶת־דַּרְכּ֖וֹ עַל־הָ×ָֽרֶץ: | |
| for all flesh had corrupted: Even cattle, beasts, and fowl would mate with those who were not of their own species. — [from Tan. Noach 12] | ×›×™ השחית כל בשר: ×פילו בהמה ×—×™×” ועוף × ×–×§×§×™×Ÿ לש××™× ×Ÿ ×ž×™× ×Ÿ: | |
| 13And God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth has become full of robbery because of them, and behold I am destroying them from the earth. | יגוַיֹּ֨×מֶר ×Ö±×œÖ¹×”Ö´Öœ×™× ×œÖ°× Ö¹Ö—×—Ö· קֵ֤ץ כָּל־בָּשָׂר֙ ×‘Ö¸Ö¼Ö£× ×œÖ°×¤Ö¸× Ö·Ö”×™ כִּי־מָֽלְ×Ö¸Ö¥×” ×”Ö¸×ָ֛רֶץ חָמָ֖ס ×žÖ´×¤Ö°Ö¼× Öµ×™×”Ö¶Ö‘× ×•Ö°×”Ö´× Ö°× Ö´Ö¥×™ מַשְ××—Ö´×™×ªÖ¸Ö–× ×ֶת־הָ×ָֽרֶץ: | |
| The end of all flesh: Wherever you find promiscuity (and idolatry), a pestilence comes upon the world and kills both good and bad alike. — [from Gen. Rabbah 26:5] Note that parenthetic words do not appear in Gen. Rabbah , Lev. Rabbah, or in early mss. and printed editions of Rashi. We have translated ×Ö·× Ö°×“Ö°×¨×•Ö¹×œ×•Ö¼×ž×•Ö¼×¡Ö°×™Ö¸×” as pestilence, following Aruch. See below. | קץ כל בשר: כל ×ž×§×•× ×©×תה ×ž×•×¦× ×–× ×•×ª ועבודה זרה, ×× ×“×¨×œ×ž×•×¡×™× ×‘××” ×œ×¢×•×œ× ×•×”×•×¨×’×ª ×˜×•×‘×™× ×•×¨×¢×™×: | |
| for the earth has become full of robbery: Their verdict was sealed only because of robbery. — [from Sanh. 108a] | ×›×™ מל××” ×”×רץ חמס: ×œ× × ×—×ª× ×’×–×¨ ×“×™× × ××œ× ×¢×œ הגזל: | |
| from the earth: [×ֶת ×”Ö¸×ָרֶץ] is similar מִן ×”Ö¸×ָרֶץ : “from the earth.” Similar to this is (Exod. 9:29): “When I go the city” [meaning] “from” the city; (I Kings 15:23): “He was stricken his feet” [meaning]“from” his feet (i.e, he suffered from a foot ailment). Another explanation: ×ֶת ×”Ö¸×ָרֶץ means “together with the earth,” for even the three handbreadths of the depth of the plowshare were blotted out and obliterated. | ×ת ×”×רץ: כמו מן ×”×רץ, ודומה לו (שמות ט כט) כצ×תי ×ת העיר, מן העיר, (מ"× ×˜×• ×›×’) חלה ×ת רגליו, מן רגליו. דבר ×חר ×ת ×”×רץ ×¢× ×”×רץ, ש××£ שלשה ×˜×¤×—×™× ×©×œ עומק המחרישה × ×ž×•×—×• ×•× ×˜×©×˜×©×•: | |
| 14Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with compartments, and you shall caulk it both inside and outside with pitch. | ידעֲשֵׂ֤ה לְךָ֙ תֵּבַ֣ת עֲצֵי־גֹ֔פֶר ×§Ö´× Ö´Ö¼Ö–×™× ×ªÖ·Ö¼Ö½×¢Ö²×©Ö¶×‚Ö£×” ×ֶת־הַתֵּבָ֑ה וְכָֽפַרְתָּ֥ ×ֹתָ֛הּ מִבַּ֥יִת וּמִח֖וּץ בַּכֹּֽפֶר: | |
| Make for yourself an ark: Many ways to bring relief and rescue are available to Him; why, then, did He burden him with this construction? In order that the people of the Generation of the Flood should see him occupying himself with it for one hundred twenty years and ask him, “For what do you need this?” And he would say to them, “The Holy One, blessed be He, is destined to bring a flood upon the world.” Perhaps they would repent. - [Aggadath Bereishith 1:2, Tan. Noach 5, Tan. Buber Bereishith 37, Gen. Rabbah 30:7] | עשה לך תבת: הרבה ריוח והצלה ×œ×¤× ×™×•, ולמה הטריחו ×‘×‘× ×™×Ÿ ×–×”, כדי שיר×והו ×× ×©×™ דור המבול עוסק בה מ××” ×•×¢×©×¨×™× ×©× ×” ושו×לין ×ותו מה ×–×ת לך, ×•×”×•× ×ומר ×œ×”× ×¢×ª×™×“ הקב"×” ×œ×”×‘×™× ×ž×‘×•×œ לעול×, ×ולי ישובו: | |
| gopher wood: That is its name. Now why from this species (גֹפֶר)? Because of sulphur (גָפְרִית) with which it was decreed upon them to be blotted out. — [from Bereishith Rabbathi p. 66] | עצי גפר: כך שמו. ולמה ממין ×–×” על ×©× ×’×¤×¨×™×ª, ×©× ×’×–×¨ ×¢×œ×™×”× ×œ×”×ž×—×•×ª בו: | |
| compartments: individual dwellings for each domestic animal and wild beast. — [from Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer ch. 23] I | ×§× ×™×: ×ž×“×•×¨×™× ×ž×“×•×¨×™× ×œ×›×œ בהמה וחיה: | |
| with pitch: Heb. כֹּפֶר This is זֶפֶת in Aramaic, and we find in the Talmud (Shab. 67a, b, Ned. 51a, Git. 69b, B.M. 23b, 40a, 70a, Ar. 19a) the word ×›Ö¼×•Ö¼×¤Ö°×¨Ö¸× [meaning pitch]. In Moses’ ark [i.e., the ark in which Moses was placed in the Nile], since the water was calm, it was enough to have mud on the inside and pitch on the outside. Another reason: so that this righteous man [Moses] should not smell the bad odor of pitch. But here, because of the force of the water, he caulked it with pitch both inside and outside. — [from Gen. Rabbah 31:10, Sotah 12a] | בכפר: זפת בלשון ×רמי. ×•×ž×¦×™× ×• בתלמוד כופר×. בתיבתו של משה, על ידי שהיו ×”×ž×™× ×ª×©×™×, דיה בחומר ×ž×‘×¤× ×™× ×•×–×¤×ª מבחוץ, ועוד כדי ×©×œ× ×™×¨×™×— ×ותו צדיק ריח רע של זפת, ×בל ×›×ן ×ž×¤× ×™ חוזק ×”×ž×™× ×–×¤×ª×” מבית ומבחוץ: | |
| 15And this [is the size] you shall make it: three hundred cubits the length of the ark, fifty cubits its breadth, and thirty cubits its height. | טווְזֶ֕ה ×ֲשֶ×֥ר תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֖ה ×ֹתָ֑הּ שְ××œÖ§×©× ×žÖµ×֣וֹת ×ַמָּ֗ה ×ֹ֚רֶךְ הַתֵּבָ֔ה חֲמִשִּ×Ö¤×™× ×ַמָּה֙ רָחְבָּ֔הּ וּשְ×לשִ×Ö¥×™× ×ַמָּ֖ה קֽוֹמָתָֽהּ: | |
| 16You shall make a skylight for the ark, and to a cubit you shall finish it to the top, and the entrance of the ark you shall place in its side; you shall make it with bottom [compartments], second story [compartments], and third story [compartments]. | טזצֹ֣הַר | תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֣ה לַתֵּבָ֗ה וְ×ֶל־×ַמָּה֙ ×ªÖ°Ö¼×›Ö·×œÖ¶Ö¼Ö£× Ö¸Ö¼×” מִלְמַ֔עְלָה וּפֶ֥תַח הַתֵּבָ֖ה בְּצִדָּ֣הּ ×ªÖ¸Ö¼×©Ö´×‚Ö‘×™× ×ªÖ·Ö¼×—Ö°×ªÖ´Ö¼×™Ö´Ö¼Ö›× ×©Ö°×× Ö´×™Ö´Ö¼Ö¥× ×•Ö¼×©Ö°×לִשִ×Ö–×™× ×ªÖ·Ö¼Ö½×¢Ö²×©Ö¶Ö½×‚×”Ö¸: | |
| a skylight: Heb. צֹהַר, lit. light. Some say [that it was] a window, and some say [that it was] a precious stone, which gave them light. — [Gen. Rabbah 31:11] | צהר: יש ××•×ž×¨×™× ×—×œ×•×Ÿ, ויש ××•×ž×¨×™× ×בן טובה המ×ירה לה×: | |
| and to a cubit you shall finish it to the top: Its covering slanted upwards until it narrowed at the top to one cubit (Gen. Rabbah 31:11), so that the rain should run down (the following does not appear in certain editions) (from both sides) (Sanh. 108b, Maharsha). | ו×ל ×מה ×ª×›×œ× ×” מלמעלה: כסויה משופע ועולה עד ×©×”×•× ×§×¦×¨ מלמעלה ועומד על ×מה, כדי שיזובו ×”×ž×™× ×œ×ž×˜×”: | |
| you shall place in its side: so that the rains should not fall into it. | בצדה תשי×: ×©×œ× ×™×¤×œ×• ×”×’×©×ž×™× ×‘×”: | |
| bottom [compartments], second-story [compartments], and third-story [compartments]: three stories, one above the other; the upper compartments were for people, the middle ones for [animal] dwellings, and the bottom ones for waste matter. — [from Sanh. 108b] | ×ª×—×ª×™× ×©× ×™× ×•×©×œ×©×™×: שלש עליות זו על גב זו, ×¢×œ×™×•× ×™× ×œ×ד×, ××ž×¦×¢×™× ×œ×ž×“×•×¨ בהמה ×ª×—×ª×™×™× ×œ×–×‘×œ: | |
| 17And I, behold I am bringing the flood, water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which there is the spirit of life, from beneath the heavens; all that is upon the earth will perish. | יזוַֽ×Ö²× Ö´Ö—×™ ×”Ö´Ö½× Ö°× Ö´×™Ö© ×žÖµ×‘Ö´Ö¨×™× ×ֶת־הַמַּבּ֥וּל מַ֨יִ×Ö™ עַל־הָ×ָ֔רֶץ לְשַ×חֵ֣ת כָּל־בָּשָׂ֗ר ×ֲשֶ×ר־בּוֹ֙ ר֣וּחַ ×—Ö·×™Ö´Ö¼Ö”×™× ×žÖ´×ªÖ·Ö¼Ö–×—Ö·×ª הַשָּ××žÖ¸Ö‘×™Ö´× ×›Ö¹Ö¼Ö¥×œ ×ֲשֶ×ר־בָּ×ָ֖רֶץ יִגְוָֽע: | |
| And I, behold I am bringing: Behold, I am ready to agree with those [angels] who urged Me long ago (Ps. 8:5): “What is man that You should remember him?” - [Gen. Rabbah 31:12] | ו×× ×™ ×”× × ×™ מבי×: ×”× × ×™ מוכן ×œ×”×¡×›×™× ×¢× ××•×ª× ×©×–×¨×–×•× ×™ ו×מרו ×œ×¤× ×™ כבר (×ª×”×œ×™× ×— ×”) מה ×× ×•×© ×›×™ ×ª×–×›×¨× ×•: | |
| the flood: Heb. הַמַּבּוּל: that wore out (בִּלָּה) everything; that mixed up (בִּלְבֵּל) everything; that transported (הוֹבִיל) everything from the high [ground] to the low [ground]. This [the last interpretation] is [the basis for] the rendering of Onkelos: ×˜×•Ö¹×¤Ö¸× Ö¸×, a flood [from טוּף, to float], because it caused everything to float and brought them down to Babylon, which is deep, and this is why it was called Shinar, because all those who died in the Flood were shaken out (× Ö´× Ö°×¢Ö²×¨×•Ö¼) there. — [Yer. Ber. 4:1, Gen. Rabbah 37:4] | מבול: שבלה ×ת הכל, שבלבל ×ת הכל, שהוביל ×ת הכל מן הגבוה ×œ× ×ž×•×š, וזהו לשון ××•× ×§×œ×•×¡ ×©×ª×¨×’× ×˜×•×¤× ×, שהציף ×ת הכל והבי×× ×œ×‘×‘×œ ×©×”×™× ×¢×ž×•×§×”, לכך × ×§×¨×ת ×©× ×¢×¨ ×©× × ×¢×¨×• ×©× ×›×œ מתי מבול: | |
| 18And I will set up My covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you and your sons, and your wife and your sons' wives with you. | יחוַֽהֲקִֽמֹתִ֥י ×ֶת־בְּרִיתִ֖י ×ִתָּ֑ךְ וּבָ×תָ֙ ×ֶל־הַתֵּ֔בָה ×ַתָּ֕ה ×•Ö¼×‘Ö¸× Ö¶×™Ö›×šÖ¸ וְ×ִשְ×תְּךָ֥ ×•Ö¼× Ö°×©ÖµÖ½××™Ö¾×‘Ö¸× Ö¶×™Ö–×šÖ¸ ×ִתָּֽךְ: | |
| And I will set up My covenant with you: A covenant was necessary for the fruits, so that they should not rot and become putrid, and so that the wicked of the generation should not kill him. — [from Gen. Rabbah 31:12] | והקמותי ×ת בריתי: ברית ×”×™×” צריך על הפירות ×©×œ× ×™×¨×§×‘×• ויעפשו, ×•×©×œ× ×™×”×¨×’×•×”×• ×¨×©×¢×™× ×©×‘×“×•×¨: | |
| you and your sons, and your wife: the men separately and the women separately. From here, we deduce that they were prohibited to engage in marital relations [in the ark]. — [Sanh. 108b] | ×תה ×•×‘× ×™×š ו×שתך: ×”×× ×©×™× ×œ×‘×“ ×•×”× ×©×™× ×œ×‘×“, מכ×ן ×©× ×סרו בתשמיש המטה: | |
| 19And of all living things of all flesh, two of each you shall bring into the ark to preserve alive with you; they shall be male and female. | ×™×˜×•Ö¼×žÖ´×›Ö¸Ö¼×œÖ¾×”Ö¸Ö ×—Ö·Ö ×™ מִכָּל־בָּשָׂ֞ר שְ×× Ö·Ö§×™Ö´× ×žÖ´×›Ö¹Ö¼Ö›×œ ×ªÖ¸Ö¼×‘Ö´Ö¥×™× ×ֶל־הַתֵּבָ֖ה לְהַֽחֲיֹ֣ת ×ִתָּ֑ךְ זָכָ֥ר ×•Ö¼× Ö°×§Öµ×‘Ö¸Ö–×” יִֽהְיֽוּ: | |
| And of all living things: Even demons. — [Gen. Rabbah 31:13] | ומכל ×”×—×™: ×פילו שדי×: | |
| two of each: Of the least [numerous] of them, there were no less than two, one male and one female. | ×©× ×™× ×ž×›×œ: מן הפחות ×©×‘×”× ×œ× ×¤×—×ª×• ×ž×©× ×™×, ×חד זכר ו×חד × ×§×‘×”: | |
| 20Of the fowl after its kind and of the animals after their kind, of every creeping thing upon the ground after its kind; two of each shall come to you to preserve alive. | כמֵֽהָע֣וֹף ×œÖ°×žÖ´×™× ÖµÖ—×”×•Ö¼ וּמִן־הַבְּהֵמָה֙ ×œÖ°×žÖ´×™× Ö¸Ö”×”Ö¼ מִכֹּ֛ל רֶ֥מֶשׂ ×”Ö¸Ö½×ֲדָמָ֖ה ×œÖ°×žÖ´×™× ÖµÖ‘×”×•Ö¼ שְ×× Ö·Ö§×™Ö´× ×žÖ´×›Ö¹Ö¼Ö›×œ יָבֹ֥×וּ ×ֵלֶ֖יךָ לְהַֽחֲיֽוֹת: | |
| Of the fowl after its kind: (Gen. Rabbah) [Note that this derash is not found in Gen. Rabbah, but in Tan. Noach 12] Those that mated with their kind, and did not corrupt their way, and came by themselves, and all that the ark accepted, [i.e., the ark repulsed the unfit animals and did not let them enter], he brought into it. — [Sanh. 108b, Tan. ad loc., Zev. 116a, Gen. Rabbah 32:8 from 7:16; Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer ch. 23 from ibid. 15; only Mid. Hagadol from this verse] | מהעוף ×œ×ž×™× ×”×•: ×ותן שדבקו ×‘×ž×™× ×™×”× ×•×œ× ×”×©×—×™×ª×• דרכ×, ומ××œ×™×”× ×‘×ו, וכל שהתיבה קולטתו ×”×›× ×™×¡ בה: | |
| 21And you, take for yourself of every food that is eaten and gather it in to you, and it shall be for you and for them to eat." | ×›×וְ×ַתָּ֣ה קַח־לְךָ֗ מִכָּל־מַֽ×ֲכָל֙ ×ֲשֶ×֣ר ×™ÖµÖ½×ָכֵ֔ל וְ×ָֽסַפְתָּ֖ ×ֵלֶ֑יךָ וְהָיָ֥ה לְךָ֛ ×•Ö°×œÖ¸×”Ö¶Ö–× ×œÖ°×ָכְלָֽה: | |
| 22And Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did. | כבוַיַּ֖עַשׂ × Ö¹Ö‘×—Ö· ×›Ö°Ö¼Ö ×›Ö¹Ö ×œ ×ֲשֶ×֨ר צִוָּ֥ה ×ֹת֛וֹ ×Ö±×œÖ¹×”Ö´Ö–×™× ×›ÖµÖ¼Ö¥×Ÿ עָשָֽׂה: | |
| And Noah did: This refers to the building of the ark. — [Gen. Rabbah 31:14] | ויעש × ×—: ×–×” ×‘× ×™×Ÿ התיבה: |
