Chapter 06 - Rashi
(To Chumash Text)

Verse 9: This is the history of Noach.1

Since [the text] mentions him, it tells of his praiseworthiness. As it is said: "The mention of a righteous person is a blessing."2 An alternate explanation: This3 teaches that the main progeny of the righteous are their good deeds.4

In his generation.5

There are those among our Sages who infer from it to his praise.6 Certainly, had he lived in a righteous generation he would have been [even] more righteous. There are others who infer from it to his discredit.7 Relative to his generation he was righteous, but had he lived in the generation of Avraham he would not have been considered significant.8

Noach walked with El-him.

Whereas, concerning Avraham [Scripture] says: ["G-d,] before whom I walked."9 [This is because] Noach required [G-d's] support to uphold him [in his righteousness] whereas, Avraham drew strength from within himself and walked in his righteousness by himself.

Walked.10

[ {Hebrew Ref} , here is] in the past tense. That is the usage of the {Hebrew Ref} in the {Hebrew Ref} form.11 One form can be used for future and for past. [For example,] "Arise, walk!"12 is future,13 "Noach walked" is past. "Pray for your servants,"14 is future. "Come and pray in this house"15 is past, but the vav at the beginning [of {Hebrew Ref} ] changes [the tense] to the future.16

Verse 11: The earth was corrupt.

Meaning lewdness and idolatry,17 as in the verse: "Lest you become corrupt."18 "All flesh had become corrupted."19

And the earth was filled with violent crime.

[Meaning] robbery.

Verse 12: For all flesh had corrupted.20

Even cattle, beasts and fowl consorted with dissimilar species.21

Verse 13: The end of all flesh.22

Wherever you find lewdness and idolatry upheaval comes upon the world killing the good and the bad [alike].23

The earth was filled with violent crime.24

Their fate was sealed only because of robbery.25

From the earth.

Similar to {Hebrew Ref} ---"from the earth." Similar to this [use of {Hebrew Ref} ] is: "When I go the city,"26 [meaning:] "from the city." "He suffered his feet"27 [meaning:] "from his feet." An alternate explanation of {Hebrew Ref} : "together with the earth" i.e., that also the depth of three handbreadths of the furrow were blotted out and eroded away.

Verse 14: Make yourself an ark.

There are many ways to bring relief and deliverance available to Him. Why, then, did He burden him [Noach] with this construction [of the ark]? So that the people of the Flood generation see that he is occupied by it for one hundred twenty years and ask him "For what do you need this?" And he would respond to them: "G-d is destined to bring a flood upon the world. Perhaps they will repent."28

Of cedar wood.

That is its name. Why from this specie [ {Hebrew Ref} ]? because of its name relating to {Hebrew Ref} [sulfur] with which it was decreed that they be destroyed.29

Compartments.

Separate compartments for every animal and beast.30

With tar.

This is the Aramaic word for tar. We find in the Talmud {Hebrew Ref} [for tar].31 Where the ark [cradle] of Moshe was concerned, because the waters were calm, it was sufficient to have clay on the inside and tar on the outside.32 Another reason:33 so that that righteous man [Moshe] not be subjected to the foul odor of tar, But, here [at the Flood], because of the force of the water, he tarred it on the inside and the outside.

Verse 16: A skylight.

Some say this was a window. Others say it was a precious stone that supplied them with light.34

And finish it to one amoh at the top.

Its covering slanted upwards until it narrowed at the top to one amoh, so that the water would flow down from both sides.

Place in its side.

So that the rain may not seep through.

A lower deck, a second and a third.

Three stories, one above the other, the topmost for human beings, the middle one as a habitat for animals, the lowest one for refuse.35

Verse 17: Behold I am bringing.

[Meaning:] "I am now prepared to agree with those36 who urged me long ago37 `What is man that You should consider him.'  "38

Flood waters.39

1) It ruined everything, [ {Hebrew Ref} ], 2) It confused everything, [ {Hebrew Ref} ], 3) It brought everything from higher levels to lower levels [ {Hebrew Ref} ]. This40 is the basis for Onkelos translation. {Hebrew Ref} [Aramaic for "float"] because it caused everything to float and brought it to Babylon which is a low-lying land. It is for this reason that it is called {Hebrew Ref} 41 because there were "shaken out" all those who died in the flood.42

Verse 18: And I will establish my covenant.

A covenant was necessary for the fruits, so that they not rot and become putrid and so that the evil people of that generation not kill him.43

You, your sons, your wife.

The men separate and the women separate. [we derive] from this that marital relations were prohibited to them.44

Verse 19: From all living things.45

[This includes] even the demons.46

Two of each.47

[Meaning that even] from the least of them there were no less than two, one male and one female.48

Verse 20: From the birds of their kind.

[ {Hebrew Ref} tells us that] those who consorted with their own species and did not corrupt their way and came of their own accord. and all those that the ark took in49 [Noach] permitted to enter.50

Verse 22: Noach did so.51

This refers to his constructing the ark.52