Chapter 07 - Text Notes

53 Ibid. 32, 3. Above when the Torah tells us of Noach it relates all his qualities, {Hebrew Ref} . Here, G-d is addressing Noach and, therefore, tells him only some of his qualities, omitting {Hebrew Ref} .

54 The distinction between the "clean" and "unclean" animals was not made until the giving of the Torah!

55 Zevachim 116a. Otherwise, how could Noach have known which are "clean?"

56 Why were more of the clean animals saved in the ark?

57 Ber. Rab. 34, 9.

58 Earlier (6, 20) it states that there were two of each!

59 Though, here Scripture does not state which of the fowl were saved seven per specie. We derive this from v. 2 where we see that only the "clean" animals were saved, seven per specie.

60 Why the "extra" word {Hebrew Ref} ? The inference is that an additional seven days were given.

61 So that there will be someone to eulogize him. (Sanhedrin 108b)

62 The year of the Flood. Let us calculate: Mesushelach was 187 when Lemech was born. Lemech was 82 when Noach was born. Thus, Mesushelach was 369 when Noach, his grandson, was born. Mesushelach was 969 at his death, making Noach 600 years old at the death of Mesushelach.

63 See Rashi 6, 14.

64 Nidah 83a.

65 See Rashi above 6, 22 and notes ibid.

66 Tanchuma, 11.

67 The implication is that Noach came into the ark only after being driven by the flood waters.

68 Ber. Rab. 32, 6.

69 Weren't there some that came seven of each?

70 Otherwise it should have read {Hebrew Ref} ---"were brought to Noach." (S.C.)

71 Cheshvan is second to Tishri.

72 Iyar is second to Nissan. This is based on their argument in Rosh Hashanah 11b. R. Eliezer holds that the world was created in Tishri, R. Yehoshua---Nissan.

73 6, 5.

74 Sanhedrin 108a.

75 V. 17.

76 Ber. Rab. 31, 12.

77 I.e., the preceding night which is considered as the beginning of the following day.

78 Meaning literally during the daytime. Thus, during the first night there was no flood.

79 See verse 11. According to R. Yehoshua the forty days ended 28 Sivan.

80 The lunar month can have either 30 days---("complete") or 29 days--- ("deficient").

81 I.e., it rained 12 days in Cheshvan for it rained from the 17th of Cheshvan until the 29th.

82 Why would it have been insufficient to just say {Hebrew Ref} "On this day"? Why the addition of {Hebrew Ref} ?

83 Sifri, Ha'azinu 337; Ber. Rab. 32, 8.

84 Though they are not birds, they are winged. (D.T.)

85 Vayikra 1, 17.

86 As part of the sacrifice.

87 1) Why did not Noach himself close the ark? 2) Why the stress, {Hebrew Ref} , that the ark was closed for Noach's sake?

88 See v. 13.

89 Thus {Hebrew Ref} means He enclosed it by surrounding it.

90 Ber. Rab. 32, 8.

91 Ber. 20, 18.

92 II Melachim 4, 4.

93 Iyov 2, 4.

94 Tehillim 3, 4.

95 I Shmuel 12, 19.

96 Ber. Rab. 32, 9.

97 How is it that the waters became stormier after the rains stopped? (G.A., S.H.)

98 I.e., not due to the rains but by G-d's decree.

99 This is not to be translated as fifteen amohs above ground level, for even the highest mountains were covered.

100 Yoma 76a.

101 But, do animals have souls?

102 And should not be translated as "a soul of a living spirit" because only man has a soul. (M.) Earlier texts, however, read: {Hebrew Ref} ---"a soul of a living spirit" indicating some form of soul in all living beings. (T.H.)

103 Their way was not corrupted (Sanhedrin 108a, Ber. Rab. 32, 11). Ramban wonders how the fish could survive in the scalding waters.

104 Which is in the {Hebrew Ref} conjugation, and the translation, therefore, is: "And He obliterated every being."

105 Which is the {Hebrew Ref} conjugation. It would then mean: "And all beings were obliterated." However, in this case, {Hebrew Ref} , which indicates a direct object would not fit.

106 E.g., the root {Hebrew Ref} would be written so: {Hebrew Ref} .

107 {Hebrew Ref} seems redundant.

108 Tanchuma 9.

109 This is derived from the fact that {Hebrew Ref} denotes diminishing. The allusion here is that Noach himself was diminished, i.e., he was ill and weak. (S.C.)

110 Tanchuma, ibid.

111 And, when Noach left the ark he was somewhat crippled---diminished (ibid.).

112 Mishlei 12, 1.

113 ...even for the slightest infraction. This is so that none of his reward in the World-to-Come be diminished. Thus, Noach was punished for: a) causing suffering to the lion [ {Hebrew Ref} ]; b) having to be pushed into the ark (see above, Rashi v. 7). (B.B.)