Sanhedrin 108
רְשָׁעִים בַּמִּשְׁפָּט וְחַטָּאִים בַּעֲדַת צַדִּיקִים״. ״עַל כֵּן לֹא יָקוּמוּ רְשָׁעִים בַּמִּשְׁפָּט״ – זֶה דּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל. ״וְחַטָּאִים בַּעֲדַת צַדִּיקִים״ – אֵלּוּ אַנְשֵׁי סְדוֹם. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: אֵינָם עוֹמְדִין בַּעֲדַת צַדִּיקִים, אֲבָל עוֹמְדִין בַּעֲדַת רְשָׁעִים.
in judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous” (Psalms 1:5). “Therefore the wicked shall not stand in judgment”; this is referring to the generation of the flood, about whom it is written: “The wickedness of man was great upon the earth” (Genesis 6:5). “Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous”; these are the people of Sodom, about whom it is written: “And the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners” (Genesis 13:13). The Sages said to Rabbi Neḥemya: They will not stand in judgment for resurrection in the congregation of the righteous, but they will stand in judgment in the congregation of the wicked.
מְרַגְּלִים אֵין לָהֶם חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיָּמֻתוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים מוֹצִאֵי דִבַּת הָאָרֶץ רָעָה בַּמַּגֵּפָה לִפְנֵי ה׳״. ״וַיָּמֻתוּ״ – בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, ״בַּמַּגֵּפָה״ – לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא.
The spies who spread an evil report of their visit to Canaan have no share in the World-to-Come, as it is stated: “And those men who spread the evil report about the land died by plague before the Lord” (Numbers 14:37). “And…died” indicates in this world; “by plague” indicates for the World-to-Come.
דּוֹר הַמִּדְבָּר אֵין לָהֶם חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, וְאֵין עוֹמְדִין בַּדִּין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״בַּמִּדְבָּר הַזֶּה יִתַּמּוּ וְשָׁם יָמֻתוּ״. דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא. רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר, עֲלֵיהֶם הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״אִסְפוּ לִי חֲסִידָי כֹּרְתֵי בְרִיתִי עֲלֵי זָבַח״.
The members of the generation of the wilderness have no share in the World-to-Come and will not stand in judgment, as it is stated: “In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die” (Numbers 14:35). “They shall be consumed” indicates in this world; “and there they shall die” indicates for the World-to-Come; this is the statement of Rabbi Akiva. Rabbi Eliezer says: The members of the generation of the wilderness were essentially righteous, and about them the verse says: “Gather My pious together to Me, those that have entered into My covenant by offering” (Psalms 50:5). It is they who entered into the covenant with God and they will certainly be rewarded in the future.
עֲדַת קֹרַח אֵינָהּ עֲתִידָה לַעֲלוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַתְּכַס עֲלֵיהֶם הָאָרֶץ״ – בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, ״וַיֹּאבְדוּ מִתּוֹךְ הַקָּהָל״ – לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא. רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר, עֲלֵיהֶם הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״ה׳ מֵמִית וּמְחַיֶּה מוֹרִיד שְׁאוֹל וַיָּעַל״.
The assembly of Korah is not destined to arise for resurrection, as it is stated: “And the earth closed upon them” (Numbers 16:33), meaning in this world, and also: “And they perished from among the assembly” (Numbers 16:33), meaning in the World-to-Come; this is the statement of Rabbi Akiva. Rabbi Eliezer says: About them the verse says: “The Lord kills and makes alive; He lowers to the grave, and raises” (I Samuel 2:6), indicating that the assembly of Korah has a share in the World-to-Come.
גְּמָ׳ תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: דּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל אֵין לָהֶם חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּמַח אֶת כׇּל הַיְקוּם אֲשֶׁר עַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה״. ״וַיִּמַח אֶת כׇּל הַיְּקוּם״ – בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, ״וַיִּמָּחוּ מִן הָאָרֶץ״ – לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בֶּן בְּתֵירָא אוֹמֵר: לֹא חַיִּין וְלֹא נִדּוֹנִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לֹא יָדוֹן רוּחִי בָאָדָם לְעֹלָם״ – לֹא דִּין וְלֹא רוּחַ. דָּבָר אַחֵר: ״לֹא יָדוֹן רוּחִי״ – שֶׁלֹּא תְּהֵא נִשְׁמָתָן חוֹזֶרֶת לִנְדָנָהּ.
GEMARA: The Sages taught in a baraita: The members of the generation of the flood have no share in the World-to-Come, as it is stated: “And He obliterated every living thing that was upon the face of the ground, from man to cattle to creeping animal to the birds of the heaven; and they were obliterated from the earth” (Genesis 7:23). “And He obliterated every living thing” indicates in this world, whereas “and they were obliterated from the earth” indicates for the World-to-Come; this is the statement of Rabbi Akiva. Rabbi Yehuda ben Beteira says: The members of the generation of the flood will neither live nor be judged, as it is stated: “My soul shall not abide [yadon] in man forever” (Genesis 6:3), meaning neither will they stand in judgment [din], nor shall their souls be restored to them. Alternatively, “My soul shall not abide” means their souls will not return to their sheaths [nadan], i.e., to their bodies.
רַבִּי מְנַחֵם בְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵף אוֹמֵר: אֲפִילּוּ בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַחֲזִיר נְשָׁמוֹת לִפְגָרִים מֵתִים, נִשְׁמָתָן קָשָׁה לָהֶם בְּגֵיהִנָּם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״תַּהֲרוּ חֲשַׁשׁ תֵּלְדוּ קַשׁ רוּחֲכֶם אֵשׁ תֹּאכַלְכֶם״.
Rabbi Menaḥem, son of Rabbi Yosef, says: Even at a time when the Holy One, Blessed be He, restores souls to lifeless corpses, the souls of the generation of the flood will afflict them harshly as if they were in Gehenna, as it is stated: “You shall conceive chaff; you shall bring forth straw; your soul is a fire that shall devour you” (Isaiah 33:11).
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: דּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל לֹא נִתְגָּאוּ אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל טוֹבָה שֶׁהִשְׁפִּיעַ לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וּמָה כְּתִיב בָּהֶם? ״בָּתֵּיהֶם שָׁלוֹם מִפָּחַד וְלֹא שֵׁבֶט אֱלוֹהַּ עֲלֵיהֶם״, וּכְתִיב: ״שׁוֹרוֹ עִבַּר וְלֹא יַגְעִל תְּפַלֵּט פָּרָתוֹ וְלֹא תְשַׁכֵּל״, וּכְתִיב: ״יְשַׁלְּחוּ כַצֹּאן עֲוִילֵיהֶם וְיַלְדֵיהֶם יְרַקֵּדוּן״, וּכְתִיב: ״יִשְׂאוּ בְּתֹף וְכִנּוֹר וְיִשְׂמְחוּ לְקוֹל עוּגָב״, וּכְתִיב: ״יְכַלּוּ יְמֵיהֶם בַּטּוֹב וּשְׁנֵיהֶם בַּנְּעִימִים״, וּכְתִיב: ״וּבְרֶגַע שְׁאוֹל יֵחָתּוּ״.
The Sages taught in a baraita (Tosefta, Sota 3:10): The generation of the flood became haughty and sinned due only to the excessive goodness that the Holy One, Blessed be He, bestowed upon them. And what is written concerning them, indicating that goodness? “Their houses are safe without fear, nor is the rod of God upon them” (Job 21:9). And it is written: “Their bull sires, and will not fall; their cow calves, and does not cast her calf” (Job 21:10). And it is written: “They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance” (Job 21:11). And it is written: “They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe” (Job 21:12). And it is written: “They shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures” (Job 36:11). And it is written: “And peacefully they go down to the grave” (Job 21:13).
וְהִיא גָּרְמָה שֶׁאָמְרוּ לָאֵל: ״סוּר מִמֶּנּוּ וְדַעַת דְּרָכֶיךָ לֹא חָפָצְנוּ. מַה שַׁדַּי כִּי נַעַבְדֶנּוּ וּמַה נּוֹעִיל כִּי נִפְגַּע בּוֹ״. אָמְרוּ: כְּלוּם צְרִיכִין אָנוּ לוֹ אֶלָּא לְטִיפָּה שֶׁל גְּשָׁמִים? יֵשׁ לָנוּ נְהָרוֹת וּמַעֲיָנוֹת שֶׁאָנוּ מִסְתַּפְּקִין מֵהֶן. אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: בַּטּוֹבָה שֶׁהִשְׁפַּעְתִּי לָהֶן, בָּהּ מַכְעִיסִין אוֹתִי, וּבָהּ אֲנִי דָּן אוֹתָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַאֲנִי הִנְנִי מֵבִיא אֶת הַמַּבּוּל מַיִם״.
And that success caused them to say to God: “Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of Your ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what profit should we have if we pray unto Him” (Job 21:14-15). The members of the generation of the flood said: Do we need Him for anything, even for the drop of rain that He causes to fall? We have rivers and springs from which we take our supply of water; we do not fear Him. The Holy One, Blessed be He, said: With the goodness that I bestowed upon them, with that they infuriate Me and with it I will sentence them, as it is stated: “And behold I will bring the flood of water” (Genesis 6:17).
רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אָמַר: דּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל לֹא נִתְגָּאוּ אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל גַּלְגַּל הָעַיִן שֶׁדּוֹמֶה לְמַיִם, [שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְיִקְחוּ לָהֶם נָשִׁים מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר בָּחָרוּ״]. לְפִיכָךְ דָּן אוֹתָן בְּמַיִם, שֶׁדּוֹמֶה לְגַלְגַּל הָעַיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״נִבְקְעוּ כׇּל מַעְיְנוֹת תְּהוֹם רַבָּה וַאֲרֻבּוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם נִפְתָּחוּ״.
Rabbi Yosei says: The generation of the flood became haughty due only to the covetousness of the eyeball, which is similar to water, as it is stated: “And the sons of the prominent men saw that the daughters of men were fair; and they took for themselves wives from anyone they chose” (Genesis 6:2). Consequently, God punished them with water, which is similar to an eyeball [legalgal ha’ayin], as it is stated: “All the fountains [mayenot] of the great deep were breached, and the flues of heaven were opened” (Genesis 7:11).
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: דּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל בְּרַבָּה קִלְקְלוּ, וּבְרַבָּה נִידּוֹנוּ. בְּרַבָּה קִלְקְלוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיַּרְא ה׳ כִּי רַבָּה רָעַת הָאָדָם״, וּבְרַבָּה נִידּוֹנוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כׇּל מַעְיְנוֹת תְּהוֹם רַבָּה״. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: שְׁלֹשָׁה נִשְׁתַּיְּירוּ מֵהֶם – בְּלוּעָה דְּגָדֵר, וְחַמֵּי טְבֶרְיָא, וְעֵינָא רַבָּתִי דְּבֵירָם.
Rabbi Yoḥanan says: The members of the generation of the flood sinned with “great” and were punished with “great.” They sinned with “great,” as it is stated: “And the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great” (Genesis 6:5). And they were punished with great, as it is stated: “All the fountains of the great deep were breached” (Genesis 7:11). Rabbi Yoḥanan says: Three fountains of the great deep that were breached in the flood remained, and boiling water continues to flow in them as it did during the flood. They are: Beloa of Gader, and the hot springs of Tiberias, and the great spring of Beiram.
״כִּי הִשְׁחִית כׇּל בָּשָׂר אֶת דַּרְכּוֹ עַל הָאָרֶץ״, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהִרְבִּיעוּ בְּהֵמָה עַל חַיָּה, וְחַיָּה עַל בְּהֵמָה, וְהַכֹּל עַל אָדָם, וְאָדָם עַל הַכֹּל. אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כָּהֲנָא: וְכוּלָּם חָזְרוּ, חוּץ מִתּוּשְׁלְמִי.
With regard to the verse: “For all flesh had corrupted its way upon the earth” (Genesis 6:12), Rabbi Yoḥanan says: This teaches that the people of the generation of the flood mated male domesticated animals with female undomesticated animals, and male undomesticated animals with female domesticated animals, and all male animals with human females, and human males with all female animals. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana says: And after the flood all of the creatures returned to mate with their own species, except for the bird called tushlami, which continued to mate with other species.
״וַיֹּאמֶר ה׳ לְנֹחַ קֵץ כׇּל בָּשָׂר בָּא לְפָנַי״. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: בֹּא וּרְאֵה כַּמָּה גָּדוֹל כֹּחַ שֶׁל חָמָס, שֶׁהֲרֵי דּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל עָבְרוּ עַל הַכֹּל, וְלֹא נֶחְתַּם עֲלֵיהֶם גְּזַר דִּינָם עַד שֶׁפָּשְׁטוּ יְדֵיהֶם בְּגָזֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ חָמָס מִפְּנֵיהֶם וְהִנְנִי מַשְׁחִיתָם אֶת הָאָרֶץ״. וּכְתִיב: ״הֶחָמָס קָם לְמַטֵּה רֶשַׁע, לֹא מֵהֶם וְלֹא מֵהֲמוֹנָם וְלֹא מֶהֱמֵהֶם וְלֹא נֹהַּ בָּהֶם״.
With regard to the verse: “And God said to Noah: The end of all flesh is come before Me, for the earth is filled with robbery through them, and behold, I will destroy them with the earth” (Genesis 6:13), Rabbi Yoḥanan says: Come and see how great is the power of robbery, as the generation of the flood violated every precept, but their sentence to be destroyed was not sealed until they extended their hands and engaged in robbery, as it is stated: “For the earth is filled with robbery through them, and behold, I will destroy them with the earth” (Genesis 6:13). And it is written: “Robbery is risen up into a rod of wickedness; nothing comes from them, nor from their multitude, nor from any of them, nor shall there be wailing [no’ah] for them” (Ezekiel 7:11).
אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: מְלַמֵּד שֶׁזָּקַף עַצְמוֹ כְּמַקֵּל, וְעָמַד לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וְאָמַר לְפָנָיו, רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם: ״לֹא מֵהֶם וְלֹא מֵהֲמוֹנָם וְלֹא מֶהֱמֵהֶם וְלֹא נֹהַּ בָּהֶם״.
Rabbi Elazar says: This teaches that robbery straightened itself like a rod and stood before the Holy One, Blessed be He, and said before Him: Master of the Universe: “Nothing comes from them, nor from their multitude, nor from any of them, nor shall there be wailing for them,” i.e., none of the robbers are fit to exist.
(וְאַף עַל נֹחַ נֶחְתַּם גְּזַר דִּין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְלֹא נֹחַ בָּהֶם״). תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל: אַף עַל נֹחַ נֶחְתַּךְ גְּזַר דִּין, אֶלָּא שֶׁמָּצָא חֵן בְּעֵינֵי ה׳, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״נִחַמְתִּי כִּי עֲשִׂיתֶם וְנֹחַ מָצָא חֵן בְּעֵינֵי ה׳״.
And the sentence of Noah was also sealed; he was going to die with the rest of the generation of the flood, as it is stated: Nor shall there be No’aḥ for them. The Gemara interprets the term spelled nun, heh, in the aforementioned verse, as if it were spelled nun, ḥet. The school of Rabbi Yishmael taught: The sentence of Noah was also decided; but he was spared through the kindness of God due to the fact that he found favor in the eyes of God, as it is stated: “For I regret that I have made them. And Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:7-8). The juxtaposition of the term “and Noah” to the phrase “for I regret that I have made them” indicates that Noah should have been killed as well.
״וַיִּנָּחֶם ה׳ כִּי עָשָׂה אֶת הָאָדָם בָּאָרֶץ״. כִּי אֲתָא רַב דִּימִי אָמַר: אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, יָפֶה עָשִׂיתִי שֶׁתִּקַּנְתִּי לָהֶם קְבָרוֹת בָּאָרֶץ. מַאי מַשְׁמַע? כְּתִיב הָכָא ״וַיִּנָּחֶם ה׳״, וּכְתִיב הָתָם ״וַיְנַחֵם אוֹתָם וַיְדַבֵּר עַל לִבָּם״.
It is written: “Vayyinaḥem the Lord that He made man on the earth [ba’aretz]” (Genesis 6:6). The meaning of the term “vayyinaḥem” is subject to a dispute. When Rav Dimi came from Eretz Yisrael to Babylonia, he said in explanation: The Holy One, Blessed be He, said: I did well that I prepared graves for people in the earth [ba’aretz]. The Gemara asks: From where is it inferred that the term “vayyinaḥem” has a positive connotation? The Gemara answers: It is written here: “Vayyinaḥem,” and it is written there: “And he comforted them [vayenaḥem otam] and spoke to their heart” (Genesis 50:21).
וְאִיכָּא דְאָמְרִי: לֹא יָפֶה עָשִׂיתִי שֶׁתִּקַּנְתִּי לָהֶם קְבָרוֹת בָּאָרֶץ. כְּתִיב הָכָא ״וַיִּנָּחֶם״, וּכְתִיב הָתָם: ״וַיִּנָּחֶם ה׳ עַל הָרָעָה אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לַעֲשׂוֹת לְעַמּוֹ״.
And there are those who say that the term “vayyinaḥem” has a different meaning: I did not do well that I prepared graves for people in the earth, as I should not have created them in order to destroy them. From where is it inferred that the term “vayyinaḥem” has a negative connotation? It is written here: “Vayyinaḥem,” and it is written there: “And the Lord regretted [vayyinaḥem] the evil that He thought to do to His people” (Exodus 32:14).
״אֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדוֹת נֹחַ [נֹחַ אִישׁ צַדִּיק תָּמִים הָיָה בְּדֹרֹתָיו]״. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: ״בְּדוֹרוֹתָיו״, וְלֹא בְּדוֹרוֹת אֲחֵרִים. וְרֵישׁ לָקִישׁ אָמַר: ״בְּדוֹרוֹתָיו״, כׇּל שֶׁכֵּן בְּדוֹרוֹת אֲחֵרִים.
§ With regard to the verse: “These are the generations of Noah; Noah was a righteous man, and wholehearted in his generations” (Genesis 6:9), Rabbi Yoḥanan says: Relative to the other people of his generation he was righteous and wholehearted, but not relative to those of other generations. And Reish Lakish says: In his generation he was righteous and wholehearted despite being surrounded by bad influences; all the more so would he have been considered righteous and wholehearted in other generations.
אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: מָשָׁל דְּרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, לְמָה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה? לְחָבִית שֶׁל יַיִן שֶׁהָיְתָה מוּנַּחַת בְּמַרְתֵּף שֶׁל חוֹמֶץ. בִּמְקוֹמָהּ – רֵיחָהּ נוֹדֵף, שֶׁלֹּא בִּמְקוֹמָהּ – אֵין רֵיחָהּ נוֹדֵף. אָמַר רַבִּי אוֹשַׁעְיָא: מָשָׁל דְּרֵישׁ לָקִישׁ, לְמָה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה? לִצְלוֹחִית שֶׁל פִּלְיָיטוֹן שֶׁהָיְתָה מוּנַּחַת בִּמְקוֹם הַטִּנּוֹפֶת. בִּמְקוֹמָהּ – רֵיחָהּ נוֹדֵף, וְכׇל שֶׁכֵּן בִּמְקוֹם הַבּוֹסֶם.
Rabbi Ḥanina says: There is a parable for the statement of Rabbi Yoḥanan; to what is this matter comparable? It is comparable to a barrel of wine that was placed in a cellar where vinegar is stored; in its place, its fragrance diffuses, i.e., is noticeable, relative to the odor of the vinegar. When it is not in its place surrounded by vinegar, its fragrance does not diffuse, and its pleasant odor is not sensed. Rabbi Oshaya says: There is a parable for the statement of Reish Lakish; to what is this matter comparable? It is comparable to a flask of perfume [palyaton] that was placed in a location of filth. In its place its fragrance diffuses despite the ambient odor, and all the more so is its fragrance noticeable if it is placed in a location where there is perfume.
״וַיִּמַח אֶת כׇּל הַיְקוּם אֲשֶׁר עַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה״. אִם אָדָם חָטָא, בְּהֵמָה מָה חָטְאָה?
With regard to the verse: “And He obliterated every living thing that was upon the face of the ground, from man to cattle to creeping animal to the birds of the heaven” (Genesis 7:23), the Gemara asks: If man sinned, in what way did the animal kingdom sin that it, too, warranted destruction?
תָּנָא מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן קׇרְחָה: מָשָׁל לְאָדָם שֶׁעָשָׂה חוּפָּה לִבְנוֹ, וְהִתְקִין מִכׇּל מִינֵי סְעוּדָה. לְיָמִים מֵת בְּנוֹ. עָמַד וּבִלְבֵּל אֶת חוּפָּתוֹ. אָמַר: כְּלוּם עָשִׂיתִי אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל בְּנִי? עַכְשָׁיו שֶׁמֵּת, חוּפָּה לָמָּה לִי? אַף הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אָמַר: כְּלוּם בָּרָאתִי בְּהֵמָה וְחַיָּה אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל אָדָם? עַכְשָׁיו שֶׁאָדָם חוֹטֵא, בְּהֵמָה וְחַיָּה לָמָּה לִי?
The Gemara answers: It was taught in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa: There is a parable for this matter, to a man who fashioned a wedding canopy for his son and prepared all sorts of food for the wedding feast. Sometime later, before the wedding, his son died. What did the man do? He arose and dismantled his son’s wedding canopy. He said: Did I do this for any reason other than for my son? Now that my son has died, why do I need a wedding canopy? So too, the Holy One, Blessed be He, said: Did I create domesticated animals and non-domesticated animals for any reason other than for man? Now that man sins and is sentenced to destruction, why do I need domesticated animals and non-domesticated animals?
״מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר בֶּחָרָבָה מֵתוּ״, וְלֹא דָּגִים שֶׁבַּיָּם.
It is written: “Of all that was on dry land died” (Genesis 7:22), from which it is inferred: But not the fish that are in the sea, which are not on dry land.
דָּרֵשׁ רַבִּי יוֹסֵי דְּמִן קֵסָרִי: מַאי דִּכְתִיב ״קַל הוּא עַל פְּנֵי מַיִם תְּקֻלַּל חֶלְקָתָם בָּאָרֶץ״? מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהָיָה נֹחַ הַצַּדִּיק מוֹכִיחַ בָּהֶם וְאוֹמֵר לָהֶם: עֲשׂוּ תְּשׁוּבָה, וְאִם לָאו הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מֵבִיא עֲלֵיכֶם אֶת הַמַּבּוּל וּמַקְפֶּה נִבְלַתְכֶם עַל הַמַּיִם כְּזִיקִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״קַל הוּא עַל פְּנֵי מַיִם״. וְלֹא עוֹד, אֶלָּא שֶׁלּוֹקְחִין מֵהֶם קְלָלָה לְכׇל בָּאֵי עוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״תְּקֻלַּל חֶלְקָתָם בָּאָרֶץ
Rabbi Yosei from Caesarea taught: What is the meaning of that which is written: “He is swift upon the face of the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth; he turns not by way of the vineyards” (Job 24:18)? This teaches that Noah the righteous would rebuke the people of his generation and say to them: Repent. And if you do not, the Holy One, Blessed be He, will bring a flood upon you and float your corpses on the water like wineskins filled with air that float on water, as it is stated: “He is swift upon the face of the waters.” Moreover, a curse is taken from them to all who enter the world, as people will curse others, saying: They shall be like the generation of the flood. As it is stated: “Their portion is cursed in the earth.”
לֹא יִפְנֶה דֶּרֶךְ כְּרָמִים״, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהָיוּ מְפַנִּים דֶּרֶךְ כְּרָמִים. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: וּמִי מְעַכֵּב? אָמַר לָהֶם: פְּרֵידָה אַחַת יֵשׁ לִי לְהוֹצִיא מִכֶּם.
The conclusion of that verse: “He turns not by way of the vineyards,” teaches that they would clear a path through vineyards. They said to Noah: And who is preventing the flood from coming? Noah said to them: I have one pigeon, Methuselah, who will die at his appointed time, which I must remove from among you before the flood.
אִם כֵּן, לֹא נְפַנֶּה דֶּרֶךְ כְּרָמִים.
They said to him: If so we will not clear a path through vineyards, i.e., we will continue to sin.
דָּרֵשׁ רָבָא: מַאי דִּכְתִיב ״לַפִּיד בּוּז לְעַשְׁתּוּת שַׁאֲנָן נָכוֹן לְמוֹעֲדֵי רָגֶל״? מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהָיָה נֹחַ הַצַּדִּיק מוֹכִיחַ אוֹתָם, וְאָמַר לָהֶם דְּבָרִים שֶׁהֵם קָשִׁים כְּלַפִּידִים, וְהָיוּ בּוֹזִים אוֹתוֹ. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: זָקֵן, תֵּיבָה זוֹ לָמָּה? אָמַר לָהֶם: הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מֵבִיא עֲלֵיכֶם אֶת הַמַּבּוּל. אָמְרוּ: מַבּוּל שֶׁל מָה? אִם מַבּוּל שֶׁל אֵשׁ, יֵשׁ לָנוּ דָּבָר אֶחָד וַעֲלִיתָה שְׁמָהּ. וְאִם שֶׁל מַיִם הוּא מֵבִיא, אִם מִן הָאָרֶץ הוּא מֵבִיא, יֵשׁ לָנוּ עֲשָׁשִׁיּוֹת שֶׁל בַּרְזֶל שֶׁאָנוּ מְחַפִּין בָּהֶם אֶת הָאָרֶץ. וְאִם מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם הוּא מֵבִיא, יֵשׁ לָנוּ דָּבָר וְעָקֵב שְׁמוֹ – וְאָמְרִי לַהּ: עִקֵּשׁ שְׁמוֹ.
Rava taught: What is the meaning of that which is written: “A contemptible torch [lapid] in the thought of him that is at ease, a thing ready for them whose foot slips” (Job 12:5)? This teaches that Noah the righteous would rebuke the people of his generation, and he said to them statements that are harsh as torches [kelapidim], and they would treat him with contempt. They said to him: Old man, why are you building this ark? Noah said to them: The Holy One, Blessed be He, is bringing a flood upon you. They said to him: A flood of what? If it is a flood of fire, we have another item and it is called alita, and it is fireproof. And if it is a flood of water that He brings, if He brings the water from the earth, we have iron plates with which we can plate the earth to prevent the water from rising. And if He brings the water from the heavens, we have an item and it is called ekev, and some say it is called ikkesh, which will absorb the water.
אָמַר לָהֶם: הוּא מֵבִיא מִבֵּין עִקְּבֵי רַגְלֵיכֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״נָכוֹן לְמוֹעֲדֵי רָגֶל״. תַּנְיָא: מֵימֵי הַמַּבּוּל קָשִׁים כְּשִׁכְבַת זֶרַע, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״נָכוֹן לְמוֹעֲדֵי רָגֶל״. אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: בְּרוֹתְחִין קִלְקְלוּ בַּעֲבֵירָה, וּבְרוֹתְחִין נִידּוֹנוּ. כְּתִיב הָכָא: ״וַיָּשֹׁכּוּ הַמָּיִם״, וּכְתִיב הָתָם: ״וַחֲמַת הַמֶּלֶךְ שָׁכָכָה״.
Noah said to them: If He wishes He will bring the water from between your feet and you can do nothing to prevent it, as it is stated: “For them whose foot slips.” It is taught in a baraita: The waters of the flood were as hard and thick as semen, as it is stated: “For them whose foot slips”; foot is a euphemism. Rav Ḥisda says: With hot semen they sinned, and with hot water they were punished. As it is written here, at the conclusion of the flood: “And the waters assuaged” (Genesis 8:1), and it is written there: “Then the king’s wrath was assuaged” (Esther 7:10). Just as the term “assuaged” there is referring to the heat of Ahasuerus’s wrath, so too, “assuaged” with regard to the flood is referring to the heat of the waters.
״וַיְהִי לְשִׁבְעַת הַיָּמִים וּמֵי הַמַּבּוּל הָיוּ עַל הָאָרֶץ״, מָה טִיבָם שֶׁל שִׁבְעַת הַיָּמִים?
With regard to the verse: “And it came to pass that after seven days the waters of the flood were upon the earth” (Genesis 7:10), the Gemara asks: What is the nature of these seven additional days?
אָמַר רַב: אֵלּוּ יְמֵי אֲבֵילוּת שֶׁל מְתוּשֶׁלַח, לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁהֶסְפֵּדָן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים מְעַכְּבִין אֶת הַפּוּרְעָנוּת לָבֹא. דָּבָר אַחֵר: לְשִׁבְעַת [הַיָּמִים] שֶׁשִּׁינָּה עֲלֵיהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא סֵדֶר בְּרֵאשִׁית, שֶׁהָיְתָה חַמָּה יוֹצֵאת מִמַּעֲרָב וְשׁוֹקַעַת בַּמִּזְרָח. דָּבָר אַחֵר: שֶׁקָּבַע לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא זְמַן גָּדוֹל, וְאַחַר כָּךְ זְמַן קָטָן. דָּבָר אַחֵר: לְשִׁבְעַת הַיָּמִים שֶׁהִטְעִימָם מֵעֵין הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, כְּדֵי שֶׁיֵּדְעוּ מָה טוֹבָה מָנְעוּ מֵהֶן.
Rav says: These were the days of mourning for the death of Methuselah; and this is to teach you that eulogies for the righteous prevent calamities from ensuing. Alternatively, “after seven days” means that the Holy One, Blessed be He, altered the order of Creation for that generation, i.e., in seven days He reversed the process of Creation, so that the sun would emerge in the west and set in the east. Alternatively, it means that the Holy One, Blessed be He, designated a substantial period for them, one hundred and twenty years, to repent, and thereafter designated a brief period for them, an additional seven days, as a final opportunity for them to repent. Alternatively, “after seven days” means that during those seven days, God gave them a foretaste of the delights of the World-to-Come, which will be actualized during the seventh millennium, so that they would know what munificence their sins prevented them from receiving.
״מִכֹּל הַבְּהֵמָה הַטְּהוֹרָה תִּקַּח לְךָ שִׁבְעָה שִׁבְעָה אִישׁ וְאִשְׁתּוֹ״, אִישׁוּת לִבְהֵמָה מִי אִית לַהּ? אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן: מֵאוֹתָם שֶׁלֹּא נֶעֶבְדָה בָּהֶם עֲבֵירָה.
§ With regard to the verse: “Of every kosher animal you shall take to you by sevens, husband and wife” (Genesis 7:2), the Gemara asks: Is there marriage for animals? Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani says that Rabbi Yonatan says: The reference is to those animals with which the transgression of relations with another species was not performed. Therefore, the Torah underscores that the animals that entered the ark were husband and wife.
מְנָא יְדַע? אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: שֶׁהֶעֱבִירָן לִפְנֵי הַתֵּיבָה, כֹּל שֶׁהַתֵּיבָה קוֹלַטְתּוֹ – בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁלֹּא נֶעֶבְדָה בָּהֶם עֲבֵירָה, וְכֹל שֶׁאֵין הַתֵּיבָה קוֹלַטְתּוֹ – בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁנֶּעֶבְדָה בָּהּ עֲבֵירָה. רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ אָמַר: מֵאוֹתָן הַבָּאִין מֵאֵילֵיהֶן.
The Gemara asks: From where did Noah know which animals were not involved in that transgression? Rav Ḥisda says: He passed them before the ark. All animals that the ark accepted, it was known that a transgression had not been performed with them. And any animal that the ark did not accept, it was known that a transgression had been performed with it. Rabbi Abbahu says: Noah took onto the ark only from those animals that came on their own, as it appeared that they were sent from Heaven, and they were certainly fit for this purpose.
״עֲשֵׂה לְךָ תֵּבַת עֲצֵי גֹפֶר״, מַאי גּוֹפֶר? אָמַר רַב אַדָּא: אָמְרִי דְּבֵי רַבִּי שֵׁילָא, זוֹ מַבְלִיגָה. וְאָמְרִי לַהּ: גּוּלְמֵישׁ.
With regard to the verse: “Make you an ark of gopher wood” (Genesis 6:14), the Gemara asks: What is gopher wood? Rav Adda says that they say in the school of Rabbi Sheila: This is wood from the mavliga tree; and some say that it is wood from the willow [gulamish] tree.
״צֹהַר תַּעֲשֶׂה לַתֵּבָה״ – אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְנֹחַ, קְבַע בָּהּ אֲבָנִים טוֹבוֹת וּמַרְגָּלִיּוֹת, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיוּ מְאִירוֹת לָכֶם כַּצׇּהֳרַיִם.
With regard to the verse: “A tzohar you shall make for the ark” (Genesis 6:16), Rabbi Yoḥanan says that the Holy One, Blessed be He, said to Noah: Set precious stones and jewels in the ark so that they will shine for you as the afternoon [tzohorayim] sun.
״וְאֶל אַמָּה תְּכַלֶּנָּה מִלְמַעְלָה״, דִּבְהָכִי [הוּא] דְּקָיְימָא.
With regard to the verse: “And to a cubit you shall finish it above” (Genesis 6:16), the Gemara explains that in that manner, having been built wide at its base and narrow at its top, the ark would stand upright and would not capsize.
״תַּחְתִּיִּם שְׁנִיִּם וּשְׁלִשִׁים תַּעֲשֶׂהָ״ – תָּנָא: תַּחְתִּיִּים לְזֶבֶל, אֶמְצָעִיִּים לַבְּהֵמָה, עֶלְיוֹנִים לָאָדָם.
With regard to the verse: “With lower, second and third stories shall you make it” (Genesis 6:16), it was taught in a baraita: The bottom story was for manure, the middle story was for animals, and the top story was for people.
״וַיְשַׁלַּח אֶת הָעֹרֵב״, אָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ: תְּשׁוּבָה נִיצַּחַת הֱשִׁיבוֹ עוֹרֵב לְנֹחַ. אָמַר לוֹ: רַבְּךָ שׂוֹנְאֵנִי וְאַתָּה שְׂנֵאתָנִי. רַבְּךָ שׂוֹנְאֵנִי – מִן הַטְּהוֹרִין שִׁבְעָה, מִן הַטְּמֵאִים שְׁנַיִם, וְאַתָּה שְׂנֵאתָנִי – שֶׁאַתָּה מַנִּיחַ מִמִּין שִׁבְעָה וְשׁוֹלֵחַ מִמִּין שְׁנַיִם. אִם פּוֹגֵעַ בִּי שַׂר חַמָּה אוֹ שַׂר צִנָּה, לֹא נִמְצָא עוֹלָם חָסֵר בְּרִיָּה אַחַת? אוֹ שֶׁמָּא לְאִשְׁתִּי אַתָּה צָרִיךְ?
With regard to the verse: “And he sent forth the raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from the earth” (Genesis 8:7), Reish Lakish says: The raven provided a convincing response to Noah; when it did not wish to leave the ark the raven said to him: Your Master, God, hates me, and you hate me. Your Master hates me, as He commanded to take from the kosher species seven and from the non-kosher species two. And you hate me, as you disregard those from the species of seven, i.e., the kosher birds, and instead dispatch one from the species of two, i.e., the non-kosher birds. If the angel of heat or the angel of cold harms me and kills me, will the world not be lacking one species of creature, as there was only one pair of ravens? Or perhaps you are sending me because it is my wife that you need, in order to engage in intercourse with her.
אָמַר לוֹ: רָשָׁע! בַּמּוּתָּר לִי נֶאֱסַר לִי, בַּנֶּאֱסָר לִי לֹא כׇּל שֶׁכֵּן?
Noah said to the raven: Wicked one! If with the woman who is generally permitted to me, my wife, intercourse is forbidden to me, then with regard to domesticated and undomesticated animals, which are generally forbidden to me, is it not all the more so the case that they are forbidden to me?
וּמְנָלַן דְּנֶאֶסְרוּ? דִּכְתִיב: ״וּבָאתָ אֶל הַתֵּבָה אַתָּה וּבָנֶיךָ וְאִשְׁתְּךָ וּנְשֵׁי בָנֶיךָ אִתָּךְ״, וּכְתִיב: ״צֵא מִן הַתֵּבָה אַתָּה וְאִשְׁתְּךָ וּבָנֶיךָ וּנְשֵׁי בָנֶיךָ אִתָּךְ״. וְאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: מִיכָּן (אָמְרוּ) שֶׁנֶּאֶסְרוּ בְּתַשְׁמִישׁ הַמִּטָּה.
The Gemara asks: And from where do we derive that it was prohibited for them to engage in intercourse while in the ark? The Gemara answers: It is derived from that which is written: “And you shall come into the ark, you, and your sons, and your wife, and your sons’ wives with you” (Genesis 6:18); and it is written: “Emerge from the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you” (Genesis 8:16). And Rabbi Yoḥanan says: From here, the Sages derived and said that it was prohibited to engage in intercourse while in the ark, as when Noah and his family entered, the husbands and wives were listed separately, and when they emerged, the husbands were listed with their wives.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: שְׁלֹשָׁה שִׁמְּשׁוּ בַּתֵּיבָה, וְכוּלָּם לָקוּ. כֶּלֶב וְעוֹרֵב וְחָם. כֶּלֶב נִקְשַׁר, עוֹרֵב רָק, חָם לָקָה בְּעוֹרוֹ.
The Sages taught: Three violated that directive and engaged in intercourse while in the ark, and all of them were punished for doing so. They are: The dog, and the raven, and Ham, son of Noah. The dog was punished in that it is bound; the raven was punished in that it spits, and Ham was afflicted in that his skin turned black.
״וַיְשַׁלַּח אֶת הַיּוֹנָה מֵאִתּוֹ לִרְאוֹת הֲקַלּוּ הַמַּיִם״. אָמַר רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה: מִכָּאן שֶׁדִּירָתָן שֶׁל עוֹפוֹת טְהוֹרִים עִם הַצַּדִּיקִים.
With regard to the verse: “And he sent forth the dove from him, to see if the waters abated” (Genesis 8:8), Rabbi Yirmeya says: From here it is derived that the dwelling place of kosher birds in the ark was with the righteous people, as the verse emphasizes that Noah dispatched the dove from his place.
״וְהִנֵּה עֲלֵה זַיִת טָרָף בְּפִיהָ״. אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: אָמְרָה יוֹנָה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, יִהְיוּ מְזוֹנוֹתַי מְרוֹרִים כְּזַיִת וּמְסוּרִים בְּיָדְךָ, וְאַל יִהְיוּ מְתוּקִים כִּדְבַשׁ וּמְסוּרִים בְּיַד בָּשָׂר וָדָם. מַאי מַשְׁמַע דְּהַאי ״טָרָף״ לִישָּׁנָא דִּמְזוֹנֵי הוּא? דִּכְתִיב: ״הַטְרִיפֵנִי לֶחֶם חֻקִּי״.
With regard to the verse: “And in her mouth was an olive branch plucked off [taraf ]” (Genesis 8:11), Rabbi Elazar says: The dove said before the Holy One, Blessed be He: Master of the Universe, may my sustenance be bitter as the olive and dependent on Your hands, and not sweet as honey and dependent on the hands of flesh and blood. The Gemara asks: From where may it be inferred that taraf is a term that indicates sustenance? The Gemara answers: It is inferred from that which is written: “Feed me [hatrifeni] with my allotted portion” (Proverbs 30:8).
״לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתֵיהֶם יָצְאוּ מִן הַתֵּבָה״, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: ״לְמִשְׁפְּחוֹתָם״ וְלֹא ״הֵם״.
With regard to the verse: “After their kinds [lemishpeḥoteihem], they emerged from the ark” (Genesis 8:19), Rabbi Yoḥanan says: After their kinds [lemishpeḥotam] the animals emerged, but not them [hem] themselves, as some of the animals that entered the ark died during that year and it was their descendants who emerged.
אָמַר רַב חָנָא בַּר בִּיזְנָא: אָמַר לֵיהּ אֱלִיעֶזֶר לְשֵׁם רַבָּא, כְּתִיב: ״לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתֵיהֶם יָצְאוּ מִן הַתֵּבָה״. אַתּוּן הֵיכָן הֲוֵיתוּן? אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: צַעַר גָּדוֹל הָיָה לָנוּ בַּתֵּיבָה. בְּרִיָּה שֶׁדַּרְכָּהּ לְהַאֲכִילָהּ בַּיּוֹם – הֶאֱכַלְנוּהָ בַּיּוֹם, שֶׁדַּרְכָּהּ לְהַאֲכִילָהּ בַּלַּיְלָה – הֶאֱכַלְנוּהָ בַּלַּיְלָה. הַאי זְקִיתָא לָא הֲוָה יָדַע אַבָּא מָה אָכְלָה. יוֹמָא חַד הֲוָה יָתֵיב וְקָא פָאלֵי רִמּוֹנָא, נְפַל תּוֹלַעְתָּא מִינַּהּ אֲכַלָה. מִיכָּן וְאֵילָךְ הֲוָה גָּבֵיל לַהּ חִיזְרָא, כִּי מַתְלַע אָכְלָה.
Rav Ḥana bar Bizna says: Eliezer, servant of Abraham, said to Shem the Great, son of Noah: It is written: “After their kinds, they emerged from the ark,” indicating that the different types of animals were not intermingled while in the ark. Where were you and what did you do to care for them while they were in the ark? Shem said to him: We experienced great suffering in the ark caring for the animals. Where there was a creature that one typically feeds during the day, we fed it during the day, and where there was a creature that one typically feeds at night, we fed it at night. With regard to that chameleon, my father did not know what it eats. One day, my father was sitting and peeling a pomegranate. A worm fell from it and the chameleon ate it. From that point forward my father would knead bran with water, and when it became overrun with worms, the chameleon would eat it.
אַרְיָא – אֶישָּׁתָא זַנְתֵּיהּ, דְּאָמַר רַב: לָא בְּצִיר מִשִּׁיתָּא וְלָא טְפֵי מִתְּרֵיסַר זָיְנָא אִישָּׁתָא. אוּרְשִׁינָה – אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ אַבָּא דְּגָנֵי בְּסַפְנָא דְּתֵיבוֹתָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לָא בָּעֵית מְזוֹנֵי? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: חֲזֵיתָיךְ דַּהֲוֵת טְרִידַתְּ, אָמֵינָא לָא אֲצַעֲרָךְ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: יְהֵא רַעֲוָא דְּלָא תְּמוּת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וָאֹמַר עִם קִנִּי אֶגְוָע וְכַחוֹל אַרְבֶּה יָמִים״.
With regard to the lion, a fever sustained it, since when it suffered from a fever, it did not need to eat; as Rav said: For no fewer than six days and no more than twelve days, fever sustains a person; he need not eat and is sustained from his own fats. Shem continued: With regard to the phoenix [avarshina], my father found it lying in its compartment on the side of the ark. He said to the bird: Do you not want food? The bird said to him: I saw that you were busy, and I said I would not trouble you by requesting food. Noah said to the bird: May it be God’s will that you shall not die, and through that bird the verse was fulfilled, as it is stated: “And I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the phoenix” (Job 29:18).
אָמַר רַב חָנָה בַּר לֵוַאי: אֲמַר שֵׁם רַבָּא לֶאֱלִיעֶזֶר, כִּי אֲתוֹ עֲלַיְיכוּ מַלְכֵי מִזְרָח וּמַעֲרָב, אַתּוּן הֵיכִי עֲבְידִיתוּ? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אַיְיתִי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְאַבְרָהָם וְאוֹתְבֵיהּ מִיַּמִּינֵיהּ, וַהֲוָה שָׁדֵינַן עַפְרָא וְהָווּ חַרְבֵי, גִּילֵי וְהָווּ גִּירֵי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד נְאֻם ה׳ לַאדֹנִי שֵׁב לִימִינִי עַד אָשִׁית אֹיְבֶיךָ הֲדֹם לְרַגְלֶיךָ״, וּכְתִיב: ״מִי הֵעִיר מִמִּזְרָח צֶדֶק יִקְרָאֵהוּ לְרַגְלוֹ יִתֵּן לְפָנָיו גּוֹיִם וּמְלָכִים יַרְדְּ יִתֵּן כֶּעָפָר חַרְבּוֹ כְּקַשׁ נִדָּף קַשְׁתּוֹ״.
§ Rav Ḥana bar Leva’ei says that Shem the Great said to Eliezer, servant of Abraham: When the four great kings of the east and the west came upon you to wage war with Abraham, what did you do? Eliezer said to him: The Holy One, Blessed be He, brought Abraham and placed him to His right, and we would throw dust and it became swords, and we threw straw and it became arrows, as it is stated: “A Psalm of David. The Lord says to my master: Sit to My right, until I make your enemies your footstool” (Psalms 110:1), and it is written: “Who has raised up one from the east at whose steps victory attends? He gives nations before him, and makes him rule over kings; his sword makes them as the dust, his bow as driven straw” (Isaiah 41:2).
נַחוּם אִישׁ גַּם זוֹ הֲוָה רְגִיל, דְּכֹל דַּהֲוָה סָלְקָא לֵיהּ אֲמַר: ״גַּם זוֹ לְטוֹבָה״. יוֹמָא חַד בְּעוֹ [יִשְׂרָאֵל] לְשַׁדּוֹרֵי דּוֹרוֹן לְקֵיסָר. אָמְרִי: בַּהֲדֵי
Apropos Abraham’s miraculous weapons, the Gemara relates: Naḥum of Gam Zo was accustomed that in response to any circumstance that arose in his regard, he would say: This too [gam zo] is for the best. One day the Jewish people sought to send a gift [doron] to the emperor. They said: With
