Doreish Tov on Medrash Rabbah Parashas Noach 5769 (2-3)

Doreish Tov on Medrash Rabbah
Parashas Noach 5769

30:2 The Medrash states that it is said (Bereishis 6:9) eileh toldos Noach, these are the offspring of Noach. It is said (Iyov 24:18) kal hu al pinei mayim tikulal chelkasam baaretz lo yifneh derech keramim, he glides swiftly, as on the water’s surface; their portion in the land is forsaken; he does not turn to the way of the vineyards. The words kal hu al pinei mayim mean that it was decreed upon the Generation of the Flood that they should be destroyed by water (the word kal here is interpreted to mean a decree – Rashi). The words tikulal chelkasam baaretz mean that the One Who meted out retribution from the Generation of the Flood (will mete out retribution from one who does not keep his word – Rashi). Why is this so? Lo yifneh derech keramim, as their intention was to plant in the vineyards. Noach, however, intended to populate the world and to bear children, as it is said, eileh toldos Noach, these are the offspring of Noach. The Yerushalmi (Yevamos 6:5) understands that the Generation of the Flood did not engage in marital relations for the purpose of having children. Rather, they were preoccupied with their own desire for pleasure. It would seem that this Medrash is a continuation of the previous Medrash, where we learned that Noach was deemed to be the tzaddik yesod olam, as he was engaged in acts of holiness and purity. The Generation of the Flood, however, was engaged in acts of lewdness and promiscuity. It is for this reason that they were destroyed by water. The Maharal writes that water is chomer, mass, as opposed to tzurah, something that has a form. Perhaps the Generation of the Flood was specifically destroyed by water because they were engaged in physical acts with no desire to harness the physical for spiritual gains.

30:3 Eileh, these. Rabbi Abhu said that wherever it is said the word eileh without a vav, it comes to invalidate the ones previously mentioned. The word vieileh with the letter vav, however, comes to add to the previously mentioned. Here the Torah is telling us that the previous ones, i.e. the Generation of the Flood, were invalidated. Why does the word eileh denote an invalidation of the previous? The Maharal (Gur Aryeh Shemos 21:1) writes that the word eileh denotes a matter of significance. Perhaps the idea is that the Torah is teaching us here that Noach was significant and was worthy of being saved, and this was in the merit of his offspring (See Bereishis Rabbah 29:5). The Generation of the Flood, however, was insignificant with regard to being saved, so they were invalidated.