בראשית רבה כ״וBereshit Rabbah 26

Section 1א׳

וַיְהִי נֹחַ בֶּן חֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה (בראשית ה, לב), כְּתִיב (תהלים א, א): אַשְׁרֵי הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר לֹא הָלַךְ בַּעֲצַת רְשָׁעִים. אַשְׁרֵי הָאִישׁ, זֶה נֹחַ. אֲשֶׁר לֹא הָלַךְ בַּעֲצַת רְשָׁעִים וּבְדֶרֶךְ חַטָּאִים לֹא עָמָד, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה וְרַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר בִּשְׁלשָׁה דוֹרוֹת, בְּדוֹר אֱנוֹשׁ וּבְדוֹר הַמַּבּוּל וּבְדוֹר הַפְלָגָה. רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה אוֹמֵר בְּדוֹר הַמַּבּוּל וּבְדוֹר הַפְלָגָה, אֲבָל בְּדוֹר אֱנוֹשׁ הָיָה קָטָן. עַל דַּעְתֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה דְּאָמַר אַשְׁרֵי הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר לֹא הָלַךְ בַּעֲצַת רְשָׁעִים, זֶה דּוֹר אֱנוֹשׁ. וּבְדֶרֶךְ חַטָּאִים לֹא עָמָד, זֶה דּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל. וּבְמוֹשַׁב לֵצִים לֹא יָשָׁב, זֶה דּוֹר הַפְלָגָה. (תהלים א, ב): כִּי אִם בְּתוֹרַת ה' חֶפְצוֹ, אֵלּוּ שֶׁבַע מִצְווֹת שֶׁנִּצְטַוָּה. (תהלים א, ב): וּבְתוֹרָתוֹ יֶהֱגֶה יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה, שֶׁהָגָה דָּבָר מִתּוֹךְ דָּבָר, אָמַר מַה טַּעַם רִבָּה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בִּטְהוֹרִים יוֹתֵר מִטְּמֵאִים, לֹא שֶׁהוּא רוֹצֶה לְהַקְרִיב מֵהֶם קָרְבָּן, מִיָּד (בראשית ח, כ): וַיִּקַּח מִכֹּל הַבְּהֵמָה הַטְּהֹרָה וגו', (תהלים א, ג): וְהָיָה כְּעֵץ שָׁתוּל עַל פַּלְגֵי מָיִם, שֶׁשְּׁתָלוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בַּתֵּבָה. (תהלים א, ג): אֲשֶׁר פִּרְיוֹ יִתֵּן בְּעִתּוֹ, זֶה שֵׁם, (תהלים א, ג): וְעָלֵהוּ לֹא יִבֹּל, זֶה חָם. (תהלים א, ג): וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה יַצְלִיחַ, זֶה יֶפֶת.

“Noah was five hundred years old and Noah begot Shem, Ham, and Yefet” (Genesis 5:32). “Noah was five hundred years old” – it is written: “Happy is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the wicked” (Psalms 1:1). “Happy is the man” – this is Noah. “Who has not walked in the counsel of the wicked, has not stood in the path of sinners [and has not sat in the company of scoffers]” (Psalms 1:1), Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda says: In three generations – in the generation of Enosh, the generation of the Flood, and the generation of the Dispersion. Rabbi Neḥemya says: In the generation of the Flood and the generation of the Dispersion, but as for the generation of Enosh, he was still a minor. According to the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda, who said: “Happy is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the wicked,” this is the generation of Enosh; “has not stood in the path of sinners,” this is the generation of the Flood; “and has not sat in the company of scoffers,” this is the generation of the Dispersion; “but whose desire is in the Torah of the Lord” (Psalms 1:2) – these are the seven mitzvot that he [Noah] was commanded; “and he meditates on His Torah day and night” (Psalms 1:2) – as he derived one matter from another. He said: ‘What is the reason that the Holy One blessed be He set the number of the pure animals more than the impure animals? Is it not because He wants me to sacrifice an offering from them?’ Immediately, “he took from every pure animal…[and offered up offerings]” (Genesis 8:20). “He will be like a tree planted by streams of water” (Psalms 1:3), as the Holy One blessed be He implanted him in the ark; “which gives its fruit in season” (Psalms 1:3), this is Shem; “whose leaf does not wither” (Psalms 1:3), this is Ḥam; “and whatever he does he will prosper” (Psalms 1:3), this is Yefet.

Section 2ב׳

וַיּוֹלֶד נֹחַ שְׁלשָׁה בָנִים אֶת שֵׁם אֶת חָם וְאֶת יָפֶת (בראשית ו, י), כְּתִיב (תהלים צב, יד): שְׁתוּלִים בְּבֵית ה' בְּחַצְרוֹת אֱלֹהֵינוּ יַפְרִיחוּ, שְׁתוּלִים בְּבֵית ה', זֶה נֹחַ שֶׁשְּׁתָלוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בַּתֵּבָה. בְּחַצְרוֹת אֱלֹהֵינוּ יַפְרִיחוּ, וַיּוֹלֶד נֹחַ אֶת שֵׁם אֶת חָם וְאֶת יָפֶת. (תהלים צב, טו): עוֹד יְנוּבוּן בְּשֵׂיבָה דְּשֵׁנִים וְרַעֲנַנִּים יִהְיוּ. עוֹד יְנוּבוּן, זֶה נֹחַ. דְּשֵׁנִים וְרַעֲנַנִּים יִהְיוּ, וַיּוֹלֶד נֹחַ, אָמַר רַבִּי יוּדָן מַה טַּעַם כָּל דּוֹרוֹת הוֹלִידוּ לְמֵאָה שָׁנִים וּלְמָאתַיִם שָׁנָה, וְזֶה הוֹלִיד לַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה, אֶלָּא אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אִם רְשָׁעִים הֵם אֵין רְצוֹנִי שֶׁיֹּאבְדוּ בַּמַּיִם, וְאִם צַדִּיקִים הֵם אַטְרִיחַ עָלָיו וְיַעֲשֶׂה לָהֶם תֵּבוֹת הַרְבֵּה, וְכִיבֵּשׁ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַעֲיָנוֹ וְהוֹלִיד לַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה. רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בְּנוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הַגְּלִילִי אָמַר אֲפִלּוּ יֶפֶת שֶׁהוּא הַגָּדוֹל לִכְשֶׁיָּבוֹא הַמַּבּוּל אֵינוֹ בֶּן מֵאָה שָׁנָה שֶׁרָאוּי לָעֳנָשִׁים. אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא אֵין מִיתָה לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא אֶלָּא בְּעוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים בִּלְבָד, רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר לֹא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וְלֹא בְּעוֹבְדֵי כוֹכָבִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה כה, ח): וּמָחָה ה' אֱלֹהִים דִּמְעָה מֵעַל כָּל פָּנִים, מָה עָבִיד לֵיהּ רַבִּי חֲנִינָא מֵעַל כָּל פָּנִים, מֵעַל פְּנֵיהֶם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְהָכְתִיב (ישעיה סה, כ): כִּי הַנַּעַר בֶּן מֵאָה שָׁנָה יָמוּת, וְהָא מְסַיֵּעַ לֵיהּ לְרַבִּי חֲנִינָא. מָה עָבִיד לֵיהּ רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי, רָאוּי לְכָל עֳנָשִׁים, וְהָא כְתִיב (תהלים מט, טו): כַּצֹּאן לִשְׁאוֹל שַׁתּוּ מָוֶת יִרְעֵם וַיִּרְדּוּ בָם יְשָׁרִים, וְהָא מְסַיֵּעַ לֵיהּ לְרַבִּי חֲנִינָא. מָה עָבִיד לֵיהּ רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי, לְפִי שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה פַּרְעֹה בִּשְׁעָתָן, סִיסְרָא בִּשְׁעָתָן, סַנְחֵרִיב בִּשְׁעָתָן, אֲבָל לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עוֹשֶׂה מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת סְטַטְיוֹנָר שֶׁלָּהֶם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים מט, טו): וַיִּרְדּוּ בָם יְשָׁרִים לַבֹּקֶר וְצוּרָם לְבַלּוֹת שְׁאוֹל מִזְּבֻל לוֹ, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁשְּׁאוֹל בָּלָה וְגוּפָן אֵינָהּ בָּלָה, וְכָל כָּךְ לָמָּה עַל שֶׁפָּשְׁטוּ יְדֵיהֶם בִּזְבוּל, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (מלכים א ח, יג): בָּנֹה בָּנִיתִי בֵּית זְבֻל לָךְ.

“Noah begot three sons, Shem, Ḥam, and Yefet” (Genesis 6:10).It is written: “Planted in the House of the Lord, they blossom in the courts of our God” (Psalms 92:14). “Planted in the House of the Lord,” this is Noah, whom the Holy One blessed be He implanted in the ark; “they blossom in the courts of our God,” – “Noah begot…Shem, Ḥam, and Yefet.” “They will continue to yield fruit even in old age; they will remain full and fresh” (Psalms 92:15). “They will continue to yield fruit [even in old age],” this is Noah; “they will remain full and fresh” – “Noah begot.” Rabbi Yudan said: What is the reason that all the generations begot children at one hundred years or at two hundred years, but this one [Noah] begot at five hundred years? However, the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘If they will be wicked, I do not want them to be eradicated by the water; if they will be righteous, I would be imposing upon him [Noah] to make several arks for them. So the Holy One blessed be He suppressed his [Noah’s] fount, and he begot only at five hundred years. Rabbi Neḥemya said in the name of Rabbi Eliezer son of Rabbi Yosei HaGelili: [It was so that] even Yefet, who was the eldest, would not yet be one hundred years old – when he became subject to punishment – when the Flood came. Rabbi Ḥanina said: In the future there will be no death except for idolaters. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Neither for Israel, nor for idolaters, as it is stated: “[He will destroy death forever, and] the Lord God will wipe tears from all faces” (Isaiah 25:8). What does Rabbi Ḥanina do with “from all faces”? It is from the faces of Israel. But is it not written: “As the youth will die when he is one hundred years old”? (Isaiah 65:20). This supports Rabbi Ḥanina. What does Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi do with it? [It means that at that age] he will be fit for punishment. But is it not written: “Like sheep, they are destined for the grave; death will shepherd them. The upright will rule over them”? (Psalms 49:15). This supports Rabbi Ḥanina. What does Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi do with it? Because in this world, there was Pharaoh at his time, Sisera at his time, Sennacherib at his time, but in the future, the Holy One blessed be He will appoint the angel of death as the permanent sentry. That is what is written: “The upright will rule over them in the morning; their form will be consumed in the grave, an abode [zevul] for him” (Psalms 49:15) – this teaches that the grave may wear away, but their bodies will not wear away. Why to that extent? [“An abode for him”] – because they extended their hands against the Temple, as it is written: “I have built You an abode [zevul]” (I Kings 8:13).

Section 3ג׳

וַיּוֹלֶד נֹחַ שְׁלשָׁה בָנִים אֶת שֵׁם אֶת חָם וְאֶת יָפֶת, וַהֲלוֹא יֶפֶת הוּא הַגָּדוֹל, אֶלָּא בַּתְּחִלָּה אַתָּה דוֹרֵשׁ שֶׁהָיָה צַדִּיק, וְנוֹלַד כְּשֶׁהוּא מָהוּל, וְשֶׁיִּחֵד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שְׁמוֹ עָלָיו, וְשֶׁאַבְרָהָם עָתִיד לָצֵאת מִמֶּנּוּ, שֶׁשִּׁמֵּשׁ בִּכְהֻנָּה גְדוֹלָה, וְשֶׁנִּבְנֶה בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ בִּתְחוּמוֹ. שִׁמְעוֹן בַּר חוּטָה אָמַר שֶׁמִּנְיַן אוֹתִיּוֹתָיו תָּלָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְדוֹרוֹת מִן הַמַּבּוּל וְעַד הַהַפְלָגָה, שְׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת וְאַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה.

“Noah begot three sons, Shem, Ḥam, and Yefet” – but was Yefet not the eldest?, Initially, however, you should deal with the one who was righteous, born circumcised, the one whom the Holy One blessed be He associated His name with him, from whom Abraham was destined to descend, who served as High Priest, and in whose territory the Temple was built. Shimon bar Ḥuta said: [Shem takes precedence] because the Holy One blessed be He delayed the punishment [of the post-Flood generation], from the Flood until the Dispersion, the numerical value of his letters – three hundred and forty years.