Noah and the Ark

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Noah is a biblical figure from the book of Genesis, described as the sole righteous person among a wicked generation. When God decided to flood the earth, God warned Noah and instructed him to build an ark. During the flood, Noah, his family, and representatives of every animal survived on the ark.

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Noah's Divine Journey

TANAKH

Noah's righteousness and unique relationship with God set him apart in a world filled with corruption and violence. The Torah describes Noah as blameless in his generation and someone who walked with God, highlighting his exceptional character.

This is the line of Noah.—Noah was a righteous man; he was blameless in his age; Noah walked with God.—

Genesis 6:9

The Raven's Suspicion

COMMENTARY

Rabbi Shabbetai Bass, in his supercommentary Siftei Chakhamim, explores the Babylonian Talmud in tractate Moed Katan to delve into the raven's behavior in the story of Noah and the Ark. He suggests that the raven's reluctance to leave the ark may stem from suspicions surrounding Noah's actions regarding his companion's potential role in the ark.

Because it suspected him concerning his mate. Meaning: [Its suspicion was] concerning Noach’s mate — that [Noach and] his wife were having marital relations in the ark. This is because the raven cohabited in the ark, and one accuses another of his own flaw (Kiddushin 70b). Thus the raven, too, did not want to be separated from its mate. And this is the explanation in Sanhedrin 108b as well. (R. Yaakov Taryosh)

Siftei Chakhamim, Genesis 8:7:1

Miracles Amidst the Flood

TALMUD

The survival of the reima and Og during the flood, as discussed in the Talmudic tractate Zevachim, revolves around various opinions on their escape from the deluge. The text explores theories suggesting miraculous events at the sides of the ark as a possible explanation for how these legendary creatures endured the catastrophic event.

The Gemara asks: Granted, according to the one who says the flood did not descend upon Eretz Yisrael, i.e., Rabbi Yoḥanan, this is the explanation of the fact that the reima remained there, in Eretz Yisrael, and survived the flood. But according to the one who says the flood descended upon Eretz Yisrael, i.e., Reish Lakish, how did the reima remain? Given its large size, it clearly could not have fit into Noah’s ark. Rabbi Yannai says: They brought reima cubs into the ark, and they survived the flood…

Zevachim 113b:7-12

The Miraculous Light in Noah's Ark

MIDRASH

The miraculous light within Noah's Ark, described as a pearl that illuminated the entire ark, adds a fascinating layer to the biblical narrative. Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, an eighth-century midrashic work, elaborates on the biblical story of Noah's Ark, providing additional details and interpretations.

Rabbi Meir said: One pearl was suspended in the ark, and shed light upon all the creatures in the ark, like a lamp which gives light inside the house, and like the sun yonder which shines in his might, as it is said, "A light shalt thou make to the ark" (Gen. 6:16).

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 23:6

Noah's Failings and Humanity's Continued Sin

KABBALAH

Even after the flood, humanity continued to sin, and Noah himself was not immune to failings. The Zohar, a foundational work of Jewish mysticism, delves into the deeper mystical implications of Noah's story, including his drunkenness and its consequences.

Furthermore, they persisted in their sins, and followed their evil inclination as before, and the holy Torah, which is the Tree of Life, had not yet been brought down to the earth. Moreover, Noah himself drew death into the world, through his own sin, of which it is written, “And he drank of the wine and was drunken, and he was uncovered within his tent” (Gen. 9, 21), as elsewhere explained.’

Zohar, Noach 13:93

Noah's Guilt and Leadership

COMMENTARY

Noah may have felt a deep sense of guilt for not doing more to save others during the Flood. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, in his modern commentary, delves into Noah's potential internal struggle and the ethical dimensions of his actions.

Noah was a good man who was not a leader. Was he, after the Flood, haunted by guilt? Did he think of the lives he might have saved if only he had spoken out, whether to his contemporaries or to God? We cannot be sure. The text is suggestive but not conclusive.

Lessons in Leadership; A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible, Noah; Righteousness Is Not Leadership 21

Feeding the Ark's Inhabitants

COMMENTARY

Noah had to ensure that every creature on the ark had its specific dietary needs met. The 13th-century Torah commentary by Rabbi Hezekiah ben Manoah, known as Chizkuni, delves into the logistical challenges Noah faced in storing a variety of foods for all the different creatures on the ark.

מכל מאכל, “from every category of food;” seeing that the ark contained all the living creatures that consumed food, Noach had to store the kind of food that was eaten by all these various creatures. The reason was that some creatures refused to touch food that other creatures enjoyed eating.

Chizkuni, Genesis 6:21:1

The Multifunctional Window of Noah's Ark

COMMENTARY

The window (tzohar) in Noah's Ark had practical functions beyond just providing light. Rabbi Jacob ben Asher, in his medieval commentary Tur HaArokh, explores the multifaceted uses of the tzohar, including dispatching birds and waste disposal.

צוהר, “a light,” according to some commentators this source of light was a gem stone which refracted whatever light was available in all directions. Others believe that the reference is to some kind of window (transparent material) Our sages question that seeing that the sun and moon did not operate during the duration of the flood, what good would a window have done? The answer provided is that it would enable the people inside the ark to calculate when 12 months would have passed. This is not a satisfactory answer either…

Tur HaArokh, Genesis 6:16:1

Divine Guidance to the Ark

COMMENTARY

The animals came to Noah of their own volition, guided by God, highlighting divine intervention in the preservation of species. The 18th-century commentary Or HaChaim by Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar provides mystical and ethical insights into the story of Noah and the Ark.

שנים שנים באו אל נח. They came to Noach in pairs. The Torah points out that these animals came of their own volition; Noach did not have to search for them or catch them. One of the reasons the Torah does not mention seven pairs of pure animals here is that only the number of animals that came to the ark to maintain their species are mentioned here. G'd guided them to the ark and Noach admitted them. The additional animals that served as תשלום, payment, Noach had to provide himself…

Or HaChaim on Genesis 7:9:1

The Miraculous Gathering of the Animals

COMMENTARY

The animals came to Noah of their own accord, demonstrating divine intervention and Noah's unwavering obedience to God's command. Radak, a medieval Jewish commentator, provides a detailed exegesis on Genesis 7:9, emphasizing the miraculous nature of the animals' arrival and Noah's role in fulfilling God's instructions.

שנים שנים, in pairs. Seeing that a pair is made up of a male and a female, two pairs of each species came. כאשר צוה אלוקים את נח, the animals came of their own accord, but Noach brought them into the ark as G’d had commanded him to do.

Radak on Genesis 7:9:1

The Architecture of Noah's Ark

COMMENTARY

Ibn Ezra provides a detailed and unique perspective on the architectural and structural aspects of Noah's Ark. The 12th-century commentator Ibn Ezra offers insights into the design, dimensions, and features of the ark as described in Genesis.

A LIGHT. Tzohar (a light) means an opening through which light would enter. It comes from the same root as tzohorayim (noon). The opening was made in the usual place, on top of the ark. Scripture tells us that the top of the ark was a cubit in length. We gather from this that it was a sixth of a cubit wide. The ark was triangular in shape. Its top came to a point, and so did its corners. Therefore it did not overturn. The door was on one side and was reached by climbing a ladder. Now, we know that the ark was very large…

Ibn Ezra on Genesis 6:16:1

Historical Evidence of Noah's Ark

SECOND TEMPLE

The story of Noah and the Ark is not just a biblical tale but is corroborated by various ancient historians and cultures, with claims of physical remnants of the ark being used as amulets. Josephus, a first-century Jewish historian, provides a historical account that aligns with the biblical narrative of Noah's Ark, adding credibility and depth to the story.

6. Now all the writers of barbarian histories make mention of this flood, and of this ark; among whom is Berosus the Chaldean. For when he is describing the circumstances of the flood, he goes on thus: "It is said there is still some part of this ship in Armenia, at the mountain of the Cordyaeans; and that some people carry off pieces of the bitumen, which they take away, and use chiefly as amulets for the averting of mischiefs." Hieronymus the Egyptian also, who wrote the Phoenician Antiquities, and Mnaseas, and a great many more, make mention of the same…

The Antiquities of the Jews 1:3:6

The Timing of the Ark's Settling

SECOND TEMPLE

Philo of Alexandria provides a unique perspective on the specific timing of the ark's settling, offering insights into the significance of the date mentioned in Genesis 8:4. This ancient Jewish commentary by Philo of Alexandria offers allegorical interpretations of biblical texts, reflecting Jewish thought during the Hellenistic period.

Why does he say, "The ark settled in the seventh month on the seven and twentieth day of the month?" (Genesis 8:4).

The Midrash of Philo 8:4:1

The Stability of Noah's Ark

TALMUD

The architectural design of Noah's Ark ensured its stability and prevented it from capsizing. The Talmudic tractate Sanhedrin discusses the dimensions and shape of the Ark, explaining how its wide base and narrow top contributed to its stability.

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.

Sanhedrin 108b:10

Noah's Righteousness and Divine Favor

TARGUM

Noah's righteousness and the favor he found before the Lord are central to understanding why he was chosen to preserve humanity and animal life. The Targum Jerusalem, an Aramaic translation and interpretation of the Hebrew Bible, provides insight into Noah's character and the divine mercy he received.

But Noah, because he was righteous in his generation, found favour and mercy before the Lord.

Targum Jerusalem, Genesis 6:8

The Resting of Noah's Ark

COMMENTARY

The gradual decrease of the floodwaters and the specific timing of the ark resting on the mountains of Ararat offer a profound insight into the aftermath of the Flood. Ramban, a medieval Jewish scholar, provides a detailed commentary on Genesis, exploring the nuances of the Torah's text and the significance of these events.

AND THE WATERS RETURNED FROM OFF THE EARTH CONTINUALLY. The verse states that the waters decreased gradually until the face of the ground was dried up.
And after the end of a hundred and fifty days the waters decreased. This is connected with the following verse, And the ark rested, thus stating that on that day there was a great decrease in the waters which enabled the ark to rest [on the mountains of Ararat], as I have explained.

Ramban on Genesis 8:4:5

The Timeline of the Flood

COMMENTARY

Rabbeinu Bahya meticulously chronicles the Flood's timeline and meteorological details, offering profound insights into this pivotal biblical event. His 13th-century commentary on Genesis, influenced by Nachmanides' interpretations, provides a detailed sequence of events during the Flood.

According to Nachmanides the timetable of the deluge ran as follows: Rain descended on earth for forty days continuously from the date the fountains of the deep broke open. During those forty days the waters on earth rose to a level of fifteen cubits above the highest peaks. At the end of the forty days the rain stopped but the fountains of the deep remained open and the “windows” of the heavens also remained open so that the atmosphere was extremely moist. The entire globe was full of water none of which dried off during that period…

Rabbeinu Bahya, Bereshit 8:4:2

Leaving the Ark, Egerton Genesis Picture Book, circa 1360. From the British Library archive

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