📖 Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 23

״וְזֶה אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה אוֹתָהּ״, תָּאנִי רַבִּי שְׁמַעְיָה: בְּאֶצְבַּע הֶרְאָהוּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְנֹחַ וְאָמַר לוֹ, ״כָּזֶה וְכָזֶה תַּעֲשֶׂה לַתֵּבָה״. מֵאָה וַחֲמִשִּׁים קָנִים אֹרֶךְ יְמִינָהּ שֶׁל תֵּבָה, וּמֵאָה וַחֲמִשִּׁים אֹרֶךְ בְּצַד שְׂמֹאלָהּ, הַשְּׁלֹשִׁים וּשְׁלֹשָׁה קָנִים בְּצַד רָחְבָּהּ בִּדְפָנוֹתֶיהָ לַאֲחֹרֶיהָ, וַעֲשָׂרָה בַּתָּוֶךְ. הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ לְאוֹצָרוֹת שֶׁל מַאֲכָל. וְחָמֵשׁ אַפְטְנִיּוֹת בְּצַד אֹרֶךְ יְמִינָהּ שֶׁל תֵּבָה, וְחָמֵשׁ אַפְטְנִיּוֹת בְּצַד אֹרֶךְ שְׂמֹאלָהּ שֶׁל תֵּבָה. וְהַמַּכְנִיסִים אַמַּת הַמַּיִם נִפְתָּחִים וְנִסְגָּרִים, וְכֵן בַּיָּצִיעַ הַתַּחְתּוֹנָה, וְכֵן בַּמַּעֲלָה שְׁנִיָּה, וְכֵן בַּמַּעֲלָה שְׁלִישִׁית.

THE ARK AND THE FLOOD "And this is how thou shalt make the ark" (Gen. 6:15). R. Shemiah taught: The Holy One, blessed be He, showed Noah with a finger and said to him, Like this and that shalt thou do to the ark. One hundred and fifty rooms were along the length at the left side of the ark, thirty-three rooms across the width in the side within, and thirty-three rooms in the side across the width on the outside; and ten compartments in the centre, which were for the storerooms for the food. And there were five protected cisterns on the right side of the ark, and fifty protected cisterns on the left side of the ark, and the openings for the water pipes opened and closed, and so was it in the lowest division; and so || on the second floor, and so on the third floor.

מְדוֹר כָּל בְּהֵמָה וְחַיָּה בַּיָּצִיעַ הַתַּחְתּוֹן. מְדוֹר לְכָל הָעוֹפוֹת בַּיָּצִיעַ הַשְּׁנִיָּה. מְדוֹר שְׁקָצִים וּרְמָשִׂים וּבְנֵי אָדָם בַּיָּצִיעַ הַשְּׁלִישִׁית. מִכָּאן אַתָּה לָמֵד בִּשְׁלֹשִׁים וְשֵׁשׁ מִינֵי עוֹפוֹת בָּאָרֶץ וְשס״ה מִינֵי שְׁקָצִים בָּאָרֶץ, וְכֵן בַּיָּצִיעַ הַתַּחְתּוֹנָה וְכוּ' בַּיָּצִיעַ הַשְּׁנִיָּה וְכֵן בַּמַּעֲלָה שְׁלִישִׁית, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״תַּחְתִּיִּם שְׁנִיִּם וּשְׁלִשִׁים תַּעֲשֶׂהָ״.

The dwelling-place of all the cattle and animals was in the lowest compartment, the dwelling-place for all fowl was in the second compartment, and the dwelling-place for the reptiles and the human beings was in the third compartment. Hence thou mayest learn that there were 366 kinds of cattle on the earth, and 366 kinds of fowl on the earth, and 366 kinds of reptiles on the earth, for thus was (the number) in the lowest compartment, so in the second compartment, and so in the third floor, as it is said, "With lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it" (Gen. 6:16).

רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא אוֹמֵר: חֲמִשִּׁים וּשְׁתַּיִם שָׁנָה עָשָׂה נֹחַ בַּתֵּבָה, כְּדֵי שֶׁיָּשׁוּבוּ בִּתְשׁוּבָה מִדַּרְכֵיהֶם וּמִמַּעֲשֵׂיהֶם הָרָעִים. וְעַד שֶׁלֹּא בָּא הַמַּבּוּל, הָיוּ הַטְּמֵאִין מְרֻבִּין מִן הַטְּהוֹרִים. רָצָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְהַרְבּוֹת אֶת הַטְּהוֹרִים וּלְמַעֵט אֶת הַטְּמֵאִין. קָרָא לְנֹחַ וְאָמַר לוֹ: ״הָבֵא לְךָ אֶל הַתֵּבָה מִכָּל בְּהֵמָה טְהוֹרָה שִׁבְעָה שִׁבְעָה״.

Rabbi Tachanah said: Noah made the ark during fifty-two years, so that they should repent of their ways. But they did not repent. Whilst yet the Flood had not come, the unclean (animals) were more numerous than the clean (animals). But when the waters of the Flood came, and the Holy One, blessed be He, wished to increase the clean and to diminish the unclean (animals), He called to Noah and said to him: Take to thee into the ark of all clean beasts seven and seven, the male and his female; and of the unclean beasts two and two, the male and his female, as it is said, "Of every || clean beast thou shalt take to thee seven and seven, the male and his female; and of the beasts that are not clean two, the male and his female" (Gen. 7:2).

אָמַר נֹחַ לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״וְכִי יֵשׁ בִּי כֹּחַ לְקַבְּצָן אֵלַי אֶל הַתֵּבָה?״ יָרְדוּ כָּל מַלְאָכִים הַמְמֻנִּים עַל כָּל מִין וָמִין וְקִבְּצוּ אוֹתָן וְכָל מְזוֹנוֹתָן. ״וַיָּבֹא נֹחַ״ אֵין כְּתִיב אֶלָּא ״וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל נֹחַ״ – בָּאוּ מֵאֲלֵיהֶן.

Noah said to the Holy One, blessed be He: Sovereign of all the world! Have I then the strength to collect them unto me to the ark? The angels appointed over each kind went down and gathered them, and with them all their food unto him to the ark. They came to him of their own accord, as it is said, "And they came unto Noah into the ark" (Gen. 7:9); they came by themselves. "And they brought (them) to Noah" is not written here, but, "And they came unto Noah into the ark."

רַבִּי מָנָא אוֹמֵר: כֵּיוָן שֶׁנִּכְנְסוּ כָּל הַבְּרִיּוֹת אֶל הַתֵּבָה, סָגַר וְחָתַם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּיָדוֹ שַׁעַר הַתֵּבָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיִּסְגֹּר ה' בַּעֲדוֹ״.

Rabbi Mana said: When all the creatures had entered (the ark), the Holy One, blessed be He, closed and sealed with His hand the gate of the ark, as it is said, "And the Lord shut him in" (Gen. 7:16).

וּמַרְגָּלִית אַחַת הָיְתָה תְּלוּיָה בַּתֵּבָה, וּמְאִירָה לְכָל הַבְּרִיּוֹת כְּנֵר שֶׁהוּא מֵאִיר בִּגְבוּרָתוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״צֹהַר תַּעֲשֶׂה לַתֵּבָה״.

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).

רַבִּי צָדוֹק אוֹמֵר: בַּעֲשָׂרָה בְמַרְחֶשְׁוָן נִכְנְסוּ כָּל הַבְּרִיּוֹת אֶל הַתֵּיבָה. בְּשִׁבְעָה עָשָׂר בּוֹ יָרְדוּ מֵי הַמַּבּוּל עַל הָאָרֶץ, שֶׁהֵן מַיִם זְכָרִים, וְעָלוּ מִן הַתְּהוֹמוֹת, שֶׁהֵן מַיִם נְקֵבוֹת, וְנִתְחַבְּרוּ אֵלּוּ עִם אֵלּוּ וְגָבְרוּ לְהַחֲרִיב אֶת הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהַמַּיִם גָּבְרוּ מְאֹד מְאֹד עַל הָאָרֶץ״.

Rabbi Zadok said: On the 10th of Marcheshvan all the creatures entered the ark; on the 17th of the same (month) the waters of the Flood descended from heaven upon the earth, for they were the waters (endowed with the) male (principle). And there came up the waters of the depths, for they are the waters (endowed) with the female (principle), and they were joined with one another, and they prevailed so as to destroy || the world, as it is said, "And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth" (Gen. 7:19).

וְנִמְחוּ כָּל הַיְקוּם שֶׁבָּאָרֶץ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּמַח אֶת כָּל הַיְקוּם אֲשֶׁר עַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה״, חוּץ מִנֹּחַ וְכָל אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ בַּתֵּבָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּשָּׁאֶר אַךְ נֹחַ וַאֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ בַּתֵּבָה״, וְחוּץ מֵעוֹג מֶלֶךְ הַבָּשָׁן שֶׁיָּשַׁב לוֹ עַל עֵץ אֶחָד מִן הַסּוּלָמוֹת שֶׁל הַתֵּבָה, וְנִשְׁבַּע לְנֹחַ וּלְבָנָיו שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לָהֶם עֶבֶד עוֹלָם. מֶה עָשָׂה ��ֹחַ? נָקַב חוֹר אֶחָד בַּתֵּבָה וְהָיָה מוֹשִׁיט לוֹ מְזוֹנוֹ בְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם, וְנִשְׁאַר גַּם הוּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי רַק עוֹג מֶלֶךְ הַבָּשָׁן״ וְכוּ'. וְחוּץ מֵאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁלֹּא יָרְדוּ עָלֶיהָ גְּשָׁמִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״בֶּן אָדָם אֱמֹר לָהּ: אַתְּ אֶרֶץ לֹא מְטֹהָרָה הִיא, לֹא גֻשְׁמָה בְּיוֹם זָעַם״, אֶלָּא נִתְגַּלְגְּלוּ הַמַּיִם מִכָּל הָאֲרָצוֹת וְנִכְנְסוּ לָהּ.

And all living things which were upon the face of the earth decayed, as it is said, "And every living thing was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground" (Gen. 7:23), except Noah and those who were with him in the ark, as it is said, "And Noah only was left, and they that were with him in the ark" (ibid.), except Og, king of Bashan, who sat down on a piece of wood under the gutter of the ark. He swore to Noah and to his sons that he would be their servant for ever. What did Noah do? He bored an aperture in the ark, and he put (through it) his food daily for him, and he also was left, as it is said, "For only Og, king of Bashan, remained of the remnant of the giants" (Deut. 3:11). (The Flood was universal) except in the land of Israel, upon which the water of the Flood did not descend from heaven, but the waters were gathered together from all lands, and they entered therein, as it is said, "Son of man, say unto her, Thou art a land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon, in the day of indignation" (Ezek. 22:24).

שָׁלַח נֹחַ אֶת הָעוֹרֵב לֵידַע מַה בָּעוֹלָם. הָלַךְ לוֹ וּמָצָא נִבְלַת אָדָם בְּרָאשֵׁי הֶהָרִים, וַיֵּשֶׁב לוֹ עַל מַאֲכָלוֹ וְלֹא הֵשִׁיב שְׁלִיחוּתוֹ לְשׁוֹלְחָיו. שָׁלַח אֶת הַיּוֹנָה וְהֵשִׁיבָה שְׁלִיחוּתָהּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַתָּבֹא אֵלָיו הַיּוֹנָה לְעֵת עֶרֶב וְהִנֵּה עֲלֵה זַיִת טָרָף בְּפִיהָ״. וְלָמָּה עֲלֵה זַיִת? אֶלָּא אָמְרָה הַיּוֹנָה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, יִהְיוּ מְזוֹנוֹתַי מְרוֹרִין כַּזַּיִת הַזֶּה וּנְתוּנִים בְּיָדֶיךָ, וְאַל יִהְיוּ מְתוּקִים וּנְתוּנִים בְּיַד בָּשָׂר וָדָם״. מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ: שׁוֹלֵחַ דְּבָרִים בְּיַד טָמֵא כְּשׁוֹלֵחַ בְּיַד כְּסִיל, וְשׁוֹלֵחַ דְּבָרִים בְּיַד טָהוֹר כְּשׁוֹלֵחַ בְּיַד צִיר נֶאֱמָן לְשׁוֹלְחָיו.

He sent forth the raven to ascertain what was (the state of) the world. It went and found a carcase of a man cast upon the summit of a mountain, and it settled thereon for its food, and it did not return with its message to its sender, as it is said, "And he sent forth the raven" (Gen. 8:7). He sent forth the dove to see what was (the state of) the world, and she brought back her message to her sender, as it is said, "And the dove came in to him at eventide, and, lo, in her mouth an olive leaf pluckt off" (Gen. 8:11). And why in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off? || The dove spake before the Holy One, blessed be He, saying: Sovereign of all worlds ! Let my food be bitter like this olive, and let it be entrusted to Thy hand, and let it not be sweet (even) as honey, and given by the hand of flesh and blood. Hence they said: He who sends a message by the hand of an unclean (messenger) is (like) sending by the hand of a fool, and he who sends a message by the hands of a clean (messenger) is like sending by the hand of a messenger faithful to his senders.

רַבִּי צָדוֹק אוֹמֵר: שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ עָשׂוּ כָל הַבְּרִיּוֹת בַּתֵּבָה, וְהָיָה נֹחַ עוֹמֵד וּמִתְפַּלֵּל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְאוֹמֵר: ״רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, הוֹצִיאֵנִי מִן הַמַּסְגֵּר הַזֶּה, כִּי עָיְפָה נַפְשִׁי מֵרֵיחַ אֲרָיוֹת וְדֻבִּים וּנְמֵרִים. וְיַכְתִּירוּ לְךָ כָּל הַצַּדִּיקִים כֶּתֶר מַלְכוּת שֶׁהוֹצֵאתַנִי מִן הַמַּסְגֵּר הַזֶּה״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הוֹצִיאָה מִמַּסְגֵּר נַפְשִׁי לְהוֹדוֹת אֶת שְׁמֶךָ, בִּי יַכְתִּרוּ צַדִּיקִים כִּי תִגְמֹל עָלָי״.

Rabbi Zadok said: For twelve months all the creatures were in the ark; and Noah stood and prayed before the Holy One, blessed be He, saying before Him: Sovereign of all worlds ! Bring me forth from this prison, for my soul is faint, because of the stench of lions. Through me will all the righteous crown Thee with a crown of sovereignty, because Thou hast brought me forth from this prison, as it is said, "Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks unto thy name: for the righteous shall crown me, when thou wilt have dealt bountifully with me" (Ps. 142:7).

רַבִּי לְוִיטָס אִישׁ יַבְנֶה אוֹמֵר: כָּל הַבָּאִים אֶל הַתֵּבָה הִפְרִישׁ זְכָרִים מִן הַנְּקֵבוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיָּבֹא נֹחַ וּבָנָיו וְאִשְׁתּוֹ וּנְשֵׁי בָנָיו״. הֲרֵי זְכָרִים בְּצַד אֶחָד וּנְקֵבוֹת בְּצַד אַחֵר. וּכְשֶׁיָּצְאוּ הִצְמִיד זְכָרִים בְּצַד נְקֵבוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״צֵא מִן הַתֵּבָה אַתָּה וְאִשְׁתְּךָ וּבָנֶיךָ וּנְשֵׁי בָנֶיךָ״. הֲרֵי אִישׁ וְאִשְׁתּוֹ. וַיְבָרֵךְ אוֹתָם אֱלֹהִים לִפְרוֹת וְלִרְבּוֹת בָּאָרֶץ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְבָרֵךְ אוֹתָם אֱלֹהִים לֵאמֹר וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם פְּרוּ וּרְבוּ״.

Rabbi Levitas, a man of Jamnia, said: He separated the males from the females of all which came to the ark when they came into the ark, as it is said, "And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives" (Gen. 7:7). Verily the males were on one side. When they went forth from the ark, He caused the males to be joined with the females, as it is said, "Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee" (Gen. 8:16). Verily a man with his wife (went forth), "Thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee" (ibid.) || He blessed them, that they might increase and multiply on the earth, as it is said, "And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth" (Gen. 9:1). The sons of Noah were fruitful and multiplied, and they begat sons with their twins with them.

מָצָא נֹחַ גֶּפֶן שֶׁגֹּרְשָׁה וְיָצְאָה מִגַּן עֵדֶן וְאֶשְׁכּוֹלוֹתֶיהָ עִמָּהּ. נָטַל מִפֵּרוֹתֶיהָ וְאָכַל וְחָמַד אוֹתָם בְּלִבּוֹ וְנָטַע מִמֶּנָּה כֶּרֶם בָּאָרֶץ. בּוֹ בַיּוֹם נִשְׂתַּגְשְׂגוּ פֵּרוֹתֶיהָ, דִּכְתִיב ״בְּיוֹם נִטְעֵךְ תְּשַׂגְשֵׂגִי״. שָׁתָה מִמֶּנָּה יַיִן וְנִתְגַּל בְּתוֹךְ הָאֹהֶל. וְנִכְנַס כְּנַעַן וְרָאָה אֶת עֶרְוַת אָבִיו וְקָשַׁר חוּט בִּבְרִיתוֹ וְסֵרְסוֹ, וְיָצָא לְהַגִּיד לְאֶחָיו. נִכְנַס חָם וּמָצָא לְעֶרְוַת אָבִיו וְלֹא שָׂם עַל לִבּוֹ מִצְוַת כִּבּוּד אָב. יָצָא וְהִגִּיד לִשְׁנֵי אֶחָיו בַּשּׁוּק כִּמְשַׂחֵק בְּאָבִיו. גָּעֲרוּ בּוֹ אֶחָיו וְלָקְחוּ כְּסוּת עִמָּהֶם וְהָלְכוּ לָהֶם אֲחוֹרַנִּית וְכִסּוּ אֶת עֶרְוַת אֲבִיהֶן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיִּקַּח שֵׁם וָיֶפֶת אֶת הַשִּׂמְלָה״ וְכוּ'.

Noah found a vine which was lying there, which had come out of the garden of Eden. It had its clusters with it, and he took of its fruit and ate, and rejoiced in his heart, as it is said, "My wine, which cheereth God and man" (Judg. 9:13). He planted a vineyard with it. On the selfsame day it produced and became ripe with its fruits, as it is said, "In the day of thy planting thou dost make it grow, and in the morning thou makest thy seed to blossom" (Isa. 17:11). He drank wine thereof, and he became exposed in the midst of the tent, as it is said, "And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent" (Gen. 9:21). Canaan entered and saw the nakedness of Noah, and he bound a thread (where the mark of) the Covenant was, and emasculated him. He went forth and told his brethren. Ham entered and saw his nakedness. He did not take to heart the duty of honouring (one's father). But he told his two brothers in the market, making sport of his father. His two brothers rebuked him. What did they do? They took the curtain of the east with them, and they went backwards and covered the nakedness of their father, as it is said, "And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness" (Gen. 9:23).

וַיִּיקַץ נֹחַ מִיֵּינוֹ וַיֵּדַע אֵת אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לוֹ בְּנוֹ הַקָּטָן, וַיְאָרְרוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אָרוּר כְּנָעַן״. יָשַׁב נֹחַ וְדָרַשׁ בְּלִבּוֹ וְאָמַר: ״הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הִצִּילַנִי מִמֵּי הַמַּבּוּל וְהוֹצִיאַנִי מִן הַמַּסְגֵּר הַהוּא, וְאֵינִי חַיָּב לְהַקְרִיב לְפָנָיו קָרְבָּן וְעוֹלוֹת?״ מִיָּד הֵבִיא נֹחַ מִמִּין בְּהֵמָה טְהוֹרָה שׁוֹר וְכֶשֶׂב וָעֵז, מִמִּין עוֹף טָהוֹר תּוֹרִים וּבְנֵי יוֹנָה, וּבָנָה אֶת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ הָרִאשׁוֹן שֶׁהִקְרִיב עָלָיו עוֹלוֹת קַיִן וְהֶבֶל, וְהִקְרִיב עוֹלוֹת אַרְבַּע, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּבֶן נֹחַ מִזְבֵּחַ לַה'״. ״וַיִּקַּח״ אֵין כְּתִיב, אֶלָּא ״וַיַּעַל עֹלֹת בַּמִּזְבֵּחַ״, וְעָלָה רֵיחַ נִיחוֹחַ לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. ״וַיַּעַל עֹלָה בַּמִּזְבֵּחַ״, וְעָרַב לוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיָּרַח ה' אֶת רֵיחַ הַנִּיחֹחַ״. מֶה עָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא? פָּשַׁט יַד יְמִינוֹ וְנִשְׁבַּע לוֹ שֶׁלֹּא לְהָבִיא מֵי הַמַּבּוּל עוֹד עַל הָאָרֶץ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי מֵי נֹחַ זֹאת לִי אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי״ וְגוֹמֵר, וְנָתַן קֶשֶׁת לְאוֹת בְּרִית. שְׁבוּעָה בֵּינוֹ לְבֵין הָאָרֶץ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אֶת קַשְׁתִּי נָתַתִּי בֶּעָנָן וְהָיְתָה לְאוֹת בְּרִית״.

Noah awoke from his wine, and he knew what the younger son of Ham had done unto him, and he cursed him, as it is said, "And he said, Cursed be Canaan" (Gen. 9:25). Noah sat and mused in his heart, saying: The Holy One, blessed be He, delivered me || from the waters of the Flood, and brought me forth from that prison, and am I not obliged to bring before Thee a sacrifice and burnt offerings? What did Noah do? He took from the clean animals an ox and a sheep, and from all the clean birds, a turtle-dove and pigeons; and he built up the first altar upon which Cain and Abel had brought offerings, and he brought four burnt offerings, as it is said, "And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and he offered burnt offerings on the altar" (Gen. 8:20). It is written here only, "and he offered burnt offerings on the altar," and the sweet savour ascended before the Holy One, blessed be He, and it was pleasing to Him, as it is said, "And the Lord smelled the sweet savour" (Gen. 8:21). What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He put forth His right hand, and swore to Noah that He would not bring the waters of the Flood upon the earth, as it is said, "For this is as the waters of Noah unto me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth" (Isa. 54:9). And He gave a sign in the rainbow as a sign of the covenant of the oath between Himself and the people, as it is said, "I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant" (Gen. 9:13).

וְהִתְקִינוּ חֲכָמִים שֶׁיְּהוּ מַזְכִּירִין שְׁבוּעַת נֹחַ בְּכָל יוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לְמַעַן יִרְבּוּ יְמֵיכֶם וִימֵי בְנֵיכֶם עַל הָאֲדָמָה״.

And thus our sages instituted that they should (mention) the oath to Noah every day, as it is said, "That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, upon the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of the heavens above the earth" (Deut. 11:21).