Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Noach
Noach’s name first comes up when his father Lemech named him. Lemech said: "This one shall comfort us from our actions and from the sadness of our hands, from the earth that was cursed by Hashem" (Bereishit 5:29). Chazal (see Rashi ad loc.) tell us that this positive comfort was that he developed plowing utensils, which eased the difficulty of agriculture that stemmed from the curse of Adam. (Rashi actually explains the name based on the root of making easy rather than comforting.)
Right after the first discussion of Noach’s lineage, the Torah tells the story of the powerful men who took whichever women they wanted (ibid. 6:2). Rashi tells that this included taking women right before their weddings. Hashem first limited their longevity to 120 years (ibid. 3; see Malbim ad loc.). Later (ibid. 5-7) Hashem took further steps, decreeing the destruction of the world as it had been known, and using the root of Noach’s name to describe the decision – "Vayinachem Hashem …" (Hashem regretted that he made man in the land); "Ki nichamti ki asitim" (I regret having made them). Directly following this, the Torah writes that "Noach found favor in the eyes of Hashem" (ibid. 8).
This indicates that the changes in which Noach took part did not go just in the direction of respite from difficulties but also in causing Hashem to regret the world. Even Noach went from finding favor in Hashem’s eyes to drunkenness and the first recorded post-diluvian scandal (commentaries disagree as to exactly what happened between Noach, Cham, and C’na’an). This required the passing of the future of the spiritual world from Noach and his descendants to only one of his descendants – Avraham.
The phrase "… matza chen" appears three times in Tanach – about Noach, David (Shmuel I, 16:22), and Am Yisrael (Yirmiyahu 31:1). We also find similar language regarding Hashem’s relationship with Moshe after the Golden Calf (Shemot 33:16-17).
If so, we see a new significance of Noach’s birth and name. Although Hashem had "regrets" and brought the flood, which destroyed the world due to mankind’s corruption, Noach was positioned to save mankind and connect people with Hashem in a manner that could keep it going smoothly. The problem is that after the flood, Noach’s nuclear family itself was poisoned by depravity (Bereishit 9:20-24).
We can summarize as follows. When Noach’s father, Lemech, had him, he was excited that Noach could remedy the punishment of Adam. Noach would make things more noach (easy, pleasant), saving time and sweat with his plow. Found time brings promise and pitfall. Sometimes a fancier, more relaxing life brings one to spend time on corrupt indulgences. On the other hand, the time can be spent strengthening the connection to Hashem of oneself and those around him. Only in Eretz Yisrael are agricultural activities considered mitzvot. This connection to the Land begins when Avraham comes upon the scene – at the end of Parashat Noach. This is the "message for generations."
Danger to Two Sons
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Parashat Hashavua: The Journey … from Charan to Mt. Moriah and Beyond
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Parashat Hashavua: 137 and the Power of Uncertainty
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