“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;3Who begot children at age five hundred. “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;4He did not want to upset Noah. 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,5His ability to procreate. 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 punishment6In those days, as explained above. – 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,7They were all punished. but in the future, the Holy One blessed be He will appoint the angel of death as the permanent sentry.8To administer eternal punishment. They will not rise up from the dead in the future, but those who are alive at that time will not die.
That is what is written: “The upright will rule over them in the morning; their form will be consumed in the grave,9Literally, their form will wear out 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.10But will be subject to eternal torment. 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).