Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The sentence of the generation of the Flood lasted over the course of twelve months28Eduyot 2:10. – they received their [full] punishment, and they will have a share in the World to Come.29Some commentators emend the text to reflect the Mishna’s unambiguous assertion (Sanhedrin 107b) that the generation of the Flood will not have a share in the World to Come. It is as Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Each and every drop that the Holy One blessed be He rained down upon them, He would boil it in Gehenna and take it out and rain it down upon them.
That is what is written: “When scorched, they disappear [nitzmatu]” (Job 6:17). Their scorching was absolute [laḥlutanit].30In Leviticus 25:23, Onkelos translates the word litzmitut, in perpetuity, as laḥalutin. “Even their love” (Ecclesiastes 9:6)31This verse is seen as alluding to the generation of the Flood. – as they loved their idol worship; “even their hatred” (Ecclesiastes (9:6) – as they hated the Holy One blessed be He; “even their fury” (Ecclesiastes (9:6) – as they would infuriate the Holy One blessed be He with their idol worship; “they have already perished” (Ecclesiastes (9:6) – and they have no share in the world,32This apparently refers to the World to Come. referring to “anything that takes place under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 9:6).
Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: “As I regret that I made them, but Noah found favor [in God’s eyes]” (Genesis 6:7–8) – this is bewildering.33Interpreting venoaḥ as “and Noah,” rather than “but Noah.” Why is Noah included among the wicked?. However, even Noah, who [alone] remained from them, it is not that he was worthy, but rather that he found favor [in God’s eyes].