“These are.” Rabbi Abahu said: Everywhere that “these are” is stated, it implies: to the exclusion of what preceded it. Here, where “these are” is stated, it implies: to the exclusion of what preceded it2The preceding verses, which described the people of that generation and their degenerate ways. – the generation of the Flood.
“These are the offspring of Noah; Noah” – Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Anyone whose name is written twice in succession has a [double] share – in this world and in the World to Come. They raised an objection to him: But is it not written: “Teraḥ Teraḥ”? (Genesis 11:27). If so, he has a share in this world and in the World to Come! He said to them: This, too, is not a contradiction, as Rabbi Yudan said in the name of Rabbi Abba bar Kahana: [When God told Abraham,] “You shall go to your fathers in peace” (Genesis 15:15), he was giving him the good tidings that his father had a share in the World to Come. [And when He told him,] “You will be buried at a good old age” (Genesis 15:15) – he was giving him the good tidings that Ishmael would repent [in his lifetime].