“Fifteen cubits upward the water accumulated, and the mountains were covered” (Genesis 7:20). “Fifteen cubits…” – Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda says: Fifteen cubits in the mountain, and fifteen cubits in the valley.40The water level miraculously followed the contour of the land it covered. Rabbi Neḥemya said: Fifteen cubits in the mountain, but in the valley an indeterminate amount.41The water was level all over, reaching fifteen cubits over the mountains and as many cubits as necessary over the valleys.
“And all flesh that crawls upon the earth, of the birds, and of the animals, and of the beasts, and of all the swarming creatures that swarm upon the earth, and all mankind, perished” (Genesis 7:21). “All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, from all that was on the dry land, died” (Genesis 7:22). “All flesh that crawls…perished…all in whose nostrils was the breath [nishmat] of the spirit [ruaḥ] of life [ḥayim]…” – Rabbi Shmuel, son in law of Rabbi Ḥanina, colleague of the Rabbis, said: Here it calls neshama ruaḥ, and elsewhere it calls neshama nefesh.42“He breathed into his nostrils the breath [nishmat] of life, and man became a living soul [nefesh]” (Genesis 2:7).
From where is it derived that we should apply what is stated here, there, and what is stated there, here?43That is, all of these terms are referring to a single soul, and man does not have multiple souls. The verse states: Ḥayim, ḥayim44The word ḥayim appears in both verses. as a verbal analogy. “From all that was on the dry land, died” – to the exclusion of fish. Some say that they were included in [the decree] to be annihilated, but they fled to the Great Sea, to the Atlantic Ocean, [where they survived].
“He obliterated all existence that was on the face of the earth, from man, to animal, to crawling creature, to birds of the heavens, they were obliterated from the earth; only Noah remained, and they that were with him in the ark” (Genesis 7:23). “He obliterated all existence…only [akh] Noah remained” – Rabbi Huna in the name of Rabbi Yosei: Akh is an exclusionary term. This was because he, too, was groaning and spitting blood due to the cold.45Akh indicates that although Noah “remained,” he was diminished in his health.