"And he sent forth a raven" (Gen. viii. 7). The raven remonstrated, remarking, " From all the cattle, beasts, and fowls thou sendest none but me. " What need has the world for thee? • retorted Noah; " thou art good neither for food nor for sacrifice." Rabbi Eliezer says God ordered Noah to receive the raven, as the world would one day be in need of him. " When? asked Noah. " When the waters are dried up from off the earth, there will in a time to come arise a certain righteous man who shall dry up the world, and then I shall want it." This explains what is written (1 Kings xvii. 6), "And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning.