Why Noah Took Seven Pairs of Clean Animals Onto the Ark

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Vayakhel 8:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

[(Exodus 37:1:) And Bezalel made the ark.] This is what Scripture says (Proverbs 9:9): "Give to a wise man, and he will be wiser still; [make known to a righteous man, and he will increase in learning]." It speaks of Noah when he made the ark. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him (Genesis 7:2): "Of every clean animal [you shall take for yourself seven pairs, etc.]." When he came out, he offered up some of the clean ones. He said: The Holy One, blessed be He, increased the clean animals only so that I might offer some of them. This is the meaning of "Give to a wise man, and so forth" — this is Noah.

Themes

NoahSacrificeWisdomRighteousness

Biblical References

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