The Fiery Deluge

As Rav Hisda said, for Rav Hisda said: With boiling waters they corrupted themselves, and with boiling waters they were judged; for it is written here: "And the waters abated" (Genesis 8:1), and it is written there: "And the wrath of the king abated" (Esther 7:10) [the same root for "abated" linking the cooling of the flood to the cooling of anger]. And why does Scripture call it "dry land"? As Rav Hisda said, for Rav Hisda said: In the generation of the Flood no decree was issued upon the fish that are in the sea, as it is said: "Of all that was on the dry land they died" (Genesis 7:22), and not the fish that are in the sea. For Resh Lakish said: Why is its name called "the deep"? Because all the dead of the Flood were submerged there. And Rabbi Yohanan said: Why is its name called "Shinar"? Because all the dead of the Flood were shaken out there. Rabbi Abbahu said: Why is its name called "Shinar"? Because it shakes out its wealthy ones. Rabbi Ammi said: Whoever eats of the dust of Babylonia, it is as though he eats the flesh of his fathers. And some say: as though he eats abominable creatures and creeping things.