What the Rainbow Really Promised Humanity

The Midrash of Philo 11:1

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·March 24, 2026

What is the meaning of the words, "There shall not again be a deluge to destroy all the earth?" (Genesis 9:11)

Themes

Creation Noah Flood Rain Worship

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Alphabet of Ben SiraWhy Each Hair Follicle Holds One HairNebuchadnezzar noticed something odd about the human body and asked Ben Sira to explain it. Everywhere on the body, each hair follicle holds two hairs. But on t Seder Olam ZuttaBirth of Adam of SethThe narrative begins with Adam. That Adam lived 130 years until his son Seth was born. So, from Creation to Seth’s birth, 130 years had passed. Adam then lived Seder Olam RabbahThe Flood Was All of Twelve Months,1rThe Flood was all of twelve months,1R. Eliyahu from Vilna explains that according to Seder Olam a year about which no details are given is a simple, regular yea Targum OnkelosThe Flood Through Onkelos's Aramaic LensThe Hebrew Bible says God "shut him in" the ark (Genesis 7:16), a strangely intimate image of the Creator personally closing Noah's door. Targum Onkelos renders Jewish Encyclopedia (1901-1906)The Flood - Jewish Encyclopedia (1906)The article describes the flood narrative from Genesis vi.9-ix.17, where God destroys humanity due to wickedness, sparing only Noah's family and two (or seven) Targum Pseudo-Jonathan on GenesisThe Ark's 150 Cells and 36 Breadth and 10 CabinsThe Torah gives Noah minimal construction specs. Targum Pseudo-Jonathan on (Genesis 6:14) hands him a blueprint. "Make thee an ark of the wood of cedars; a hund