The Fourfold Meaning of the Violence That Doomed the Earth

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 51:3

Another interpretation: "For the earth is filled with violence" (Genesis 6:13). "Violence" - this is idolatry, as it is written, "For the earth is filled with violence." "Violence" - this is sexual immorality, [as in] "My violence and my flesh be upon Babylon" (Jeremiah 51:35). "Violence" - this is bloodshed, [as in] "For the violence against the children of Judah, because they shed innocent blood in their land" (Joel 4:19). "Violence" according to its plain meaning [robbery]. "And behold, I will destroy them with the earth." Even the three handbreadths' depth of the plowshare was dissolved. To a king's son who had a tutor: whenever he misbehaved, his tutor was chastised. And to a king's son who had a wet-nurse: whenever he misbehaved, his wet-nurse was chastised. So, "And behold, I will destroy them with the earth" - behold, I will destroy them and destroy the earth with them.

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