The Generation That Boasted It Needed No Rain

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 58:1

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

Our Rabbis taught: The generation of the flood became arrogant only because of the goodness that the Holy One, blessed be He, lavished upon them. They said, "Do we need anything but a drop of rain? We have rivers and springs from which we supply ourselves." The Holy One, blessed be He, said, "With the very goodness I lavished upon them they provoke Me; with it I will judge them," as it is said, "And behold, I, even I, am bringing the flood of waters" (Genesis 6:17). Rabbi Yochanan said: The generation of the flood corrupted with abundance [be-rabbah], "And the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great [rabbah]" (Genesis 6:5); with abundance they were judged, "all the fountains of the great [rabbah] deep."

Themes

NoahDivine JusticeRepentance

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