We read in Genesis 6:9, "These are the offspring of Noah; Noah was a righteous man." A pretty great opening line, right? But what does it really mean? The Rabbis of the Bereshit Rabbah, that incredible collection of interpretations on the book of Genesis, see something deeper here. They connect it to Proverbs 11:30: "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life."
What are the fruits of the righteous? According to the Bereshit Rabbah, they are mitzvot and good deeds. You see, Noah was righteous, and that righteousness bore fruit in his actions – specifically, in the incredible feat of saving not just his family, but all those animals.
The verse in Proverbs continues, "and he who gathers souls is wise." And that's exactly what Noah did. He gathered souls—the animals—and sustained them. Think about the sheer logistics! The Bereshit Rabbah emphasizes that he fed and sustained these creatures for twelve whole months in the ark. That's a long time to be cooped up with a bunch of animals!
But here's where it gets interesting, even a little unsettling. After all that praise, after being called righteous and wise, the Bereshit Rabbah points to another part of Proverbs 11:31: "Behold, retribution is made to the righteous on the earth." Wait, what? Retribution? What did Noah do wrong?
The Rabbis aren't saying Noah was a bad person, but rather, that even the righteous face consequences. Even they are held accountable. And in Noah's case, that accountability came swiftly.
Rav Huna, quoting Rabbi Eliezer son of Rabbi Yosei HaGelili, shares a startling tradition: as Noah was emerging from the ark, a lion bit him, maiming him. Ouch! This wasn't just a random accident. The injury rendered Noah unfit to offer a sacrifice. In his place, his son Shem had to step in.
Why this harsh turn of events? The Bereshit Rabbah doesn't explicitly say, but the implication is powerful. Even after such a monumental act of righteousness, Noah wasn't exempt from the trials and tribulations of earthly existence. Perhaps it was a reminder that even the most righteous among us are still human, still fallible.
And the verse concludes with an a fortiori argument – a "how much more so" conclusion: "all the more so, the wicked and the sinner." If even Noah, the righteous Noah, faced retribution, then imagine what awaits the truly wicked, like the generation of the Flood.
It's a sobering thought, isn't it? The Bereshit Rabbah uses Noah's story not to diminish his righteousness, but to highlight the complexities of justice and accountability. It reminds us that even when we strive to do good, we are still subject to the imperfections and challenges of this world. And that, perhaps, is a lesson we can all take to heart.