We all know the story: Noah, his family, and a boatload of animals. But Jewish tradition sometimes offers surprising twists, doesn't it?

The Book of Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating early medieval text, gives us one such twist. It tells us that "all living things which were upon the face of the earth decayed," quoting Genesis 7:23. Pretty straightforward. Except…

The story continues that only Noah and his family were saved "except Og, king of Bashan." Yes, that Og! The giant of legendary strength. What was he doing during the Flood?

Apparently, Og wasn’t invited onto the ark. Instead, according to Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, he sat on a piece of wood right under the ark's gutter, clinging on for dear life. He then swore an oath to Noah and his sons, promising eternal servitude in exchange for survival.

And Noah? Well, Noah, being the righteous man he was, made a hole in the ark and passed food to Og every day. So, Og survived, becoming "the remnant of the giants," as Deuteronomy 3:11 puts it. image for a moment. The tiny ark, and this massive giant clinging to the side, sustained by Noah's compassion (and perhaps a healthy dose of self-preservation!).

It makes you wonder, doesn’t it? Why Og? Why this particular giant? Perhaps it's a commentary on the complex relationship between humanity and power, the way even the mightiest can be brought low and forced to rely on the mercy of others. Or maybe it's simply a reminder that even in the face of total destruction, life finds a way... even giant life.

And what about the land itself? Here’s another interesting tidbit from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer: the Flood, devastating as it was, didn't affect the Land of Israel the same way. The text states that the floodwaters didn't descend directly from heaven onto Israel. Instead, waters gathered from all other lands and flowed into it. The text quotes Ezekiel 22:24, saying, "Son of man, say unto her, Thou art a land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon, in the day of indignation."

Why this distinction? Perhaps it hints at the unique and sacred status of the Land of Israel in Jewish thought. Even in times of global catastrophe, it remains distinct, touched by the devastation but not directly subjected to it. It's a powerful image, isn't it? The world is drowning, but this one place is different, set apart.

So, the next time you think about the Flood, remember Og clinging to the ark and the Land of Israel standing apart. These details, found within the rich tapestry of Jewish tradition, add layers of complexity and wonder to a story we thought we knew so well. What other secrets are hiding in these ancient texts, waiting to be uncovered?