The words that seem almost... unnecessary? Like when we read, "Noah did everything which the Lord commanded him" (Genesis 7:5). Seems straightforward, right? Noah was a righteous guy, God told him to build an ark, and he did it. End of story.

But hold on. The rabbis of old, masters of drash – that beautiful, layered interpretation – they didn't think so. They saw those words as an invitation to dig deeper. To ask: Why this specific phrasing? What are we meant to learn from it?

The Midrash of Philo, a collection of interpretations attributed to the ancient philosopher Philo of Alexandria, grapples with just this question. It homes in on the Hebrew word used here for "commanded" or "ordered," which is tzavah (צִוָּה).

The Midrash asks, almost rhetorically: "Why does he say: 'Noah did every thing which the Lord commanded (or ordered) him?' (Genesis 7:5)."

See, sometimes the Torah repeats itself, or uses slightly different phrasing, and that's our clue! It's like the Torah is winking at us, saying, "Pay attention! There's something more here."

And that "something more," according to the Midrash of Philo, is all about Noah's righteousness. It wasn't enough that Noah simply obeyed. The emphasis here is on the meticulousness, the completeness of his obedience. “Noah did everything.” Not just the big things, not just the parts he liked. But everything.

This detail emphasizes the weight and complexity of the task God entrusted to Noah. Building the ark wasn't just a carpentry project; it was an act of faith, a testament to his unwavering belief in God's word. It meant gathering all those animals, storing food, and dealing with the ridicule of his neighbors. It was a monumental undertaking, and Noah carried it out with complete dedication.

Perhaps the Torah is subtly reminding us that true righteousness isn't about grand gestures alone. It's about the consistent, unwavering commitment to doing what's right, even when it's difficult, tedious, or unpopular. It's about the "everything" – the small acts of obedience that, when added together, create a life of meaning and purpose. What does that look like in our own lives, I wonder?