Shabbos Parashas Noach - 5779

Shabbos Parashas Noach - 5779

Rabbi Hal Miller

Noach was a righteous man, perfect in his generations, Noach walked with God.

[Bereishis 6:9]

There are those who point at our verse, compare it to Bereishis [17:1], and say that this

is a condemnation of Noach. Many commentators discuss our verse with regard to the

meaning of "perfect in his generations", but not many delve into the last portion.

In [17:1], God speaks to Avram, saying "Walk before Me and be perfect." The wording

in both verses, translated here as 'perfect', is identical. Whether Noach arose all the

way to the level of Avraham is not the point. Clearly, the Torah indicated that there is a

comparison in the positive sense. But there are differences between "Noach walked with

God" and "Walk before Me". The first and most obvious, that one is a narration and the

other is speech, can be explained in context, and does not appear to have great meaning.

The other big one is tense. Rashi explains that our verse is in the past, and he brings

proofs to show when such construct might be past or might be future. The second verse

is a commandment to be performed in the (immediate) future. Does this difference have

meaning?

Ramban tells us that 17:1 means, "To walk in the path on which I shall instruct you", in

other words God is telling Avram to behave in the way He is about to teach. Our verse

refers to what Noach has already accomplished by action rather than behavior.

Radak says that our verse is proof that "Noach cleaved to his Creator", meaning

"his actions were designed to please his Creator​." While dealing with actions, it

sounds also like a behavior pattern, which muddies the waters that Ramban swims in.

Kol Dodi writes that our "verse uses the Divine name Elokim, which generally refers to

God's attribute of justice. Noach walked with God because he saw that He was just and

always kept His word." Kol Dodi explains that Noach expected God to act in justice against

the generation, and was initially disappointed when the Flood was delayed, but he came to

understand that justice will be dealt out, but in God's own time. He notes that Avraham did

not need to come to that understanding, as the reward promised him did not even come in

his lifetime, but to his descendants, thus Avraham was able to accept God's will without

even seeing the end result.

Noach was 'perfect' in behavior and action, but he needed to see results. Avraham was

'perfect' in behavior and action, and took God's word that the results would come eventually.