~ What are five questions that this piece brings to you?
~ What is Lamech famous for?
וַיִּקְרָא אֶת שְׁמוֹ נֹחַ לֵאמֹר (בראשית ה, כט), רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ, רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר לֹא הַמִּדְרָשׁ הוּא הַשֵּׁם וְלֹא הַשֵּׁם הוּא הַמִּדְרָשׁ, לָא הֲוָה צָרִיךְ קְרָא לְמֵימַר אֶלָּא נֹחַ זֶה יְנִיחֵנוּ, אוֹ נַחְמָן זֶה יְנַחֲמֵנוּ, אֶלָּא בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁבָּרָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶת אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן הִשְׁלִיטוֹ עַל הַכֹּל, הַפָּרָה הָיְתָה נִשְׁמַעַת לַחוֹרֵשׁ, וְהַתֶּלֶם נִשְׁמַע לַחוֹרֵשׁ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁחָטָא אָדָם מָרְדוּ עָלָיו, הַפָּרָה לֹא הָיְתָה נִשְׁמַעַת לַחוֹרֵשׁ, וְהַתֶּלֶם לֹא הָיָה נִשְׁמַע לַחוֹרֵשׁ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁעָמַד נֹחַ, נָחוּ. וּמְנָא לָן, נֶאֱמַר כָּאן נְיָחָה, וְנֶאֱמַר לְהַלָּן (שמות כג, יב): לְמַעַן יָנוּחַ שׁוֹרְךָ וַחֲמֹרֶךָ, מַה נְּיָחָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר לְהַלָּן נְיָחַת שׁוֹר, אַף נְיָחָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר כָּאן נְיָחַת שׁוֹר. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ אָמַר לֹא הַשֵּׁם הוּא הַמִּדְרָשׁ, וְלֹא הַמִּדְרָשׁ הוּא הַשֵּׁם, וְלֹא הֲוָה צָרִיךְ קְרָא לְמֵימַר אֶלָּא אוֹ נֹחַ זֶה יְנִיחֵנוּ, אוֹ נַחְמָן זֶה יְנַחֲמֵנוּ, אֶלָּא עַד שֶׁלֹא עָמַד נֹחַ הָיוּ הַמַּיִם עוֹלִים וּמְצִיפִים אוֹתָם בְּתוֹךְ קִבְרֵיהֶם. שְׁתֵּי פְעָמִים כְּתִיב (עמוס ה, ח): הַקּוֹרֵא לְמֵי הַיָּם, כְּנֶגֶד שְׁתֵּי פְּעָמִים שֶׁהָיוּ הַמַּיִם עוֹלִים וּמְצִיפִין אוֹתָן בְּתוֹךְ קִבְרֵיהֶם, אַחַת בְּשַׁחֲרִית וְאַחַת בְּעַרְבִית, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים פח, ו): כְּמוֹ חֲלָלִים שֹׁכְבֵי קֶבֶר, שׁוֹכְבִים שֶׁלָּהֶם חֲלָלִים הָיוּ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁעָמַד נֹחַ, נָחוּ. נֶאֱמַר כָּאן נְיָחָה וְנֶאֱמַר לְהַלָּן נְיָחָה (ישעיה נז, ב): יָבוֹא שָׁלוֹם יָנוּחוּ עַל מִשְׁכְּבוֹתָם, מַה נְּיָחָה הָאָמוּר לְהַלָּן נְיָחַת קֶבֶר, אַף נְיָחָה הָאֲמוּרָה כָּאן נְיָחַת קֶבֶר. רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אָמַר לְשֵׁם קָרְבָּנוֹ נִקְרָא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ח, כא): וַיָּרַח ה' אֶת רֵיחַ הַנִּיחֹחַ, רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא אָמַר לְשֵׁם נַחַת הַתֵּבָה נִקְרָא, דִּכְתִיב (בראשית ח, ד): וַתָּנַח הַתֵּבָה. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן לֹא שִׁמְשׁוּ הַמַּזָלוֹת כָּל אוֹתָן שְׁנִים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ, אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן שִׁמְּשׁוּ אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹא הָיָה רִשּׁוּמָן נִכָּר. (בראשית ח, כב): לֹא יִשְׁבֹּתוּ, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אָמַר לֹא יִשְׁבֹּתוּ, מִכָּאן שֶׁלֹא שָׁבְתוּ. וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אוֹמֵר לֹא יִשְׁבֹּתוּ, מִכָּאן שֶׁשָּׁבָתוּ.
And he called his name Noach - Rabbi Yochanan and Rabbi Shimon Ben Lakish dispute. Rabbi Yochanan said: "The midrash is not the name, and the name is not the midrash. Rather, the verse only needed to say "Noach, this one will comfort us", or "Nachman , this one will comfort us". Rather, in the hour that the Holy One created Adam HaRishon (the First Human), He made him rule over all, the cow would listen to the plowman and the furrow would listen to the plowman. Since Adam sinned they rebelled against him, the cow would not listen to the plowman and the furrow would not listen to the plowman. When Noach stood/was established, they rested (nachu). And from where do we have this? Here we have the expression of rest (nichah), and there we have the expression of rest: "so that your ox and your donkey will rest (yanuach)" (Ex. 23:12). Just as in that case the expression has to do with the ox resting, so too here. Rabbi Shimeon Ben Lakish said: "The midrash is not the name, and the name is not the midrash. Rather, the verse only needed to say "Noach, this one will comfort us", or "Nachman, this one will comfort us". Rather, until the moment Noach stood the waters would not cease to come up and flood them inside their graves. Twice, as it is written: "Who summons the waters of the sea [and pours them out upon the earth— His name is Ad-nai!]" (Amos 5:8) this is regarding the two times [per day] that the waters come up and flood them inside their graves, once in Shacharit (morning) and once in Arvit (night), since it is written: "[abandoned among the dead,] like corpses lying in the grave [of whom You are mindful no more], and who are cut off from Your care." Their "bodies lying in the grave" were "abandoned corpses" - and when Noach stood up, they found rest. Here we have the expression of rest (nichah), and there we have the expression of rest: "Yet they shall come to peace, they shall have rest on their resting place, [the ones who walked straightforward]." (Isaiah 57:2). Just as in that case the expression has to do with the resting in the grave, so too here. Rabbi Eliezer said: Noach was named after his sacrifice (korban) as it is written: "And Ad-nai smelled the pleasing [hanichoach] odor" (Gen. 8:21). Rabbi Yosi bar Rabbi Chanina said: He was named after the resting of the ark, as it says "and the ark rested [tanach]" (Gen. 8:4). Rabbi Yochanan said: the celestial spheres did not move that entire twelve months. Rabbi Yonatan said to him: they did move, but their movements were not marked. "(So long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night) shall not cease" (Gen 8:22) - Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbu Yehoshua dispute. Rabbi Eliezer said: shall not cease, from here [we infer] that they did not cease. And Rabbi Yehoshua: shall not cease, from here [we infer] that they did cease.
"And Noach was 500 years old." - It is written (Psalms 1:1) "Fortunate is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked." "Fortunate is the man", that's Noach. "who in the counsel of the wicked he does not walk, and in the ways of sinners he does not stand [and in the company of mockers he does not sit]." Rabbi Yehudah and Rabbi Nechemia [disagreed]. Rabbi Yehudah said: [the three parts of the verse] refer to three generations - the generation of Enosh, the generation of the Flood, and the generation of the Division [i.e., of the Tower of Babel]; Rabbi Nechemia said: [They refer to] the generation of the Flood and the generation of the Division, but the generation of Enosh was small. According to Rabbi Yehudah's opinion: "Fortunate is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked", that's the generation of Enosh. "and in the ways of the sinner he does not stand," that's the generation of the Flood. "and the company of mockers he does not sit," that's the generation of the Division. "Rather, in God's Torah is his desire" (Psalms 1:2), that is [i.e., refers to] the seven commandments he was commanded. "and in his Torah he meditates day and night" - he comprehended one matter implied by [lit. "from within"] another matter: he [Noach] said [to himself], "What is the reason the Torah increased [the number of] ritually pure [beasts], more than the [number of] ritually impure [beasts]? Was it not because He wants [me] to sacrifice from them?" Immediately, "and he took from all the ritually pure beasts..." (Genesis 8:20). "He is like a tree planted beside streams of water, [which gives its fruit at the proper time, whose foliage never fades, and whatever it produces thrives.] " (Psalms 1:3) - God planted him in the ark. "which gives its fruit at the proper time" - that is [i.e., refers to] Shem, "whose foliage never fades" - that is Ham, "and whatever it produces thrives" - that is Yefet.
וַיְהִי כִּי הֵחֵל הָאָדָם (בראשית ו, א), אָמַר רַבִּי סִימוֹן בִּשְׁלשָׁה מְקוֹמוֹת נֶאֱמַר בַּלָּשׁוֹן הַזֶּה, לְשׁוֹן מֶרֶד (בראשית ד, כו): אָז הוּחַל, וַיְהִי כִּי הֵחֵל, (בראשית י, ח): הוּא הֵחֵל לִהְיוֹת גִּבֹּר בָּאָרֶץ. אֲתִיבָן לֵיהּ וְהָכְתִיב (בראשית יא, ו): וְזֶה הַחִלָּם לַעֲשׂוֹת, אָמַר לָהֶם קִיפַּח עַל רֹאשׁוֹ שֶׁל נִמְרֹד וְאָמַר לָהֶם זֶה הִמְרִידָן עָלָי. (בראשית ו, א): לָרֹב עַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה, שֶׁהָיוּ שׁוֹפְכִים אֶת זַרְעָם עַל הָעֵצִים וְעַל הָאֲבָנִים, וּלְפִי שֶׁהָיוּ שְׁטוּפִים בִּזְנוּת לְפִיכָךְ הִרְבָּה לָהֶם נְקֵבוֹת, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (בראשית ו, א): וַיְהִי כִּי הֵחֵל הָאָדָם, וּבָנוֹת יֻלְּדוּ לָהֶם, רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בַּר אַמֵּי יָלְדָה אִשְׁתּוֹ נְקֵבָה, חֲמָתֵיהּ רַבִּי חִיָּא רַבָּה אֲמַר לֵיהּ הִתְחִיל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְבָרְכֶךָ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ מְנָא לָךְ הָא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ דִּכְתִיב: וַיְהִי כִּי הֵחֵל הָאָדָם לָרֹב וגו', עָלָה אֵצֶל אָבִיו אָמַר לוֹ שִׂמַּחֲךָ הַבַּבְלִי, אָמַר לוֹ כֵּן וְכֵן אָמַר לִי, אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַף עַל פִּי כֵן צֹרֶךְ לְיַיִן וְצֹרֶךְ לְחֹמֶץ, צֹרֶךְ יַיִן יֶתֶר מִן הַחֹמֶץ. צֹרֶךְ לְחִטִּין וְצֹרֶךְ לִשְׂעוֹרִים, צֹרֶךְ לְחִטִּין יוֹתֵר מִן הַשְֹּׂעוֹרִים. מִשֶּׁהָאָדָם מֵשִׂיא אֶת בִּתּוֹ וּמוֹצִיא יְצִיאוֹתָיו הוּא אוֹמֵר לָהּ לֹא יְהִי לִיךְ מַחֲזוֹרֵי לְהָכָא. רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אַסֵּיב בְּרַתֵּיהּ, אֲמַרָה לֵיהּ אַבָּא צַלֵּי עֲלַי, אֲמַר לָהּ לָא יְהֵי לִיךְ מַחְזוֹרֵי לְהָכָא. יָלְדָה בֵּן זָכָר אֲמַרָה לֵיהּ אַבָּא צַלֵּי עֲלַי, אֲמַר לָהּ לָא יִשְׁלֵה וַוי מִפּוּמִיךְ. אָמְרָה לוֹ אַבָּא שְׁתֵּי שְׂמָחוֹת שֶׁבָּאוּ לִי אַתָּה מְקַלְּלֵנִי. אֲמַר לָהּ תַּרְתֵּיהֶן צְלָוָנָן, מִן גּוֹ דְּאַתְּ הַוְיָא שְׁלָם בְּבֵיתָךְ לָא יְהִי לִיךְ מַחֲזוֹרֵי לְהָכָא, וּמִן גּוֹ דַּהֲוֵי בְּרִיךְ קַיָּם, לָא יִשְׁלֵה וַוי מִפּוּמִיךְ, וַוי דְּלָא שָׁתֵי בְּרִי, וַוי דְּלָא אָכַל בְּרִי, וַוי דְּלָא אָזֵיל בְּרִי לְבֵי כְּנִשְׁתָּא.
And it was, when men begun (Gen. 6:1) - said Rabbi Simon: In three places this language is used, and it means rebellion. "[And to Seth, in turn, a son was born, and he named him Enosh;] it was then that men began [to invoke Ad-nai by name.]" (Gen. 4:26); "[Cush also begot Nimrod,] he began to be [a man of might on earth.] (Gen. 10:8). They answered back to him: behold, it is written "[and Ad-nai said, 'If, as one people with one language for all] this is how they have begun to act, [then nothing that they may propose to do will be out of their reach.] (Gen. 11:6) - he answered to them: here the Holy One bent the head of Nimrod and said: ""this" [one] will make them rebel against Me." "To increase on Earth" - that they were spilling their seed on the trees and the stones, and because they were associating in depravity He increased the females for them, as it is written "and daughters were born for them" (Gen. 6:1). he wife of Rabbi Shimeon Bar Ami gave birth to a girl. His father-in-law Rabbi Chia Rabbah said to him: The Holy One of Blessing began to bless you! He asked: From where [do you derive this?] He said: "And it was, when men begun to increase, daughters were born for them". [Rabbi Shimeon] went to his father, who said to him: The Babylonian made you happy. He said: Yes, and this he said to me. The father said to him: Even so, there is need for wine and there is need for vinegar, the need for wine is greater than the need for vinegar; there is need for wheat and there is need for barley, the need for wheat is greater than the need for barley. From the moment a man marries his daughter away, and brings out his belongings, he says to her: 'may you never long for here [home]' Rabban Gamliel married his daughter off, she said to him: Dad, bless me. He answered: 'may you never long for here [home].' A son was born to her, she said: Dad, bless me. He said "may the word 'vay' never cease from your lips". She said to him: Dad, two happy moments I had and you gave me curses! He said to her: Both of them are blessings, if you feel content in your home you wll not long for here, and if your son lives 'vay' will not cease from your lips: 'Vay, my son does not drink enough!' 'Vay, my son does not eat enough!' 'Vay, today my son didn't go to the synagogue!'
And the sons of elohim (Gen. 6:2) Rabbi Shimeon Ben Yochai called them sons of dispute, Rabbi Shimeon Bar Yochai would curse any one who would call them sons of God. Rabbi Shimeon Bar Yochai teaches: any demoralization that does not come from the powerful ones is not demoralization. And why are they called "sons of elohim"? Rabbi Chaninah and Rabbi Shimeon Ben Lakish both say that their days were many and without suffering and without punishment. Rabbi Chana in the name of Rabbi Yosi said: so as to withstand the times and the punishments. The rabbis say: so that they will suspend theirs and the ones of the generations that come after them. "Because they [the daughters] are good" Rabbi Yudan says: because they are good (tovot) it is written. When someone would engage (metivin) a woman to her husband, a more powerful man would come and have sex with her first, since it is written "they are good" - those are the virgins. "And they took women from whichever they chose" (Gen 6:2) - those were the wives of common men. "From whatever they chose" - this implies men with animals. Rabbi Huna in the name of Rabbi said: The generation of the flood was not obliterated from the world until they wrote nuptial songs for [unions between] males and animals.” Rav Simlai said: Debauchery brings indiscriminate destruction to the world, killing the good and the wicked. Rabbi Azaria and Rabbi Yehudah bar Rabbi Simon in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Levi said: The Holy One of Blessing has patience with everything with the exception of debauchery, why? [It is written] "And the sons of elohim saw" etc. And what is written just after? "And Ad-nai said I will erase the human beings". Rabbi Yehoshua Bar Levi, in the name of Pedayah said: that entire night Lot was begging mercy for the people of Sodom, and on high it was being received, until they said: 'bring them out to us so we may know them' (Gen. 19:12) - for sex, on high they said to him: who do you think you can still convince for their defense? From here onwards there is no way for you to defend them.
וַיִּנָּחֶם ה' כִּי עָשָׂה אֶת הָאָדָם בָּאָרֶץ (בראשית ו, ו), רַבִּי יְהוּדָה וְרַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר תַּוְהוּת הָיְתָה לְפָנַי שֶׁבָּרָאתִי אוֹתוֹ מִלְּמַטָּה, שֶׁאִלּוּ בָּרָאתִי אוֹתוֹ מִלְּמַעְלָה לֹא הָיָה מוֹרֵד בִּי. רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה אָמַר מִתְנַחֵם אֲנִי שֶׁבָּרָאתִי אוֹתוֹ מִלְּמַטָּה שֶׁאִלּוּ בָּרָאתִי אוֹתוֹ מִלְּמַעְלָה כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהִמְרִיד בִּי אֶת הַתַּחְתּוֹנִים, כָּךְ הָיָה מַמְרִיד בִּי אֶת הָעֶלְיוֹנִים. אָמַר רַבִּי אַיְבוּ תְּוָהוּת הָיְתָה לְפָנַי שֶׁבָּרָאתִי בּוֹ יֵצֶר הָרָע, שֶׁאִלּוּלֵי לֹא בָּרָאתִי בּוֹ יֵצֶר הָרָע לֹא הָיָה מוֹרֵד בִּי. אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי מִתְנַחֵם אֲנִי שֶׁעָשִׂיתִי אוֹתוֹ וְנִתַּן בָּאָרֶץ. (בראשית ו, ו): וַיִּתְעַצֵּב אֶל לִבּוֹ, אָמַר רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה, מָשָׁל לְשַׂר שֶׁבָּנָה פָּלָטִין עַל יְדֵי אַדְרִיכַל, רָאָה אוֹתָהּ וְלֹא עָרְבָה לוֹ, עַל מִי יֵשׁ לוֹ לְהִתְכָּעֵס לֹא עַל אַדְרִיכַל, כָּךְ וַיִּתְעַצֵּב אֶל לִבּוֹ. אָמַר רַבִּי אָסֵי מָשָׁל לְשַׂר שֶׁעָשָׂה סְחוֹרָה עַל יְדֵי סַרְסוּר וְהִפְסִיד, עַל מִי יֵשׁ לוֹ לְהִתְרָעֵם לֹא עַל הַסַּרְסוּר, כָּךְ וַיִּתְעַצֵּב אֶל לִבּוֹ. אֶפִּיקוֹרֶס אֶחָד שָׁאַל אֶת רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן קָרְחָה, אָמַר לוֹ אֵין אַתֶּם אוֹמְרִים שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא רוֹאֶה אֶת הַנּוֹלָד, אָמַר לוֹ הֵן. וְהָא כְתִיב וַיִּתְעַצֵּב אֶל לִבּוֹ. אָמַר לוֹ נוֹלַד לְךָ בֶּן זָכָר מִיָּמֶיךָ, אָמַר לוֹ הֵן, אָמַר לוֹ מֶה עָשִׂיתָ, אָמַר לוֹ שָׂמַחְתִּי וְשִׂמַּחְתִּי אֶת הַכֹּל, אָמַר לוֹ וְלֹא הָיִיתָ יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁסּוֹפוֹ לָמוּת, אָמַר לוֹ בִּשְׁעַת חֶדְוָתָא חֶדְוָתָא, בִּשְׁעַת אֶבְלָה אֶבְלָה. אָמַר לוֹ כָּךְ מַעֲשֶׂה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי שִׁבְעָה יָמִים נִתְאַבֵּל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עַל עוֹלָמוֹ קֹדֶם שֶׁלֹא יָבוֹא מַבּוּל לָעוֹלָם, מַאי טַעְמֵיהּ וַיִּתְעַצֵּב אֶל לִבּוֹ, וְאֵין עֲצִיבָה אֶלָא אֲבֵלוּת, הֵיךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (שמואל ב יט, ג): נֶעֱצַב הַמֶּלֶךְ עַל בְּנוֹ.
And Ad-nai regretted that He had made man on earth (Gen. 6:6) - Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Nechemiah dispute. Rabbi Yehudah said 'It was My mistake that I created him from below, if I had only created him from above he would not have rebelled against Me.' Rabbi Nechemiah said: 'I regret that I created him from below, if I had only created him from above just as he would make the lower ones rebel against me, so too he would make the higher ones rebel against Me. Said Rabbi Ayvu: 'It was My mistake that I created him with an inclination for evil, if I had not created him with an inclination for evil he would not have rebelled against Me.' Rabbi Levi said: 'I regret that I made him and put him in the earth.'
"And His heart grieved" (Gen. 6:6) - Rabbi Berachia said: this can be compared to a prince that built a palace through an architect. He saw it, and it did not please him. With whom is the prince supposed to be angry with? Not the architect? So too here: 'He was grieved in his heart'. Rabbi Asi said: a comparison - a prince made a sale through an broker, and lost money. With whom is the prince supposed to be angry with? Not the broker? So he was grieved in his heart. A heretic [apikores] asked Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Korcha: Don't you say that the Holy One of Blessing sees the future? He said 'yes.' But behold, here it is written 'He was saddened in His heart'! Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Korcha said to him: Has a son been born to you? He said 'yes.' RYBK said to him: 'What did you do?' He said: I was happy and I made everybody happy with me. RYBK said to him: And don't you know that his end will be death? He answered: In times of happiness, happiness; in times of mourning, mourning! RYBK replied: So too is the deed with the Holy One of Blessing, since Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Levi said: The Holy One of Blessing mourned seven days for His world before sending the flood. What is the reason of 'and he grieved in His heart', since there is no 'grief' that is not mourning, as it is written: "[And the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the troops, for that day the troops heard that] the king (David) was grieving over his son (Avshalom)."(Samuel II 19:3)
And Noach found grace in the eyes of Ad-nai (Gen. 6:8). It is written "He will deliver the guilty (yi naki); he will be delivered through the cleanness of Your hands" (Job 22:30). Said Rabbi Chanina: Noach had but an ounce (unkia) of merit in his hand. If so, why was he delivered? Only "through the cleanness of Your hands." A similar interpretation comes through what Rabbi Abba Bar Kahana said: "for I regretted I made them and Noach." Even Noach, who was left from "them", was not enough, rather, "he found grace in the eyes of Ad-nai", as it is written.
Rabbi Simon opened [with the verse] "Thus said Ad-nai: As, when new wine is present in the cluster, one says, “Don’t destroy it; there’s good in it,” [so will I do for the sake of My servants, and not destroy everything.](Isaiah 65:8)" A story: a certain chasid (devout man) went out to his vineyard on Shabbat and saw only one ripe bunch of grapes, and said a blessing over it, and he said: 'This single bunch merits a blessing". So too "said Ad-nai: As, when new wine is present in the cluster" etc.
Said Rabbi Simon: three treasures the Holy One of Blessing found. Avraham, as it is written "and you found his heart to be faithful before You" (Nehemiah 9:8). David, as it is written "I have found David My servant" (Ps. 99:21). Israel, as it is written: "as grapes in the desert, I found Israel" (Hosea 9:10). The friends asked Rabbi Simon: 'behold, it is written 'and Noach found grace''! He said to them he found, the Holy One of Blessing did not find. And behold it is written: "[Thus said Ad-nai: The people escaped from the sword,] they found favor in the wilderness [when Israel was marching homeward.]" (Jeremiah 31:2) - it means, on the merit of the generation of the desert, and "You found his heart faithful before You."