Chapter 7
Verses 1-24: The Great Flood
- And the LORD said unto Noah, “Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
- Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.
- Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.
- For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.”
- And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.
- And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.
- And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.
- Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth,
- There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah.
- And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.
- In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
- And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.
- In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;
- They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort.
- And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.
- And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.
- And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.
- And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.
- And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.
- Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.
- And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:
- All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.
- And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.
- And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.
Interpretation: This chapter recounts the onset of the flood, with Noah, his family, and pairs of every living creature boarding the ark as commanded by God. The floodwaters then cover the earth, destroying all life outside the ark, as a divine judgment against humanity’s wickedness, sparing only Noah’s family and the animals with him, highlighting themes of divine judgment, mercy, and renewal.
One Response
Genesis 7:1 – The Righteousness of Noah
Verse 1 reiterates Noah’s righteousness as the reason for his salvation. In Kabbalistic terms, Noah’s purity made him a vessel for divine light, capable of sustaining creation’s continuity. This idea parallels the quantum concept of coherence, where a system remains ordered and aligned with its initial state despite external disturbances, symbolizing Noah’s unwavering spiritual integrity amidst widespread corruption.
Genesis 7:2-3 – The Clean and Unclean Animals
Verses 2-3 distinguish between clean and unclean animals, instructing Noah to bring them into the ark in specific numbers. This distinction prefigures the later dietary laws and emphasizes the importance of purity and sanctity. Kabbalistically, the clean animals symbolize aspects of creation aligned with divine will, whereas unclean animals represent elements requiring rectification. Quantum mechanically, this can be likened to the principle of selection rules, which determine the allowed transitions between quantum states, reflecting the structured approach to maintaining balance and purity in the system.
Genesis 7:4 – The Duration of the Flood
Verse 4 announces the flood’s duration, forty days and nights, a period signifying a time of trial and purification. In Kabbalistic thought, the number forty represents spiritual transformation and renewal, as seen in other significant biblical events. Quantum mechanically, this period can be viewed as a time of phase transition, where the system undergoes a fundamental change, leading to a new state of equilibrium.
Genesis 7:5-9 – Obedience and Entry into the Ark
Verses 5-9 detail Noah’s obedience in gathering his family and the animals into the ark. This act of compliance underscores the theme of faithfulness and divine trust. Kabbalistically, entering the ark signifies immersion in a protective spiritual sanctuary, analogous to the Pardes (orchard) or mystical retreat. Quantum mechanically, the ark’s preparation and the gathering of its inhabitants illustrate the concept of system initialization, where initial conditions are set to guide the system’s evolution towards a desired outcome.
Genesis 7:10-12 – The Commencement of the Flood
Verses 10-12 mark the beginning of the flood, with water covering the earth. This deluge represents both divine judgment and the cleansing of the earth. In Kabbalistic thought, water symbolizes the flow of divine wisdom and mercy, purifying creation. Quantum mechanically, the flood’s transformative power echoes the process of annihilation and creation of particles, where old forms are dissolved to allow new structures to emerge.
Genesis 7:13-16 – The Sealing of the Ark
Verses 13-16 describe the sealing of the ark after Noah, his family, and the animals are safely inside. This sealing signifies divine protection and the preservation of life. Kabbalistically, the sealed ark can be seen as a Merkavah, a divine chariot, isolating its inhabitants from the chaos outside. Quantum mechanically, this isolation is akin to a quantum system being decoupled from its environment to prevent decoherence, ensuring that its internal coherence is maintained.
Genesis 7:17-20 – The Ascension of the Waters
Verses 17-20 detail how the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth, covering even the highest mountains. In Kabbalistic thought, water often symbolizes Da’at, the sefirah associated with knowledge and the conduit between the intellect and emotions, suggesting that a deluge of divine wisdom and judgment was necessary to cleanse the earth. The submersion of the highest mountains under the waters signifies the overwhelming power of divine authority over even the loftiest human achievements and pride. From a quantum mechanics viewpoint, this could be paralleled with the concept of wave function collapse, where all potential states of being are submerged under the definitive state determined by divine decree.
Genesis 7:21-23 – The Eradication of Life
Verses 21-23 recount the destruction of all life forms outside the ark, emphasizing the total reset initiated by God to purify creation from its moral and spiritual corruption. The universal scope of this eradication underscores the gravity of collective moral failure and the necessity of divine intervention for Tikkun (rectification). In the language of Kabbalah, this act could be likened to the shattering of the vessels (Shevirat HaKelim), a necessary breakdown before the world can be rebuilt on a firmer, more righteous foundation. Quantum mechanically, this process reflects a transition to a ground state, erasing the previous configurations to allow for a new, ordered beginning.
Genesis 7:24 – The Waters Prevail
Verse 24 states that the waters prevailed upon the earth for 150 days, marking a period of stillness and transition as the old world was erased and the foundations for a new one were laid. This prolonged dominance of water, symbolizing both judgment and mercy, hints at a deep cleansing and reordering of the world’s spiritual and physical dimensions. Kabbalistically, the duration of the flood can be seen as a period of Binah, deep understanding, where the seeds of future redemption are nurtured in the womb of divine wisdom. In quantum terms, this period can be likened to quantum superposition, where all possible states of the new creation exist simultaneously before the emergence of a definitive new order.
Conclusion: The Flood as a Catalyst for Renewal
The narrative of Genesis Chapter 7, when examined through the profound lenses of Jewish mysticism, Midrash Rabbah, and quantum mechanics, transcends its historical and literal interpretations, revealing deep allegorical and spiritual truths. The flood represents not merely divine punishment but a necessary and transformative process of purification, where the eradication of corrupt forms allows for the rebirth of creation in a more harmonious and righteous state. This story underscore’s themes of divine justice, human accountability, and the potential for renewal through adherence to divine will.
The Kabbalistic interpretation of the flood as a process of Tikkun, rectifying the imbalances and restoring purity to the world, parallels the quantum mechanical view of systems undergoing fundamental transitions towards more stable and ordered states. Both perspectives emphasize the potential for new beginnings and the importance of alignment with foundational principles for the emergence of a better world.
Through this multifaceted exploration, Genesis Chapter 7 invites us to reflect on our own role in the cosmic process of creation, destruction, and renewal, urging us to seek alignment with divine will and to contribute to the sanctification and betterment of our world.