Noah's Flood: Two Texts, One Truth

In this episode of "Truth Jewish Wisdom for Today," Rabbi Dr. Levi Brackman explores the Torah portion of Noah, focusing on scholarly interpretations and anomalies within the biblical narrative of the Flood. He begins by acknowledging that while traditional commentaries often address specific questions, they may not consider the broader inconsistencies that academic biblical scholars highlight.

Rabbi Brackman notes that scholars point out anomalies suggesting the presence of two distinct flood narratives merged into one. Examples include discrepancies in the number of animals taken into the ark—sometimes mentioned as pairs of two, other times as groups of seven—and variations in the duration of the flood. Additionally, the use of different names for God ("Yud-Key-Vav-Key" or the Tetragrammaton, and "Elohim") in different sections supports this theory.

He delves into the textual analysis, emphasizing that in one account, God observes the wickedness of humanity and regrets creating man, deciding to erase mankind from the earth. In this version, the focus is on the evil inclinations of humans. In the other account, God notices the corruption of the earth itself due to all flesh being corrupted, including animals. Here, God plans to destroy the earth to eliminate this widespread corruption.

A pivotal point in the narrative is when Noah finds favor in the eyes of God. Rabbi Brackman highlights that this single righteous individual changes God's approach. Instead of destroying all of humanity, God decides to save Noah and his family, using them to rebuild after the flood. This shift underscores the impact one good person can have on the fate of the world.

Rabbi Brackman concludes by reflecting on the moral lessons of the story. He emphasizes the importance of good people standing up and being counted, as their righteousness can make the human endeavor worthwhile. The narrative teaches that the presence of even a single virtuous person can sway divine judgment and offers hope for humanity's potential for goodness.

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Levi Brackman is a rabbi, Ph.D. in psychology, best-selling author of Jewish Wisdom for Business Success, and founder of Invown, a platform for real estate fundraising and investing.