Seven and Forty and Floods

Torah Study 3/7/09– with Rabbi Janet Marder

Genesis 7 – The Whole Thing! (almost)

So much to cover in one hour... Wow.

The focus on SEVEN is interesting because it is the 7th chapter and there is a lot to say about 7

This led to a full discussion about the number 7 and it’s significance... (not a product or factor of other numbers)

They enter the ark – the family and all the animals
Reference to Noah as Tzedek (leaving out the Tamim from previous) we learn that you don’t ‘over-praise’ a person when speaking directly to them.

v2: Review of pure animals (7) vs not pure (2) – the animals that might be used for sacrifice. Not referring to kosher / ‘ritually pure’

Numbers – 7 and 40 are numbers repeated in the story. Shevah - (masculine and feminine versions) - a special number in many traditions
symbolism – in Jewish tradition – 49 important 7’s - listed -

shabbat, 7 wks betw Passover and Shavuot, 7 year fallow, Shivah year, shivah of mourning period, Moses born died on 7 of Adar, Menorah, 7 major holidays, 7 blessings at a wedding, 7 alliyot to Torah each week, 7 words in the first verse of Torah, Rosh Hashanah in 7th month, seven species in Israel, ... And more... 392 (sum of square and cube of 7) times in Tanach and in 343 (7x7x7) verses verses in Torah use the word ‘seven’ - sevenfold occurs 7 times – 595 times in any form in Torah (in new Testament it is 105 times that adds to 700) - the numerology significance continued to be discussed.

Seven is symbol for completeness and wholeness.

In this chapter of Genesis the word ‘seven’ occurs seven times
- - -
v4: There is a 7 day warning before the rain starts to fall... Shivah period for Methuselah - one last chance after this great man dies.
also anticipatory mourning for those who will die in the flood.

40 days / 40 nights

like Moses on Saini, in desert, 40 days in supplication, Elijah 40 days in wilderness, Ezekiel 40 days on his side.
“Number 40 is Associated with Sin Atonement and Purification.”
Rashi says it is the # days to form a fetus in the womb – flood is like a rebirth.

40 years – a person reached the age of understanding.

v9: Animals come to the Ark voluntarily

v11: Time: There are 2 systems for time

1. Interval between events
2. This day of this month (but not tell which month)
Two possible conclusions – could be Spring or Fall – Spring is the time of new agriculture and Fall is the time of rain.

Cosmology of this – Water surge from below AND the Floodgates of the sky surge down from above.

Book : Richard Friedman Commentary on the Torah

World returns to primal chaos.

v12: Much Repetition in this verse

v13: Noah mentioned 3 times. - seems excessive! Sign of God’s affection.

v15: Animals come to the Ark – Samuel Raphael Hirsch – “Humanity in its most noble aspect” he saves and protects the animals - Miraculous part of the story! (the value of animals – midrash – even included the insects – all species have value)

v16: “God closed the door to the Ark” Friedman’s book points out that this is a point of intimacy with the people but all after that God recedes from connection with people.

Picture what it is like when they are closed in and other people realized what is happening!
The crowds might have begged to be saved at that time. But it was too late.

A dramatic scene...