Genesis 6:17 - Divine justice through floodwaters.

The Divine Decree of the Mabul (Flood)

The verse (Bereishit 6:17) describes Hashem's decision to bring the Mabul (Flood) as a response to the corruption of humanity. Rashi explains that the phrase "הִנְנִי מֵבִיא" ("behold, I will bring") emphasizes that this is a deliberate and unavoidable decree from Hashem, as the people had reached a point of no return in their wickedness (Rashi on Bereishit 6:17).

The Scope of Destruction

The verse specifies that the Flood will destroy "כָּל־בָּשָׂר אֲשֶׁר־בּוֹ רוּחַ חַיִּים" ("all flesh in which is the breath of life"). Ramban (Nachmanides) notes that this includes not only humans but also animals, as they too were affected by the moral decay of humanity. The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 28:8) elaborates that even the earth itself was corrupted, necessitating its purification through the Flood.

The Term "Mabul"

The word "מַּבּוּל" (Mabul) is unique to this event. Ibn Ezra explains that it refers to a catastrophic, all-encompassing deluge, unlike ordinary rain. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 108a) describes the Mabul as a reversal of Creation, where the boundaries between the upper and lower waters (established on the second day of Creation) were dissolved, returning the world to a state of chaos.

Why "From Under Heaven"?

The phrase "מִתַּחַת הַשָּׁמָיִם" ("from under heaven") is interpreted by Sforno to mean that the destruction was limited to earthly beings, excluding celestial entities. This highlights the distinction between the corruptible physical world and the unchanging spiritual realm.

Lessons from the Mabul

• Divine Justice: The Flood demonstrates that Hashem judges the world with precision, as the people had been warned through Noach's preaching (Rashi on Bereishit 6:13).
• Human Responsibility: The corruption of humanity affected all creation, teaching that human actions have cosmic consequences (Midrash Tanchuma, Noach 1).
• Mercy in Judgment: Despite the destruction, Hashem preserved Noach and his family, showing that even in severe judgment, there is room for redemption (Rambam, Hilchot Teshuva 3:1).