Chapter Four: The Flood

Abstract

Noah was a simple, good man, in relation to his period (or perhaps to all generations). He walked with God, walking in his ways. This was his custom before God, as it says below: for I have seen that you are righteous before me (7:1). However, something else stands before God: the earth was corrupt before Elohim (6:11). Perhaps this is the reason why walking before God is an ambivalent expression, from which commentators have concluded both the greatness of Noah’s righteousness before God and also his great hubris toward him, as in the case of Enoch, who also walked with God. But perhaps there is no contradiction between the two. We walk upon a very narrow tightrope before this king, walking away from him submissively, walking toward him to gain inspiration, but also taking care not to approach him too closely, because the divine Thing might be frightened that people are coming to take its place. The secret is apparently blamelessness before God.