## Bereshit Rabbah Chapter 23

###### Bereshit Rabbah 23:1
[Bereshit Rabbah 23:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bereshit%20Rabbah/r/23:1)

וַיֵּדַע קַיִן אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ וגו' (בראשית ד, יז), (תהלים מט, יב): קִרְבָּם בָּתֵּימוֹ לְעוֹלָם, רַבִּי יוּדָן וְרַבִּי פִּנְחָס. רַבִּי יוּדָן אָמַר מַה סְּבוּרִין הָרְשָׁעִים שֶׁקִּרְבָּם בָּתֵּימוֹ לְעוֹלָם וגו', (תהלים מט, יב): קָרְאוּ בִשְׁמוֹתָם עֲלֵי אֲדָמוֹת, טְבֶרְיָה, עַל שֵׁם טִיבִירוּאִיס, אֲלֶכְּסַנְדְּרִיָה, עַל שֵׁם אֲלֶכְּסַנְדְּרוֹס, אַנְטוֹכִיאָה, עַל שֵׁם אַנְטְיוֹכוּס. וְרַבִּי פִּנְחָס אָמַר קִרְבָּם בָּתֵּימוֹ לְעוֹלָם, לְמָחָר בָּתֵּיהֶם נַעֲשִׂים קִבְרֵיהֶם. (תהלים מט, יב): מִשְׁכְּנֹתָם לְדוֹר וָדֹר, שֶׁאֵינָן לֹא חַיִּים וְלֹא נִדּוֹנִין, וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא שֶׁקָּרְאוּ בִשְׁמוֹתָם עֲלֵי אֲדָמוֹת, וַיְהִי בֹּנֶה עִיר וַיִּקְרָא שֵׁם הָעִיר כְּשֵׁם בְּנוֹ חֲנוֹךְ.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
**“Cain was intimate with his wife and she conceived, and gave birth to Ḥanokh; he was the builder of a city, and he called the name of the city after the name of his son Ḥanokh” (Genesis 4:17).** 
“Cain was intimate with his wife.” “Their houses will endure in their midst forever” (Psalms 49:12). Rabbi Yudan and Rabbi Pinḥas, Rabbi Yudan said: What do the wicked believe? “Their houses will endure in their midst forever…they name their lands after themselves” (Psalms 49:12); Tiberias after Tiberius, Alexandria after Alexander, Antioch after Antiochus. Rabbi Pinḥas said: “Their houses will endure in their midst (*kirbam*) forever”; tomorrow their house will become their graves (*kivram*). “Their abodes will remain for all generations” (Psalms 49:12), as they will neither live nor be judged [at the resurrection].¹ Moreover, “they name their lands after themselves” – “he was the builder of a city, and he called the name of the city after the name of his son Ḥanokh.”

footnotes:
¹ The grave will be their “abode for all generations.”


###### Bereshit Rabbah 23:2
[Bereshit Rabbah 23:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bereshit%20Rabbah/r/23:2)

וַיִּוָּלֵד לַחֲנוֹךְ אֶת עִירָד וגו' (בראשית ד, יח), אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי, כֻּלָּן לְשׁוֹן מַרְדּוּת הֵן, עִירָד, עוֹרְדָּן אֲנִי מִן הָעוֹלָם, מְחוּיָאֵל, מוֹחָן אֲנִי מִן הָעוֹלָם, מְתוּשָׁאֵל, מַתִּישָׁן אֲנִי מִן הָעוֹלָם, לֶמֶךְ, מַה לִּי לְלֶמֶךְ וּלְתוֹלְדוֹתָיו. (בראשית ד, כ): וַיִּקַּח לוֹ לֶמֶךְ שְׁתֵּי נָשִׁים שֵׁם הָאַחַת עָדָה וְשֵׁם הַשֵּׁנִית צִלָּה, אָמַר רַבִּי עֲזַרְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בַּר סִימוֹן כָּךְ הָיוּ אַנְשֵׁי דּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל עוֹשִׂין, הָיָה אֶחָד מֵהֶן לוֹקֵחַ לוֹ שְׁתַּיִם, אַחַת לִפְרִיָּה וּרְבִיָּה וְאַחַת לְתַשְׁמִישׁ, זוֹ שֶׁהָיְתָה לִפְרִיָּה וּרְבִיָּה הָיְתָה יוֹשֶׁבֶת כְּאִלּוּ אַלְמָנָה בְּחַיֶּיהָ [נסח אחר: בחיי בעלה], וְזוֹ שֶׁהָיְתָה לְתַשְׁמִישׁ הָיָה מַשְׁקָהּ כּוֹס שֶׁל עֲקָרִים שֶׁלֹא תֵלֵד, וְהָיְתָה יוֹשֶׁבֶת אֶצְלוֹ מְקֻשֶּׁטֶת כְּזוֹנָה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (איוב כד, כא): רֹעֶה עֲקָרָה לֹא תֵלֵד וְאַלְמָנָה לֹא יְיֵטִיב, תֵּדַע לָךְ שֶׁכֵּן שֶׁהֲרֵי הַבָּרוּר שֶׁבָּהֶן הָיָה לֶמֶךְ וְלָקַח לוֹ שְׁתֵּי נָשִׁים, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: וַיִּקַּח לוֹ לֶמֶךְ שְׁתֵּי נָשִׁים, שֵׁם הָאַחַת עָדָה, דְּעָדָה מִנֵּיהּ, וְשֵׁם הַשֵּׁנִית צִלָּה, שֶׁהָיְתָה יוֹשֶׁבֶת בְּצִלּוֹ.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
**“Irad was born to Hanokh and Irad begot Mehuyael and Mehuyael begot Metushael and Metushael begot Lemekh” (Genesis 4:18).** 
“Irad was born to Hanokh…” – Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: These are all expressions of rebellion.² Irad – ‘I will expel them [*ored*] from the world’; Meḥuyael – ‘I will eradicate them [*moḥeh*] from the world’; Metushael – ‘I will uproot them [*metish*] from the world’; Lemekh – ‘What do I have to do with Lemekh³– ‘what need do I have of you?’ and his offspring?’ 
“Lemekh took for himself two wives; the name of one was Ada, and the name of the other Tzila” (Genesis 4:20). Rabbi Azarya said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon: This is what the people of the generation of the Flood would do: Each one would take two wives for himself, one for procreation and one for intercourse. The one that was designated for procreation would sit as though she were a widow in her lifetime [variant reading: in the life of her husband]. The one that was designated for intercourse, he would give her a sterility potion so she would not bear children, and she would sit by him adorned like a harlot. That is what is written: “He consorts with the barren who will not give birth, and to the widow he will do no good” (Job 24:21). You may know that it is so, as Lemekh was the most outstanding among them and he took two wives. That is what is written: “Lemekh took for himself two wives; the name of one was Ada” – as she was removed [*ada*] from him; “and the name of the other Tzila” – as she was sitting in his shadow [*tzilo*].

footnotes:
² The meanings of their names express God’s reactions to rebellion.
³ Lemekh is an acronym for ‘ma li valakh’


###### Bereshit Rabbah 23:3
[Bereshit Rabbah 23:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bereshit%20Rabbah/r/23:3)

וַתֵּלֶד עָדָה אֶת יָבָל וגו' (בראשית ד, כ), לְשֶׁעָבַר הָיוּ מַקְנִין לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּמַטְמוֹנִיּוֹת, חָזְרוּ לִהְיוֹת מַקְנִין אוֹתוֹ בְּפַרְהֶסְיָא, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (יחזקאל ח, ג): אֲשֶׁר שָׁם מוֹשַׁב סֵמֶל הַקִּנְאָה. (בראשית ד, כא): וְשֵׁם אָחִיו יוּבָל הוּא הָיָה אֲבִי כָּל תֹּפֵשׂ כִּנּוֹר וְעוּגָב, אַדְרִיכוֹלִין וּבוּרְבָּלִין. (בראשית ד, כב): וְצִלָּה גַּם הִוא יָלְדָה אֶת תּוּבַל קַיִן, רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ דְּסִכְנִין בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר, זֶה תִּבֵּל עֲבֵרָתוֹ שֶׁל קַיִן, קַיִן הָרַג וְלֹא הָיָה לוֹ בַּמֶּה לַהֲרֹג, אֲבָל זֶה לֹטֵשׁ כָּל חֹרֵשׁ נְחשֶׁת וּבַרְזֶל. (בראשית ד, כב): וַאֲחוֹת תּוּבַל קַיִן נַעֲמָה, אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא, נַעֲמָה אִשְׁתּוֹ שֶׁל נֹחַ הָיְתָה, לָמָּה הָיוּ קוֹרִין אוֹתָהּ נַעֲמָה, שֶׁהָיוּ מַעֲשֶׂיהָ נְעִימִים. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי נַעֲמָה אַחֶרֶת הָיְתָה, וְלָמָּה הָיוּ קוֹרִין אוֹתָהּ נַעֲמָה, שֶׁהָיְתָה מַנְעֶמֶת בְּתֹף לַעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
**“Ada bore Yaval; he was the forerunner of those who dwell in tents and raise livestock (*mikneh*). And the name of his brother was Yuval; he was the forerunner of all those who handle the harp and flute” (Genesis 4:20–21).** 
“Ada bore Yaval; [he was the forerunner of those who dwell in tents and raise livestock (*mikneh*)]” – initially, they would infuriate (*makneh*) the Holy One blessed be He discreetly;⁴ then they proceeded to infuriate him publicly.⁵ That is what is written: “Where there was the seat of the infuriating (*kin’a*) image” (Ezekiel 8:3). 
“And the name of his brother was Yuval; he was the forerunner of all those who handle the harp and flute” (Genesis 4:21) – harpists and flutists.⁶ 
**“And Tzila, too, gave birth, to Tuval Cain,** a **forger of every sharp instrument of bronze and iron, and the sister of Tuval Cain was Naama” (Genesis 4:22).** 
“And Tzila, too, gave birth, to Tuval Cain.” Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: This one improved upon [*tibel*] Cain’s transgression; Cain killed, but he did not have an instrument with which to kill, but this one was “a forger of every sharp instrument of bronze and iron.”⁷ 
“And the sister of Tuval Cain was Naama.” Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Naama was Noah’s wife. Why did they call her Naama? It is because her actions were pleasing [*ne’imim*]. The Rabbis say: Naama was someone else, [not Noah’s wife].⁸ And why did they call her Naama? It is because she played the tambourine pleasantly [*man’emet*] for idol worship.

footnotes:
⁴ In “the tents,” i.e. in private.
⁵ With musical accompaniment, with “the harp and flute.”
⁶ They would play the instruments in rites of idol worship.
⁷ He developed weapons suitable for killing.
⁸ Being Cain’s descendant, she must have perished in the Flood, and could not have been Noah’s wife.


###### Bereshit Rabbah 23:4
[Bereshit Rabbah 23:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bereshit%20Rabbah/r/23:4)

וַיֹּאמֶר לֶמֶךְ לְנָשָׁיו עָדָה וְצִלָּה שְׁמַעַן קוֹלִי (בראשית ד, כג), רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר חֲנִינָא אָמַר תְּבָעָן לְתַשְׁמִישׁ, אָמְרוּ לוֹ לְמָחָר הַמַּבּוּל בָּא, נִשְׁמַע לְךָ וְנִהְיֶה פָּרוֹת וְרָבוֹת לִמְאֵרָה. אָמַר לָהֶן (בראשית ד, כג): כִּי אִישׁ הָרַגְתִּי לְפִצְעִי, שֶׁיָּבוֹאוּ עָלַי פְּצָעִים בִּשְׁבִילוֹ, (בראשית ד, כג): וְיֶלֶד לְחַבֻּרָתִי, שֶׁיָבוֹאוּ עָלַי חַבּוּרוֹת בִּשְׁבִילוֹ, אֶתְמְהָא, קַיִן הָרַג וְנִתְלָה לוֹ שִׁבְעָה דּוֹרוֹת, וַאֲנִי שֶׁלֹא הָרַגְתִּי אֵינוֹ דִין שֶׁיִּתְלֶה לִי עַל זֶה. רַבִּי אוֹמֵר הֲרֵי זֶה קַל וָחוֹמֶר שֶׁל חשֶׁךְ, אִם כֵּן מֵהֵיכָן גּוֹבֶה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שְׁטַר חוֹבוֹ. רַבִּי יַעֲקֹב בַּר אִידֵי בָּעֵי קַמֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אִם אִישׁ לָמָּה יֶלֶד, וְאִם יֶלֶד לָמָּה אִישׁ, אָמַר לוֹ אִישׁ לְאֵבָרִים וְיֶלֶד לְשָׁנִים. אָמַר לָהֶן אִיתָא נֵיזֵיל גַּבֵּי אָדָם, אֲזַלּוּן לְגַבֵּי אָדָם, אָמַר לָהֶם עֲשׂוּ אַתֶּם שֶׁלָּכֶם וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עוֹשֶׂה אֶת שֶׁלּוֹ. וְאָמְרִין לֵיהּ אַסְיָא אַסֵּי חִגְרְתָךְ, כְּלוּם פָּרַשְׁתָּ מֵחַוָּה הֲרֵי ק"ל שָׁנָה אֶלָּא כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹא תַּעֲמִיד מִמֶּנָּהּ בֵּן, אֶתְמְהָא, כֵּיוָן שֶׁשָּׁמַע כֵּן נִזְקָק לְהַעֲמִיד תּוֹלָדוֹת.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
**“Lemekh said to his wives, Ada and Tzila: Hear my voice, wives of Lemekh, listen to my speech, for have I slain a man for my wound or a child for my injury?” (Genesis 4:23)** 
“Lemekh said to his wives, Ada and Tzila: Hear my voice.” Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina said: He propositioned them for intercourse, but they said to him: ‘Tomorrow the Flood is coming [to destroy all mankind]. Shall we heed you and bring forth children only to be cursed?’ He said to them: ‘“Have I slain a man for my wound,” that wounds should befall me on his account? “[Have I slain] a child for my injury,” that injuries should befall me on his account?’ This was a rhetorical question: Cain committed murder and yet [his punishment] was suspended for him for seven generations;⁹ I, who did not kill anyone, all the more so [punishment] should be suspended for me for that.¹⁰ Rabbi says: This is a flawed *a fortiori*argument: If so, from whom would the Holy One blessed be He ever collect His promissory note?¹¹ 
Rabbi Yaakov bar Idi asked before Rabbi Yoḥanan: If “a man,” why “a child”; if “a child,” why “a man”?¹² He said to him: He [Abel] was a man in terms of his limbs,¹³ but a child in terms of years.¹⁴ 22:4). 
He [Lemekh] said to them: ‘Let us go to Adam.’ They went to Adam [for consultation]. He said to them: ‘You do yours and the Holy One blessed be He will do His.’¹⁵ They said to him: ‘Doctor, heal your own lameness. Have you yourself not separated from Eve for a hundred and thirty years so that you should not produce a son from her?’ This was a rhetorical question. When he heard this, he consorted [with Eve] to produce offspring.

footnotes:
⁹ Genesis 4:15.
¹⁰ For seventy-seven generations (Genesis 4:24). Hence, you may be assured that no harm will befall your future offspring.
¹¹ To destroy Cain’s descendants after seven generations.
¹² Lemekh protested that he, unlike Cain, did not kill a man and a child. Did Cain kill a man or a child? How could his victim be described with both terms?
¹³ Abel was fully grown.
¹⁴ Abel lived no more than fifty days (Bereshit Rabba
¹⁵ You must fulfill your duty to procreate, without regard to what God will do later.


###### Bereshit Rabbah 23:5
[Bereshit Rabbah 23:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bereshit%20Rabbah/r/23:5)

וַיֵּדַע אָדָם עוֹד אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ (בראשית ד, כה), נִתּוֹסַף לוֹ תַּאֲוָה עַל תַּאֲוָתוֹ, לְשֶׁעָבַר אִם לֹא הָיָה רוֹאָהּ לֹא הָיָה מִתְאַוֶּה, עַכְשָׁו בֵּין רוֹאָהּ בֵּין שֶׁאֵינוֹ רוֹאָהּ הוּא מִתְאַוֶּה. רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר יוּדָן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אַחָא רֶמֶז לִמְפָרְשֵׁי יַמִּים שֶׁיִּהְיוּ נִזְכָּרִים אֶת בָּתֵּיהֶם וּבָאִים מִיָּד. (בראשית ד, כה): וַתִּקְרָא אֶת שְׁמוֹ שֵׁת כִּי שָׁת לִי אֱלֹהִים זֶרַע אַחֵר וגו', רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר נִסְתַּכְּלָה אוֹתוֹ זֶרַע שֶׁהוּא בָּא מִמָּקוֹם אַחֵר, וְאֵי זֶה זֶה מֶלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ. (בראשית ד, כה): תַּחַת הֶבֶל כִּי הֲרָגוֹ קָיִן, מֵחֲטִיָּה שֶׁל הֶבֶל נֶהֱרַג קַיִן, לִשְׁנֵי אִילָנוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ סְמוּכִין זֶה לָזֶה, פָּכְרָה רוּחַ אֶת אֶחָד מֵהֶן וְנָפַל עַל חֲבֵרוֹ וּפְכָרוֹ, כָּךְ תַּחַת הֶבֶל כִּי הֲרָגוֹ קָיִן, מֵחֲטִיָּהּ שֶׁל הֶבֶל נֶהֱרַג קָיִן.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
**“Adam was further intimate with his wife and she gave birth to a son, and she called his name Seth: As God has provided me with another offspring in place of Abel, as Cain killed him” (Genesis 4:25).** 
“Adam was further intimate with his wife,” extra desire was added for him to his desire. In the past, when he did not see her, he would not desire her. Now, whether he saw her or did not see her, he desired her. 
Rabbi Abba bar Yudan in the name of Rabbi Aḥa: This is an allusion for seafarers, that they will eventually remember their homes and come immediately. 
“She called his name Seth [*Shet*]: As God has provided [*shat*] me with another offspring.” Rabbi Tanḥuma said in the name of Rabbi Shmuel: She was looking ahead at that offspring who would come from a different place. Who is that? It is the messianic king.¹⁶) for a new world. The Messiah comes “from a different place” in that he is of non-Jewish descent, from David, who descended from Ruth the Moavite. 
“In place of Abel, as Cain killed him.” Due to the sin of [killing] Abel, Cain was killed.¹⁷ This is analogous to two trees that were adjacent to one another. The wind felled one of them, and it fell on its neighbor and felled it. So, “in place of Abel, as Cain killed him” – due to the sin of [killing] Abel, Cain was killed.

footnotes:
¹⁶ The Messiah, like all mankind, will descend from Seth, and he will set up the foundations (mashtit
¹⁷ The verse could also be translated, “as Abel killed Cain.”


###### Bereshit Rabbah 23:6
[Bereshit Rabbah 23:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bereshit%20Rabbah/r/23:6)

וּלְשֵׁת גַּם הוּא יֻלַּד בֵּן וַיִּקְרָא אֶת שְׁמוֹ אֱנוֹשׁ (בראשית ד, כו), בְּעוֹן קוֹמֵי אַבָּא כֹּהֵן בַּרְדְּלָא אָדָם שֵׁת אֱנוֹשׁ, וְשָׁתַק, אָמַר עַד כָּאן בְּצֶלֶם וּבִדְמוּת, מִכָּאן וָאֵילָךְ נִתְקַלְקְלוּ הַדּוֹרוֹת וְנִבְרְאוּ קִנְטוּרִין. אַרְבָּעָה דְּבָרִים נִשְׁתַּנּוּ בִּימֵי אֱנוֹשׁ בֶּן שֵׁת, הֶהָרִים נַעֲשׂוּ טְרָשִׁים, וְהִתְחִיל הַמֵּת מַרְחִישׁ, וְנַעֲשׂוּ פְּנֵיהֶם כְּקוֹפוֹת, וְנַעֲשׂוּ חֻלִּין לַמַּזִּיקִין. אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק הֵן הֵן שֶׁגָּרְמוּ לְעַצְמָן לִהְיוֹת חֻלִּין לַמַּזִּיקִין, מַה בֵּין דְּגָחֵין לְצַלְמָא לְמַאן דְּגָחֵין לְבַר נָשׁ.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
**“To Seth, too, a son was born, and he called his name Enosh; then commenced [*huḥal*] the proclaiming of the name of the Lord” (Genesis 4:27).** 
“To Seth, too, a son was born, and he called his name Enosh.” They asked before Abba Kohen Bardela: [Why does the Torah mention] Adam, Seth, Enosh, and then fall silent?¹⁸ He said: Until here [Enosh] they were in the image and in the likeness [of God]. From here on, the generations became corrupted and were created in a deformed state. 
Four matters changed during the days of Enosh son of Seth: The mountains became rocky ground; the dead began bringing forth worms; people’s faces became ape-like; and they became devalued [*ḥullin*] before malevolent spirits.¹⁹ Rabbi Yitzḥak said: It was they themselves who caused themselves to become devalued before the malevolent spirits, [as they declared:] ‘What is the difference between one who bows to an idol and one who bows to a person?’²⁰] of a person.

footnotes:
¹⁸ It lists Adam, Seth, Enosh, and stops there; afterwards it begins again from Adam, tracing the generations until Noah.
¹⁹ As long as people had their divine image intact, malevolent spirits would not antagonize them, but now that the divine image became diminshed they became susceptible to their malicious influence.
²⁰ Just as one may bow to a person greater than oneself, so, too, they concluded, one may bow to an idol in the image [tzelem


###### Bereshit Rabbah 23:7
[Bereshit Rabbah 23:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bereshit%20Rabbah/r/23:7)

אָז הוּחַל (בראשית ד, כו), אָמַר רַבִּי סִימוֹן בִּשְׁלשָׁה מְקוֹמוֹת נֶאֱמַר בַּלָּשׁוֹן הַזֶּה לְשׁוֹן מֶרֶד, אָז הוּחַל לִקְרֹא בְּשֵׁם ה', (בראשית ו, א): וַיְהִי כִּי הֵחֵל הָאָדָם, (בראשית י, ח): הוּא הֵחֵל לִהְיוֹת גִּבֹּר בָּאָרֶץ. אֲתִיבוּן וְהָכְתִיב (בראשית יא, ו): וְזֶה הַחִלָּם לַעֲשׂוֹת, אָמַר לָהֶם קִיפַּח עַל רֹאשׁוֹ שֶׁל נִמְרוֹד וְאָמַר זֶה הַמּוֹרְדָן עָלַי. אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי לְאִשָּׁה שֶׁאָמְרָה לְבַעֲלָהּ רָאִיתִי בַּחֲלוֹם שֶׁאַתָּה מְגָרְשֵׁנִי, אָמַר לָהּ וְלָמָּה בַּחֲלוֹם הֵא לָךְ בַּעֲלִילוֹת. אָמַר רַב אַחָא אַתֶּם עֲשִׂיתֶם עַצְמְכֶם עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וּקְרָאתֶם לְשִׁמְכֶם, אַף אֲנִי אֶקְרָא לְמֵי הַיָּם לִשְׁמִי וַאֲכַלֶּה אוֹתָן הָאֲנָשִׁים מִן הָעוֹלָם. דָּרַשׁ רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ אוֹקְיָנוֹס גָּבוֹהַּ מִכָּל הָעוֹלָם. אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן מְנַחֵם וַהֲלוֹא מִקְרָא מָלֵא הוּא (עמוס ה, ח): הַקּוֹרֵא לְמֵי הַיָּם וַיִּשְׁפְּכֵם עַל פְּנֵי הָאָרֶץ ה' שְׁמוֹ, אֶתְמְהָא, כְּזֶה שֶׁהוּא שׁוֹפֵךְ מִלְּמַעְלָן לְמַטָּן. שְׁנֵי פְּעָמִים כְּתִיב הַקּוֹרֵא לְמֵי הַיָּם, כְּנֶגֶד שְׁנֵי פְּעָמִים שֶׁעָלָה הַיָּם וְהֵצִיף אֶת הָעוֹלָם. וְעַד הֵיכָן עָלָה בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה, וְעַד הֵיכָן עָלָה בַּשְּׁנִיָּה, רַבִּי יוּדָן וְרַבִּי אַבָּהוּ וְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חֲנִינָא, בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה עָלָה עַד עַכּוֹ וְעַד יָפוֹ, וּבַשְּׁנִיָּה עָלָה עַד כֵּפֵי בַּרְבַּרִיאָה. רַבִּי חֲנַנְיָה וְרַבִּי אַחָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חֲנִינָא, בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה עַד כֵּפֵי בַּרְבַּרִיאָה, וּבַשְּׁנִיָּה עַד עַכּוֹ וְעַד יָפוֹ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (איוב לח, יא): וָאֹמַר עַד פֹּה תָבוֹא וְלֹא תֹסִיף וּפֹא יָשִׁית בִּגְאוֹן גַּלֶּיךָ. עַד פֹּה תָבוֹא וְלֹא תֹסִיף, עַד עַכּוֹ תָבוֹא וְלֹא תֹסִיף. וּפֹא יָשִׁית בִּגְאוֹן גַּלֶּיךָ, בְּיָפוֹ יָשִׁית בִּגְאוֹן גַּלֶּיךָ. רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חֲנִינָא אָמַר בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה עָלָה עַד קַלַבְּרִיאָה, וּבַשְּׁנִיָּה עַד כֵּפֵי בַּרְבַּרִיאָה.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
“Then commenced [*huḥal*]” – Rabbi Simon said: In three places this term is stated as an expression of rebellion: “Then commenced the proclaiming of the name of the Lord”;²¹ “it was [*heḥel*] when man began” (Genesis 6:1);²² “he began [*heḥel*] to be a mighty one in the earth” (Genesis 10:8).²³ They raised an objection: But is it not written [as well]: “This is what they began [*haḥilam*] to do”? (Genesis 11:6).²⁴ He said to them: He struck upon the head of Nimrod and said of him: ‘This is the one who incited them to rebel against Me.’ ²⁵ 
Rabbi Levi said: This²⁶ is analogous to a woman who said to her husband: ‘I saw in a dream (*ḥalom*) that you are divorcing me.’ He said to her: ‘Why in a dream? Here it is for you in reality.’²⁷ 
Rav Aḥa said: You made idolatrous objects of yourselves and called your own names [as divinities].²⁸ I, too, will call the seawater by My name²⁹ and eradicate those people from the world. Rabbi Abahu expounded: The ocean is higher than the rest of the world. Rabbi Elazar ben Menaḥem said: Is this not an explicit verse? “He who calls forth the water of the sea and pours it upon the face of the earth”? (Amos 5:8). This³⁰ was a rhetorical question. It is like something that is poured from above to below.³¹ 
“Who calls forth the water of the sea” is written twice,³² corresponding to the two times that the sea rose and inundated the world.³³ 6:2). 
Until where did it reach the first time and until where did it reach the second time? Rabbi Yudan, Rabbi Abahu, and Rabbi Elazar in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina: The first time it rose until Akko and until Yafo,³⁴ and the second time it rose until the rocky peaks overlooking the Barbary Coast. Rabbi Ḥananya and Rabbi Aḥa in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina: The first time until the rocky peaks overlooking the Barbary Coast, and the second time until Akko and until Yafo. That is what is written: “I said: You shall come this far and not continue, and here the foam of your waves will be set” (Job 38:11). “You shall come this far and not continue” – to Akko, “you shall come this far and not continue.” “And here (*ufo*) the foam of your waves will be set” – in Yafo, “the foam of your waves will be set.” Rabbi Elazar said in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina: The first time it rose until Calabria, and the second time until the rocky peaks overlooking the Barbary Coast.

footnotes:
²¹ The generation of Enosh proclaimed the name of God in order to desecrate it, in rebellion against Him.
²² “The children of the great men saw the daughters of man, that they were fair, and they took for themselves wives, from whomever they chose” (Genesis 6:2).
²³ Nimrod.
²⁴ Building the Tower of Babel.
²⁵ The rebellion of the Tower of Babel and that of Nimrod are one and the same, so there are still only three cases.
²⁶ The Tower of Babel.
²⁷ That generation feared that they would be dispersed (Genesis 11:4), and so it came to be in fact.
²⁸ This is what is meant by “then commenced the proclaiming of the name of the Lord.”
²⁹ To act as my agent.
³⁰ Rabbi Elazar ben Menaḥem’s question.
³¹ The description here of “pouring” water from the sea onto the land implies that the sea is higher.
³² It also appears in Amos 9:6.
³³ Once in the generation of Enosh and again in the generation of the Dispersion (Jerusalem Talmud, Shekalim
³⁴ Originally the Mediterranean Sea did not extend that far.