Another interpretation (of Gen. 6:5): AND THE LORD SAW: This text is related (to Eccl. 10:5): THERE IS AN EVIL WHICH I HAVE SEEN UNDER THE SUN. The Holy One said: See what these evil ones have done! I made two natures in people, a good drive and an evil drive. Thus it is stated (in Eccl. 9:14): THERE WAS A LITTLE CITY WITH FEW PEOPLE IN IT.¹⁰⁹ A SMALL CITY: This is the body. WITH FEW PEOPLE IN IT: These are its members. (Ibid., cont.:) AND A GREAT KING CAME AGAINST IT: This king is the evil drive. (Ibid., cont.:) AND BUILT GREAT SIEGE WORKS AGAINST IT: These are sins. (Ibid., vs. 15:) NOW THERE WAS FOUND IN IT A [POOR WISE] PERSON {WHO WAS POOR, WILLING, AND WISE}. This one is the good drive. (Ibid., cont:) AND HE DELIVERED THE CITY BY HIS WISDOM, in that it brings a person to life. (Ibid., cont:) BUT NO ONE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT POOR PERSON : This is the generation of the flood who did not accept the good drive for themselves.

footnotes: ¹⁰⁹ Eccl. R. 9:14/15:8; below, 11:1.