At the end of last week’s sidra we were informed of the wickedness of human beings – with the exception of Noah, who found grace in God’s eyes.

God instructs Noah to build an ark in which he and his family and pairs of all the animals will escape the flood that will destroy the earth. Heavy rains fell continuously for forty days, completely
covering the earth. It took five months for the waters to subside and for the ark to come to rest. Noah sent birds from the ark at regular intervals to determine if the land was dry. When the third bird did not return, he knew it was time to leave the ark.

Noah offered sacrifices to God, and God made a covenant
promising never again to destroy the world by flood. The rainbow is the symbol of this covenant. Noah’s family received blessings similar to those bestowed on Adam and Eve for populating the earth anew and for dominion over all creatures.

Noah planted a vineyard, harvested its grapes, steeped them and became intoxicated from drinking wine. Unclothed and asleep in his tent, his son Ham tells his brothers, Shem and Yaphet, of their father’s condition. The latter two cover their father, earning a blessing, while Ham is condemned for his disrespect. (This
incident is a portend of what is to come for the future generations and peoples who will descend from the three brothers.)

The re-population of the earth and the unity of all its inhabitants lead the people to build a city and a tower as a celebration of their unity and power, and to prevent their dispersal. This displeased God, whose desire it was that human beings should inhabit the entire earth. God therefore creates disunity among the builders by causing a multiplicity of languages to emerge, leading to confusion. In Hebrew, BLL is confusion – hence the name Tower of Babel (BBL).

Once again, ten generations are enumerated, taking us from Noah to Abram at the end of our parasha.