Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 7

17The Flood was upon the earth for 40 full days. The water increased and lifted the ark, and it rose above the ground.   יזוַיְהִ֧י הַמַּבּ֛וּל אַרְבָּעִ֥ים י֖וֹם עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיִּרְבּ֣וּ הַמַּ֗יִם וַיִּשְׂאוּ֙ אֶת־הַתֵּבָ֔ה וַתָּ֖רָם מֵעַ֥ל הָאָֽרֶץ:
וַתָּרָם מֵעַל הָאָרֶץ - It rose above the ground. It was submerged 11 cubits deep in the water, like a laden ship partially submerged in water. Subsequent verses prove that this was the depth in which the ark was submerged in the water.   וַתָּרָם מֵעַל הָאָרֶץ.  מְשֻׁקַּעַת הָיְתָה בַּמַּיִם י"א אַמָּה כִסְפִינָה טְעוּנָה הַמְשֻׁקַּעַת מִקְצָתָהּ בַּמַּיִם; וּמִקְרָאוֹת שֶׁלְּפָנֵינוּ יוֹכִיחוּ:
18After the rain ceased, the water surged on its own, and thus increased greatly over the earth. The ark drifted on the surface of the water.   יחוַיִּגְבְּר֥וּ הַמַּ֛יִם וַיִּרְבּ֥וּ מְאֹ֖ד עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַתֵּ֥לֶךְ הַתֵּבָ֖ה עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַמָּֽיִם:
וַיִּגְבְּרוּ - [The water] surged - of their own accord, since the rains had ceased.   וַיִּגְבְּרוּ.  מֵאֵלֵיהֶן:
19The water surged exceedingly high over the earth, and all the high mountains under the whole sky were covered.   יטוְהַמַּ֗יִם גָּֽבְר֛וּ מְאֹ֥ד מְאֹ֖ד עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיְכֻסּ֗וּ כָּל־הֶֽהָרִים֙ הַגְּבֹהִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־תַּ֖חַת כָּל־הַשָּׁמָֽיִם:
20The mountains were covered, for the water surged 15 cubits above them.   כחֲמֵ֨שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה אַמָּה֙ מִלְמַ֔עְלָה גָּֽבְר֖וּ הַמָּ֑יִם וַיְכֻסּ֖וּ הֶֽהָרִֽים:
חֲמֵשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה אַמָּה מִלְמַעְלָה - 15 cubits (lit.) higher - i.e., higher than the peaks of all the mountains, after the water had reached the level of all the mountain peaks.   חֲמֵשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה אַמָּה מִלְמַעְלָה.  לְמַעְלָה שֶׁל גֹּבַהּ כָּל הֶהָרִים, לְאַחַר שֶׁהֻשְׁווּ הַמַּיִם לְרָאשֵׁי הֶהָרִים:
21All flesh that moved upon the earth expired, including the birds, the domestic animals, the walking wildlife, and every low-lying creature that swarms on the earth, as well as all humanity.   כאוַיִּגְוַ֞ע כָּל־בָּשָׂ֣ר | הָֽרֹמֵ֣שׂ עַל־הָאָ֗רֶץ בָּע֤וֹף וּבַבְּהֵמָה֙ וּבַ֣חַיָּ֔ה וּבְכָל־הַשֶּׁ֖רֶץ הַשֹּׁרֵ֣ץ עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְכֹ֖ל הָֽאָדָֽם:
22Of every being that was on dry land, every being that breathed the breath of life died.   כבכֹּ֡ל אֲשֶׁר֩ נִשְׁמַת־ר֨וּחַ חַיִּ֜ים בְּאַפָּ֗יו מִכֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר בֶּחָֽרָבָ֖ה מֵֽתוּ:
נִשְׁמַת־רוּחַ חַיִּים - This means: the breath of the spirit of life.   נִשְׁמַת־רוּחַ חַיִּים.  נְשָׁמָה שֶׁל רוּחַ חַיִּים:
אֲשֶׁר בֶּחָֽרָבָה - On dry land - but not the fish in the sea.   אֲשֶׁר בֶּחָֽרָבָה.  וְלֹא דָגִים שֶׁבַּיָּם (סנה' ק"ח):
23God obliterated every being that had been on the face of the earth—including humans, walking animals, crawling creatures, and the birds that fly in the sky. They were obliterated from the earth; only Noah and those who were with him in the ark survived.   כגוַיִּ֜מַח אֶת־כָּל־הַיְק֣וּם | אֲשֶׁ֣ר | עַל־פְּנֵ֣י הָֽאֲדָמָ֗ה מֵֽאָדָ֤ם עַד־בְּהֵמָה֙ עַד־רֶ֨מֶשׂ֙ וְעַד־ע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַיִּמָּח֖וּ מִן־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיִּשָּׁ֧אֶר אַךְ־נֹ֛חַ וַֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתּ֖וֹ בַּתֵּבָֽה:
וַיִּמַח - [God] obliterated. The word וַיִּמַח is a kal (simple active) form and not a nif’al (passive) form, and it is of the same grammatical form as וַיִּפֶן 1 and וַיִּבֶן. 2 Every verb whose last root letter is ה, such as קָנָה, מָחָה, בָּנָה, when וי are prefixed to it, is punctuated with a chirik under the י.   וַיִּמַח.  לְשׁוֹן וַיִּפְעַל הוּא וְאֵינוֹ לָשׁוֹן וַיִפָּעֵל, וְהוּא מִגִּזְרַת וַיִּפֶן וַיִּבֶן כָּל תֵּבָה שֶׁסּוֹפָהּ הֵ"א, כְּגוֹן בָּנָה, מָחָה, קָנָה, כְּשֶׁהוּא נוֹתֵן וָי"ו יוֹ"ד בְּרֹאשָׁהּ, נָקוּד בְּחִירִק תַּחַת הַיּוֹ"ד:
אַךְ־נֹחַ - means “only Noah”; this is its straightforward meaning. But according to an aggadic explanation, he was groaning and spitting blood from the effort of taking care of the animals and the beasts. Some sages say that he once delayed bringing food for the lion and it bit him. About him it says: “Even a righteous man is paid on earth for his sins.” 3   אַךְ־נֹחַ.  לְבַד נֹחַ, זֶהוּ פְּשׁוּטוֹ; וּמִדְרָש אַגָדָה גוֹנֵחַ וְכוֹהֶה דָם מִטֹּרַח הַבְּהֵמוֹת וְהַחַיּוֹת. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמָרִים שֶׁאִחֵר מְזוֹנוֹת לָאֲרִי וְהִכִּישׁוֹ, וְעָלָיו נֶאֱמַר הֵן צַדִּיק בָּאָרֶץ יְשֻׁלָּם (משלי יא):
24The water surged over the earth for an additional 150 days after the rainfall stopped.   כדוַיִּגְבְּר֥וּ הַמַּ֖יִם עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים וּמְאַ֖ת יֽוֹם:

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 8

1God remembered Noah and all the wildlife and domestic animals who were with him in the ark. God caused His spirit of consolation and rest to apply to what was happening on earth, and the water began to subside.   אוַיִּזְכֹּ֤ר אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־נֹ֔חַ וְאֵ֤ת כָּל־הַֽחַיָּה֙ וְאֶת־כָּל־הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתּ֖וֹ בַּתֵּבָ֑ה וַיַּֽעֲבֵ֨ר אֱלֹהִ֥ים ר֨וּחַ֙ עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ וַיָּשֹׁ֖כּוּ הַמָּֽיִם:
ויזכור אֱלֹהִים - God remembered. This Divine Name (אֱלֹהִים) represents the Attribute of Justice, but it was transformed into the Attribute of Mercy through the prayers of the righteous. Conversely, the evil deeds of the wicked transform the Attribute of Mercy to the Attribute of Justice, as it says: “God (יהוה) saw how great was man’s wickedness…God (יהוה) said, ‘I will dissolve…’,” 4 even though יהוה is the Divine Name that represents the Attribute of Mercy.   ויזכור אֱלֹהִים.  זֶה הַשֵּׁם מִדַּת הַדִּין הוּא, וְנֶהֶפְכָה לְמִדַּת רַחֲמִים עַל יְדֵי תְפִלַּת הַצַּדִּיקִים; וְרִשְׁעָתָן שֶׁל רְשָׁעִים הוֹפֶכֶת מִדַּת רַחֲמִים לְמִדַּת הַדִּין, שֶׁנֶאֱמַר וַיַּרְא ה' כִּי רַבָּה רָעַת הָאָדָם, וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶמְחֶה, (ברא' ו') וְהוּא שֵׁם מִדַּת רַחֲמִים:
ויזכור אֱלֹהִים אֶת־נֹחַ וגו' - God remembered Noah… What did He recall for the animals? The merit that they did not pervert their nature before the Flood, and that they did not mate in the ark.   ויזכור אֱלֹהִים אֶת־נֹחַ וגו'.  מַה זָּכַר לָהֶם לַבְּהֵמוֹת? זְכוּת, שֶׁלֹּא הִשְׁחִיתוּ דַרְכָּם קֹדֶם לָכֵן וְשֶׁלֹּא שִׁמְּשׁוּ בַּתֵּבָה:
וַיַּֽעֲבֵר אֱלֹהִים רוּחַ - God caused [His] spirit…to apply. i.e., a spirit of comfort and relief emanated from before Him.   וַיַּֽעֲבֵר אֱלֹהִים רוּחַ.  רוּחַ תַּנְחוּמִין וַהֲנָחָה עָבְרָה לְפָנָיו:
עַל־הָאָרֶץ - (lit.) On earth - i.e., concerning the affairs of the earth.   עַל־הָאָרֶץ.  עַל עִסְקֵי הָאָרֶץ:
וַיָּשֹׁכּוּ - And [the water] began to subside - as we find: “when the king’s anger had abated (כְּשֹׁךְ),” 5 denoting the calming of fury.   וַיָּשֹׁכּוּ.  כְּמוֹ כְּשֹׁךְ חֲמַת הַמֶּלֶךְ (אסתר ב') לְשׁוֹן הַנָּחַת חֵמָה:
2The wellsprings of the abyss and the floodgates of heaven were sealed. Thus the rain from the heavens was held back.   בוַיִּסָּֽכְרוּ֙ מַעְיְנֹ֣ת תְּה֔וֹם וַֽאֲרֻבֹּ֖ת הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וַיִּכָּלֵ֥א הַגֶּ֖שֶׁם מִן־הַשָּׁמָֽיִם:
וַיִּסָּֽכְרוּ מעינות - 2. The wellsprings…were sealed. When they opened it is written: “all the wellsprings,” 6 but here the word “all” is not written, because those wellsprings for which the world had use remained open, e.g., the hot springs of Tiberias and other hot springs.   וַיִּסָּֽכְרוּ מעינות.  כְּשֶׁנִּפְתְּחוּ כְּתִיב כָּל מַעְיְנֹת; וְכָאן אֵין כְּתִיב כָּל, לְפִי שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּיְּרוּ מֵהֶם אוֹתָן שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶם צֹרֶךְ לָעוֹלָם, כְּגוֹן חַמֵּי טְבֵרְיָא וְכַיוֹצֵא בָהֶן:
וַיִּכָּלֵא - means: “was held back,” as in לֹא תִכְלָא רַחֲמֶיךָ “do not withhold Your mercies” 7 and: לֹא יִכְלֶה מִמְּךָ “No one will deny you.” 8   וַיִּכָּלֵא.  וַיִמָּנַע כְּמוֹ לֹא תִכְלָא רַחֲמֶיךָ (תהלים מ'), לֹא יִכְלֶה מִמְּךָ (ברא' כג):
3At the end of 150 days, the water started steadily receding from upon the earth. The water diminished, so that   גוַיָּשֻׁ֧בוּ הַמַּ֛יִם מֵעַ֥ל הָאָ֖רֶץ הָל֣וֹךְ וָשׁ֑וֹב וַיַּחְסְר֣וּ הַמַּ֔יִם מִקְצֵ֕ה חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים וּמְאַ֖ת יֽוֹם:
מִקְצֵה חֲמִשִּׁים וּמְאַת יֽוֹם - At the end of 150 days - the water began to decrease, and this was on 1 Sivan. How is this calculated? The rains ceased on 27 Kislev, leaving three days of Kislev and 29 days of Tevet – together 32 days; Shevat, Adar, Nisan, and Iyar were together 118 days – totaling 150 days.   מִקְצֵה חֲמִשִּׁים וּמְאַת יֽוֹם.  הִתְחִילוּ לַחֲסֹר וְהוּא אֶחָד בְּסִיוָן. כֵּיצַד? בְּכ"ז בְּכִסְלֵו פָּסְקוּ הַגְּשָׁמִים, הֲרֵי ג' מִכִּסְלֵו וְכ"ט מִטֵּבֵת הֲרֵי ל"ב, וּשְׁבָט וַאֲדָר וְנִיסָן וְאִיָּר קי"ח, הֲרֵי ק"נ:
4in the seventh month, on the 17th day of the month, the ark came to rest on the Mountains of Ararat.   דוַתָּ֤נַח הַתֵּבָה֙ בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י בְּשִׁבְעָֽה־עָשָׂ֥ר י֖וֹם לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ עַ֖ל הָרֵ֥י אֲרָרָֽט:
בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי - In the seventh month. This was Sivan, which was the seventh month counting from Kislev, the month in which the rains ceased.   בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי.  סִיוָן, וְהוּא שְׁבִיעִי לְכִסְלֵו שֶׁבּוֹ פָּסְקוּ הַגְּשָׁמִים:
בְּשִׁבְעָֽה־עָשָׂר יוֹם - On the 17th day. From here you can deduce that the ark was submerged in the water to a depth of 11 cubits: For it is written: “in the 10th month, on the first of the month, the mountain peaks became visible,” 9 and this was Av, which is the 10th month counting from Marcheshvan, the beginning of the rainfall. The water had been 15 cubits higher than the mountains, and decreased 15 cubits in 60 days, from 1 Sivan until 1 Av, being one cubit every four days. Thus, by 16 Sivan the water had only decreased four cubits, and on the following day the ark rested on the Mountains of Ararat. You can therefore deduce that the ark was submerged 11 cubits in the water above the mountain peaks.   בְּשִׁבְעָֽה־עָשָׂר יוֹם.  מִכָּאן אַתָּה לָמֵד שֶׁהָיְתָה הַתֵּבָה מְשֻׁקַּעַת בַּמַּיִם י"א אַמָּה, שֶׁהֲרֵי כְתִיב בָּעֲשִׂירִי בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ נִרְאוּ רָאשֵׁי הֶהָרִים, זֶה אָב, שֶׁהִיא עֲשִׂירִי לְמַרְחֶשְׁוָן לִירִידַת גְּשָׁמִים, וְהֵם הָיוּ גְבוֹהִים עַל הֶהָרִים חֲמֵשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה אַמָּה, וְחָסְרוּ מִיּוֹם אֶחָד בְּסִיוָן עַד אֶחָד בְּאָב חֲמֵשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה אַמָּה לְשִּׁשִּׁים יוֹם, הֲרֵי אַמָּה לְד' יָמִים, נִמְצָא, שֶׁבְּי"ו בְּסִיוָן לֹא חָסְרוּ אֶלָּא ד' אַמּוֹת וְנָחָה הַתֵּבָה לְיוֹם הַמָּחֳרָת; לָמַדְתָּ, שֶׁהָיְתָה מְשֻׁקַּעַת י"א אַמָּה בַמַּיִם שֶׁעַל רָאשֵׁי הֶהָרִים:
5The water continued to diminish until the 10th month. In the 10th month, on the first of the month, the highest mountain peaks became visible.   הוְהַמַּ֗יִם הָיוּ֙ הָל֣וֹךְ וְחָס֔וֹר עַ֖ד הַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָֽעֲשִׂירִ֑י בָּֽעֲשִׂירִי֙ בְּאֶחָ֣ד לַחֹ֔דֶשׁ נִרְא֖וּ רָאשֵׁ֥י הֶֽהָרִֽים:
בָּֽעֲשִׂירִי נִרְאוּ רָאשֵׁי הֶֽהָרִֽים - In the 10th month…the [highest] mountain peaks became visible. 

This was Av, which is the 10th month from Marcheshvan, when the rain began. Should you, however, wish to say that this was in fact Elul, the 10th month from Kislev when the rain stopped – just as you said that “in the seventh month” means Sivan, which was the seventh month after the rain stopped – my reply is that it is impossible to say this. For you must admit that “the seventh month” can only be counted from the time the rain stopped, since the 40 days of rainfall and the subsequent 150 days during which the water swelled did not terminate until 1 Sivan, and if you say that it means the seventh month after the beginning of the rainfall, this would not be Sivan but Iyar, a month earlier.

“The 10th month,” however, can only be reckoned from the beginning of the rainfall, for if you say that it is reckoned from the time the rain stopped, which would mean that it was Elul, you would not find that “on the first day of the first month, the water had drained off the earth”; 10 because 40 days after the mountain peaks became visible Noah released the raven, and he waited altogether another 21 days in the process of sending out the dove, making altogether 60 days from the time the mountain peaks became visible until the surface of the ground began to dry; and if you say they became visible in Elul, it would work out that it dried in Marcheshvan, 60 days after Elul, which cannot be, for the verse calls it “the first month,” which can only be Tishrei, which is the first month reckoning from the creation of the world – or, according to Rabbi Yehoshua, Nisan.

   בָּֽעֲשִׂירִי נִרְאוּ רָאשֵׁי הֶֽהָרִֽים.  זֶה אָב, שֶׁהוּא עֲשִׂירִי לְמַרְחֶשְׁוָן שֶׁהִתְחִיל הַגֶּשֶׁם. וְאִם תֹּאמַר הוּא אֱלוּל, וַעֲשִׂירִי לְכִסְלֵו שֶׁפָּסַק הַגֶּשֶׁם, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאַתָּה אוֹמֵר בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי סִיוָן, וְהוּא שְׁבִיעִי לַהַפְסָקָה – אִי אֶפְשָׁר לוֹמַר כֵּן, עַל כָּרְחֲךָ שְׁבִיעִי אִי אַתָּה מוֹנֶה אֶלָּא לַהַפְסָקָה, שֶׁהֲרֵי לֹא כָלוּ אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם שֶׁל יְרִידַת גְּשָׁמִים, וּמֵאָה וַחֲמִשִּׁים שֶׁל תִּגְבֹּרֶת הַמַּיִם עַד אֶחָד בְּסִיוָן; וְאִם אַתָּה אוֹמֵר שְׁבִיעִי לַיְרִידָה, אֵין זֶה סִיוָן, וְהָעֲשִׂירִי אִי אֶפְשָׁר לִמְנוֹת אֶלָּא לַיְרִידָה, שֶׁאִם אַתָּה אוֹמֵר לַהַפְסָקָה וְהוּא אֱלוּל, אִי אַתָּה מוֹצֵא בָּרִאשׁוֹן בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ חָרְבוּ הַמַּיִם מֵעַל הָאָרֶץ; שֶׁהֲרֵי מִקֵּץ אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם מִשֶׁנִּרְאוּ רָאשֵׁי הֶהָרִים שִׁלַּח אֶת הָעוֹרֵב וְכ"א יוֹם הוֹחִיל בִּשְׁלִיחוּת הַיּוֹנָה, הֲרֵי שִׁשִּׁים יוֹם מִשֶּׁנִּרְאוּ רָאשֵׁי הֶהָרִים עַד שֶׁחָרְבוּ פְנֵי הָאֲדָמָה. וְאִם תֹּאמַר בֶּאֱלוּל נִרְאוּ, נִמְצָא שֶׁחָרְבוּ בְּמַרְחֶשְׁוָן וְהוּא קוֹרֵא אוֹתוֹ רִאשׁוֹן, וְאֵין זֶה אֶלָּא תִּשְׁרֵי, שֶׁהוּא רִאשׁוֹן לִבְרִיאַת עוֹלָם, וְלְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ הוּא נִיסָן:
6Forty days after this, Noah opened the window he had made in the ark.   ווַיְהִ֕י מִקֵּ֖ץ אַרְבָּעִ֣ים י֑וֹם וַיִּפְתַּ֣ח נֹ֔חַ אֶת־חַלּ֥וֹן הַתֵּבָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָֽׂה:
מִקֵּץ אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם - Forty days after - i.e., from when the mountain peaks became visible.   מִקֵּץ אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם.  מִשֶּׁנִּרְאוּ רָאשֵׁי הֶהָרִים:
אֶת־חַלּוֹן הַתֵּבָה אֲשֶׁר עָשָֽׂה - The window he had made in the ark - to provide additional light. This was not the entrance to the ark that was made for entry and exit.   אֶת־חַלּוֹן הַתֵּבָה אֲשֶׁר עָשָֽׂה.  לְצֹהַר, וְלֹא זֶה פֶּתַח הַתֵּבָה הֶעָשׂוּי לְבִיאָה וִיצִיאָה:
7He sent out the raven. It went out, but only circled to and fro around the ark until the water dried up from the surface of the earth.   זוַיְשַׁלַּ֖ח אֶת־הָֽעֹרֵ֑ב וַיֵּצֵ֤א יָצוֹא֙ וָשׁ֔וֹב עַד־יְב֥שֶׁת הַמַּ֖יִם מֵעַ֥ל הָאָֽרֶץ:
יָצוֹא וָשׁוֹב - To and fro. It flew in circles around the ark and did not go on its errand, because it suspected Noah concerning its mate, as we have learned in the aggadah of the chapter Chelek. 11   יָצוֹא וָשׁוֹב.  הוֹלֵךְ וּמַקִּיף סְבִיבוֹת הַתֵּבָה, וְלֹא הָלַךְ בִּשְׁלִיחוּתוֹ, שֶׁהָיָה חוֹשְׁדוֹ עַל בַּת זוּגוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁשָּׁנִינוּ בְּאַגָּדַת חֵלֶק (סנה' ק"ח):
עַד־יְבשֶׁת הַמַּיִם - Until the water dried up. The straightforward meaning of this phrase is what it plainly implies – i.e., until the water of the Flood dried up. The aggadic explanation, however, is: The raven was kept in readiness for another errand at a time when rain was being withheld in the days of Elijah, as it says: “And the ravens brought him bread and meat.” 12   עַד־יְבשֶׁת הַמַּיִם.  פְּשׁוּטוֹ כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ. אֲבָל מִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה מוּכָן הָיָה הָעוֹרֵב לִשְׁלִיחוּת אַחֶרֶת בַּעֲצִירַת גְּשָׁמִים בִּימֵי אֵלִיָּהוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְהָעֹרְבִים מְבִאִים לוֹ לֶחֶם וּבָשָׂר (מ"א י"ז):
8Noah sent out the dove to see if the water had subsided from the surface of the earth.   חוַיְשַׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־הַיּוֹנָ֖ה מֵֽאִתּ֑וֹ לִרְאוֹת֙ הֲקַ֣לּוּ הַמַּ֔יִם מֵעַ֖ל פְּנֵ֥י הָֽאֲדָמָֽה:
וַיְשַׁלַּח אֶת־הַיּוֹנָה - He sent out the dove. He did this seven days later, for it is written: “He waited another seven days,” 13 from which you can infer that prior to the first time he released the dove he also waited seven days.   וַיְשַׁלַּח אֶת־הַיּוֹנָה.  לְסוֹף ז' יָמִים שֶׁהֲרֵי כְתִיב וַיָּחֶל עוֹד ז' יָמִים אֲחֵרִים, מִכְּלַל זֶה אַתָּה לָמֵד שֶׁאַף בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה הוֹחִיל ז' יָמִים:
וַיְשַׁלַּח - This word does not mean “sending on an errand” but means “releasing.” He sent it off on its way, and thus would see “if the water had subsided,” for if it would find a resting place it would not return to him.   וַיְשַׁלַּח.  אֵין זֶה לְשׁוֹן שְׁלִיחוּת אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן שִׁלּוּח, שִׁלְּחָהּ לָלֶכֶת לְדַרְכָּה, וּבְזוֹ יִרְאֶה אִם קַלּוּ הַמַּיִם, שֶׁאִם תִּמְצָא מָנוֹחַ לֹא תָשׁוּב אֵלָיו:
9But the dove could not find any place to rest its feet, and it returned to him, to the ark, for there was still water over the entire surface of the earth. He stretched out his hand and took it, and brought it back to himself into the ark.   טוְלֹא־מָֽצְאָה֩ הַיּוֹנָ֨ה מָנ֜וֹחַ לְכַף־רַגְלָ֗הּ וַתָּ֤שָׁב אֵלָיו֙ אֶל־הַתֵּבָ֔ה כִּי־מַ֖יִם עַל־פְּנֵ֣י כָל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יָדוֹ֙ וַיִּקָּחֶ֔הָ וַיָּבֵ֥א אֹתָ֛הּ אֵלָ֖יו אֶל־הַתֵּבָֽה:
10He waited another seven days, and once again sent out the dove from the ark.   יוַיָּ֣חֶל ע֔וֹד שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים אֲחֵרִ֑ים וַיֹּ֛סֶף שַׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־הַיּוֹנָ֖ה מִן־הַתֵּבָֽה:
וַיָּחֶל - An expression of waiting, as we find: “They listened to me and waited (וְיִחֵלּוּ).” 14 It occurs many times in different forms in Scripture.   וַיָּחֶל.  לְשׁוֹן הַמְתָּנָה, וְכֵן לִי שָׁמְעוּ וְיִחֵלּוּ (איוב כ"ט), וְהַרְבֵּה יֵשׁ בַּמִּקְרָא:
11The dove came back to him toward nightfall, and behold, it had plucked an olive leaf with its beak. Noah then knew that the water had subsided from the earth.   יאוַתָּבֹ֨א אֵלָ֤יו הַיּוֹנָה֙ לְעֵ֣ת עֶ֔רֶב וְהִנֵּ֥ה עֲלֵה־זַ֖יִת טָרָ֣ף בְּפִ֑יהָ וַיֵּ֣דַע נֹ֔חַ כִּי־קַ֥לּוּ הַמַּ֖יִם מֵעַ֥ל הָאָֽרֶץ:
טָרָף בְּפִיהָ - It had plucked…with its beak. I am of the opinion that it was a male bird, and therefore the verse sometimes refers to it in the masculine (טָרָף) and sometimes in the feminine (בְּפִיהָ); because wherever the dove as a species is mentioned in Scripture it is referred to in the feminine, as in: “His eyes are like those of doves on pools of water, bathed (רֹחֲצוֹת – fem.) in milk”; 15 “like doves of the valleys, all of them moaning (הוֹמוֹת – fem.)”; 16 and as in: “like a foolish (פוֹתָה – fem.) dove.” 17   טָרָף בְּפִיהָ.  אוֹמֵר אֲנִי שֶׁזָּכָר הָיָה, לְכֵן קוֹרְאוֹ פְעָמִים לְשׁוֹן זָכָר וּפְעָמִים לְשׁוֹן נְקֵבָה, לְפִי שֶׁכָּל יוֹנָה שֶׁבַּמִּקְרָא לְשׁוֹן נְקֵבָה, כְּמוֹ כְּיוֹנִים עַל אֲפִיקֵי מָיִם רֹחֲצוֹת (שיר ה'), כְּיוֹנֵי הַגֵּאָיוֹת כֻּלָּם הֹמוֹת (יחז' ז') וּכְמוֹ כְּיוֹנָה פוֹתָה (הושע ז'):
טָרָף - means “it had plucked.” But the aggadic explanation is that it means “food,” and accordingly the sages interpreted בְּפִיהָ as “in its mouth,” an expression of speech: It said, “Let my food be bitter like the olive but from the hand of the Holy One, blessed be He, rather than sweet as honey from the hands of human beings.”   טָרָף.  חָטַף. וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה (עיר' י"ח) לְשׁוֹן מָזוֹן; וְדָרְשׁוּ בְּפִיהָ לְשׁוֹן מַאֲמָר, אָמְרָה יִהְיוּ מְזוֹנוֹתַי מְרוֹרִין כְּזַיִת בְּיָדוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְלֹא מְתוּקִין כִּדְבַשׁ בִּידֵי בָשָׂר וָדָם:
12He waited yet another seven days and once again sent out the dove, and this time it never again returned to him.   יבוַיִּיָּ֣חֶל ע֔וֹד שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים אֲחֵרִ֑ים וַיְשַׁלַּח֙ אֶת־הַיּוֹנָ֔ה וְלֹא־יָֽסְפָ֥ה שֽׁוּב־אֵלָ֖יו עֽוֹד:
וַיִּיָּחֶל - He waited. This is the same verb as וַיָּחֶל, 18 only above it is a kal (simple active) verb and here it is a hitpa’el (reflexive) verb. וַיָּחֶל means “he waited”; וַיִּיָּחֶל means “he had himself wait.”   וַיִּיָּחֶל.  הוּא לְשׁוֹן וַיָּחֶל, אֶלָּא שֶׁזֶּה לְשׁוֹן וַיִּפְעַל וְזֶה לְשׁוֹן וַיִּתְפַּעֵל, וַיָּחֶל – וַיַּמְתֵּן; וַיִּיָּחֶל – וַיִּתְמַתֵּן:
13In the 601st year of Noah’s life, on the first day of the first month, the water had drained off the earth. Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and saw that the earth’s surface was drying.   יגוַיְהִ֠י בְּאַחַ֨ת וְשֵֽׁשׁ־מֵא֜וֹת שָׁנָ֗ה בָּֽרִאשׁוֹן֙ בְּאֶחָ֣ד לַחֹ֔דֶשׁ חָֽרְב֥וּ הַמַּ֖יִם מֵעַ֣ל הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיָּ֤סַר נֹ֨חַ֙ אֶת־מִכְסֵ֣ה הַתֵּבָ֔ה וַיַּ֕רְא וְהִנֵּ֥ה חָֽרְב֖וּ פְּנֵ֥י הָֽאֲדָמָֽה:
בָּֽרִאשׁוֹן - The first month. According to Rabbi Eliezer this refers to Tishrei, and according to Rabbi Yehoshua this refers to Nisan.   בָּֽרִאשׁוֹן.  לְרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר הוּא תִּשְׁרֵי וּלְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ הוּא נִיסָן (ר"ה י"א):
חָֽרְבוּ - Had drained. The earth had become like a kind of clay because its upper surface had hardened.   חָֽרְבוּ.  נַעֲשָׂה כְמִין טִיט, שֶׁקָּרְמוּ פָנֶיהָ שֶׁל מַעְלָה:
14By the 27th day of the second month, the earth was completely dry.   ידוּבַחֹ֨דֶשׁ֙ הַשֵּׁנִ֔י בְּשִׁבְעָ֧ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֛ים י֖וֹם לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ יָֽבְשָׁ֖ה הָאָֽרֶץ:
בְּשִׁבְעָה וְעֶשְׂרִים - By the 27th. The rain had begun to fall on the 17th of the second month, and since the sentence of the generation of the Flood was for a full solar year, these additional days are the eleven days by which the solar year (365 days) exceeds the lunar year (354 days).   בְּשִׁבְעָה וְעֶשְׂרִים.  יְרִידָתָן בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי בְי"ז בַּחֹדֶשׁ, אֵלּוּ י"א יָמִים שֶׁהַחַמָּה יְתֵרָה עַל הַלְּבָנָה, שֶׁמִּשְׁפַּט דוֹר הַמַּבּוּל שָׁנָה תְמִימָה הָיָה:
יָֽבְשָׁה - Was completely dry - means it hardened to its normal condition.   יָֽבְשָׁה.  נַעֲשָׂה גָּרִיד כְּהִלְכָתָהּ: