Literary Devices – Bereshit 5

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Allusions

Example

  • Lemech’s explanation of Noach’s name, and hope for his future, echoes the language of the curse of Adam. He says, "זֶה יְנַחֲמֵנוּ מִמַּעֲשֵׂנוּ וּמֵעִצְּבוֹן יָדֵינוּ מִן הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר אֵרְרָהּ י״י".  Adam had been told:  "אֲרוּרָה הָאֲדָמָה בַּעֲבוּרֶךָ בְּעִצָּבוֹן תֹּאכְלֶנָּה כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ".
  • This parallel language reflects the notion that the role of Noach is to repair the sin of Adam and Chavvah.

Article

  • For discussion of Lemekh's naming of Noach and to what extent Noach managed to reverse the curse given to Adam, see נח | נחמת האדמה by R. Yehuda Rock.
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