<p>The second half of the flood narrative, which describes the reemergence of life, also draws the reader back to the original creation story. Here the many parallels are direct and highlight how Hashem renewed the world, giving mankind a fresh start. The similarities between the two accounts include:</p>
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<li>State of the world pre-creation – In both cases, before life is created, water filled the earth and a wind or spirit hovered or passed over it.</li>
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<li>Dates – Chapter 8:13 records that the date of the drying up of the waters of the flood was the first day of the first month, the same day the world was created.</li>
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<li>The elements and order of creation – In both stories there is explicit mention of separation of higher and lower waters, the appearance of land and vegetation, markers of time, and the emergence of birds, animals, and man.<fn>The order, though, is different. After the flood, humans exit the ark before the animals, while in Bereshit 1 they are created last.</fn></li>
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<li>Blessings – Both accounts detail Hashem's blessing of abundant procreation to both the birds<fn>After the flood it is not just the birds which are told to multiply, but the animals and beasts as well.</fn> and humans and the promise that mankind will have dominion over the animals.</li>
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<li>Command to eat – In Bereshit 1, Hashem allows man to eat from all vegetation, while in Bereshit 9, He adds that they can also eat from living creatures.<fn>The scope of this permission is the subject of debate amongst the commentators.</fn></li>
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<li>Limits on food – Hashem bans certain foods to both groups. In Bereshit 2, the fruit of the tree of knowledge is prohibited, while in Bereshit 9, Hashem warns against eating the blood of animals.</li>
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<li>Occupation of man - The first human is named "אָדָם" and is commanded to work the land. Noach is similarly referred to as "אִישׁ הָאֲדָמָה" and soon after the flood subsides, he plants a vineyard.</li>
Commentators as early as Philo,1 have noted many similarities between the Flood narrative of Bereshit 6-9 and the description of Creation in Bereshit 1-2.2 Some of the parallels are inverted and highlight how the Flood reversed the process of creation, while others correspond directly and demonstrate how the re-establishment of the world after the deluge mirrored the original creation.
Undoing of Creation
The similarities between Parashat Noach's description of the world's destruction and the original creation story are in content more than language. They serve to underscore the obvious, that the deluge undid much of what the original creation had accomplished.
Separated waters re-mingle – Hashem's original separation between the waters on high and below is undone, as both the heavens and the depths release the waters of the flood.
Land re-submerges – In Bereshit, the ingathering of the waters allows for the land to emerge, while in Parashat Noach, water floods back over all.
All die – The creation story describes the creation of bird, animal, beast and human, while the Noach account tells of their deaths.
Breath of life extinguished – Whereas Bereshit 2 emphasizes Hashem's breathing life into His handiwork, Bereshit 7 highlights the extinguishing of that breath.
The second half of the flood narrative, which describes the reemergence of life, also draws the reader back to the original creation story. Here the many parallels are direct and highlight how Hashem renewed the world, giving mankind a fresh start. The similarities between the two accounts include:
State of the world pre-creation – In both cases, before life is created, water filled the earth and a wind or spirit hovered or passed over it.
Dates – Chapter 8:13 records that the date of the drying up of the waters of the flood was the first day of the first month, the same day the world was created.
The elements and order of creation – In both stories there is explicit mention of separation of higher and lower waters, the appearance of land and vegetation, markers of time, and the emergence of birds, animals, and man.3
Blessings – Both accounts detail Hashem's blessing of abundant procreation to both the birds4 and humans and the promise that mankind will have dominion over the animals.
Command to eat – In Bereshit 1, Hashem allows man to eat from all vegetation, while in Bereshit 9, He adds that they can also eat from living creatures.5
Limits on food – Hashem bans certain foods to both groups. In Bereshit 2, the fruit of the tree of knowledge is prohibited, while in Bereshit 9, Hashem warns against eating the blood of animals.
Occupation of man - The first human is named "אָדָם" and is commanded to work the land. Noach is similarly referred to as "אִישׁ הָאֲדָמָה" and soon after the flood subsides, he plants a vineyard.
