Genesis Rabbah 29

¹“But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8). “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” It is written: “He will rescue the unclean [ i-naki ], and he will escape by the pureness of Your hands” (Job 22:30). Rabbi Ḥanina of Anatot said: Noah had [only] one ounce [ onkia ] of virtue to his credit. If so, why was he spared? It was “by the pureness of Your hands.” This is in accordance with what Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: “For I regret that I made them, and Noah…” as “and Noah,” rather than “but Noah.” God regretted creating even Noah. (Genesis 6:7–8) – even Noah, who [alone] remained from them, it is not that he was worthy, but rather that he found favor in the eyes of the Lord, as it is stated: “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” ²Rabbi Simon began: “So said the Lord: As when wine is found in a cluster and one says: Do not destroy it, as a blessing is in it” (Isaiah 65:8). There was an incident involving a certain pious man, who went out to his vineyard on Shabbat and saw a lone grape and recited a blessing over it. He said: This lone grape is worthy to recite a blessing over it! So too, “So said the Lord: As when wine is found in a cluster…” ³Rabbi Simon said: The Holy One blessed be He found three [precious] finds: Abraham, as it is written: “You found his heart faithful before You” (Nehemiah 9:8); David, as it is written: “I found David, My servant” (Psalms 89:21); Israel, as it is written: “Like grapes in the wilderness I found Israel” (Hosea 9:10). The students raised an objection to Rabbi Simon: But is it not written [also]: “But Noah found favor”? He said to them: He [Noah] found [favor], the Holy One blessed be He did not find [him]. But is it not written: “[Israel] found favor in the wilderness”? (Jeremiah 31:2). It is due to the merit of the generation of the Wilderness. (“You found his heart faithful before You.”) ). ⁴Rabbi Huna, Rabbi Pinḥas, Rabbi Ḥanin, and Rabbi Hoshaya do not disagree. Rabbi Yoḥanan, Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, and the Rabbis do disagree. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: This is analogous to one who was walking on the road and he met someone and attached himself to him. To what extent? To the extent that he entered into a friendly relationship with him. So, “favor” is stated here, and it is stated elsewhere: “Joseph found favor in his eyes” (Genesis 39:4). Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: This is analogous to one who was walking on the road and he met someone and attached himself to him. To what extent? To the extent that he put him in charge. So, “favor” is stated here, and it is stated elsewhere: “Esther found favor in the eyes [of all who saw her]” (Esther 2:15). The Rabbis say: This is analogous to one who was walking on the road and he met someone and attached himself to him. To what extent? To the extent that he gave him his daughter [in marriage]. So, “favor” is stated here, and it is stated elsewhere: “I will pour a spirit of grace and supplication upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem” (Zechariah 12:10). To what extent? To the extent that he had the knowledge to ascertain which animal is fed in the second hour of the day and which is fed at the third hour of the night. ⁵Rabbi Simon said: We find that the Holy One blessed be He performs kindness for the descendants due to the merit of their progenitor. From where is it derived that the Holy One blessed be He performs [kindness] with the progenitor due to the merit of his descendants? “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord” – by what merit? It is due to the merit of his descendants.