ד' למבול ישב וישב ד' מלך לעולם – Hashem la’mabul yashav, va’yeishev Hashem Melech l’olam. Hashem sat (enthroned) at the flood. Hashem sits (enthroned) as King forever.
Hashem originally planned the flood in order to end the world. Hashem decided to spare the world but, instead, destroy most of its corrupt population. A beautiful Midrash (Vaykira Rabbah 23) addresses this last-minute reprieve. Chazal liken it to a king who planted a splendid orchard with all kinds of fruits in individual rows. It was a sight to behold! He entrusted the care of the orchard to a sharecropper, who let it fall into ruin. A short while later, when the king returned to inspect the orchard, he was upset that it was ruined. He commanded his men to take axes and cut down all the trees. As he was about to give the order, he noticed one small fragrant rose, which he smelled. He was enchanted by its fragrance, “Because of this rose, I will spare the fate of this orchard.” Likewise, the world had plunged to the nadir of moral and spiritual depravity. As Hashem was about to destroy it all, he noticed one beautiful rose – Klal Yisrael, who, when they proclaimed (at Har Sinai) Naase V’Nishma; “We will do, and we will listen,” His feelings for them inspired Him to rescind the decree. The usurpers would receive their due, but the world would survive – all in the merit of the Jewish people, the rose among thorns.
