Why does the Torah see fit to tell us here that the six seasons (each lasting two months, as Rashi explains) will never cease to function?
Rashi: To teach us that throughout of the Flood, the Mazalos did not function, and one could not distinguish between day and night. 1
Seforno: Before the Flood, there were no seasons. The sun perpetually followed the same route and it was always spring. 2 It was as a result of the sins of that generation that the world had to suffer the inconvenience of seasons that are constantly changing. 3
Riva: However, there was light, as the verse says "the tops of the mountains were seen" (8:5). Refer to 8:22:1.4:1.
Eventually, when the sins of that generation have been rectified, the sun will revert to its original state and we will once again enjoy stable unchanging spring weather.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "Six time-periods." There appear to be eight time periods in the verse, including "day and night"?
Gur Aryeh: "Day and night" are not included in the count, because they coincide with each of the six seasons mentioned.
Rashi writes: "Six [seasons]." Perhaps "planting and harvest" are not distinct seasons, but rather activities that a person can perform at whatever time he chooses?
Gur Aryeh: The ending of the verse, "they shall not cease," indicates that our verse lists events under HaSh-m's control, not activities dependent on man's will. Rather, the verse means, "the season of planting," and "the season of harvest."
Rashi writes: "Half of Kislev, Teves, and half of Shevat is the season of 'cold.'" According to this text, the season of "cold" is not parallel to the season of "heat." What is the correct Girsa in Rashi?
Gur Aryeh: The text of Rashi should state: Half of Kislev, Teves, and half of Shevat - Choref (winter 1 ); half of Shevat, Adar and half of Nisan - Cold. The coldest part of the winter is at its conclusion, just as the hottest part of summer is at its conclusion.
The literal meaning of Choref is, "the season of planting fast-growing crops," such as barley and legumes (Rashi).
Rashi writes: "During the Flood... day and night were indistinguishable." Earlier (Rashi to 6:16), however, Rashi wrote that according to one opinion, the window of the Ark was made in order to let in light. If so, there must have been daytime?
Gur Aryeh: There was light during the Flood, but it did not come at consistent intervals.
Rashi writes: "... day and night were indistinguishable." However, the verse (8:10) says that Noach waited seven days; how could Noach have measured the passage of time?
Gur Aryeh: According to the Midrash, the precious stones on the Ark 1 provided more illumination by day, and were more dim by night.
Refer to 6:16:1:2; refer to 6:16:1.2:1.
Rashi writes: "Will not cease - from functioning in their proper times." What is Rashi clarifying?
Gur Aryeh: Certainly the day itself ceases and turns to night, and night turns to day. Rather, the proper order of day and night will not cease.
