Abraham, the sages were convinced, was a greater religious hero than Noah.

We hear this in the famous dispute among the sages about the phrase that Noah was perfect in his generations, meaning relative to his generations.

In his generations, some of our sages, quotes Rashi interpreted this favorably. If he'd lived in a

generation of righteous people, he would have been even more righteous. Others interpret it derogatoryly.

In comparison with the people of his generation, he was righteous. But had he lived in Abraham's

generation, he would have been considered of no

importance at all. Some thought that if Noah had lived in the time of Abraham, he would have been

inspired by his example to yet greater heights, others that he would have stayed the same and

therefore been insignificant when compared with Abraham, but neither side

doubted that Abraham was the greater religious figure.

Similarly, the sages contrasted the phrase, Etaelokim Hitelech, Noah walked with God,

with the fact that Abraham walked before God.

Here's how Rashi puts it. Noah walked with God, but concerning Abraham walked before God. Here's how Rush he puts it.

Noah walked with God, but concerning Abraham, the scripture says,

the Lord before whom I walked.

Noah required God's support to uphold him,

but Abraham strengthened himself and walked in his righteousness by himself. Yet what evidence do we have in the text itself,

that Abraham is greater than Noah? To be sure, Abraham argued with God in protest against the

destructions of the cities of the plain, while Noah merely accepted God's verdict in the case of the flood.

Yet the truth is that God invited Abraham's protest. Immediately beforehand the text says,

God said, shall I hide from Abraham that which I'm about to do? Abraham will surely become

a great and powerful nation and all nations on the earth will be

...