"And He destroyed every living substance"

211. "And He destroyed every living substance which was upon the face of the ground" (Beresheet 7:23). Rabbi Aba said that THE VERSE INDICATES THAT the ministers who rule and govern upon the earth, NAMELY THE ANGELS WHO GOVERN THE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD, WERE also DESTROYED. This is the meaning of, "every living substance which was upon the face of the ground." For when the Holy One, blessed be He, executes His Judgment and punishes the people of the earth, He starts with the supernal ministers who rule them and, after they are destroyed, continues with the people who abided beneath the shelter of their wings. As it is written: "Hashem will punish the host of the heavens on high," and then, "the kings of the earth upon the earth" (Yeshayah 24:21).

212. But how were these ministers removed? A DIFFICULTY WAS RAISED CONCERNINGTHIS POINT. SINCE DEATH HAS NO CONTROL OVER THEM, HOW SHALL HE REMOVE THEM? AND HE REPLIES: "He drove them through burning fire," as it is written: "for Hashem your Elohim is a devouring fire, a zealous El" (Devarim 4:24). Thus, the 'living substance' of above, WHICH INCLUDES THE SUPERNAL MINISTERS, was driven through fire, while those who were governed by them AND RESIDED BELOW THEM, NAMELY PEOPLE, were erased by water. This is why THE VERSE BEGINS, "And He destroyed every living substance," and then continues, "man, cattle and creeping things, and the birds of the heaven; they were destroyed from the earth." The word "only" in, "Only Noah was left," signifies that nothing and nobody remained in the world - except Noah and whoever was with him in the ark. Rabbi Yosi said that THE WORD "ONLY" INDICATES THAT NOT EVEN NOAH'S BODY WAS SPARED, for he was smitten by a lion and became lame, as was previously explained.