134. And he continued, quoting the verse: "And, behold I will (Myself) bring flood of waters" (Beresheet 6:17). HE ASKS: Why DOES THE VERSE SAY "Myself" after already saying "And I?" AND HE ANSWERS: The words "I" and "Myself" are the same. But, come and behold: wherever it is written "I," a body has been made for the soul. THIS MEANS THAT "I" IS THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE, WHICH IS AS A BODY FOR ZEIR ANPIN. CONVERSELY, ZEIR ANPIN IS CONSIDERED TO BE HER SOUL. And she certainly does receive from above, FROM ZEIR ANPIN. That is why THE WORD "I" is hinted in the sign of the covenant BY THE LETTER VAV (LIT. 'AND'), WHICH IS YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN. As it is written: "As for Me (lit. 'I'), behold, My covenant is with you" (Beresheet 17:4), FOR THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE RECEIVES FROM THE COVENANT OF ZEIR ANPIN. "I" means that I am ready to be revealed and am achievable; "I" means that it is a throne of what is above; "I" means that I am the one who shall seek revenge for generations upon generations. But the words "and (Heb. ve) I," APPEARING IN THIS PASSAGE, INCLUDE THE LETTER VAV, AND refer to the union of the Male and Female. THE VAV OF "AND I" REFERS TO THE MALE, WHO IS ZEIR ANPIN. Afterwards, THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE is mentioned alone, WITHOUT ZEIR ANPIN, at the time when she is ready to execute Judgment, as it is written: "Myself, will bring the flood of waters upon the land."

135. HE ASKS: if it has been already stated, "will bring the flood," do we not understand that He refers to water? IF SO, WHY IS IT THEN NECESSARY TO MENTION "FLOOD OF WATERS?" AND HE ANSWERS: Flood implies the presence of the Angel of Death, even though it was only water. The Angel of Destruction went in the world to destroy it with these waters.

136. HE CONTINUED BY SAYING: We have learned that the words, "I am Hashem," show that 'I am faithful to the recompense of the righteous and the punishment of the wicked.' So, here, in this verse, "I" means to promise to reward and repay the righteous well in the World to Come. Likewise, it describes the threat to the wicked, who will be punished in the World to Come, by the term "I."

137. As we previously explained, the words "To destroy all flesh" (Beresheet 6:17) refer to the Angel of Destruction. This is why it is also written: "And He will not allow the Angel of Destruction to come into your house to smite you" (Shemot 12:23). THIS MEANS THAT HE DOES NOT GIVE HIM PERMISSION TO DESTROY. To "destroy all flesh" is from THE ANGEL OF DESTRUCTION, WHICH IS HINTED IN THE VERSE, "The End of all Flesh is come before Me," MEANING THAT HE CAME BEFORE HIM TO ASK PERMISSION TO DESTROY. The time the Holy One, blessed be He, had waited for them to repent had passed. That is, Noah had reached 600 years of age, AND IT WAS POSSIBLE TO REWARD HIM, TO UPHOLD THE REWARDING OF THE RIGHTEOUS. THE TIME HAD ALSO ARRIVED FOR THE PUNISHMENT OF THE WICKED. THAT IS WHY HE GAVE PERMISSION TO THE ANGEL OF DESTRUCTION "to destroy all flesh." He said: This is what we learned in the name of Rabbi Yitzchak, who told us all this.