More Discussions for this daf
1. b'Dorosav 2. Earth at the Time of the Flood 3. Cham Lakah b'Oro
4. Shem and Eliezer Discussions
DAF DISCUSSIONS - SANHEDRIN 108

Vaidas asked:

In Sanhedrin 108b we find, "And it came to pass, after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth. What was the nature of these seven days... After the seven days during which the Holy One, blessed be He, reversed the order of nature, the sun rising in the west and setting in the east."

What does it mean? Sun rising in west, earth was inverted?

Thanks!

Vaidas, Anyksciai, Lithuania

The Kollel replies:

It seems to mean that Hash-m reversed the course of nature, symbolizing that the world was on a path to be destroyed.

Regarding the symbolism, the Chidushei ha'Ge'onim says that the Hash-m made the sun go from east to west to symbolize that it is bowing down before the King of the Universe; the Divine Presence is deemed to be in the west as it was in the Beis Hamikdash. Since Hash-m was destroying the world, He wanted to show that He was in mourning for the upcoming fate of the world. Accordingly, He did not have the sun bow down before him for these seven days.

All the best,

Yaakov Montrose