What did HaSh-m mean by "ha'Behemah ha'Tehorah"?
Rashi, Hadar Zekenim: These are the animals that would be declared Tahor at Har Sinai - a proof that Noach learned Torah. 1
Ramban (Bereishis 6:20): HaSh-m taught him which animals were Tahor. 2
From whom did he learn it? Chazal say that Avraham Avinu's kidneys became (spiritual) fountains. But it is difficult to say the same about Noach.
He also points out (as does the Seforno) that, whereas he was permitted to sacrifice all Tahor species of animals and birds, Yisrael would later be restricted to sheep and cattle, turtle-doves and young pigeons.
What does the Torah mean when it writes with regard to the Tahor animals, "Shiv'ah Shiv'ah"?
Why did so many Tahor animals need to be saved?
Rashi: In order to bring Korbanos after leaving the Ark, as the Torah records later (Bereishis 8:20).
Seeing as the Tamei animals came to the Ark by themselves, why did HaSh-m instruct Noach to fetch the Tahor ones?
Ramban (to 7:8): Since the extra six pairs were for Korbanos, Noach should toil for the Mitzvah. 1
Regarding animals, it says, "Ish v'Ishto." Regarding birds, why does it say "Zachar u'Nekevah"?
Moshav Zekenim: Animals crossbred, so it needed to say "Ish v'Ishto" to exclude such animals. This was not needed for birds, which did not crossbreed.
Riva: Animals are born alive, like people, but birds lay eggs.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "The Kosher (Tehorah) species... we deduce that Noach studied Torah," and thus he knew which species would be Kosher for Bnei Yisrael in the future. Yet perhaps Noach did not know, and the Teivah itself admitted seven pairs of Kosher animals, but no more than one pair of the others?
Gur Aryeh #1: Only animals that had corrupted their ways were denied entry by the Teivah, as they were unfit to enter (Refer to 6:20:2.1:1). But animals that were innocent would not have been denied entry simply because another pair had preceded them.
Gur Aryeh #2: The Gemara (Zevachim 116a) in fact says that Noach brought in any animals that the Teivah admitted. 1 Rashi bases himself on the wording of HaSh-m's instructions, "Kosher (Tehorah) species;" this word would have been meaningless to Noach unless he had studied Torah.
Gur Aryeh: According to the Gemara, the Teivah would not admit more than one pair; alternatively, no more than one pair of animals that had not corrupted their ways existed in the world .
Rashi writes: "We deduce that Noach studied Torah." However, the Gemara (Zevachim 116a) states that Noach brought in any animals that the Teivah admitted, and it allowed seven pairs only from Kosher species. This appears to be at odds with our Rashi, who writes that Noach recognized the Kosher species from his own learning.
Gur Aryeh: There must have been species that Noach was unfamiliar with, and he had to rely on the Teivah to determine whether they were Kosher.
Rashi writes: "We deduce that Noach studied Torah." How was he permitted to do so; a Gentile who studies Torah is liable to Misah (Sanhedrin 59a)?
Gur Aryeh: This law would only apply after the Torah was given to Am Yisrael at Har Sinai; when it became their "betrothed" ("Me'orasah" - ibid).
Rashi writes: "'Seven and seven' - in order to offer sacrifices from [those species] upon leaving [the Teivah]." Why specifically seven?
Riva: HaSh-m limited the number to seven, corresponding to the seven Mizbechos that the Avos would build. 1
Gur Aryeh #1: After Noach brought sacrifices following the Mabul, HaSh-m promised never to disrupt the six seasons of the year (seed, harvest, cold, heat, summer, winter) (Bereishis 8:21-22). Six pairs of each animal were offered to atone for the six seasons (two animals for each two-month season), and the seventh pair remained to preserve and regenerate the species.
Gur Aryeh #2: Once the Kosher species needed more than two animals (one pair), seven was chosen; it is the next number that represents a significant whole, or constant cycle (e.g. seven days of Shabbos, seven years of Shemitah).
(However, Noach offered only six, for one pair was to perpetuate the species!) Moshav Zekenim says that he offered only the extra males.
