Noah--the greatest of all time, or just for a day?

(9) This is the line of Noah.—Noah was a righteous man; he was blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God.—

(9) “In his generations” – Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda said: [Only] in his generations he was considered righteous, but had he been in Moses’ generation or in Samuel’s generation, he would not have been considered righteous. In a marketplace of completely blind people, they call those who are blind in one eye, ‘the one of abundant light.’ This is analogous to one who had a wine cellar. He opened one barrel and found that it was [spoiled and turned to] vinegar. A second was the same; a third, he found it turning sour. They said to him, ‘[Do not drink it;] it is turning sour.’ He said to them, ‘Is there any better than it?’ They said to him, ‘No.’ So too, in his generation he was considered righteous, but had he been in Moses’ generation or in Samuel’s generation, he would not have been considered righteous. Rabbi Neḥemya said: If in his generation he was righteous; had he been in Moses’s generation or in Samuel’s generation all the more so. This is analogous to a bowl of balsam oil that was sealed with a tight-fitting lid. It was situated in a graveyard and its fragrance wafted through the air. Had it been outside the graveyard, how much more so! This is analogous to a virgin who was in a marketplace full of immoral women and she did not get a bad reputation; had she been in a marketplace of upright women, all the more so! So too, had he been in Moses’ generation or in Samuel’s generation all the more so.

(10) “Noah walked with God.” Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda said: This is analogous to a prince who had two sons, one older and one younger. He said to the younger, ‘Walk with me,’ and he said to the elder, ‘Come and walk before me.’ So too, of Abraham, whose strength was great, [God said,] “Walk before Me and be faultless” (Genesis 17:1). But Noah, whose strength was lesser, “Noah walked with God.” Rabbi Neḥemya said: This is analogous to a friend of the king who was sinking in thick mud. The king looked and saw him. He said to him: ‘Rather than sink in the mud, walk along with me.’ That is what is written: “Noah walked with God.” To what is Abraham comparable? To a friend of the king who saw the king walking in dark alleys. His friend peered and began illuminating for him through the window. The king peered and saw him. He said to him: ‘Rather than illuminating for me through the window, come and illuminate before me.’ So too, the Holy One blessed be He said to Abraham: ‘Rather than illuminating for Me from Mesopotamia and its environs, come and illuminate before Me in the Land of Israel!’ That is what is written: “He blessed Joseph, and said: The God before whom my fathers, [Abraham and Isaac], walked…” (Genesis 48:15). Rabbi Yoḥanan and Reish Lakish, Rabbi Yoḥanan said: It is analogous to a shepherd who is standing and looking at his flock. Reish Lakish said: It is analogous to a prince who is walking with the elders going before him. According to the opinion of Rabbi Yoḥanan, we are in need of His glory. According to the opinion of Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, He is in need of our glory.