RAV KOOK ON Noah Part 3: Balancing the Universe

The Torah’s revelation at Mount Sinai was such a momentous, electrifying event, its repercussions could be heard around the world: “When the Torah was given to Israel, the sound reverberated from one end of the world to the other. In their palaces, the kings of all the nations were seized with fear. They gathered around the wicked prophet Balaam and asked, ‘What is this tremendous sound that we hear? Perhaps a flood is coming to the world!’ Balaam replied, ‘No, God has already sworn not to bring another flood.’ 'Maybe not a deluge of water, but destruction by fire?’ 'No, He already promised never to destroy all flesh.’ 'Then what is this tremendous sound that we hear?’ 'God has a precious gift [the Torah] safeguarded in His treasury... which He now wishes to bestow to His children.'” (Zevachim 116b) How can the Midrash compare that extreme act of mass destruction — the Great Flood — to the most significant event in the history of humanity, the Revelation of the Torah? Why did the majestic sounds from Mount Sinai bring back fearful memories of the Flood?