Diez generaciones desde Adán hasta Noaj. Para informarnos cuán sufrido es. Por todas estas generaciones siguieron enojándolo—hasta que trajo sobre ellos las aguas del diluvio. [Usted tampoco se sorprende de que haya sufrido mucho con los idólatras durante todos estos años, de que hayan estado sometiendo a Sus hijos, porque lo fue aún más con los idólatras de las (diez) generaciones desde Adán hasta Noaj—hasta que fueron destruidos en el diluvio.] Diez generaciones desde Noaj hasta Abraham. Para informarnos cuán sufrido es. Por todas estas generaciones siguieron enojándolo—hasta que Abraham vino y tomó sobre sí la recompensa de todos. [Hizo buenas acciones correspondientes a lo que todos deberían haber hecho—por lo que todos fueron rescatados por su mérito. Y así como tomó sobre sí el yugo de mitzvoth en este mundo sobre y contra todos ellos, también recibió para que el mundo viniera recompensa sobre y contra todos ellos. Por cada hombre tiene dos acciones, una en Gan Eden; el otro, en Gehinnom. Si es meritorio, toma su parte y la de su vecino (el malhechor) en Gan Eden. Si es culpable, toma su parte y la de su vecino (el tzadik) en Gehinnom.]
Kli Yakar
Another interpretation of “Remember the days of old” follows the approach of our Sages of blessed memory (Avot 5:1): “The world was created with 10 utterances. What does this teach us? Could it not have been created with a single utterance? Rather, it is to exact punishment from the wicked who destroy the world that was created with 10 utterances.” This means we say to the wicked person: “See how evil you are, for you are destroying something great, as it was created with 10 utterances.” Similarly, regarding the six days of creation — for the same reason — God could have created it in a single moment, but this teaches the wicked person that through his sin he destroys something great that was created in six days and with 10 utterances. The Holy One, blessed be He, established foundations for the world in the Written Torah, which is encompassed in the Ten Commandments, and in the Oral Torah, which is encompassed in the six Orders, indicating that the world’s existence depends on them. Therefore, He said, Remember the days of old — that the world was created in six days — and guard yourself from destroying this great thing. Similarly, consider the years of generation after generation — these are the 10 generations from Adam to Noah, and from Noah to Abraham, as it is said: Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and his punishment is delayed (Ecclesiastes 8:12). You might think that since the Holy One, blessed be He, is slow to anger and does not collect His due immediately, there is no justice and no Judge, and therefore your heart may be filled to do evil. But you would be trusting in falsehood. Learn understanding from those generations who provoked Him, blessed be He, until He brought the flood upon them, and until Abraham came and received the reward of all of them. As it concludes in Pirkei Avot, after mentioning “with 10 utterances,” it immediately mentions the matter of these 10 generations to make known how patient He is, blessed be He. Likewise, you should not rely on such vain consolations. Just as these concepts are connected in this verse, so too did the Tanna connect them in Pirkei Avot, for both provide moral instruction to sinners as stated.