Dix générations d'Adam jusqu'à Noach. Pour nous dire combien il souffre. Pendant toutes ces générations, ils ont continué à le mettre en colère—jusqu'à ce qu'il fasse venir sur eux les eaux du déluge. [Vous aussi, ne vous étonnez pas qu'il a longtemps souffert envers les idolâtres toutes ces années qu'ils ont subjugué ses enfants, car il l'était encore plus aux idolâtres des (dix) générations d'Adam jusqu'à Noach.—jusqu'à ce qu'ils aient été détruits dans le déluge.] Dix générations de Noach jusqu'à Abraham. Pour nous dire combien il souffre. Pendant toutes ces générations, ils ont continué à le mettre en colère—jusqu'à ce qu'Abraham vienne et prenne sur lui la récompense de tous. [Il a fait de bonnes actions correspondant à ce que tous auraient dû faire—c'est pourquoi ils furent tous sauvés dans son mérite. Et tout comme il a pris sur lui le joug des mitsvoth dans ce monde au-dessus et contre eux tous, de même il a reçu pour que le monde vienne une récompense sur et contre eux tous. Car chaque homme a deux parts, une dans Gan Eden; l'autre, à Gehinnom. S'il est méritoire, il prend sa part et celle de son voisin (le malfaiteur) dans Gan Eden. S'il est coupable, il prend sa part et celle de son voisin (le tsadik) à 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.