MAKE YOURSELF AN ARK — There are numerous ways by which God could have saved Noah; why, then, did God burden him with this building of the ark? So that the people of the generation of the flood would see him working on it for 120 years and would ask him, “What do you need this for”? And so that Noah would answer them, “The Holy Blessed One is about to bring a flood upon the world” — and perhaps they might repent.

WITH PITCH — ...Because of the rough waters he had to cover it with pitch inside as well as outside.

GOPHER WOOD- This is a type of wood that floats well on water.

COMPARTMENTS- So that each pair of animals, male and female, could have their own space.

THIS IS HOW YOU SHALL MAKE IT-

The reason for this measurement is that it's height is one-tenth of the length so that the ark would float on the water and not get flipped by the wind.

THE LENGTH OF THE ARK SHALL BE THREE HUNDRED CUBITS- The Torah specifies for us measure of its length, width and height...to show us the greatness of the miracle, that a small space was able to hold so much, because there were large creatures there such as elephants and wild oxen.

AND TERMINATE IT WITHIN A CUBIT OF THE TOP — Its covering (roof) slanted upwards so that it narrowed at the top to a cubit, in order that the water should run off on both sides.

PUT THE ENTRANCE TO THE ARK IN ITS SIDE — in order that the rain might not penetrate.

WITH BOTTOM, SECOND AND THIRD DECKS — Three stories one above the other: the top rooms for the human beings, the middle ones as cabins for the animals, and the bottom was for garbage.