Midrash su Amos 2:6

Another interpretation (of Gen. 6:9): THESE ARE THE GENERATIONS OF NOAH; NOAH WAS A RIGHTEOUS MAN.¹⁸Cf. Tanh. Gen. 2:5. Why is he given the name RIGHTEOUS? Inasmuch as he fed the creatures of the Holy One, he became like his Creator. Thus it is stated (in Ps. 11:7): FOR THE LORD IS RIGHTEOUS; HE LOVES RIGHTEOUS DEEDS. So also Joseph. Inasmuch as he fed the creatures for seven years, he was called righteous, as stated (in Amos 2:6): BECAUSE THEY SELL A RIGHTEOUS < ONE > (i.e., Joseph) FOR SILVER. {Thus, because he fed the creatures for seven years, he was therefore called righteous.}

These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man … Noah walked with God (Gen. 6:9). Why is Noah’s name repeated three times in this single verse? Because he was one of the three men privileged to experience three changes that occurred in the world. The three were Noah, Daniel, and Job. Noah saw the world inhabited, he witnessed its destruction, and finally he beheld it reinhabited. Daniel saw the first Temple intact, he beheld its destruction, and then he witnessed the erection of the second Temple. Job saw his household established, he beheld its destruction, and he finally witnessed its reestablishment. Noah was a righteous man. Noah was called righteous because he fed the creatures of the Holy One, blessed be He. Two men were called righteous because they fed the creatures of the Holy One, blessed be He. They were Noah and Joseph. It is written concerning Joseph: Because they sell the righteous for silver (Amos 2:6), and of Joseph it is also said: And Joseph fed (Gen. 47:12).

We are taught in a Baraitha: R. Jose b. R. Juda said: "When a man sins the first time he is pardoned; the second time, he is pardoned; the third time, he is pardoned, as it is said (Amos 2, 6): Thus hath said the Lord: 'For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, will I not turn away their punishment.' And it is said (Job 33, 29) Lo, all those things doth God two or three times with man." What need for the second passage? From the first we might think that only a congregation is referred to, but not an individual. Come, listen: Lo, all these things doth God two or three times with man.