The Book of Steps

...the prophet declares, saying: I sought in my people a man who would build a hedge and stand in the breach before Me for the earth, so that I should not destroy it, and I did not find one original: "Ezech. xxii, 30".

5. As he showed before, this happened in the generations of the righteous of old. For ten generations the house of Adam were preserved until the days of Mathusalem; and at the time he died, the flood happened and the world was swept away, and it was corrupted by anger. And Noe was saved from the waters of the flood, so that through him the second world might be renewed. And in the days of Noe, the quiet man, ten generations were guarded from the flood and onward. And when the time was completed and he died, Abraham turned from Ur of the Chaldeans; and the Most High, showing mercy to the Canaanites, displayed His compassion toward the multitude, because until they had completed their wickedness, He did not desire to destroy them, but He brought the seed of Abraham into Egypt, and imposed servitude upon his beloved son, so that the iniquities of the Amorites might be completed, and that the hand of God might not be seen among the oppressors. And when He brought them out with His great power, He showed them His signs. In the wilderness He nourished them with the food of His holy ones, and satisfied them with the bread of angels; and He turned the center of the wilderness, all of it, without water.

...the prophet declares saying: I sought in my people a man who would hedge the hedge and stand in the breach before Me from the earth, so that I would not destroy it, and I did not find one.

4. As he previously showed, this came in the generations of the first righteous ones. For twenty generations the house of Adam was pure: in the days of Mathusalem; and in that time when he died, the flood happened and the world swept away; and it was corrupted by anger. And Noe was saved from the waters of the flood; so that from him the second world might be renewed. And in the days of Noe, the quiet man, ten generations were guarded from the flood and onward. And when the time was completed and he died, Abraham turned from Ur of the Chaldeans; and the Most High, who loves the Canaanites, showed His mercy upon the multitude, that until they had completed the wickedness, He did not wish to destroy them, but the seed of Abraham He brought into Egypt, and to his son He gave the labor of the master of those who hate him, so that the sinners of the Amorites might be completed, and in such a way that the hand of God would not appear among the oppressors. And when He brought them out with His great power, He showed them His signs. In the wilderness He fed them with the food of His holy ones, and He satisfied them with the bread of angels; and He located the center of the wilderness, all of it, without water.