TT #13 · Parashas Noach · First Aliyah · Passuk 6:17
And I, behold I am bringing the Flood of water upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which there is the breath of life from under the heavens; everything that is on the earth shall perish.
Torah Temimah points to the baraita on the generation’s arrogance (Sanhedrin 108a / parallel midrash).
E-Daf image — Sanhedrin 108a (size=3)
Shas / HebrewBooks PDF of the daf
English: “And I, behold I am bringing the Flood of water” — The Sages taught: The generation of the Flood grew arrogant only because of the goodness that the Holy One, blessed be He, had lavished upon them. They would say: “Do we need Him for anything more than a drop of rain? We have rivers and springs from which we supply ourselves.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said: With the very goodness that I bestowed upon them they provoke Me, and with it I will judge them.
Custom (measure-for-measure reading of the instrument of punishment).
The generation’s arrogance over their abundant water sources led to their being judged by water; the Flood is the fitting response to their claim of independence from Heaven.