12th century
Rabbi Yoseph Bechor Shor (sometimes called Ri M’Orleans) lived in 12th century France, was one of the Tosafot, and was a noted poet. He was a talmid of Rabbeinu Tam. His noted commentary focuses on peshat, though includes some midrash, and he often adds psychological perspective and investigates the motives behind certain actions and characters. He also used facts about science and nature to help his explanations.
Bereishit
Bereishit 1:3
The world was created in a similar way to building a home: one first gathers the building materials, then positions to them, and only then gets the movable materials.
Bereishit
Bereishit 2:2
On the seventh day it became clear that Hashem was done on the sixth day. Similar to a tree planted to be part of a wall, the wall is complete once the tree grows, even though no further action has been done for a while.
Bereishit
Bereishit 2:7
The air breathed into Adam is what gives people knowledge, speech, and understanding (more than animals), and it is also what will testify against us when we give our final judgement.
Bereishit
Bereishit 3:6
Adam and Chava left the garden similar to the way a thief will try to leave the scene of their crime.
Bereishit
Bereishit 3:22
Why weren't they told not to eat from the Etz Hachaim? It's a medicine. If old/sick/weak, eat it and heal (like the snake Moshe made). Only after getting sick from the Etz Hada'at are they warned about the Etz Hachaim, to not eat from it after their sin.
Noach
Noach 6:13
Why did the animals get destroyed too? The whole world was made for humans. If the humans are getting destroyed the animals have no need to exist.
Noach
Noach 7:9
To perpetuate each species, 7 males were not needed (one male is enough). From the fact that Hashem told him to take 7 males Noach understood that they were meant to bring a korban (which is why the pasuk says he brought them as an olah, which are always male, as found in Vayikra 1:3).
Noach
Noach 7:16
Noach didn't close the door to the teiva, as he wasn't sure when the last species had arrived. That is why Hashem had to close it for him.
Noach
Noach 9:13
The rainbow is a sign for people to not be afraid. It represents Hashem's shechina (like in Yechezkel 1:28). Hashem would not bother showing them His shechina if He were going to destroy them.
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