_ BC 4004_ IN THE BEGINNING, to wit, of time and things, in the first place, before things were distinguished and perfected in manner hereafter expressed. Or the sense is this, The beginning of the world was thus. And this phrase further informeth us, that the world, and all things in it, had a beg... [ Continue Reading ]
The same confused mass or heap is here called both EARTH, from its most solid and substantial part; and the DEEP, from its vast bulk and depth; and WATERS, from its outward face and covering. See PSALMS 104:6 2 PETER 3:5. WITHOUT FORM AND VOID; without order and beauty, and without furniture and... [ Continue Reading ]
HE COMMANDED, not by such a word or speech as we use, which agreeth not with the spiritual nature of God; but either by an act of his powerful will, called the word of his power, HEBREWS 1:3 or, by his substantial Word, his Son, by whom he made the worlds, HEBREWS 1:2 PSALMS 33:6, who is called: The... [ Continue Reading ]
He observed with approbation that it was pleasant and amiable, agreeable to God's purpose and man's use; and made a distinction or separation between them in place, time, and use, that the one should succeed and shut out the other, and so by their vicissitudes make the day and the night.... [ Continue Reading ]
It is acknowledged by all, that the EVENING AND THE MORNING are not here to be understood according to our common usage, but are put by a synecdoche each of them for one whole part of the natural day. But because it may be doubted which part each of them signifies, some understand by EVENING, the... [ Continue Reading ]
A FIRMAMENT; or, _an extension, _ or _a space_ or _place extended_ or _stretched out, _ and spread abroad like a tent or curtain, between the waters, though not exactly in the middle place; as _Tyrus_ is said to _sit, _ or be situated _in the midst of the seas_, EZEKIEL 28:2, though it was but a lit... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FIRMAMENT here is either, 1. The starry heaven; so called, not from its solidity, but from its fixed, durable, and, in a sort, incorruptible and unchangeable nature. Or, 2. The air; called here, the EXPANSION, or EXTENSION, because it is extended far and wide, even from the earth to the third... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WATERS UNDER THE HEAVEN; both the great abyss, or deep of water which is shut up in the bowels of the earth, GENESIS 7:11 PSALMS 24:2 PSALMS 33:7 PSALMS 136:6; as also the sea and rivers, all which are here said to be gathered together into ONE PLACE, because of their communication and mixture o... [ Continue Reading ]
He called them not _sea_, but SEAS; because of the differing quantity and nature both of several seas, and of the rivers, and other lesser collections of waters, all which the Hebrews call SEAS. The separation of the waters was begun on the second day, GENESIS 1:6, &c., but not perfected till this t... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THE EARTH BRING FORTH; the sense is: For the present let it afford matter, out of which I will make grass (as man's rib afforded matter, out of which God made woman); and for the future let it receive virtue or power of producing it out of that matter which I have made, and suited to that end. G... [ Continue Reading ]
This clause is so often added, to show that all the disorders, evil and hurtful qualities, that now are in the creatures, are not to be imputed to God, who made all of them good; but to man's sin, which hath corrupted their nature, and perverted their use.... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THERE BE LIGHTS; to wit, more glorious lights than that created the first day, which probably was now condensed and reduced into these lights; which are higher for place, more illustrious for light, and more powerful for influence, than that was. Note here, that herbs and trees were created befo... [ Continue Reading ]
TWO GREAT LIGHTS, or, _enlighteners, _ as the word properly signifies. The sun, which is really and considerably greater than the moon, or any of the stars, or the whole earth. And the moon, called here THE LESSER LIGHT, is greater than any of the stars, not really, but in appearance, and in clearne... [ Continue Reading ]
This clause was omitted in the first day's work, but is added here, because the light was then but glimmering and imperfect, which now was made more clear and complete.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MOVING CREATURE, or, _creeping thing._ A word which belongs to all those living creatures who move with their bellies close to the element they move in. Hence it is used both of birds which fly in the air, LEVITICUS 11:20, and of things creeping upon the earth, as GENESIS 1:24, and of fishes tha... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD CREATED, i.e. produced out of most unfit matter, as if a man should out of a stone make bread, which requires as great a power as that which is properly called creation. GREAT WHALES; those vast sea monsters known by that name, though elsewhere this word be applied to great dragons of the earth.... [ Continue Reading ]
He gave them power of procreation and fruitfulness, which is justly mentioned as a great blessing, PSALMS 128:3. FILL THE WATERS IN THE SEAS; and consequently in the rivers, which come from the sea, and return into it. LET FOWL MULTIPLY IN THE EARTH, where they shall commonly have their habitation... [ Continue Reading ]
1. Those living creatures hereafter mentioned, whose original is from the earth, and whose habitation is in it. 2. Those tame beasts which are most familiar with and useful to men for food, clothing, or other service. 3. CREEPING THING; to wit, of the earth, of a differing kind from those creeping... [ Continue Reading ]
God had now prepared all things necessary for man's use and comfort. The plurals US and OUR afford an evident proof of a plurality of persons in the Godhead. It is plain from many other texts, as well as from the nature and reason of the thing, that God alone is man's Creator: the angels rejoiced at... [ Continue Reading ]
Not both together, as some of the Jews have fabled, but successively, the woman after and out of the man, as is more particularly related, GENESIS 2:21, &c., which is here mentioned by anticipation. Albeit the woman also seems to have been made upon the sixth day, as is here related, and as the foll... [ Continue Reading ]
Having blessed them with excellent natures, and heavenly gifts and graces, he further _blesseth them_ with a special and temporal blessing expressed in the following words. REPLENISH THE EARTH, with inhabitants to be begotten by you. QUESTION. Whether this be a command obliging all men to marriage a... [ Continue Reading ]
It is neither affirmed nor denied that flesh also was granted to the first men for food, and therefore we may safely be ignorant of it. It is sufficient for us that it was expressly allowed, GENESIS 9:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
No notes from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
No notes from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]