And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, Ver. 1. _When men began to multiply._] Not good men only, but bad men too; who therefore took them more wives than one, that they might multiply amain. A numerous offspring is no sure sign o... [ Continue Reading ]
That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they [were] fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. Ver. 2. _That the sons of God saw the daughters._] Sons of God; such as had called themselves by his name, Gen 4:26 his peculiar professant people, called sons of Jehovah, Deu 14:1... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also [is] flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years._ Ver. 3. _My Spirit shall not always strive,_] that is, I'll consult no longer, but resolve to ruin them, as some gloss it; or, I'll pull the sword out of... [ Continue Reading ]
_There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare [children] to them, the same [became] mighty men which [were] of old, men of renown._ Ver. 4. _There were giants._] _Gigantes, quasi_ Gηγενεις, earth-sprung. The... [ Continue Reading ]
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually. Ver. 5. _The wickedness of man was great in the earth._] Which was now grown so foul, that God saw it but time to wash it with a flood; as he shall... [ Continue Reading ]
And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. Ver. 6. _And it repented the Lord, &c., and it grieved him._] These things are spoken of God ανθρωποπαθως, after the manner of men; but must be taken and understood θεοσπρεπως, as it beseemeth God. When rep... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. Ver. 7. _I will destroy man._] See here the venemous and mischievous nature of sin. It causeth God... [ Continue Reading ]
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. Ver. 8. _But Noah found grace._] Because in covenant with God; who of himself was a child of wrath, and saved by grace only, though "just and perfect in his generation." The mercy seat was no larger than the ark; to show that the grace of God extends no... [ Continue Reading ]
These [are] the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man [and] perfect in his generations, [and] Noah walked with God. Ver. 9. _Noah was a just man._] By a twofold justice: 1. imputed; 2. imparted. By the former he was justified; by the latter, sanctified: and note, that he found grace in God's eye... [ Continue Reading ]
And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ver. 10. _Shem, Ham, and Japheth._] _See Trapp on "_ Gen 5:32 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. Ver. 11. _The earth also was corrupt before God._] Or, rotten, putrid, and stank again. Sin is an offence to all God's senses; yea, to his very soul, as he complains in Isaiah 1:1,16. Oh that it were so to ours! then wou... [ Continue Reading ]
And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. Ver. 12. _All flesh had corrupted his way._] General defection precedes general destruction; as here all sorts and sexes were fallen from God. All kinds of sins were common among them. In... [ Continue Reading ]
And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Ver. 13. _The end of all flesh is come before me._] I will surely, and swiftly (_certissime citissimeque_) destroy them. A like threat... [ Continue Reading ]
Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. Ver. 14. _Make thee an ark._] Or chest, or coffin. And indeed by the description here set down, the ark, in shape, was like to a coffin for a man's body, six times so long as it was... [ Continue Reading ]
A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; [with] lower, second, and third [stories] shalt thou make it. Ver. 16. _A window shalt thou make._] The ark had little outward light; so the Church, till she b... [ Continue Reading ]
And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein [is] the breath of life, from under heaven; [and] every thing that [is] in the earth shall die. Ver. 17. _And behold I, even I._] _Verba stomachantis, &c., confirmantis veritatem comminationis suae_. Ab... [ Continue Reading ]
But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee. Ver. 18. _Thou and thy sons._] Yet Ham, soon after, degenerated: for the present he concealed his wickedness from men; from God he could not. He bears with... [ Continue Reading ]
Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every [sort] shall come unto thee, to keep [them] alive. Ver. 20. _Two of every sort shall come unto thee._] "For they are all thy servants," saith David; Psa 119:91 they wait upon... [ Continue Reading ]
And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather [it] to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them. Ver. 21. _Take thou unto thee of all food._] God could have kept them alive without either food or ark. But he will have us serve his providence, in use of lawful... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he. Ver. 22. _Thus did Noah, according to all, &c._] The wicked world could not flout him out of his faith; but that "moved with fear," Heb 11:7 he preacheth, and buildeth, and finisheth; every stroke upon the ark being a real sermon (a... [ Continue Reading ]