And God remembered Noah and every living thing — This is an expression after the manner of men, for not any of his creatures, much less any of his people are forgotten of God. But the whole race of mankind, except Noah and his family, was now extinguished, and gone into the land of forgetfulness, so... [ Continue Reading ]
The waters returned from off the earth continually — Heb. they were going and returning; a gradual departure. The heat of the sun exhaled much, and perhaps the subterraneous caverns soaked in more.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the ark rested — upon the mountains of Ararat — Or, Armenia, whether it was directed, not by Noah's prudence, but the wise providence of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
The tops of the mountains were seen — Like little islands appearing above water. They felt ground above forty days before they saw it, according to Dr. Lightfoots's computation, whence he infers that if the waters decreased proportionably, the ark drew eleven cubits in water.... [ Continue Reading ]
Noah sent forth a raven through the window of the ark, which went forth, as the Hebrew phrase is, going forth and returning, that is, flying about, but returning to the ark for rest; probably not in it, but upon it. This gave Noah little satisfaction: therefore,... [ Continue Reading ]
He sent forth a dove — Which returned the first time with no good news, but probably wet and dirty; but the second time she brought an olive leaf in her bill, which appeared to be fresh plucked off; a plain indication that now the trees began to appear above water. Note here, that Noah set forth the... [ Continue Reading ]
Noah removed the covering of the ark — Not the whole covering, but so much as would suffice to give him a prospect of the earth about it: and behold the face of the ground was dry.... [ Continue Reading ]
The earth was dried — So as to be a fit habitation for Noah.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Noah builded an altar — Hitherto he had done nothing without particular instructions and commands from God but altars and sacrifices being already of Divine institution, he did not stay for a particular command thus to express his thankfulness. And he offered on the altar, of every clean beast a... [ Continue Reading ]
And God smelled a sweet savour — Or a savour of rest from it, as it is in the Hebrew. He was well pleased with Noah's pious zeal, and these hopeful beginnings of the new world, as men are with fragrant and agreeable smells. I will not again curse the ground, Heb. I will not add to curse the ground a... [ Continue Reading ]