Genesis 8:15-19

3. The Disembarkation (Genesis 8:15-19).

15 And God spake unto Noah, saying, 16 Go forth from the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons-' wives with thee. 17 Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee of all flesh, both birds, and cattle, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth. 18 And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons-' wives with him: 19 every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, whatsoever moveth upon the earth, after their families, went forth out of the ark.

(1) Note that Noah obeyed God in every detail. M. Henry (CWB, 21): Noah did not stir until God bade him. Those only go under God's protection that follow God's direction and submit to his government. God had said to Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the Ark (Genesis 7:1); once the occupants were all inside the Ark, God closed the door (Genesis 7:16); and now that the Flood had abated and the earth was again ready for re-population, God spake unto Noah and his house, Go forth from the ark (Genesis 8:16). Always it was God who directed, and always Noah obeyed. Again, Henry (CWB, 21): Note, God consults our benefit rather than our desires. We would go out of the ark before the ground is dried: and perhaps, if the door be shut, are ready to remove the covering. God's time of showing mercy is certainly the best time, when the mercy is ripe for us and we are ready for it.

(2) Note some interesting facts about Noah's family:

(1) The name of Noah's wife is not given, nor are the names of the wives of Noah's sons. Though no mention is made of the fact specifically, it seems obvious that their loyalty to their husbands and to God was evidenced by their obedience. By way of contrast, the names of the women in the Line of Cain are given, and they are names which indicate sheer worldliness and irreligiousness (cf. Genesis 4:16-24).

(2) The sons of Noah were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The etymology of these names is not certain but they seem to have the following import: Shem (name, renown), Ham (dark-colored), and Japheth (wide spreading, he enlarges). Traditionally Shem has been regarded the oldest of the three; however, there are authorities who take the position that Japheth was the eldest and Ham the youngest of the three (cf. Genesis 10:21). (See under Part XIX supra). (3) The language of Genesis 9:18-19 apparently forbids our assumption that Noah sired other sons after the withdrawal from the ark; nor is there any statement made in earlier Chapter s (especially ch. 5) that Noah begat sons and daughters, as is made of each of the patriarchs who preceded him, before the Flood. (4) Finally, it is most significantis it not?that there is no indication that either Noah or any of his sons was a polygamist. This again is evidence of the general piety which seems to have characterized the Line of Seth. It seems evident that the men in the Ark respected the Divine origin and sanctity of the marriage relation.

(3) The withdrawal from the Ark took place on the 27th day of the second month of the 601st year of .Noah's life, On that day Noah and his house, and all creatures that were with him in the Ark, came forth on dry land, They had gone into the Ark from a world filled with debauchery and violence; they came forth from the Ark into an earth purged by Divine judgment, new and clean, and bright with opportunity. The Ark became the second cradle of the race: from it Noah and his family went forth to a new probation.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

See Genesis 9:28-29.