_A.M. 1665. B.C. 2349._ We have here, (1,) _ The earth made anew, by the recess of the waters and the appearing of the dry land a second time, vv.1-3. After fifteen days ebbing, the ark rests, vv.4. After sixty days ebbing, the tops of the mountains appear, vv.5. After forty days ebbing, and twent... [ Continue Reading ]
_And God remembered Noah_, &c. 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 that God's r... [ Continue Reading ]
_The waters returned from off the earth continually_ Hebrews they were _going and returning;_ a gradual departure. The heat of the sun exhaled much, and perhaps the subterraneous caverns soaked in more. _And the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat_ Or, _Armenia_, whither it was directed, not by... [ 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, _he sent forth a dove _ Whic... [ 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;_ and in the 27th day of the second month was a fit habitation for Noah.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Noah builded an altar_ The first altar that we read of; but not the first which was built; for the sacrifices which were offered before, Genesis 4:3, presuppose an altar or altars. And it ought to be well observed, that the silence of Scripture concerning any thing is not sufficient evidence that i... [ Continue Reading ]
_God smelled a sweet savour_ In the Hebrew it is a _savour of rest:_ that is, he accepted the person, and faith, and thank-offering of Noah, and was well pleased therewith, and with these hopeful beginnings of the new world, as men are with agreeable and fragrant smells. _I will not again curse the... [ Continue Reading ]
_While the earth remaineth_ Here it is plainly intimated that the earth is not to remain always: it, and all the works therein, must be burned up. But as long as it doth remain, God here promises the course of nature shall not be discontinued; but God's providence will carefully preserve the regular... [ Continue Reading ]