VII. (1) COME THOU. — The task of building the ark is over, and after a week, to be spent in collecting animals and birds, Noah is to take up his abode in it. Many commentators suppose that 120 years were spent in the work; but this view arises from an untenable interpretation of Genesis 6:3, which... [ Continue Reading ]
OF EVERY CLEAN BEAST — HEB., _OF ALL CLEAN CATTLE_ — THOU SHALT TAKE TO THEE BY SEVENS — Heb., _seven seven._ — This probably does not mean _seven pairs_ of each, though many commentators so interpret it, but seven of each kind. If, however, _seven pairs_ be the right interpretation, but few species... [ Continue Reading ]
FORTY DAYS. — Henceforward forty became the sacred number of trial and patience, and, besides the obvious places in the Old Testament, it was the duration both of our Lord’s fast in the wilderness and of His sojourn on earth after the Resurrection. EVERY LIVING SUBSTANCE. — The word “living” is foun... [ Continue Reading ]
NOAH WAS SIX HUNDRED YEARS OLD. — It follows that Shem was about one hundred years of age (comp. Genesis 5:32), and his two brothers younger; but all were married, though apparently without children. (Comp. Genesis 11:10.)... [ Continue Reading ]
BEASTS. — Heb., _of the clean cattle and of the cattle that was not clean._ In the _Chaldean Genesis,_ Xisuthrus takes also wild animals, seeds of all kinds of plants, gold and silver, male and female slaves, the “sons of the best,” and the “sons of the people” (pp. 280-283). There it is a whole tri... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER SEVEN DAYS. — Said, in Jewish tradition, to have been the seven days of mourning for Methuselah, who died in the year of the flood.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE SECOND MONTH. — That is, of the civil year, which commenced in Tisri, at the autumnal equinox. The flood thus began towards the end of October, and lasted till the spring. The ecclesiastical year began in Abib, or April; but it was instituted in remembrance of the deliverance from Egypt (Exod... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE SELFSAME DAY. — Heb., _in the bone of this day._ (See Note on Genesis 2:23.)... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY BEAST. — Heb., _every living thing_ (as in Genesis 8:1), but probably we are to supply “of the field,” and thus it would mean the wild animals. THE CATTLE — _Behêmâh._ (See Note on Genesis 1:24.) CREEPING THING. — Not specially reptiles, but alt small animals (see _ibid._). The last clause l... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD (_JEHOVAH_) SHUT HIM IN. — The assigning to Jehovah of this act of personal care for Noah is very remarkable. In the _Chaldean Genesis_ (p. 283), the Deity commands Xisuthrus to shut himself in.... [ Continue Reading ]
(17-19) THE WATERS INCREASED... — The swelling of the flood is told with great power in these verses but every stage and detail has reference to the ark, as if the author of the narrative was one of those on board. First, the “waters increased,” and raised up the ark till it floated. Next, “they bec... [ Continue Reading ]
FIFTEEN CUBITS UPWARD. — This apparently was the draught of the ark, computed after it had settled. in the region of Ararat. Fifteen cubits would be about twenty-two feet, and as the ark floated onward without interruption until it finally grounded, there must have been this depth of water even on t... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY LIVING SUBSTANCE. — _Every thing that stood erect_ (See Note on Genesis 7:4.) UPON THE FACE OF THE GROUND. — The _adâmâh,_ the portion subdued to his use by the _adam,_ man.... [ Continue Reading ]
PREVAILED. — Heb., _were strong,_ as in Genesis 7:18. The rains lasted forty days; for one hundred and ten more days they still bore up the ark, and then it grounded. But though still mighty, they had by this time “abated” (see Genesis 8:3), inasmuch as, instead of covering the hills to the depth of... [ Continue Reading ]