Commentary on Genesis, Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
Ver. 1. AND God remembred Noah, &c.] Took Compaſſion upon him, and heard his Prayers, which we may well ſuppoſe he made for himſelf and for all Creatures that were with him. Thus the word remember is uſed, XIX. 29. XXX. 22. The Hebrew Doctors here again take notice of the word Elohim, (See VI. 12.) which is the Name for Judges; and obſerve that even God's Juſtice was turned to Mercy. Juſtice it ſelf was ſatisfied, as Sol. Jarchi expreſſes it.
And God made a Wind to paſs over the Earth, &c.] Some gather from hence, that during the fall of the Rain, there was no Storm or violent Wind at all; but the Rain fell down-right. And conſequently the Ark was not driven far from the place where it was built: It having no Maſts, or Sails, but moving as a Hulk or Body of a Ship, without a Rudder, upon a calm Sea. Philo indeed (in his Book De Abrahamo) gives a quite different Deſcription of the Deluge; repreſenting the inceſſant Showers, to have been accompanied with dreadful Thunder and Lightning, Storms and Tempeſts. But there is not a word in this Story to countenance it.
This Wind it is very probable was the North-Wind, which is very drying, and drives away Rain, (Prov. XXV. 23.) which came, perhaps, out of the South, as I ſaid upon VI. 14. Thus Ovid repreſents it in the Flood of Deucalion, where he ſaith Jupiter,
Nubila disjecit, nimbiſque Aquilone remotis, &c.
And the Waters aſſwaged.] This drying Wind, and the Sun, which now began to ſhine, with great power, made the Waters fall. For, if the Second Month, when the Flood began, was part of our October and November; then the Flood abated (after an Hundred and fifty Days) in the beginning of May, when the Summer came on apace.
Ver. 2. The Fountains alſo of the Deep.] There was no further irruption or boiling up of the Water out of the Bowels of the Earth.
And the Rain from Heaven was reſtrained.] So that the Rains ceaſed at the end of an Hundred and fifty Days.
Ver. 3. And the Waters returned from off the Earth continually, &c.] The Waters rolling to and fro by the Wind, fell by little and little: And after the end of the Hundred and fifty Days began to decreaſe. So the vulgar Latin well tranſlates the latter end of this Verſe, were abated, i. e. began ſenſibly to decreaſe.
Ver. 4. And the Ark reſted in the ſeventh Month, &c.] Of the Year, not of the Flood.
Ʋpon the Mountains of Ararat.] i. e. Upon one of the Mountains, as XIX. 29. God overthrew the Cities in which Lot dwelt; i. e. In one of which he dwelt. Judg. XII. 7. Jephtah was buried in the Cities of Gilead; i. e. In one of the Cities. For there was no one Mountain called by this Name of Ararat: But it belonged to a long Ridge of Mountains, like the Alps or Pyrenaean, which are Names appertaining, not to one, but to all. And Sir W. Raleigh, I think, truly judges that all the long Ridge of Mountains, which run through Armenia, Meſopotamia, Aſſyria, Media, Suſiana, &c. i. e. From Cilian to Paraponiſus, are called by Moſes, Ararat, as by Pliny they are called Taurus. And that Author thinks the Ark ſetled in ſome of the Eaſtern Parts of Taurus, becauſe Noah planted himſelf in the Eaſt after the Flood, (and it is likely did not travel far from the place where the Ark reſted,) as appears, he thinks, from Gen. XI. 2. where we read his Poſterity, when they began to ſpread, went Weſtward and built Babel. The common Opinion is, That the Ark reſted in ſome of the Mountains of Armenia, as the vulgar Latin tranſlates the word Ararat; i. e. ſaith St. Hierom, upon the higheſt part of Taurus. But Epiphanius (who was before him) ſaith, upon the Gordiaean Mountains; and ſo Jonathan, and Onkelos, and the Nubienſian Geographer, and many others mentioned by Bochartus: Who is of this Opinion, as having the moſt Authority. Many of which ſay, That ſome Relicks of the Ark were remaining upon thoſe Mountains: Which (as Theodoret obſerves upon Iſa. XIV. 13.) were accounted the higheſt in the whole World. V. Phaleg, L. II. c. 3. and L. IV. c. 38.
There were ſuch Remainders of this Hiſtory among the ancient Scythians, that in their diſpute with the Egyptians about their Antiquity, they argue it partly from hence; that if the Earth had ever been drown'd, their Country muſt needs be firſt inhabited again, becauſe it was firſt clear'd from the Water; being the higheſt of all other Countries in the World.
Thus their Argument runs in Juſtin, L. II. c. 1. where he hath given us a brief relation of it, (if we had Trogus, whom he Epitomizes, it's likely we ſhould have underſtood their Tradition more perfectly,) in this manner, If all Countries were anciently drown'd in the Deep, profectò editiſſimam quamque partem, we muſt needs grant the higheſt parts of the Earth, were firſt uncovered of the Waters, that ran down from them: And the ſooner any part was dry, the ſooner were Animals there generated. Now Scythia is ſo much raiſed above all other Countries, that all the Rivers which riſe there, run down into the Moeotis, and ſo into the Pontick and Egyptian Sea, &c.
Ver. 5. And the Waters decreaſed continually until the tenth Month.] For the Summer's heat muſt needs very much dry them up, when there was no Rain.
In the tenth Month were the tops of the Mountains ſeen.] This ſhows the Mountain on which the Ark reſted was the higheſt, at leaſt in thoſe Parts: Becauſe it ſetled there above two Months before the tops of other Mountains were ſeen. And, perhaps, the Ark, by its weight, might ſettle there, while the top of that Mountain was covered with Water: Which, it's poſſible, might not appear much before the reſt.
Ver. 6. At the end of forty Days.] Forty Days after the tops of the Mountains appeared, i. e. on the eleventh Day of the eleventh Month; which was about the end of our July.
Ver. 7. He ſent forth a Raven.] For the ſame End, no doubt, that the Dove was ſent forth: To make diſcovery whether the Earth were dry: For, if it were, the ſmell of the dead Carcaſes, he knew, would allure it to fly far from the Ark: Which it did not, but only hover'd about it, as it follows in the next Words.
Went forth to and fro.] In the Hebrew more plainly, going forth, and returning. That is, it often went from the Ark, and as often returned to it. For after many flights, finding nothing but Water, it ſtill betook it ſelf unto the Ark: either entring into it, or ſitting upon it; 'till at laſt the Waters being dried up, it returned no more. That is, Fifty Days after its firſt going forth, Verſe 13. All which time it ſpent in going out, and coming back. Bochart indeed approves of the Greek Verſion; which makes the Raven, not to have returned: For which he gives ſome ſpecious Reaſons, (L. II. c. 12. P. 2. Hierozoic.) and hath ſuch of the Hebrews to countenance him, as R. Elieſer, who ſaith, (Pirke, c. 23.) That the Raven found a Carcaſe of a Man upon a Mountain, and ſo would return no more.
But the next words (which in the Greek and Hebrew are both alike) confute this Tranſlation.
Ʋntil the Waters were dried up from the Earth.] Which make this plain and eaſie Sence, in connexion with the foregoing, (as they run in the Hebrew,) that while the Earth continued covered with Water, the Raven often flew from the Ark, but finding no convenient place to reſt in, returned thither again: Till the Ground was dry. Whereas, according to the Greek, we muſt ſuppoſe the Raven to have returned to the Ark, when the Waters were dried up from the Ground. Which is very abſurd: For, if it had ſome time ſat upon a Carcaſe floating in the Waters, before they were dried up, or upon the top of ſome Mountain which already appeared; what ſhould make it return when all the Waters were gone every where, and not rather while they remained upon the Ground?
Ver. 8. Alſo he ſent forth a Dove.] As a proper Creature to make further Diſcoveries: Being of a ſtrong flight, loving to ſeed upon the Ground, and pick up Seeds; and conſtantly returning to its reſt, from the remoteſt places. Theſe two Birds, (the Raven and the Dove,) ſome imagine were ſent forth upon one and the ſame Day, or but a Day between; as Bochartus conjectures. But this doth not agree with Verſe 10. where it is ſaid, Noah ſtayed yet other ſeven Days, and then ſent out the Dove again: Which relates to ſeven Days preceding; which ſeem to have paſſed between the ſending out of the Raven and of the Dove.
Ver. 9. The Dove found no reſt, &c.] For, though the tops of the Mountains appeared, yet they continued muddy, as ſome conceive; or, they were ſo far off, that the Dove could not eaſily reach them.
Ver. 10. And he ſtaid yet other ſeven Days.] It appears by this, that on the ſeventh Day, Noah expected a Bleſſing rather than on another Day: It being the Day devoted from the beginning to Religious Services. Which he having (it is likely) performed, thereupon ſent out the Dove upon this Day, as he had done before, with hope of good Tidings.
Ver. 11. And, lo, in her Mouth was an Olive-Leaf, (or Branch the word ſignifies) pluckt off.] Bochart thinks the Dove brought this out of Aſſyria, which abounds with Olive-Trees, and lay South of Ararat; the Wind then blowing towards that Country from the North. (See Hierozoic. L. I. c. 6. p. 2.) where he ſhows out of many Authors, that not only Olive-Trees, but ſome other alſo, will live and be green under Water. All the difficulty is, how the Dove could break off a Branch (as the Vulgar tranſlates it) from the Tree. But it is eaſily ſolved, if we allow, as I have ſaid before, that now it was Summer-time; which brought new Shoots out of the Trees, that were eaſily cropt.
So he knew the Waters were abated.] The tops of Mountains were ſeen before, verſe 5. but now he underſtood the Waters had left the lower Grounds. Yet not ſo left them that the Dove would ſtay; the Earth, it is likely, remaining very chill.
Ver. 12. And he ſtaid yet other ſeven Days.] See Verſe 10. The Obſervation there, being confirm'd by what is repeated here.
Returned not again to him any more.] There wanting neither Food, nor a Neſt wherein to repoſe it ſelf. By which Noah underſtood, the Earth was not only dry, and fit to be inhabited: But that it was not quite ſpoiled by the Flood, but would afford Food for all Creatures.
Ver. 13. Noah removed the covering of the Ark.] Some of the Boards on the top. For he could ſee further by looking out there, than if he look'd out at the Door, or the Window, which gave him a proſpect but one way.
The face of the Ground was dry.] Quite freed from Water, but yet ſo ſoft and muddy, that it was not fit to be inhabited: As appears by his ſtaying ſtill, almoſt two Months more, before he thought fit to go out. So the following Verſe tells us.
Ver. 14. In the ſecond Month, &c.] If their Months were ſuch as ours, twelve of which make Three hundred ſixty five Days, then Noah ſtaid in the Ark a whole Year and ten Days, as appears by comparing this Verſe with VII. 11. But if they were Lunar Months, which is moſt probable, then he was in the Ark juſt one of our Years: Going out on the Three hundred and ſixty fifth Day after his entrance into it.
Was the Earth dried.] Perfectly dried, ſo that no moiſture remained; and Graſs, it is likely, was ſprung up for the Cattle.
It need not ſeem a wonder, that Moſes gives ſo punctual and particular an Account of this whole matter, and of all that follows; for he lived within Eight hundred Years of the Flood: And therefore might very well know what had been done within that Period, and eaſily tell how the World was peopled by the Poſterity of Noah. Which could not but be freſh in memory, when Men lived ſo long; that not much above three Generations had paſſed, from the Flood to Moſes. For Shem, who ſaw the Flood was contemporary with Abraham; as he was with Jacob; whoſe great Grand-Child was the Father of Moſes.
Ver. 16. Go forth out of the Ark.] Though he ſaw the Earth was fit to be inhabited; yet he waited for God's Order to go out of the Ark, as he had it for his entring into it.
Thou and thy Wife, &c.] I do not think the Obſervation of ſome of the Jews is abſurd; who by comparing this Verſe with VII. 13. make this Collection: That while they were in the Ark, the Men did not cohabit with their Wives; it being a time of great Affliction: And therefore they kept aſunder in ſeparate Apartments. So R. Elieſer in his Pirke, Cap. XXIII. where R. Levitas thus gathers it: When they went into the Ark it is ſaid, VII. 13. Noah and his Sons entred, and then Noah's Wife, and his Sons Wives: Behold, ſaith he, here the Men are put together, and the Women together. But when they come out it is here ſaid, Go forth, thou and thy Wife, and thy Sons, and thy Sons Wives, with thee; lo, here they are coupled together, as before they were ſeparated. And ſo we find them again, verſe 18. where it is ſaid, Noah went forth and his Wife, &c.
Ver. 17. Bring forth every living Creature, &c. that they may breed, &c.] One would think, by this, that no Creature bred in the Ark, no more than Men: But now are ſent forth to breed and multiply in the Earth.
Ver. 20. And Noah built an Altar to the LORD.] We never read of any built before this time: Though we may reaſonably conclude there was an Altar upon which Cain and Abel offered; in the place appointed for Divine Worſhip.
Offered burnt-offerings.] He reſtores the ancient Rite of Divine Service; which his Sons and their Poſterity followed. Some think theſe Burnt-Offerings had ſomething in them of the Nature of a Propitiatory Sacrifice, as well as Euchariſtical, which they certainly were for their Deliverance from the Flood. Their Reaſon is taken from what follows.
Ver. 21. The LORD ſmelled a ſweet ſavour.] That is, as Munſter underſtands it, he ceaſed from his Anger and was appeaſed. So the Syriack alſo, and Joſephus, L. I. Antiq. c. 4. But it may ſignifie no more, but that his Thankfulneſs was as grateful to God, as ſweet Odors are to us.
And the LORD ſaid in his Heart.] He determined, or reſolved in himſelf. The Vulgar underſtands this, as if the LORD ſpake comfortably to Noah, (which in the Hebrew Phraſe is, ſpeaking to ones Heart) and ſaid,
I will not again curſe the Ground any more.] i. e. After this manner, with a Deluge.
For the imagination of Man's Heart is evil from his Youth.] Such a proclivity there is in Men to evil, that if I ſhould ſcourge them thus, as often as they deſerve, there would be no end of Deluges. But the Words may have a quite different ſence, being connected with what went before in this manner; I will not curſe the Ground any more for Man's ſake; tho' he be ſo very evilly diſpoſed, &c.
Thoſe Words, from his Youth, ſignify a long radicated corruption, as appears from many places, Iſa. XLVII. 12, 15. Jerem. III. 25. Ezek. XXIII. 8, &c. Sol. Jarchi extends it ſo far as to ſignifie, from his Mother's Womb.
Ver. 22. While the Earth remaineth.] While Men ſhall inhabit the Earth.
Seed-time and Harveſt, &c.] There ſhall not be ſuch a Year as this laſt has been: In which there was neither Sowing nor Reaping; nor any diſtinctions of Seaſons, 'till the Rain was done.
Day and Night ſhall not ceaſe.] One would think by this expreſſion, that the Day did not much differ from Night; while the Heavens were covered with thick Clouds, which fell in diſmal Floods of Rain.