Observations Upon the Old Testament, Genesis · Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
Ver. 3. BEcause that in it] This being alledged as the Reason of the Sabbath, Exod. 20. 11. 31. 17. shews it to be here instituted before the Fall And then no doubt but Gods people had more need or the same Ordinance and Help in Religion ever since the Fall. And the Rulers Narrative to Moses speech or question Exod. 16. 22, 23. seems to me to imply the keeping of the Sabbath by the Jewes before the giving of Manna in the Wildernesse, Exod. 16. 5. not appearing to be made known to the people till after the Rulers relation of sin; And Gods direction to Moses ▪ And apparently it was kept before the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai.
V. 4. the Lord God] Here first the word Jehova is used. And after often in this Chapter, Gen. 15. 7. 22. 14. 26. 24. 27. 20. 28. 13. and in many places more. And therefore, Exod. 6. 3. But by my Name Jehova was I not known to them, is spoken comparatively; not known so fully, in making good my promises by answerable effects, as now I will be, in my bringing of them out of Egypt, notwithstanding all Pharaohs obstinacie.
V. 7. breathed] To shew that mans spirit is not of the earth. as his body; but of nothing by the insufflation of God: and so differing from the spirit of beasts, Job 33. 4. Eccles 3. 21. It hath i…s immediate original from the Father of spirits, who did by creating infuse it, or by infusion create it.
V. 8. planted] On the third day, chap. 1 11, 12.
Eastward] From Moses, in the wildernesse, where he wrote this History.
in Eden] A part of Mesopotamia.
V. 9. tree of life] Because naturaly much; but sacramentaly more, it conduced thereunto.
tree of knowledge] From the event, in respect of our first parents.
V. 10. went out of Eden] Flowing into it from above.
V. 11. Pison] A part of Tygris, Pa…itygris, or Pisotygris.
Havilah] From Havilah the sonne of Cush, Gen 10. 7. 25. 18 1 Sam. 15. 7.
V. 13. Gihon] The lower part of Euphrates.
Ethiopia] Cush, i. e. the Westerne Ethiopia, adjacent to the Desert Arabia.
V. 14. Hiddekel] The upper part of Tygris.
Euphrates] Called the river, the great river, Deut. 1. 7. 11 24. Rev. 9. 14.
V. 17. Thou shalt not eate of it] The thing in it selfe indifferent; but made unlawful to him by Gods command; both she… the Lords absolute dominion over him; and his sin to be the greater and more notorious, if he disobeyed it.
surely die] Be subject to mortality, misery; death, and to him which hath the power of death that is the Devil, Heb. 2. 14. A man sentenced to death we count him a dead man, dead in Law, though he and his execution be reprieved for a time. If he had not sinned, he had continued in a safe and blessed condition, free from death, and all maner of evil.
V. 19. and brought them unto Adam] Gen. 7. v. 8. 9.
V. 20. And Adam gave names] Not that the names must needs be given according to their natures,
V. 21. ribs] With the flesh, v 23. The want of which rib, God could, and easily did sufficiently supply, by closing up the flesh instead thereof.
V. 22. made he a woman] 1 Cor. 11. 8.
brought her to the man] As to her husband. Thus the married estate honourable in the state of Innocency, Matth 19. 4, 5, 6.
V. 23. This is now bone &c.] He knew it partly of himself; but more by divine revelation.
V. 24. Therefore shall a man leave, &c.] These seeme to be rather the words of God, Matth. 19. 4. 5. then of Adam or of Moses. And are spoken both simply, Gen. 24. 58, 59. and comparatively; rather leave the duty of children to parents, then of husband to wife, when any such case of necessity shall fall out.
And they] Explained by twaine, Matth. 19. 5, 6. by two, 1 Cor. 6. 16. Against Polygamy; and unlawful divorces; and carnal copulation out of marriage.
V. 25. both naked &c.] That shameful through sin since the Fall, Rom. 6. 21. which was not so before: not shall be after the Resurrection, 1 Cor. 15. 43.