Observations Upon the Old Testament, Genesis · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
Verse. 1. BE fruitful, &c.] Though we reade not of any more children of Noah after this time: yet it is not likely but he had more; Gods Word and his Work go together. In three hundred fifty two yeares; viz. from the flood to the birth of Abraham mankinde was wonderfully multiplied, and yet mans life in that time mightily shortened.
V. 2. The fear of you] Though not your dominion over them, as it was before the fall; yet the fear and dread of you shall upon them: even to the taming, or overawing at least, of the wildest, fiercest and strongest of them by force or cunning, Psal 8. 6, &c. 104 20, 21, 22, 23. Jam. 3. 7. Though God can arme even the least of them, to execute his judgements upon man.
V. 3. That liveth] Likely, not dying of it selfe, or torne by beasts, as, Levit. 17. 15. and 22. 8. Exod 12. 31. For many of the Mosaical Lawes were in use long before.
meat for you] See Annotations on ch 1. 29.
meat] Such as were fit for meat: and even those that were not fit for meat and sustenance, yea, poisonous, yet might serve for Physick or otherwise, for the maintenance and preservation of the life of man
V. 4. But flesh with the life thereof, the blood] The blood of these creatures in called the life of them; and their life is said to be their blood, and in their blood, Lev. 17. 11. 14. because the spirits, which are the most lively parts of them, are produced of the purest part of the blood, and with it diffused in arteries throughout the whole body: without which vital spirits, though blood be in the body, yet the body may be dead, as in things strangled. Now with the blood, or in the blood, the flesh was not to be eaten; but first it must be killed and cleansed of the blood. A restraint, no doubt, to make them the more fearful of shedding mans blood, as the words following do declare. But yet thus the sense of the place seemes not so full, as when the blood is forbidden, not only with the flesh in the veines, (for who desires so to eat it) but also poured out by it self alone. And thus the prohibition was given by Moses to the Jewes, who declared at large the various manner of the use of blood, in their several kindes of sacrifices; but inhibits the eating of it, rather then, or at any other time. In their sacrices, sometimes some of it was sprinkled upon the side of the Altar, and the rest of the blood wrung out at the bottome of the Altar; as when turtle-Doves or Pigeons were sacrificed, Lev. 1. 15. and 5. 9. sometimes it was sprinkled round about upon the Altar; as in the burnt-offerings, and peace-offerings, Lev. 1. 5, 11. and, chap. 3. 2, 8, 13. sometimes with the finger dipped in it, some of it was put upon the hornes of the Altar, and the rest poured out at the bottome of the Altar; as in the sin-offering for the Ruler, and for any one of the common people, Lev. 4. 25, 30, 34. sometimes with the finger dipped in it. some of it was to be sprinkled seven times before the Lord, before the vaile of the Sanctuary. And then some of it to be put upon the hornes of the Altar of sweet incense before the Lord, and the rest of the blood to be poured out at the bottome of the Altar of the burnt-offering; as in the sin-offering of the Holy Priest, Levit 4. v. 5, 6, 7. And of the whole Congregation, ch. 4. v. 16, 17, 18. Sometimes it was to be put upon the tip of the right eare, and upon the thumb of the right hand, and upon the great toe of the right foot; and some of the blood upon the Altar was to be sprinkled upon the garments, as Moses did at the consecration of Aaron and his sonnes, Levit. 8. 23, 24, 30. all which was typical and ceremonial. In summe, it was given upon the Altar, to make an atonement for soules; for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soule, Lev. 17. 11. and almost all things are by the Law purged with blood, and without shedding of blood is no remission, Heb. 9. 22. But with them blood was never at any time, or upon any occasion to be eaten, Lev. 7. 26, 27. 1 Sam. 14. 32, 33, 34. And the Apostles make a decree for the forbearance of eating things strangled, and blood, Acts 15. 20. yet now the ceremonial Law being expired; and the restraint in this text, not so clear and full, or, not reaching to all people in all ages; out of the case of scandal, which occasioned the Apostles necessary, 1 Cor. 8. 13. though temporary decree; I see no necessity enforcing the contrary, but that Christians may use their Christian liberty, knowing that to the pure all things are pure, that meat commends us not to God, that whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that we may eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
V. 5. And surely your blood of your lives] Your lifeblood. The reason of the former prohibition.
Of every beast] Exod. 21. 28.
mans brother] All men are brethren, Act. 17. 26.
V. 6. Whoso sheddeth] Wittingly and wilfully, Numb. 35. 31. else Cities of Refuge weee appointed, as may be seen, Numb. 35. 11, 15, 22, 23. Deut. 29. 3, 6.
by man] Magistrate. Revenger of blood, Numb. 35. 19, 21, 27.
for in the image] This reason sheweth death to be due for murther before the flood, and from the beginning, though God extraordinarily suffered Cain to live (a life likely worse then death) as a spectacle of his wrath all his age. To deny the legal and military use of the sword to Christians, is an Anabaptistical faucie.
V. 10. And with every living creature] For mans sake, for whom they were made, and in the flood for his sin destroyed.
V. 11. All flesh] No universal deluge, though particular countreys may be drowned.
by the waters of a flood] Yet in the end by fire, 2 Pet. 3. 7, 10.
the earth] As, ch. 6. 11.
V. 13. My bowe] Wittily say some, bended upwards; and witho…t any arrow in it. This was in the clouds before, naturally; But now significatively instituted to this use, to be a token of this Covenant, for the assurance of the truth, and performance of it, and Gods oath annexed to it, Esay 54. 9.
V. 14. When I bring a cloud] At sometimes.
V. 18. And Ham is the father of Canaan] So againe, v. 22. To imply the reason why Canaan is cursed, v. 25, 26, 27. And that the Israelites, who in Moses time and after, were commanded to root them out, might know, that they were of an accursed race and off-spring.
V. 20. Began] In the new world a new beginner, yet some yeares after the flood.
V. 21. Uncovered] Likely wearing long and loose garments, without breeches. As likely David did, when Michal mocked him, 2 Sam. 6. 20. To prevent which, linnen breeches were commanded to Priests, Exod. 28. 42. Ezech. 44. 19. and Gods Altar was to be builded without steps, Exod. 20. 26.
V. 22. And told] He should have concealed it from his brethren, and covered it himself.
V. 24. And knew] Upon enquiry, or otherways, by relation or revelation.
V. 25. Said] Prophetically, both in his cursing and blessing, by warrant of Gods Spirit.
V. 25. Cursed be Canaan] Not naming Cham. But shewing thereby the curse to be entailed on him, and on Canaan his fourth sonne, ch. 10. 6. then borne, and haply a Partner in his fathers sinne, and on his posterity after him, Prov. 30. 17.
a servant of servants] Thus fore-doom'd to a most servile slavish estate and condition. This most seen long after in the Gibeouites, Josh. 9. 21. and in the Canaanites.
As the blessing on Japhet was long after fulfilled, when the Gentiles became Christians.
V. 26. Blessed be the Lord God of Shem] Shem blessed; because God is called his God, Psal. 144. 15. He named before Japheth his elder brother, in covering his fathers nakednesse, v. 23.
and Canaan shall be his servant] So to Chador…aome… of Shems progeny, being King of Elam; ch. 14. 1, 4, &c. and; ch. 10. 22. so in the times of Joshuah, Judges, and Kings of Judah and Israel.
V. 27. In the tents of Shem] In the Church, become Converts and Christians, Eph. 2. 13, 14, 19. 3. 6. even when Shems posterity, the natural branches, was much out off, Rom. 11. 11.
and Canaan shall be his servant] Alexander the Great, and the Romanes subdued them.
V. 29. And he died] living almost to the birth of Abram.