Genesis 7:20

Fifteen cubits P describes a depth of water of 15 cubits (22 feet) above the mountains. Why should 15 cubits be mentioned? Very possibly, because the height of the ark was 30 cubits (Genesis 6:15), and the ark was considered to be submerged for half its depth. It would thus just touch the top of "the mountains of Ararat" (Genesis 8:4).

21 (P). And all flesh died Cf. Genesis 6:17. P here describes the death by drowning of all living creatures.

creeping thing Literally, as marg., swarming thing that swarmeth. See note on Genesis 1:20. The word used is characteristic of P.

22 (J). all The account in this and the following verse gives J's description of the destruction of all life. The repetition is obvious.

in whose nostrils, &c. The expression is evidently based upon the words in Genesis 2:7, "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life." But "the breath of life" of that passage is combined here with "the spirit of life" which we find in Genesis 6:17; Genesis 7:15 (P). The one is a phrase characteristic of J, the other of P. The combination is not found elsewhere. Possibly the word "spirit" has been introduced by the compiler or by a copyist.

in the dry land as if to emphasize the thought that the marine animals survived. The word in the Heb. rendered "the dry land" is different from that so rendered in Genesis 1:9 (P).

23 (J). was destroyed … were destroyed The better reading is that rendered in the R.V. marg., and he destroyed every living thing. For the word "destroyed," Heb. blotted out, see Genesis 6:7; Genesis 7:4.

24 (P). an hundred and fifty days The duration of the Flood, corresponding to the 40 days of J in Genesis 7:12. According to P, the rising of the waters, described in Genesis 7:18, continued or "prevailed" for 150 days, after which the waters began to fall: see Genesis 8:3 b, Genesis 8:4 a.