VIII. (1) GOD. — _Elohim._ On the Jehovistic theory, one would have expected Jehovah here. (See _Excursus._) EVERY LIVING THING. — See Note on Genesis 7:14. THE WATERS ASSWAGED. — Heb., _became still._ It is plain from this that the “strength” of the waters, described in Genesis 7:24, has referen... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WATERS RETURNED FROM OFF THE EARTH. — This backward motion of the waters also seems to indicate that a vast wave from the sea had swept over the land, in addition to the forty days of rain. WERE ABATED. — Heb., _decreased._ Those in the ark would notice the changing current, and would know, by... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SEVENTH MONTH, ON THE SEVENTEENTH DAY OF THE MONTH. — As the months had each thirty days (see Note on Genesis 8:14), this makes exactly 150 days (see Genesis 7:11). The seventh civil month would be Abib; and the _Speaker’s Commentary_ notices the following remarkable coincidences: — “On the 17th... [ Continue Reading ]
SEEN. — See Note on Genesis 8:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOAH OPENED THE WINDOW. — Not the _zohar_ of Genesis 6:16, but an aperture. He had waited forty days after seeing the heights around him rising clearly into the air, and then, impatient of the slow subsidence of the waters, Noah at last sent forth a raven to bring him some news of the state of the e... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SENT FORTH A DOVE... — From the nature of its food, the raven had not brought back to Noah any special information; but as the dove feeds on vegetable products, he hopes that he shall learn by her means what is the state of “the ground,” the low-lying _adâmâh._ But as this species of bird does no... [ Continue Reading ]
(10-12) AGAIN HE SENT FORTH THE DOVE... — When, after another week’s delay, Noah again sent forth the dove, it remained away until “the time of evening,” finding both food and ground on which it could alight near the ark. It was not till nightfall that it came home, bringing to him “an olive leaf pl... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH. — It will be plain to any one studying the following table that this was exactly one month after the day on which Noah, for the third time, sent out the dove (Genesis 8:12): — The flood commenced in the second month, called Marchesvan, on day 17. The waters prevail dur... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE SECOND MONTH, ON THE SEVEN AND TWENTIETH DAY OF THE MONTH. — That is, fifty-seven days after Noah removed the covering, and a year and eleven days after the flood began. The word rendered “dried” at the end of this verse is different from that translated “dried up” and “dry” in Genesis 8:13,... [ Continue Reading ]
(15-19) GO FORTH... — At the end of exactly a solar year, thus curiously rectified, Noah, his family, and all the animals belonging to the Noachian world-circle are to leave the ark. The vast extent of the flood, and the total destruction of all that had existed before, is indicated by the repetitio... [ Continue Reading ]
NOAH BUILDED AN ALTAR UNTO THE LORD (_JEHOVAH_). — The account of this sacrificial act is said to have been an interpolation of the Jehovist. Really it forms an integral portion of the numerous traditions of the flood. Thus in the _Chaldean Genesis,_ after the sending forth of a dove, a swallow, and... [ Continue Reading ]
A SWEET SAVOUR. — Heb., _a smell of satisfaction._ The idea is not so much that the sacrifice gave God pleasure as that it caused Him to regard man with complacency. The anger at sin which had caused the flood was now over, and there was peace between heaven and earth. SAID IN HIS HEART. — Heb., _t... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILE THE EARTH REMAINETH... — The traditional interpretation of this verse among the Jews represents the year as divided into six seasons. But this is untenable; for in Palestine itself there are two seed times, the winter crops being put into the ground in October and November, and the summer crop... [ Continue Reading ]