Genesis 8:20

_AND NOAH BUILDED AN ALTAR UNTO THE LORD; AND TOOK OF EVERY CLEAN BEAST, AND OF EVERY CLEAN FOWL, AND OFFERED BURNT OFFERINGS ON THE ALTAR._ Noah builded an altar - literally, 'a high place:' probably a mound of earth or of unhewn stones (Exodus 20:24-25; Joshua 8:31), on which a sacrifice was offered. This is the first notice of an altar in Scripture; and it is noticed particularly because the Paradisiacal place of worship (Genesis 4:3; Genesis 4:16) had probably been removed by the flood. There is something exceedingly beautiful and interesting to know that the first care of this devout patriarch was to return thanks for

20._And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord_. As Noah had given many proofs of his obedience, so he now presents an example of gratitude. This passage teaches us that sacrifices were instituted from the beginning for this end, that men should habituate themselves, by such exercises, to celebrate the goodness of God, and to give him thanks. The bare confession of the tongue, yea, even the silent acknowledgment of the heart, might suffice for God; but we know how many stimulants our indolence requires. Therefore, when the holy fathers, formerly, professed their piety towards God by sacrifices, the use of them was by no means superfluous. Besides, it was right that they should always have before their eyes symbols, by which they would be admonished, that they could have no access to God but through a mediator. Now, however, the manifestation of Christ has taken away these ancient shadows. W...

20-22 Noah was now gone out into a desolate world, where, one might have thought, his first care would have been to build a house for himself, but he begins with an alter for God. He begins well, that begins with God. Though Noah's stock of cattle was small, and that saved at great care and pains, yet he did not grudge to serve God out of it. Serving God with our little is the way to make it more; we must never think that is wasted with which God is honoured. The first thing done in the new world was an act of worship. We are now to express our thankfulness, not by burnt-offerings, but by praise, and pious devotions and conversation. God was well pleased with what was done. But the burning flesh could no more please God, than the blood of bulls and goats, except as typical of the sacrifice of Christ, and expressing Noah's humble faith and devotedness to God. The flood washed away the ra...

Verse Genesis 8:20. _NOAH BUILDED AN ALTAR_] As we have already seen that Adam, Cain, and Abel, offered sacrifices, there can be no doubt that they had _altars_ on which they offered them; but this, builded by Noah, is certainly the _first_ on record. It is worthy of remark that, as the old world began with sacrifice, so also did the new. _Religion_ or the proper mode of worshipping the Divine Being, is the invention or institution of God himself; and _sacrifice_, in the _act_ and _design_, is the _essence_ of religion. Without sacrifice, actually offered or implied, there never was, there never can be, any religion. Even in the _heavens_, a lamb is represented before the throne of God as newly slain, Revelation 5:6;...

- XXVII. The Ark Was Evacuated 19. משׁפחה _mı̂shpāchah_, “kind, clan, family.” שׁפחה _shı̂pchâh_, “maid-servant; related: spread.” 20. מזבח _mı̂zbēach_, “altar; related: slay animals, sacrifice.” 21. עלה _'olâh_, “whole burnt-offering.” That which goes up. “Step; related: go up.” Genesis 8:15 The command to leave the ark is given and obeyed. As Noah did not enter, so neither does he leave the ark, without divine direction. “The fowl, the cattle, and the creeper.” Here, again, these three classes are specified under the general head of every living tiring. They are again to multiply on the earth. “Every living t

EXPOSITION GENESIS 8:15-1 AND GOD SPAKE UNTO NOAH, SAYING, GO FORTH OF THE ARK. For which command doubtless the patriarch waited, as he had done for instructions to enter in (Genesis 7:11), "being restrained by a hallowed modesty from allowing himself to enjoy the bounty of nature till he should hear the voice of God directing him to do so" (Calvin). THOU, AND THY WIFE, AND THY SONS, AND THY SONS' WIVES WITH THEE. The order is different, in Genesis 7:7_, _whence Ambrose noteth, "non commiscetur sexus in introitu, sod commiscetur in ingressu." BRING FORTH WITH THEE—God having preserved alive the creatures that a twelvemonth before ha

AND NOAH BUILDED AN ALTAR UNTO THE LORD,.... Not an house for himself and his family, but an altar for God; his first and greatest concern being for the glory of God, and not for the temporal good of himself and his: this altar was erected, and devoted to the service of God; it was built according to his will, and by his direction: Noah's view was to renew the worship of God, preserve and propagate it by his example; and this was done by way of thanksgiving to God for his wonderful preservation of him, and was also propitiatory and typical of Christ: the Jewish writers d say, this was the altar on which Adam sacrificed, when expelled the garden of Eden, and on which Cain and Abel offered; and being demolished by the flood, was rebuilt by Noah, which is not at all probable; it is much more likely what Aben Ezra says, that it was built on one of the mountains of Ararat, and that as Noah to...

Genesis 8:1. _And God remembered Noah,_ Noah had been shut up in the ark for many a day, and at the right time God thought of him, practically thought of him, and came to visit him. Dear heart, you have been shut out from the world now for many days, but God has not forgotten you. God remembered Noah, and he remembers you. Genesis 8:1. _And every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark:_ Does God remember cattle? Then he will certainly remember men made in his own image He will remember you, though you think yourself the most worthless one on the face of the earth: «God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark.» Genesi

CHAPTER 8 Noah Remembered _ 1. Noah remembered (Genesis 8:1)_ 2. The ark resting (Genesis 8:4) 3. The raven sent forth (Genesis 8:6) 4. The sending forth of the dove (Genesis 8:8) 5. The waters dried up (Genesis 8:13) 6. The command to leave the ark (Genesis 8:15) 7. Noah's obedience (Genesis 8:18) 8. The altar and the covenant

The mention of the rain (Genesis 8:2_ b_) comes from J, and since Genesis 8:3_ b_ with its dating belongs to P, Genesis 8:3_ a_ may be assigned to J. With Genesis 8:6 we resume J's story; after the forty days-' rain, he means, Noah sends forth a raven. This went to and fro till the waters abated, because being an unclean carrion bird it could alight on the floating trees or corpses and eat the latter. Then after seven days (as may be inferred from yet other seven days in Genesis 8:10) he sent forth a dove, but since it found no foothold to rest on, it quickly returned