Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean ,.... Seven couple of the one, and a couple of the other: and of fowls , clean and unclean, also a like number: and of everything that creepeth upon the earth ; and upon that only, not in the water, for these had no need of the ark, they could live in the waters. read more
There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark ,.... Of themselves, as Jarchi and Aben Ezra, being impressed with an instinct from God so to do; or by the ministry of angels, as observed See Gill on Genesis 6:20 there were two of a sort, and some think four: the male and the female ; and of some seven, or seven pairs, as before observed: as God commanded Noah ; which respects his own and his family's entrance and the creatures; both were commanded by God, and attended to by Noah,... read more
And it came to pass after seven days ,.... Were ended, or on the seventh day, after God had given the orders to Noah, to prepare for his going into the ark, with his family, and all the creatures: that the waters of the flood were upon the earth : that is, they began to be upon the earth; for it continued to rain from hence forty days and forty nights; and still the waters continued to increase, and it was an hundred and fifty days before they began to ebb. read more
In the six hundredth year of Noah's life ,.... Not complete, but current, for otherwise Noah would have lived after the flood three hundred and fifty one years, whereas he lived but three hundred and fifty; Genesis 9:28 . in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month : as the Jews had two ways of beginning their year, one at the spring, and the other at autumn; the one on ecclesiastical accounts, which began at Nisan, and which answers to March and April; and then the second... read more
And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights ,.... So long it was falling upon it, after the windows of heaven were opened. Aben Ezra would have it, that all things were in such confusion, during the flood, that there was no difference between day and night, since, it is said, "day and night shall not cease any more"; and that after the waters ceased, then Noah knew that forty days and nights had passed, for God had revealed this secret to him; but the text seems more to make... read more
In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah ,.... That is, on the seventeenth day of the second month; See Gill on Genesis 7:11 the names of Noah and his three sons are expressed, but not the names of his wife, and of the wives of his sons; they are only described by their relation as follows: and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons, into the ark : but other writers pretend to give us their names; Berosus F3 De temporibus ante... read more
They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind ,.... They, Noah and his family, went into the ark; as did all sorts of beasts and cattle, reckoned one hundred and thirty sorts, by some one hundred and fifty, including serpents: and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind ; supposed to be scarce thirty sorts; not one sort of creature was left out, though ever so small, and despicable: every fowl after his kind ; Bishop Wilkins has... read more
And they went in unto Noah into the ark ,.... Noah went in first, and the creatures of themselves came to him, or were conducted by the ministry of angels; and they were delivered into his hands, and he placed them in the ark as was most convenient for them: it is very likely he went in and out as occasion required, for the better management and disposition of things; for he seems to be the last of all that went in, see Genesis 7:16 , two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of... read more
And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh ,.... These pairs were not two males or two females, but one male and one female; so they were coupled for the propagation of their species, which was the end of their entering into the ark, and being preserved: as God had commanded him : Noah, who took care, as they entered, that there were so many of a sort as was enjoined, and these were male and female: and the Lord shut him in ; or shut the door after him F12 בעדו ... read more
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John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 7:7
And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark ,.... Within the space of the seven days, between the command of God to go into it, and the coming of the flood; or rather on the seventh day, on which it began to rain; when he saw it was coming on, see Genesis 7:11 . because of the waters of the flood ; for fear of them, lest, before he entered into the ark with his family, he and they should be carried away with them; or "from the face of the... read more