And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; I humbly conceive that it was the Sabbath-day, at each of these distinct periods of seven days, in which Noah waited between sending forth those messengers of enquiry; and if so, what a precious thought doth it suggest, that in the ark, as on the earth, Noah religiously observed the Lord's day, as a day, particularly, to enquire of God. Psalms 5:3 . read more
4-12 The ark rested upon a mountain, whither it was directed by the wise and gracious providence of God, that might rest the sooner. God has times and places of rest for his people after their tossing; and many times he provides for their seasonable and comfortable settlement, without their own contrivance, and quite beyond their own foresight. God had told Noah when the flood would come, yet he did not give him an account by revelation, at what times and by what steps it should go away. The... read more
The Sending of the Raven and the Dove v. 6. And it came to pass at the end of forty days that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made; v. 7. and he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro until the waters were dried up from off the earth. Forty days after the summits of the highlands had become visible, Noah opened the window of the ark, that is, he took away the screen from the light-opening and let a raven fly out, his intention being to find out whether it were possible... read more
THIRD SECTIONThe Ark, and the Saved and Renewed Humanity Genesis 8:1-191And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark; and God made a wind to pass over the earth and the waters assuaged.1 2The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained. 3And the waters returned2 from off the earth continually [to go and return, חלוך ושוב]; and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters... read more
Genesis ‘CLEAR SHINING AFTER RAIN’ Gen_8:1 - Gen_8:22 . The universal tradition of a deluge is most naturally accounted for by admitting that there was a ‘universal deluge.’ But ‘universal’ does not apply to the extent as embracing the whole earth, but as affecting the small area then inhabited-an area which was probably not greater than the valleys of the Euphrates and Tigris. The story in Genesis is the Hebrew version of the universal tradition, and its plain affinity to the cuneiform... read more
Noah Leaves the Ark Genesis 8:1-22 Traditions of the Flood are found in every country, from the tablets of Babylon to the rude carvings of the Aztecs, proving man’s common origin. “God remembered Noah.” He could not forget, because He had entered into covenant with him and his. Though the floods have been abroad on your life for long years, God has not forgotten you. Sooner might a woman forget her babe! Noah’s window only looked upward. It had no outlook on the waters, therefore he sent... read more
Upborne on the billows of judgment, the Ark rode securely, holding within it the nucleus of a new departure in human history. When the work of judgment was fully accomplished, the waters decreased, and the voice that had commanded Noah to build the Ark and to enter therein called him forth. What a stupendous moment it was in the history of the race and in the experience of this man when he emerged from what had been practically a prison, and yet the vantageground of God for the continuity of... read more
The Assuaging of the Waters Genesis 8:1-22 INTRODUCTORY WORDS 1. There is a striking verse in 2 Peter 3:6-7 , which reads: "Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." The people of old willingly were ignorant. They knew not until the flood came and destroyed them all, and yet they should have known because... read more
“The Histories of the Sons of Noah” - The Flood (Genesis 6:9 b - Genesis 10:1 a) - TABLET IV It has been common practise among a large number of scholars to seek to split the flood narrative into different so-called ‘documents’. This has partly resulted from not comparing them closely enough with ancient writings as a whole and partly from over-enthusiasm for a theory. There is little real justification for it. Repetitiveness was endemic among ancient writings, and is therefore not a hint of... read more
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James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Genesis 8:1-14
DURATION AND EXTENT OF THE FLOOD When did the flood begin (Genesis 7:11 )? What shows an uprising of the oceans and seas, occasioned perhaps by a subsiding of the land? How long did the rain continue? What suggests a rising of the water even after the rain ceased (Genesis 7:17-19 )? How long did it continue to rise (Genesis 7:24 )? What circumstance mentioned in Genesis 2:5 may have given “a terrifying accompaniment” to the rain? When and where did the ark rest (Genesis 8:4 )? Ararat is... read more