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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Genesis, Chapter VIII].</TITLE>
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"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1></center>
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC01007.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC01009.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<A NAME="Page64"> </A>
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>G E N E S I S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. VIII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In the close of the foregoing chapter we left the world in ruins and
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the church in straits; but in this chapter we have the repair of
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the one and the enlargement of the other. Now the scene alters,
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and another face of things begins to be presented to us, and the
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brighter side of that cloud which there appeared so black and
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dark; for, though God contend long, he will not contend for
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ever, nor be always wrath. We have here, I. The earth made
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anew, by the recess of the waters, and the appearing of the dry
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land, now a second time, and both gradual.
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1. The increase of
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the waters is stayed,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+8:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>.
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2. They begin sensibly to abate,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+8:3">ver. 3</A>.
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3. After sixteen days' ebbing, the ark rests,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+8:4">ver. 4</A>.
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4. After sixty days' ebbing, the tops of the mountains appeared
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above water,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+8:5">ver. 5</A>.
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5. After forty days' ebbing, and twenty days
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before the mountains appeared, Noah began to send out his
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spies, a raven and a dove, to gain intelligence,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+8:6=12">ver. 6-12</A>.
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6. Two months after the appearing of the tops of the mountains, the
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waters had gone, and the face of the earth was dry
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+8:13">ver. 13</A>),
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though not dried so as to be fit for man till almost two months
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after,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+8:14">ver. 14</A>.
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II. Man placed anew upon the earth, in which,
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1. Noah's discharge and departure out of the ark,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+8:15-19">ver. 15-19</A>.
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2. His sacrifice of praise, which he offered to God upon his enlargement,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+8:20">ver. 20</A>.
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3. God's acceptance of his sacrifice, and the promise
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he made thereupon not to drown the world again,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+8:21,22">ver. 21, 22</A>.
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And thus, at length, mercy rejoices against judgment.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ge8_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge8_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge8_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Earth Becomes Dry.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 2349.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And God remembered Noah, and
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every living thing, and all the
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cattle that <I>was</I> with him in the ark:
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and God made a wind to pass over
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the earth, and the waters assuaged;
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2 The fountains also of the deep and
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the windows of heaven were stopped,
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and the rain from heaven was restrained;
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3 And the waters returned
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from off the earth continually: and
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after the end of the hundred and fifty
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days the waters were abated.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. An act of God's grace: <I>God
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remembered Noah and every living thing.</I>
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This is an expression after the manner of
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men; for not any of his creatures
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:6">Luke xii. 6</A>),
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much less any of his people, are forgotten
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of God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+49:15,16">Isa. xlix. 15, 16</A>.
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But,
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1. The whole
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race of mankind, except Noah and his
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family, was now extinguished, and driven
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into the land of forgetfulness, to be remembered
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no more; so that God's remembering
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Noah was the return of his mercy to mankind,
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of whom he would not make a full
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end. It is a strange expression,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+5:13">Ezek. v. 13</A>,
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<I>When I have accomplished my fury in them,
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I will be comforted.</I> The demands of divine
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justice had been answered by the ruin of
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those sinners; he had eased him of his
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adversaries
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+1:24">Isa. i. 24</A>),
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and now his spirit
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was quieted
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+6:8">Zech. vi. 8</A>),
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and <I>he remembered
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Noah and every living thing.</I> He remembered
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mercy in wrath
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:2">Hab. iii. 2</A>),
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remembered the days of old
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+63:11">Isa. lxiii. 11</A>),
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remembered the holy seed, and then remembered
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Noah.
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2. Noah himself, though one
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that had found grace in the eyes of the Lord,
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yet seemed to be forgotten in the ark, and
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perhaps began to think himself so; for we
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do not find that God had told him how long
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he should be confined and when he should
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be released. Very good men have sometimes
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been ready to conclude themselves forgotten
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of God, especially when their afflictions have
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been unusually grievous and long. Perhaps
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Noah, though a great believer, yet when he
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found the flood continuing so long after it
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might reasonably be presumed to have done
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its work, was tempted to fear lest he that
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shut him in would keep him in, and began
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to expostulate. <I>How long wilt thou forget
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me?</I> But at length God returned in mercy
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to him, and this is expressed by remembering
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him. Note, Those that remember God
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shall certainly be remembered by him, how
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desolate and disconsolate soever their condition
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may be. He will appoint them a set time
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and remember them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+14:13">Job xiv. 13</A>.
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3. With
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Noah, God remembered every living thing;
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for, though his delight is especially in the
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sons of men, yet he rejoices in all his works,
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and hates nothing that he has made. He
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takes special care, not only of his people's
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persons, but of their possessions--of them
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and all that belongs to them. He considered
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the cattle of Nineveh,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jon+4:11">Jon. iv. 11</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. An act of God's power over wind and
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water, both of which are at his beck, though
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neither of them is under man's control.
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Observe,</P>
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<P>
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1. He commanded the wind, and said to
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that, <I>Go,</I> and it went, in order to the carrying
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off of the flood: <I>God made a wind to
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pass over the earth.</I> See here,
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(1.) What
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was God's remembrance of Noah: it was
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his relieving him. Note, Those whom God
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remembers he remembers effectually, for
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good; he remembers us to save us, that we
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may remember him to serve him.
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(2.) What
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a sovereign dominion God has over the
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winds. He has them in his fist
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+30:4">Prov. xxx. 4</A>)
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and brings them out of his treasuries,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+135:7">Ps. cxxxv. 7</A>.
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He sends them when, and
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whither, and for what purposes, he pleases.
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Even stormy winds fulfil his word,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+148:8">Ps. cxlviii. 8</A>.
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It should seem, while the waters
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increased, there was no wind; for that
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would have added to the toss of the ark; but
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now God sent a wind, when it would not be
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so troublesome. Probably, it was a north
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wind, for that drives away rain. However,
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it was a drying wind, such a wind as God
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sent to divide the Red Sea before Israel,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+14:21">Exod. xiv. 21</A>.</P>
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<P>
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2. He remanded the waters, and said to
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them, <I>Come,</I> and they came.
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(1.) He took
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away the cause. He sealed up the springs of
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those waters, <I>the fountains of the great deep,
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and the windows of heaven.</I> Note,
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[1.] As
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God has a key to open, so he has a key to
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shut up again, and to stay the progress of
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judgments by stopping the causes of them:
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and the same hand that brings the desolation
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must bring the deliverance; to that
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hand therefore our eye must ever be. He
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that wounds is alone able to heal. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+12:14">Job xii. 14, 15</A>.
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[2.] When afflictions have done
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the work for which they are sent, whether
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killing work or curing work, they shall be
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removed. God's word shall not return void,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+55:10,11">Isa. lv. 10, 11</A>.
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(2.) Then the effect ceased;
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not all at once, but by degrees: <I>The waters
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abated</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+8:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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<I>returned from off the earth continually,</I>
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Heb. they were <I>going and returning</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+8:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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which denotes a gradual departure.
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<A NAME="Page65"> </A>
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The heat of the sun exhaled much, and perhaps
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the subterraneous caverns soaked in
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more. Note, As the earth was not drowned
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in a day, so it was not dried in a day. In
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the creation, it was but one day's work to
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clear the earth from the waters that covered
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it, and to make it dry land; nay, it was but
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half a day's work,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+1:9,10"><I>ch.</I> i. 9, 10</A>.
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But, the
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work of creation being finished, this work of
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providence was effected by the concurring
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influence of second causes, yet thus enforced
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by the almighty power of God. God usually
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works deliverance for his people gradually,
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that the day of small things may not be
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despised, nor the day of great things
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despaired of,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+4:10">Zech. iv. 10</A>.
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See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+4:18">Prov. iv. 18</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="Ge8_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge8_5"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>4 And the ark rested in the seventh
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month, on the seventeenth day of the
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month, upon the mountains of Ararat.
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5 And the waters decreased continually
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until the tenth month: in the
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tenth <I>month,</I> on the first <I>day</I> of the
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month, were the tops of the mountains
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seen.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here we have the effects and evidences of
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the ebbing of the waters.
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1. The ark rested.
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This was some satisfaction to Noah, to feel
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the house he was in upon firm ground, and
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no longer movable. It rested upon a mountain,
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whither it was directed, not by Noah's
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prudence (he did not steer it), but by the
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wise and gracious providence of God, that it
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might rest the sooner. Note, God has times
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and places of rest for his people after their
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tossings; and many a time he provides for
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their seasonable and comfortable settlement
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without their own contrivance and quite
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beyond their own foresight. The ark of
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the church, though sometimes tossed with
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||
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|
tempests, and not comforted
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+54:11">Isa. liv. 11</A>),
|
||
|
|
yet has its rests,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+9:31">Acts ix. 31</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The tops of
|
||
|
|
the mountains were seen, like little islands,
|
||
|
|
appearing above the water. We must suppose
|
||
|
|
that they were seen by Noah and his
|
||
|
|
sons; for there were none besides to see
|
||
|
|
them. It is probable that they had looked
|
||
|
|
through the window of the ark every day,
|
||
|
|
like the longing mariners, after a tedious
|
||
|
|
voyage, to see if they could discover land, or
|
||
|
|
as the prophet's servant
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+18:43,44">1 Kings xviii. 43, 44</A>),
|
||
|
|
and at length they spy ground,
|
||
|
|
and enter the day of the discovery in their
|
||
|
|
journal. They felt ground above forty days
|
||
|
|
before they saw it, according to Dr. Lightfoot's
|
||
|
|
computation, whence he infers that, if
|
||
|
|
the waters decreased proportionably, the ark
|
||
|
|
drew eleven cubits in water.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge8_6"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge8_7"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge8_8"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge8_9"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge8_10"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge8_11"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge8_12"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>6 And it came to pass at the end
|
||
|
|
of forty days, that Noah opened the
|
||
|
|
window of the ark which he had
|
||
|
|
made:
|
||
|
|
7 And he sent forth a raven,
|
||
|
|
which went forth to and fro, until the
|
||
|
|
waters were dried up from off the
|
||
|
|
earth.
|
||
|
|
8 Also he sent forth a dove
|
||
|
|
from him, to see if the waters were
|
||
|
|
abated from off the face of the ground;
|
||
|
|
9 But the dove found no rest for the
|
||
|
|
sole of her foot, and she returned
|
||
|
|
unto him into the ark, for the waters
|
||
|
|
<I>were</I> on the face of the whole earth:
|
||
|
|
then he put forth his hand, and took
|
||
|
|
her, and pulled her in unto him into
|
||
|
|
the ark.
|
||
|
|
10 And he stayed yet other
|
||
|
|
seven days; and again he sent forth
|
||
|
|
the dove out of the ark;
|
||
|
|
11 And
|
||
|
|
the dove came in to him in the evening;
|
||
|
|
and, lo, in her mouth <I>was</I> an
|
||
|
|
olive leaf plucked off: so Noah knew
|
||
|
|
that the waters were abated from off
|
||
|
|
the earth.
|
||
|
|
12 And he stayed yet
|
||
|
|
other seven days; and sent forth the
|
||
|
|
dove; which returned not again unto
|
||
|
|
him any more.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
We have here an account of the spies
|
||
|
|
which Noah sent forth to bring him intelligence
|
||
|
|
from abroad, a raven and a dove.
|
||
|
|
Observe here,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. That though God had told Noah particularly
|
||
|
|
when the flood would come, even
|
||
|
|
to a day
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+7:4"><I>ch.</I> vii. 4</A>),
|
||
|
|
yet he did not give him
|
||
|
|
a particular account by revelation at what
|
||
|
|
times, and by what steps, it should <I>go away,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Because the knowledge of the former was
|
||
|
|
necessary to his preparing the ark, and settling
|
||
|
|
himself in it; but the knowledge of the
|
||
|
|
latter would serve only to gratify his curiosity,
|
||
|
|
and the concealing of it from him
|
||
|
|
would be the needful exercise of his faith and
|
||
|
|
patience. And,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. He could not foresee the
|
||
|
|
flood, but by revelation; but he might, by
|
||
|
|
ordinary means, discover the decrease of it,
|
||
|
|
and therefore God was pleased to leave him
|
||
|
|
to the use of them.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. That though Noah by faith expected
|
||
|
|
his enlargement, and by patience waited for
|
||
|
|
it, yet he was inquisitive concerning it, as
|
||
|
|
one that thought it long to be thus confined.
|
||
|
|
Note, Desires of release out of trouble,
|
||
|
|
earnest expectations of it, and enquiries concerning
|
||
|
|
its advances towards us, will very
|
||
|
|
well consist with the sincerity of faith and
|
||
|
|
patience. <I>He that believes does not make
|
||
|
|
haste</I> to run before God, but he does make
|
||
|
|
haste to go forth to meet him,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+28:16">Isa. xxviii. 16</A>.
|
||
|
|
Particularly,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Noah sent forth a raven
|
||
|
|
through the window of the ark, which went
|
||
|
|
forth, as the Hebrew phrase is, <I>going forth
|
||
|
|
and returning,</I> that is, flying about, and
|
||
|
|
feeding on the carcases that floated, but returning
|
||
|
|
to the ark for rest; probably not in
|
||
|
|
it, but upon it. This gave Noah little satisfaction;
|
||
|
|
therefore,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. He sent forth a dove,
|
||
|
|
which returned the first time with no good
|
||
|
|
news, but probably wet and dirty; but, the
|
||
|
|
second time, she brought an olive-leaf in her
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Page66"> </A>
|
||
|
|
bill, which appeared to be first plucked off, a
|
||
|
|
plain indication that now the trees, the fruit-trees,
|
||
|
|
began to appear above water. Note
|
||
|
|
here,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) That Noah sent forth the dove the
|
||
|
|
second time seven days after the first time,
|
||
|
|
and the third time was after seven days too;
|
||
|
|
and probably the first sending of her out was
|
||
|
|
seven days after the sending forth of the
|
||
|
|
raven. This intimates that it was done on
|
||
|
|
the sabbath day, which, it should seem,
|
||
|
|
Noah religiously observed in the ark. Having
|
||
|
|
kept the sabbath in a solemn assembly of
|
||
|
|
his little church, he then expected special
|
||
|
|
blessings from heaven, and enquired concerning
|
||
|
|
them. Having directed his prayer,
|
||
|
|
he looked up,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+5:3">Ps. v. 3</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) The dove is an
|
||
|
|
emblem of a gracious soul, which finding no
|
||
|
|
rest for its foot, no solid peace or satisfaction
|
||
|
|
in this world, this deluged defiling world,
|
||
|
|
returns to Christ as to its ark, as to its
|
||
|
|
Noah. The carnal heart, like the raven,
|
||
|
|
takes up with the world, and feeds on the
|
||
|
|
carrions it finds there; <I>but return thou to thy
|
||
|
|
rest, O my soul,</I> to thy <I>Noah,</I> so the word is,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+116:7">Ps. cxvi. 7</A>.
|
||
|
|
<I>O that I had wings like a dove,</I>
|
||
|
|
to flee to him!
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+55:6">Ps. lv. 6</A>.
|
||
|
|
And as Noah put
|
||
|
|
forth his hand, and took the dove, and pulled
|
||
|
|
her in to him, into the ark, so Christ will
|
||
|
|
graciously preserve, and help, and welcome,
|
||
|
|
those that fly to him for rest.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) The
|
||
|
|
olive-branch, which was an emblem of peace,
|
||
|
|
was brought, not by the raven, a bird of
|
||
|
|
prey, nor by a gay and proud peacock, but
|
||
|
|
by a mild, patient, humble dove. It is a
|
||
|
|
dove-like disposition that brings into the
|
||
|
|
soul earnests of rest and joy.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) Some
|
||
|
|
make these things an allegory. The law was
|
||
|
|
first sent forth like the raven, but brought
|
||
|
|
no tidings of the assuaging of the waters of
|
||
|
|
God's wrath, with which the world of mankind
|
||
|
|
was deluged; therefore, in the fulness
|
||
|
|
of time, God sent forth his gospel, as the
|
||
|
|
dove, in the likeness of which the Holy
|
||
|
|
Spirit descended, and this presents us with
|
||
|
|
an olive-branch and brings in a better hope.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge8_13"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge8_14"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>13 And it came to pass in the six
|
||
|
|
hundredth and first year, in the first
|
||
|
|
<I>month,</I> the first <I>day</I> of the month, the
|
||
|
|
waters were dried up from off the
|
||
|
|
earth: and Noah removed the covering
|
||
|
|
of the ark, and looked, and, behold,
|
||
|
|
the face of the ground was dry.
|
||
|
|
14 And in the second month, on the
|
||
|
|
seven and twentieth day of the month,
|
||
|
|
was the earth dried.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Here is, 1. The ground dry
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+8:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>),
|
||
|
|
that is,
|
||
|
|
all the water carried off it, which, upon the
|
||
|
|
first day of the first month (a joyful new-year's-day
|
||
|
|
it was), Noah was himself an eye-witness
|
||
|
|
of. He <I>removed the covering of the
|
||
|
|
ark,</I> not the whole covering, but so much as
|
||
|
|
would suffice to give him a prospect of the
|
||
|
|
earth about it; and a most comfortable
|
||
|
|
prospect he had. For behold, behold and
|
||
|
|
wonder, <I>the face of the ground was dry.</I>
|
||
|
|
Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) It is a great mercy to see ground
|
||
|
|
about us. Noah was more sensible of it than
|
||
|
|
we are; for mercies restored are much more
|
||
|
|
affecting than mercies continued.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) The
|
||
|
|
divine power which now renewed the face of
|
||
|
|
the earth can renew the face of an afflicted
|
||
|
|
troubled soul and of a distressed persecuted
|
||
|
|
church. He can make dry ground to appear
|
||
|
|
even where it seemed to have been lost and
|
||
|
|
forgotten,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+18:16">Ps. xviii. 16</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The ground
|
||
|
|
dried
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+8:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
|
||
|
|
so as to be a fit habitation for
|
||
|
|
Noah. Observe, Though Noah saw the ground
|
||
|
|
dry the first day of the first month, yet God
|
||
|
|
would not suffer him to go out of the ark
|
||
|
|
till the twenty-seventh day of the second
|
||
|
|
month. Perhaps Noah, being somewhat
|
||
|
|
weary of his restraint, would have quitted
|
||
|
|
the ark at first; but God, in kindness to
|
||
|
|
him, ordered him to stay so much longer.
|
||
|
|
Note, God consults our benefit rather than
|
||
|
|
our desires; for he knows what is good for
|
||
|
|
us better than we do for ourselves, and how
|
||
|
|
long it is fit our restraints should continue
|
||
|
|
and desired mercies should be delayed. We
|
||
|
|
would go out of the ark before the ground is
|
||
|
|
dried: and perhaps, if the door be shut, are
|
||
|
|
ready to remove the covering, and to climb
|
||
|
|
up some other way; but we should be satisfied
|
||
|
|
that God's time of showing mercy is
|
||
|
|
certainly the best time, when the mercy is
|
||
|
|
ripe for us and we are ready for it.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge8_15"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge8_16"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge8_17"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge8_18"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge8_19"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>15 And God spake unto Noah,
|
||
|
|
saying,
|
||
|
|
16 Go forth of the ark, thou,
|
||
|
|
and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy
|
||
|
|
sons' wives with thee.
|
||
|
|
17 Bring
|
||
|
|
forth with thee every living thing
|
||
|
|
that <I>is</I> with thee, of all flesh, <I>both</I> of
|
||
|
|
fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping
|
||
|
|
thing that creepeth upon the
|
||
|
|
earth; that they may breed abundantly
|
||
|
|
in the earth, and be fruitful,
|
||
|
|
and multiply upon the earth.
|
||
|
|
18 And Noah went forth, and his sons,
|
||
|
|
and his wife, and his sons' wives with
|
||
|
|
him:
|
||
|
|
19 Every beast, every creeping
|
||
|
|
thing, and every fowl, <I>and</I> whatsoever
|
||
|
|
creepeth upon the earth, after
|
||
|
|
their kinds, went forth out of the ark.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Here is,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. Noah's dismission out of the
|
||
|
|
ark,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+8:15-17"><I>v.</I> 15-17</A>.
|
||
|
|
Observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Noah did not
|
||
|
|
stir till God bade him. As he had a command
|
||
|
|
to go into the ark
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+7:1"><I>ch.</I> vii. 1</A>),
|
||
|
|
so, how
|
||
|
|
tedious soever his confinement there was,
|
||
|
|
he would wait for a command to go out of
|
||
|
|
it again. Note, We must in all our ways
|
||
|
|
acknowledge God, and set him before us in
|
||
|
|
all our removes. Those only go under God's
|
||
|
|
protection that follow God's direction and
|
||
|
|
submit to his government. Those that
|
||
|
|
steadily adhere to God's word as their rule,
|
||
|
|
and are guided by his grace as their principle,
|
||
|
|
and take hints from his providence to assist
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Page67"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
them in their application of general directions
|
||
|
|
to particular cases, may in faith see him
|
||
|
|
guiding their motions in their march through
|
||
|
|
this wilderness.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Though God detained
|
||
|
|
him long, yet at last he gave him his discharge;
|
||
|
|
for <I>the vision is for an appointed
|
||
|
|
time, and at the end it shall speak,</I> it shall
|
||
|
|
speak truth
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+2:3">Hab. ii. 3</A>),
|
||
|
|
it shall not lie.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. God had said, <I>Come into the ark</I> which
|
||
|
|
he says, not, <I>Come forth,</I> but, Go <I>forth,</I>
|
||
|
|
which intimates that God, who went in with
|
||
|
|
him, staid with him all the while, till he sent
|
||
|
|
him out safely; for he has said, <I>I will not
|
||
|
|
leave thee.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. Some observe that, when they
|
||
|
|
were ordered into the ark, the men and the
|
||
|
|
women were mentioned separately
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+6:18"><I>ch.</I> vi. 18</A>):
|
||
|
|
<I>Thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons'
|
||
|
|
wives;</I> hence they infer that, during the
|
||
|
|
time of mourning, they were apart, and their
|
||
|
|
wives apart,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+12:12">Zech. xii. 12</A>.
|
||
|
|
But now God
|
||
|
|
did as it were new-marry them, sending out
|
||
|
|
Noah and his wife together, and his sons and
|
||
|
|
their wives together, that they might be
|
||
|
|
fruitful and multiply.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
5. Noah was ordered
|
||
|
|
to bring the creatures out with him, that
|
||
|
|
having taken the care of feeding them so
|
||
|
|
long, and been at so much pains about them,
|
||
|
|
he might have the honour of leading them
|
||
|
|
forth by their armies, and receiving their
|
||
|
|
homage.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. Noah's departure when he had his
|
||
|
|
dismission. As he would not go out without
|
||
|
|
leave, so he would not, out of fear or humour,
|
||
|
|
stay in when he had leave, but was in all
|
||
|
|
points observant of the heavenly vision.
|
||
|
|
Though he had been now a full year and
|
||
|
|
ten days a prisoner in the ark, yet when he
|
||
|
|
found himself preserved there, not only for a
|
||
|
|
new life, but for a new world, he saw no
|
||
|
|
reason to complain of his long confinement.
|
||
|
|
Now observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Noah and his family came
|
||
|
|
out alive, though one of them was a wicked
|
||
|
|
Ham, whom, though he escaped the flood,
|
||
|
|
God's justice could have taken away by some
|
||
|
|
other stroke. But they are all alive. Note,
|
||
|
|
When families have been long continued
|
||
|
|
together, and no breaches made among them,
|
||
|
|
it must be looked upon as a distinguishing
|
||
|
|
favour, and attributed to the Lord's mercies.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Noah brought out all the creatures that
|
||
|
|
went in with him, except the raven and the
|
||
|
|
dove, which, probably, were ready to meet
|
||
|
|
their mates at their coming out. Noah was
|
||
|
|
able to give a very good account of his
|
||
|
|
charge; for of all that were given to him he
|
||
|
|
had lost none, but was faithful to him that
|
||
|
|
appointed him, <I>pro hac vice--on this occasion,</I>
|
||
|
|
high steward of his household.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge8_20"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge8_21"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge8_22"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Noah's Sacrifice.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 2348.</TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>20 And Noah builded an altar unto
|
||
|
|
the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; and took of every clean
|
||
|
|
beast, and of every clean fowl, and
|
||
|
|
offered burnt offerings on the altar.
|
||
|
|
21 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> smelled a sweet
|
||
|
|
savour; and the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said in his
|
||
|
|
heart, I will not again curse the ground
|
||
|
|
any more for man's sake; for the
|
||
|
|
imagination of man's heart <I>is</I> evil from
|
||
|
|
his youth; neither will I again smite
|
||
|
|
any more every thing living, as I have
|
||
|
|
done.
|
||
|
|
22 While the earth remaineth,
|
||
|
|
seedtime and harvest, and cold and
|
||
|
|
heat, and summer and winter, and
|
||
|
|
day and night shall not cease.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Here is, I. Noah's thankful acknowledgment
|
||
|
|
of God's favour to him, in completing
|
||
|
|
the mercy of his deliverance,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+8:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. He
|
||
|
|
<I>built an altar.</I> Hitherto he had done nothing
|
||
|
|
without particular instructions and commands
|
||
|
|
from God. He had a particular call
|
||
|
|
into the ark, and another out of it; but,
|
||
|
|
altars and sacrifices being already of divine
|
||
|
|
institution for religious worship, he did not
|
||
|
|
stay for a particular command thus to express
|
||
|
|
his thankfulness. Those that have received
|
||
|
|
mercy from God should be forward in returning
|
||
|
|
thanks, and do it <I>not of constraint,
|
||
|
|
but willingly.</I> God is pleased with free-will
|
||
|
|
offerings, and praises that wait for him.
|
||
|
|
Noah was now turned out into a cold and
|
||
|
|
desolate world, where, one would have
|
||
|
|
thought, his first care would have been to
|
||
|
|
build a house for himself; but, behold, he
|
||
|
|
begins with an altar for God: God, that is
|
||
|
|
the first, must be first served; and he begins
|
||
|
|
well that begins with God.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. He offered
|
||
|
|
a sacrifice upon his altar, <I>of every clean beast,
|
||
|
|
and of every clean fowl</I>--one, the odd seventh
|
||
|
|
that we read of,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+7:2,3"><I>ch.</I> vii. 2, 3</A>.
|
||
|
|
Here observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) He offered only those that were clean;
|
||
|
|
for it is not enough that we sacrifice, but we
|
||
|
|
must sacrifice that which God appoints, according
|
||
|
|
to the law of sacrifice, and not a
|
||
|
|
corrupt thing.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Though his stock of
|
||
|
|
cattle was so small, and that rescued from
|
||
|
|
ruin at so great an expense of care and pains,
|
||
|
|
yet he did not grudge to give God his dues
|
||
|
|
out of it. He might have said, "Have I but
|
||
|
|
seven sheep to begin the world with, and
|
||
|
|
must one of these seven be killed and burnt
|
||
|
|
for sacrifice? Were it not better to defer it
|
||
|
|
till we have greater plenty?" No, to prove
|
||
|
|
the sincerity of his love and gratitude, he
|
||
|
|
cheerfully gives the seventh to his God, as
|
||
|
|
an acknowledgment that all was his, and
|
||
|
|
owing to him. Serving God with our little
|
||
|
|
is the way to make it more; and we must
|
||
|
|
never think that wasted with which God is
|
||
|
|
honoured.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) See here the antiquity of
|
||
|
|
religion: the first thing we find done in the
|
||
|
|
new world was an act of worship,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+6:16">Jer. vi. 16</A>.
|
||
|
|
We are now to express our thankfulness,
|
||
|
|
not by burnt-offerings, but by the sacrifices
|
||
|
|
of praise and the sacrifices of righteousness,
|
||
|
|
by pious devotions and a pious conversation.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. God's gracious acceptance of Noah's
|
||
|
|
thankfulness. It was a settled rule in the
|
||
|
|
patriarchal age: <I>If thou doest well, shalt thou
|
||
|
|
not be accepted?</I> Noah was so. For,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. God was well pleased with the
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Page68"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
performance,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+8:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
||
|
|
He <I>smelt a sweet savour,</I> or, as
|
||
|
|
it is in the Hebrew, <I>a savour of rest,</I> from it.
|
||
|
|
As, when he had made the world at first on
|
||
|
|
the seventh day, he rested and was refreshed,
|
||
|
|
so, now that he had new-made it, in the
|
||
|
|
sacrifice of the seventh he rested. He was
|
||
|
|
well pleased with Noah's pious zeal, and
|
||
|
|
these hopeful beginnings of the new world,
|
||
|
|
as men are with fragrant and agreeable
|
||
|
|
smells; though his offering was small, it was
|
||
|
|
according to his ability, and God accepted it.
|
||
|
|
Having caused his anger to rest upon the
|
||
|
|
world of sinners, he here caused his love to
|
||
|
|
rest upon this little remnant of believers.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Hereupon, he took up a resolution never
|
||
|
|
to drown the world again. Herein he had
|
||
|
|
an eye, not so much to Noah's sacrifice as to
|
||
|
|
Christ's sacrifice of himself, which was typified
|
||
|
|
and represented by it, and which was
|
||
|
|
indeed an <I>offering of a sweet-smelling savour,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+5:2">Eph. v. 2</A>.
|
||
|
|
Good security is here given, and
|
||
|
|
that which may be relied upon,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) That this judgment should never be
|
||
|
|
repeated. Noah might think, "To what purpose
|
||
|
|
should the world be repaired, when, in all
|
||
|
|
probability, for the wickedness of it, it will
|
||
|
|
quickly be in like manner ruined again?"
|
||
|
|
"No," says God, "it never shall." It was said
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+6:6"><I>ch.</I> vi. 6</A>),
|
||
|
|
<I>It repented the Lord that he had made
|
||
|
|
man;</I> now here he speaks as if it repented
|
||
|
|
him that he had destroyed man: neither
|
||
|
|
means a change of his mind, but both a
|
||
|
|
change of his way. <I>It repented him concerning
|
||
|
|
his servants,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+32:36">Deut. xxxii. 36</A>.
|
||
|
|
Two ways this resolve is expressed:--
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] <I>I will not
|
||
|
|
again curse the ground,</I> Heb. <I>I will not add
|
||
|
|
to curse the ground any more.</I> God had
|
||
|
|
cursed the ground upon the first entrance of
|
||
|
|
sin
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+3:17"><I>ch.</I> iii. 17</A>),
|
||
|
|
when he drowned it he
|
||
|
|
added to that curse; but now he determines
|
||
|
|
not to add to it any more.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] <I>Neither will
|
||
|
|
I again smite any more every living thing;</I>
|
||
|
|
that is, it was determined that whatever ruin
|
||
|
|
God might bring upon particular persons, or
|
||
|
|
families, or countries, he would never again
|
||
|
|
destroy the whole world till the day shall
|
||
|
|
come when time shall be no more. But the
|
||
|
|
reason of this resolve is very surprising, for
|
||
|
|
it seems the same in effect with the reason
|
||
|
|
given for the destruction of the world:
|
||
|
|
<I>Because the imagination of man's heart is evil
|
||
|
|
from his youth,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+6:5"><I>ch.</I> vi. 5</A>.
|
||
|
|
But there is this
|
||
|
|
difference--there it is said, <I>The imagination
|
||
|
|
of man's heart is evil continually,</I> that is,
|
||
|
|
"his actual transgressions continually cry
|
||
|
|
against him;" here it is said, It is evil <I>from
|
||
|
|
his youth or childhood.</I> It is bred in the
|
||
|
|
bone; he brought it into the world with him;
|
||
|
|
he was shapen and conceived in it. Now,
|
||
|
|
one would think it should follow, "Therefore
|
||
|
|
that guilty race shall be wholly extinguished,
|
||
|
|
and <I>I will make a full end.</I>" No, "Therefore
|
||
|
|
I will no more take this severe method;
|
||
|
|
for," <I>First,</I> "He is rather to be pitied, for
|
||
|
|
it is all the effect of sin dwelling in him; and
|
||
|
|
it is but what might be expected from such
|
||
|
|
a degenerate race: he is called a <I>transgressor
|
||
|
|
from the womb,</I> and therefore it is not strange
|
||
|
|
that he deals so very treacherously,"
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+48:8">Isa. xlviii. 8</A>.
|
||
|
|
Thus God <I>remembers that he is
|
||
|
|
flesh,</I> corrupt and sinful,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+78:39">Ps. lxxviii. 39</A>.
|
||
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> "He will be utterly ruined; for,
|
||
|
|
if he be dealt with according to his deserts,
|
||
|
|
one flood must succeed another till all be
|
||
|
|
destroyed." See here,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. That outward
|
||
|
|
judgments, though they may terrify and
|
||
|
|
restrain men, yet cannot of themselves sanctify
|
||
|
|
and renew them; the grace of God
|
||
|
|
must work with those judgments. Man's
|
||
|
|
nature was as sinful after the deluge as it
|
||
|
|
had been before.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. That God's goodness
|
||
|
|
takes occasion from man's sinfulness to magnify
|
||
|
|
itself the more; his reasons of mercy
|
||
|
|
are all drawn from himself, not from any
|
||
|
|
thing in us.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) That the course of nature should never
|
||
|
|
be discontinued
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+8:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>):
|
||
|
|
"<I>While the earth remaineth,</I>
|
||
|
|
and man upon it, there shall be
|
||
|
|
<I>summer and winter</I> (not all winter as had been
|
||
|
|
this last year), <I>day and night,</I>" not all night,
|
||
|
|
as probably it was while the rain was descending.
|
||
|
|
Here,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] It is plainly intimated that
|
||
|
|
this earth is not to remain always; it, and all
|
||
|
|
the works in it, must shortly be burnt up;
|
||
|
|
and we look for <I>new heavens and a new earth,</I>
|
||
|
|
when all these things must be dissolved.
|
||
|
|
But,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] As long as it does remain God's
|
||
|
|
providence will carefully preserve the regular
|
||
|
|
succession of times and seasons, and cause
|
||
|
|
each to know its place. To this we owe it
|
||
|
|
that the world stands, and the wheel of nature
|
||
|
|
keeps it track. See here how changeable
|
||
|
|
the times are and yet how unchangeable.
|
||
|
|
<I>First,</I> The course of nature always changing.
|
||
|
|
As it is with the times, so it is with the events
|
||
|
|
of time, they are subject to vicissitudes--<I>day
|
||
|
|
and night, summer and winter,</I> counterchanged.
|
||
|
|
In heaven and hell it is not so, but on earth
|
||
|
|
<I>God hath set the one over against the other.
|
||
|
|
Secondly,</I> Yet never changed. It is constant
|
||
|
|
in this inconstancy. These seasons have
|
||
|
|
never ceased, nor shall cease, while the sun
|
||
|
|
continued such a steady measurer of time and
|
||
|
|
the moon such a <I>faithful witness in heaven.</I>
|
||
|
|
This is <I>God's covenant of the day and of the
|
||
|
|
night,</I> the stability of which is mentioned for
|
||
|
|
the confirming of our faith in the covenant
|
||
|
|
of grace, which is no less inviolable,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+33:20,21">Jer. xxxiii. 20, 21</A>.
|
||
|
|
We see God's promises to the creatures
|
||
|
|
made good, and thence may infer that
|
||
|
|
his promises to all believers shall be so.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<!-- (End Body) -->
|
||
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|
||
|
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<HR>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
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|
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC01007.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC01009.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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