Gen. 8 The waters abate, Gen. 8:1–3. The ark rests on Mount Ararat, Gen. 8:4. The day on which the tops of the mountians were seen, noted, Gen. 8:5. Noah opens the window of the ark, Gen. 8:6; sends forth a raven, Gen. 8:7; after that a dove, Gen. 8:8, which returned, Gen. 8:9.

God remembered Noah, i.e. he showed by his actions that he minded and cared for him, or pitied and succoured him. God is said to remember his people, when after some delays or suspensions of his favour he returns and shows kindness to them, as Gen. 19:29, Gen. 30:22, Ex. 32:13, Job 14:13, Ps.

In the seventh month, from the beginning, not of the flood, but of the year, as appears by comparing Gen. 7:11, Gen. 8:13–14, the ark rested upon one of the mountains of Ararat; by a frequent enallage of the number, as Judg. 12:7, Matt. 21:5.

He sent forth a raven; a fit messenger for that purpose, because it smells dead carcasses at a great distance, and flies far, and then returneth to its former habitation with something in its bill. To and fro; Heb. going and returning; i.e.

The dove flies lower and longer than the raven, and is more sociable and familiar with man, and more constant to its accustomed dwelling, and more loving and faithful to its mate, and therefore more likely to return with some discovery.

The dove found no rest for the sole of her foot; because the tops of the hills which then appeared were either muddy and dirty, or unobserved by the dove, as not soaring so high; whence the doves are emphatically called the doves of the valleys, Ezek. 7:16.

The dove came in to him in the evening, as the manner of doves is, partly for better accommodation, both for food and lodging, than yet she could meet with abroad; and partly from her love to her mate. In her mouth was an olive leaf. Quest.

Finding convenient food and resting place upon the earth, and preferring her freedom before her mate: possibly she might lose the sight of the ark, and forget or mistake the way to it.

The words month and day are ofttimes, for brevity sake, omitted by the Hebrews, as being easily understood. Thus the first of the feast, Matt. 26:17, is the first day of the feast, Mark 14:12.

Not only from water, as it was Gen. 8:13, but from mud and dirt also. So the flood continued ten days more than a year, by comparing this with Gen. 7:11.

As Noah expected the command of God for his going into the ark, Gen. 7:1–2, so for his coming forth of it.

Quest. How could these creatures which came out of the ark in Asia get thence to America, or to the islands remote from the continent? Answ. 1. As for America, it is thought by divers learned men, that it is either joined to this continent, or separated from it only by a narrow sea, which divers…

This is the first altar we read of, but not the first which was built; for the sacrifices which were offered before, Gen. 4:3–4, presuppose an altar. Therefore it is no sufficient evidence that such things were not done because they are not said to be done in Scripture; which will be a useful…

The Lord smelled a sweet savour, i.e. graciously accepted the person and faith and praise offering of Noah, and was as well pleased therewith as men use to be with a sweet smell; and the Lord said in his heart, i.e. determined within himself, and expressed so much to Noah.

While the earth remaineth, viz. in this estate; for though it seems probable that the substance of the earth will abide for ever, after the dissolution of the world by fire; yet that will be in another manner, and for other purposes, and then there will be no need of seed-time, or harvest, & c.