Genesis 6

Genesis 6:1

MEn began] Heb. man began. Enallage of number. began to multiply] To a very great number: for they multiplied from the beginning ever since the first benediction be fruitfull and multiply, was pronounced upon them, Genesis 1:28. but now the increase of man-kind began to be very great, haply by Lamechs practise of Polygamie or having many wives together, Genesis 4:19. which from the Cainites might become a custome among the sonnes of Seth.

daughters were borne] The mentioning of daughters doth not exclude or deny the generation of sons, any more then the mentioning only of sons of Adam excludeth or denieth the generation of daughters; but here the children of that sexe are particularly spoken of, the other being presupposed or implied, because they were the occasion both of the corruption and calamity set forth in the ensuing story.

Genesis 6:2

That the sonnes of God] The most received sense of the words is, that by sonnes of God is meant not any of the Angelicall nature (though Angels be sometimes called the sonnes of God, as Job 1:6. and though the suppositious prophesie of Enoch expound this place of them,) but rationall creatures of humane kind; yet in this place distinguished from the daughters of men, not onely by their sex, but by their qualities, or by their relations; by their qualities, as persons of some eminent endowments, or estimation above others (as what is excellent is in the Scripture phrase especially intituled unto God, as the garden of God, Ezekiel 28:13. & Chap. 31. vers. 8, 9. the hill of God, Psalms 68:15. Or by their relations, as such as descending from Seth and Enosh professed the true worship of the true God, and so became capable of the title of the sonnes of God, Deuteronomy 14:1. 2 Corinthians 6:18. As on the contrary the wicked are called the children of a strange god, these being such as descended from Seth and Enos, but more remisse in Religion then their godly Ancestors, fell from their zeale for God, and against sinne, and sinfull persons, and so they were not onely willing to converse with them, but so farre fell in love with them, as to take their daughters to be their wives.

daughters of men] Heb. of man; by Enallage of number see the Note on vers. 1. By daughters of men are meant those that are come of the corrupt race of wicked and accursed Cain; who are called the daughters of men, as having little of the Image of God in their minds, or manners; and though there be mention onely of daughters, it is like they made mongrell marriages of the daughters of God with the sonnes of men, the women choosing as wicked husbands as the men did wives.

that they were faire] They had no respect to spirituall either beauty or deformitie; but a fond and fleshly affection to outward comlinesse of person.

which they chose] They chose them for wives whom their affections had chosen to be their bed-fellows, without any respect to that fitnesse which is requisite in marriage; whereof see 2 Corinthians 6:14. or any care or feare of being corrupted by unequall and wicked yoke-fellowes; Exodus 34:16. 1 Kings 11:2-3. or any regard of scandall to their profession, or griefe to the godly. See Genesis 26. last.

Genesis 6:3

My Spirit] That is, the Spirit of God, or of Christ in those few good men who lived in that corrupt and incorrigible age; by which Spirit they opposed the evill minds and manners of the wicked; and the same Spirit suggested good motions to the soules and consciences of sinfull men, which they resisted and rejected.

not alwaies strive] As before by Noahs preaching, admonishing, reproving, protesting against the wickednesse of the times, and striving with the stubbornesse of the world, 1 Peter 3:18-19. and by the inward operations of Gods Spirit urging the conscience to repentance for sinne, and reformation of life: thus for God not to strive is a judgement, as not to chastise and correct for amendment, Isaiah 1:5. and this he here threatneth being weary of their rebellious obstinacie, which moves him to make a finall resolution for their utter ruine, yet sometimes he professeth he will not strive in mercy to man-kind, Isaiah 57:16.

he also] If the word also be not completive, (as some words are also in the Greek and Latine) it may imply a diversitie of person, with a conformitie of offence; as if not onely the wicked stock of Cain were here accused of corruption, but that he also, that is, the posteritie of Sem did partake in their prevarication.

is flesh] That is, (for the most part, if not altogether) fleshly, and relishing little or nothing of the spirit, but with dislike and resistance. See Galatians 5:17.

an hundred and twenty yeares] By this God makes not the limits of man life, as appears by many examples of men living much longer, Genesis 11. and a good while after the flood Abraham lived one hundred seventy five yeares, Genesis 25:7. Isaac, one hundred eighty, Chap. 35. 28. and Jacob, one hundred fourty seven yeares, Genesis 47:28. and Jehojada, whose time was one thousand five hundred yeares after this, lived to one hundred thirty yeares, 2 Chronicles 24:15. but by these words God giveth an hundred and twenty yeares space of repentance to the world, Noah the while preaching and preparing the Ark, and thereby warning the wicked of their approaching perill, if they did not by repentance prevent it. See 1 Peter 3:20.

Genesis 6:4

Giants] Our English word Giant, cometh of the Greeke word Gigas, and that signifieth one borne of the earth: so fabulous antiquitie reporteth of a sort of mighty men, monstrous in their manners, and making warre against heaven. Macrob. Saturn. lib. 1. cap. 20. For particular Giants by name we read of Goliah and his greatnesse, 1 Samuel 17:1, 4, 5. Of Og of the race of ancient Giants, Deuteronomy 3:11. who is said to remaine of the remnant of the Giants before the flood, (a the Jewes faine) that what with his owne height and the height of an hill was saved from drowning in the Deluge: but he was a mighty Tyrant of a later rise and race, as of wicked Cham; and he is said to be left as a remnant in that Countrey where all but himselfe were destroyed, or driven out, of Ishbibeob, 2 Samuel 21:16. who is said to be the sonne of the Giant, or Rapha, as in the Margine (whence are the Lephaims, Genesis 14:5.) which signifieth to cure; as some render it, who will have a Giant to be so called by the contrary, as in Latine mons a non movendo, a mountaine; lucus a non lucendo, a grove; bellum quasi minime bellum, warre; but it signifieth sound, also strong, potent, boisterous: the word here used is nephilim, which some take in a good sense, and make the nephilim to be men of honourable note and renoune: it is derived of the radix aphal, which signifieth he hath fallen: and so we may take them for men of stature, mightie in power, fierce of nature, Apostates from God, fallen from true Religion, and falling upon such as were weaker then themselves with Tyrannicall violence and oppression. See Job 16:14.

of renoune] To be renouned is to be named againe; so that men of renoune are those whose names are iterated, who are often mentioned, or much spoken of: so are such persons who are either notable or notorious for any eminent difference from ordinary men.

Genesis 6:5

every imagination] So also, Chap. 8. 21. imagination of the thoughts; or, every figment; or, all the cogitations, (as some render the originall). The figment of the thought is what the mind fashioneth or frameth by thinking within it selfe: the Hebrew word Jetser, signifieth not onely, the imagination, but also the purpose and desire of man: and hereby is meant that internall taint of corrupt nature, which makes a mint of evill imaginations in the head, a sinke of inordinate affections in the heart, useth the memory as a closet or store-house of sinfull fancies and impure impressions.

Genesis 6:6

it repenteth] This is spoken of God by a figure called Anthropopathia, whereby humane passions for mans better apprehension are ascribed to God; & wherby we are to understand that as man, when he repenteth changeth his act, so God when he changeth his act is said to repent, the cause by a Metonymie being put for the effect: for repentance being properly a trouble of minde or conscience for some fault, over-sight or impotence to effect what one would, cannot consist with the infinite goodnesse, and wisdome, or power of God, who is not as man that he should repent in a proper sense, 1 Samuel 15:29. in whom there is no variablenesse nor shadow of change, James 1:17. since there is no frailty or ficklenesse in him; no error in his counsels, no deceiving of his expectations, no disappointment of his purpose; and though there be in him a will many times to change his owne act, yet is there not at any time in him a change of his will.

grieved him at the heart] In property of speech God hath neither heart, nor griefe; for he is a most pure and uncompounded Spirit, impossible to suffer any thing that can afflict: this therefore is a continuation of the former figure. See the precedent Annotation.

Genesis 6:7

both man and beast] Heb. from man unto beast. The punishment beginneth at man, who did deserve it, and goeth on to beasts, which for his sake are punished, as well as for his sake they were created. See Annot. on vers. 17.

Genesis 6:9

just and perfect] Noah was just and perfect, not simply, but in his generation: that is, compared with those of his time: or, he was just and perfect; that is, sincere in his profession of Religion without hypocrisie; but not perfect; that is, free from all sin; so that it was of grace, not of right, that God accepted him, vers. 8. and he was justified not by workes, but by faith before God, Hebrews 11:7.

Genesis 6:10

Sem] See Annot. on Chap. 5. last.

Genesis 6:11

The earth was corrupt] That is, all People or Nations of the earth were corrupted with sin, as an infected body with putrefied sores, Isaiah 1:6. with all sorts of sinne, especially with lust, violence, and idolatry; though God by his absolute power might marre all creatures that he had made, for he may doe with his owne as he listeth, as the Potter may doe with his vessell, yet he that made man without his helpe, will not destroy man without his fault: So that his wickednesse makes Apologie for Gods Justice, though nothing in man be meritorious of mercy, and he hath none to charge with his calamitie but himselfe, Hosea 13:9. Isaiah 1:19.

Genesis 6:12

all flesh] That is, of all the living creatures that live not in the waters, especially man, so called chiefly in regard of the opposition in man of the flesh to the spirit, against which it lusteth. See Annot on vers. 5. & Psalms 14:1-3. & Romans 3:10-18. and this corruption being generall in all flesh, is a ready preparation and provocation on mans part for a generall perdition from the Justice of God.

Genesis 6:13

before me] I have resolved upon the ruine of all flesh, it is so before me, or in my view, that I will not looke besides it untill my Decree of destruction be put in execution.

through them] That is, the sonnes of men, or the people of the earth called before by the name of flesh.

I will destroy] Or, am corrupting, or, ready to destroy or corrupt.

with the earth] Or, from the earth; The substance of the earth was not destroyed by water, as it shall be by fire, 2 Peter 3:10. and it may be many of the strongest buildings (and perhaps some plants also) might remaine unruined or not wholly demolished; but the richest fruits were so overwhelmed that they were for the most part utterly destroyed.

an Arke] Though it were to doe the office of a ship it had the forme of an Arke or Chest, plaine below, on each side, and almost above also, save that towards the top, it had a little rising up like the cover of a coffin; and this rising was about the measure of a cubite, vers. 16. which was made ridge-wise as the slooped roofe of an house, that rain might rather slide down from it then rest upon it; this cubite was above the measure of thirtie cubits which was the altitude or height of the Arke.

Gopher wood] This word is used but once in the Scripture, some take it to be a Pine tree, some a Firre tree, some a Cedar tree; the Firre tree would serve for boards and planks, Cedars for Masts, Ezekiel 27:5. and it may be any of them; or in generall any tree that yeelds gumme or Rosin, and so it is of neere sound and signification with the word Gopher which signifieth bituminous or rosinous, that is, of brimstone or rosin; and such wood is both of good sent and of long continuance.

roomes] Hebr. nests.

Pitcht it] Not onely for closenesse but for better and wholesomer sent.

Genesis 6:15

three hundred cubits] The length is ten times the height of it, for ten times thirtie is three hundred, and fixe times the breadth of it, for sixe times fiftie is three hundred, which some conceive to be in proportion of mans body rightly framed, measured from head to foot for the length, from the right side to the left for the breadth, and from the outside of the breast to the outside of the backe for the depth of it. The Arke may seeme greater or lesser according to the difference of cubits, which was of three degrees: 1. The common cubit containing five palmes of foure fingers breadth: 2. The cubit of the Sanctuary, which is one palme more, Ezekiel 40:5. and the third is the Geometricall cubite, six times as great as the common cubit. If the first or second sort of cubit be too little for capacitie for all the creatures with their provision, which were to be lodged in it from the beginning untill the ceasing of the flood, the last will be sufficient and to spare.

Genesis 6:16

A window] This was some especiall window towards the top of the Arke by which light might be derived into the roomes, which it is like had other windows besides this (though as some thinke) the lowest roome had none at all for that they suppose most of it was sunke into the waters; which yet might be otherwise, for the Arke being flat below, not ridged as a ship, it might float upon the surface of the water, for which purpose it had that figure; however God might easily keep it up for the better use of the creatures within it. The windows might have some transparent cover to keepe out wind or raine, as of glasse or horne or some other thing, by which light might be let in; for either the Ancient Patriarchs might by the experience of their long lives finde out many excellent helps to any purpose; or to such a one as this revelation might make out what observation or invention could not devise to doe.

finish it above] The Arke, not the window; (for that measure would be too little) which shall be raised in the roofe of it a cubit. See 1. note on vers. 14.

a doore] Which was wide enough, and high enough to receive an Elephant or a Camel: of the capacitie of the Arke most doubt, many dispute, and some deny that it could containe so many creatures with necessary provision for them all for so long a time as the flood prevailed; but if there were more in the matter then is consonant to common reason, there was so much miraculous in this destructive judgement, and preservative prudence of God, that faith may goe on where reason is at a stand; yet reason may reach it so farre as to evict it not onely possible but probable; but the word of God doth make the truth of it infallible.

Genesis 6:17

I, even I] An emphaticall doubling of the person importing both the proprietie of the Author and certaintie of the act, as Genesis 9:9. Exodus 14:17. Leviticus 26:28. Numbers 3:12. Ezekiel 5:8. & Chap. 6. 3. &c. 34. 11. & Hosea 5:14. in these places God useth the repetition of himselfe: the like is used sometimes by men, as by Eliah, 1 Kings 18:22. by Artaxerxes, Ezra 7:21. by Daniel, Daniel 8:15.

doe bring] The commination of judgement to come is set down in the present tense, to expresse assurance of event; as being as sure to be done, as if it were now in doing: for the same end prophesies are many times set down in the preter tense, as if they were already come to passe, because they shall assuredly be fulfilled, Revelation 18:2. and many other places.

every thing shall die.] Death is the reward of sinne, Genesis 2:17. Romans 6:23. and this a proportionable reward; for as sin was generall, ver. 12. so is death in this place; yet here the punishment goeth further then the guilt, for those must die that never sinned, because they that sinned deserved the curse not onely in their own persons, but their appurtenances, Genesis 3:19. And Genesis 6:7. & Genesis 8:21. Psalms 107:34. Micah 3:12.

Genesis 6:18

my covenant] Because Noah was now not onely by word, but by a strange work, to forewarne a whole world of wicked ones of imminent destruction, and therefore was like from men to receive much discouragement by derision, both of his commination of danger, and preparation against it; God, to confirme him in that great enterprize, maketh a covenant with him, that his faith might not faile, and so he might be assured both that he who made the world, could marre it if he pleased, and that he who was able both to make and marre it, could save whom he pleased from perdition.

and thy sonnes] Ham as well as Shem and Iaphet: Bad children, if they have good parents, are partakers of some temporall favours for their parents sake, 1 Kings 11:12-13. None besides these; no, not the Carpenters that made the Ark, had any entertainment in the Ark: They wrought, it seems, as Noah’s workmen for their hire, not apprehending their work as a service to Gods providence, in preservation of a seed-plot for a second world: It may be so with some Preachers, who preach others into the Church, and live themselves out of it; so it falleth out with them, as Paul feared of himselfe, 1 Corinthians 9:27.

Genesis 6:19

of every living thing] That lived in the aire and earth; for fishes and such other creatures, as lived in their element, would be as safe in the water, as those that were reserved in the Arke.

Genesis 6:20

Of fowles] In probability the fowles first entred and were placed highest, next below them were the beasts, and lowest of all, according to their naturall habitation, were the creeping creatures; all which came in to Noah by a divine instinct, or by the ministery of Angels, as they came before Adam to receive their names, Ghap. 21. 19. so that he needed neither to goe on hunting for the beasts, nor on hawking for the birds.

Genesis 6:21

all food] Such as was suitable to the nature of every living creature; therefore flesh for the Lion, who feeds most on it; wherein (as there was need) God instructed Noah both in the quality and quantity, which was proportioned to their continuance in the Arke, (the time whereof was known by God onely) and to the time of the earths barrennesse afterward; for after Noah’s returne to land, and his sowing of the ground, there must be time to ripen the corne before reaping in harvest. In all this, God serves his own providence by humane meanes, without which he could have easily saved man either from the water, on the water, or in the water.

Genesis 6:22

according to all] So also Chap. 7. vers. 5. he obeyed Gods command in all the particulars prescribed, without adding or diminishing; yea, without doubting or disputing: and though many things were very strange, and full of difficulty to be done, (the attempt whereof was like to be entertained with opposition and derision of the whole world) yet by his faith he overcame them all, Hebrews 11:7. for faith is a victorious grace, victorious over the world, 1 John 5:4.