VERSE 1 But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark (hb'TeB; ATai rv,a] hm'heB.h;-lK'-ta,w> hY"x;h;-lK' taew> x;nO-ta, ~yhil{a/ rKoz>YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. zakar remember + n.m.p.abs. Elohim + d.o. marker + proper noun Noah + waw w/d.o. marker + noun m.p.constr. kol all + def.art. w/noun f.s.abs. chayyah living things; wild animals + waw w/d.o. marker + noun m.s.constr. kol + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. behemah animal (domesticated) + rel.pro. asher which + part eth w/3m.s.suff. together with + prep beth w/noun f.s.abs. tebah ark]; and God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided [~yIM'h; WKvoY"w: #r,a'h'-l[; x;Wr ~yhil{a/ rbe[]Y:w: waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. abar pass over + noun m.p.abs. Elohim + noun both s.abs. ruach spirit, wind, breath + prep al upon + def.art.w/noun both s.abs. eretz earth + waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. shakak subside, abate + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. mayim waters]).

VERSE 2 Also the fountains of the deep and the floodgates of the sky were closed, and the rain from the sky was restrained (~yIm'V'h;-!mi ~v,G<h; aleK'YIw: ~yIm'V'h; tBorua]w: ~AhT. tnOy>[.m; Wrk.S'YIw: [waw w/Niphal impf.3m.p. sakar shut up; "were closed" + noun m.p.constr. ayin spring, fountain + noun both s.abs. tehom deep + waw w/noun f.p.constr. arubah window + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. shamayim sky + waw w/Niphal impf.3m.s. kala shut up, keep back, refrain + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. geshem rain (heavy) + prep min + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. shamayim sky]);

VERSE 3 and the water receded steadily from the earth, and at the end of one hundred and fifty days the water decreased (~Ay ta;m.W ~yVimix] hceq.mi ~yIM;h; Wrs.x.Y:w: bAvw" %Alh' #r,a'h' l[;me ~yIM;h; WbvuY"w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. shub (re)turn + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. mahyim waters + prep min w/prep al from upon + def.art.w/noun both s.abs. eretz + Qal infin.abs. halak walk; "receded" + waw w/Qal infin.constr. shub (re)turn; "steadily" + waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. chaser lack, be lacking; "decreased" + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. mayim waters + prep min w/noun m.s.constr. qatseh end, extremity + adj. both p.abs. chamishshim fifty + waw w/adj.f.s.constr. me-ah hundred + noun m.s.abs. yom day]).

VERSE 4 In the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat (jr'r'a] yreh' l[; vd,xol; ~Ay rf'['-h['b.viB. y[iybiV.h; vd,xoB; hb'Teh; xn:T'w: [waw w/Qal impf.3f.s. nuach rest + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. tebah ark + prep beth w/noun m.s.abs. chodesh month + prep beth w/adj.m.s. shebi-i seventh + adj.m.s.abs. ashar ten + noun m.s.abs. yom day + prep lamedh w/noun m.s.abs. chodesh month + prep al upon + noun m.p.constr. har hill, mountain + proper noun Ararat]).

VERSE 5 The water decreased steadily until the tenth month (yrIyfi[]h' vd,xoh; d[; rAsx'w> %Alh' Wyh' ~yIM;h;w> [waw w/def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. mayim waters + Qal perf.3p. hayah to be + Qal infin.constr. halak walk + waw w/Qal infin.constr. chaser lack, have a need + prep adh until + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. chodesh month + def.art.w/adj.m.s.abs. ashiri tenth]; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains became visible [~yrIh'h, yvear' War>nI vd,xol; dx'a,B. yrIyfi[]B' [prep beth w/adj.m.s.abs. ashiri tenth + prep beth w/adj.m.s.abs. echad first + prep lamedh w/noun m.s.abs. chodesh month + Niphal perf.3p. ra-ah see + noun m.p.constr. rosh top + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. char mountain, hill]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 1-5

1. The second half of the flood story begins scene 6.
2. The floodwaters have done their divine bidding- the elimination of all land bound creatures outside the ark.
3. This scene closely resembles the previous one.
4. The water continues to be the principal focus.
5. The same period of 150 days is mentioned.
6. In scene four (7:11-19) the impersonal waters were prevailing/triumphing everywhere, even to the tops of earth’s highest mountains.
7. There the waters triumph, here they retreat.
8. There the ark floats over the high mountains; here the ark comes to rest on mountains.
9. There the high mountains are covered; here they appear above the waves.
10. Here the tension relaxes and the pace of the action quickens.
11. Scene 4 moves slowly, in scene 5 the tempo accelerates.
12. The common feature is that what happens with the water is gradualness of retreat versus gradualness of ascent.
13. The chronology of the flood centers around two equal halves of 150 days.
14. Both halves (scenes 4 & 5) fall between the 17.2.600^th day of Noah’s life and the 17.7.600the day.
15. That is, a period of about five months.
16. In other words, although the waters appear to triumph for 150 days, they were actually falling well before the period elapsed, or else the ark would not have grounded on 17.7.600.
17. Presumably then, we are to understand that "God remembered Noah" and sent this wind well before 17.7.600.
18. Yet to an ordinary observer, the waters appeared to be triumphing throughout this time.
19. In reality, however, the wind as assisting in bringing Noah deliverance.
20. It was pushing back the waters, so that after five months the ark landed on the mountains of Ararat.
21. The words "God remembered Noah" (similarly, God "remembered" Abraham after the destruction of Sodom (19:29); He "remembered" Rachel (30:32), and He "remembered" His covenant made in 9:15, 16, etc.) is more akin to "think about" than to the idea of recall.
22. When God remembers He acts, e.g. saving Lot, giving Rachel children, bringing Israel out of slavery (Ex. 2:24; 6:5).
23. Note that God’s concern is not only with Noah but for the animals as well.
24. The specific action generated by God remembering is the sending of "a wind to pass over the earth."
25. The wind acted as a counterforce to the surging waters causing them to abate/subside.
26. The waters were being pushed by gravity and wind back into their basins.
27. Rising water came from two sources: rain and tidal surge.
28. Rain stopped falling after 40 days and some time after that "the fountains of the deep were closed."
29. The receding waters reversed 7:17, 24.
30. By the 150^th day the retreat of the waters was evident.
31. Exactly five months after the onset of the flood (7:11), the ark came to rest (v.4).
32. The waters had fallen enough that the ark no longer has 15 cubits clearance above the high mountain tops (7:20).
33. "Rested" is clearly a play on terms with Noah’s name.
34. "On the mountains of Ararat" does not mean a mountain called Ararat, but on mountains in an area called Ararat.
35. By way of review: v. 1b "God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water abated" deals with cause (wind) and effect (waters receding).
36. V. 2 narrates the fact that both the surging fountains of the deep and the windows of the sky were restrained.
37. This happened relatively early (forty days) on for the rain.
38. Later on the gravitational pull exerted on earth’s hydrosphere ended as the astral visitor moved away from earth’s gravitational field.
39. Flood waters began to recede before the 150 days were over (v.3).
40. The waters did not go away completely.
41. Their mission completed, they begin to return to their original place, that is, for the waters that came from the oceanic depths.
42. To make sense of the last part of v. 3, the verb must have an inceptive force; that is, it describes the beginning of a process, not the conclusion of a process.
43. V. 5, which refers to the continuation of the water’s recession beyond the date of v. 3, shows that v. 3 cannot refer to the end of the process of the water’s diminishing.
44. The narrator tells us in v. 4 that on the 17^th day of the 7^th month that the ark was caught against terra firma.
45. The date is specific, but the location of the ark’s landing is general.
46. The general region is what is now Armenia (eastern Turkey).
47. Noah and his passengers remain in the ark for almost two and a half months (see v. 5) as it is not yet safe to disembark.
48. In one way Noah’s experience once the ark ceased free floating on the waters is not less harrowing that when the ark was floating on the tidal surges.
49. How is it that the ark is captured by some high outcropping in v. 4 on the 17^th day of the 7^th month and the statement in v. 5 that it wasn’t until the 1^st day of the 10^th month that mountain tops became visible?
50. How could the ark be grounded two and half months prior to mountain tops becoming visible?
51. One solution is to say that the mountains in verse 5 are much smaller peaks than the highest mountains of 7:19.

Noah Reconnoiters The Waters (vv. 6-14)

VERSE 6 Then it came about at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made (hf'[' rv,a] hb'Teh; !ALx;-ta, x;nO xT;p.YIw: ~Ay ~y[iB'r>a; #Qemi yhiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. hayah to be; "came about" + prep min w/noun m.s.abs. qets end + adj. both p.abs. araba-im forty + noun m.s.abs. yom day + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. patach open + d.o. marker + noun both s.abs. challun window + def.art.w/non f.s.abs. tebah ark + rel.pro. asher which + Qal perf.3m.s. ashah do, make]);

VERSE 7 and he sent out a raven, and it flew here and there until the water was dried up from the earth (#r,a'h' l[;me ~yIM;h; tv,boy>-d[; bAvw" aAcy" aceYEw: bre[oh'-ta, xL;v;y>w: [waw w/Piel impf.3m.s. shalach send + d.o. marker + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. orebh raven + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. yatsa go out; "flew" + Qal infin.constr. yatsa go out; "here and there" + prep udh until + Qal infin.constr. adah pass by; "was dried up" + prep min w/prep al upon + def.art.w/noun both s.abs. eretz]).

VERSE 8 Then he sent out a dove from him, to see if the water was abated from the face of the land (hm'd'a]h' ynEP. l[;me ~yIM;h; WLq;h] tAar>li ATaime hn"AYh;-ta, xL;v;y>w: [waw w/Piel impf.3m.s. shalach send out + d.o. marker + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. yonah dove/pigeon + prep min w/prep eth w/3m.s.suff. with + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr. ra-ah see + interrog. part.w/Qal perf.3p. qalal be slight; "was abated" + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. adamah ground]);

VERSE 9 but the dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot (Hl'g>r;-@k;l. x;Anm' hn"AYh; ha'c.m'-al{w> [waw w/neg lo + Qal perf.3f.s. matsa find + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. yonah pigeon + noun m.s.abs. manoah resting place + prep lamedh w/noun f.s.abs. kaph sole, palm + noun f.s.constr.w/3f.s.suff. regel foot], so she returned to him into the ark, for the water was on the surface of all the earth (#r,a'h'-lk' ynEP.-l[; ~yIm;-yKi hb'Teh;-la, wyl'ae bv'T'w: [waw w/Qal imf.3f.s. shubh (re)turn + prep el w/3m.s.suff. "to him" + prep el to + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. tebah ark + part ki for + noun m.p.abs. mayim waters + prep al upon + noun both p.constr. paneh face + noun m.s.constr. kol all + def.art.w/noun both s.abs. eretz]).

Then he put out his hand and took her, and brought her into the ark to himself (hb'Teh;-la, wyl'ae Ht'ao abeY"w: h'x,Q'YIw: Ady" xl;v.YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. shalach send; "he put out" + noun f.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. yadh hand + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s.w/3f.s.suff. laqach take + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. bo go in, enter + d.o. marker w/3f.s.suff. "her" + prep el w/3m.s.suff. "to himself" + prep el + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. tebah ark]).

VERSE 10 So he waited yet another seven days; and again he sent out the dove from the ark (hb'Teh;-!mi hn"AYh;-ta, xL;v; @s,YOw: ~yrIxea] ~ymiy" t[;b.vi dA[ lx,Y"w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. chul be in anguish, travail; "waited" + adv odh until + adj.m.s.constr. sheba seven + noun m.p.abs. yom + adj.m.p.abs. acher another + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. yasaph add, do again + Piel infin.constr. shalach send + d.o. marker + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. yonah pigeon + prep min + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. tebah ark]).

VERSE 11 The dove came to him toward evening, and behold, in her beak was a freshly picked olive leaf (h'ypiB. @r'j' tyIz:-hle[] hNEhiw> br,[, t[el. hn"AYh; wyl'ae aboT'w: [waw w/Qal impf.3f.s. bo go, come + prep el w/3m.s.suff. "to him" + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. yonah pigeon + prep lamedh w/noun both s.abs. eth time + noun m.s.abs. erebh evening + waw w/interj. hinneh behold + noun m.s.constr. aleh leaf + noun m.s.abs. zayith olive + adj.m.s.abs. taraph fresh plucked; only here in OT + prep beth w/noun m.s.constr.w/3f.s.suff. peh mouth]).

So Noah knew that the water was abated from the earth (#r,a'h' l[;me ~yIM;h; WLq;-yKi x;nO [d;YEw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. yada know + proper noun Noah + prep ki that + Qal perf.3p. qalal be slight; "was abated" + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. mayim waters + prep min from w/prep al from upon + def.art.w/noun both s.abs. eretz]).

VERSE 12 Then he waited yet another seven days, and sent out the dove; but she did not return to him again (dA[ wyl'ae-bWv hp's.y"-al{w> hn"AYh;-ta, xL;v;y>w: ~yrIxea] ~ymiy" t[;b.vi dA[ lx,Y"YIw: [waw w/Niphal impf.3m.s. yachal wait + adv odh until + adj.m.s.constr. sheba seven + noun m.p.ab.s yom day + adj.m.p.abs. acher another + waw w/Piel impf.3m.s. shalach send + d.o. marker + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. yaonah pigeon + waw w/neg lo + Qal perf.3f.s. yasaph add, do again + Qal infin.constr. shubh (re)turn + prep el w/3m.s.suff. "to him" + adv odh again]).

VERSE 13 By the first day of the first month of Noah's six hundred and first year, the water had dried up from the earth (#r,a'h' l[;me ~yIM;h; Wbr>x' vd,xol; dx'a,B. !AvarIB' hn"v' tAame-vvew> tx;a;B. yhiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. hayah to be; "By"+ prep beth w/adj.f.s.abs. echadh first + waw w/adj.f.s.abs. shesh six + adj.f.p.abs. me-ah hundred + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + prep beth w/adj.m.s.abs. rishon first + prep beth w/adj.m.s.abs. echadh first + prep lamedh w/noun m.s.abs. chodesh month + Qal perf.3p. charabh dry up + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. mayim waters + prep min w/prep al from upon + def.art.w/noun both s.abs. eretz]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 6-12

1. Noah was not impulsive and did not leave the ark until he was sure it was safe for all on board to disembark.
2. Forty days after the ark stopped moving Noah opened at small window/hatch on the ark’s roof.
3. Then and only then did he send out the birds.
4. Noah needed to know how suitable the ground was for habitation for all the species on board.
5. Thus begins scene 7 and it matches scene 4 where Noah and the creatures are the focus.
6. Scene 4 has the entrance into the ark as its subject and the hustle and bustle of that exhilarating happening.
7. Here the repetition seeks to convey the monotony of waiting inside the ark for the ground to dry up.
8. This whole scene is dominated by Noah’s concern to discover the status of the earth as to whether the waters had abated so that creatures could survive in the new environment.
9. God told Noah about the corruption on earth, the plan to destroy all living things on the earth, the need to build an ark, what to take on board the ark, and the when to board the ark.
10. God did not tell Noah when it was safe to disembark.
11. All direct communication to Noah from God halted once Noah is locked inside the ark—until the announcement in 8:15.
12. He who had received direct communication from God must now resort to the habits of birds (ornithology) for further data.
13. God reveals the unknown to Noah via birds.
14. Noah first sends out a raven, and then a dove (3x, vv. 8, 10, 12).
15. Every time Noah sends out a bird, the Hebrew uses the piel stem of salach.
16. This form is in contrast to the Qal stem of the same verb used of Noah stretching out his hand to receive the dove in v. 9.
17. The Piel stem seems to carry the connotation of to send away, as in to banish as in Gen. 3:23 (man banished from Eden).
18. Noah did not have any particular expectations that either of these birds would return.
19. He was simply doing the best with what he had and trusting God for the necessary information.
20. He had no way of knowing if the bird survived or not, much less if it would somehow find its lone mate!
21. The episode (scene 7) is divided into three parts: (a) Noah sends out the raven; vv. 6-7; (b) Noah sends out the dove three times; vv. 8-12; (c) Noah sees that the earth is dry (v. 13-14).
22. I get the impression that the tiny hatch on the ark’s roof was insufficient to do any serious viewing of the outside terrain.
23. Noah has no ordinary tools that sailors might have possessed and so he resorts to the one thing that might help him make an informed decision.
24. Birds have been used by sailors to determine if land was close before the electronic era.
25. The scriptural account has Noah sending out first a raven then a dove.
26. The Gilgamesh epic reverses the order.
27. The raven is a carrion eater and did not return because it found food on the mountain slopes (see v.7)
28. The dove is a valley bird, and it was released to determine whether the lower-lying areas were inhabitable.
29. Noah is not desperate or heartless; he is concerned for the surviving of others, even a female bird.
30. Thus we read in v. 9 that he "stretched out his hand" to the returning dove and gave it rest on the ark.
31. This is the second reference in Genesis to putting forth one’s hand to take hold of something.
32. God anticipated that man might "put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life" (3:22).
33. Noah waited one full week before sending out the dove a second time (v. 10).
34. Noah sent out the dove a second time, and when she returned she had a freshly picked olive leaf in her beak.
35. This told him what he wanted to know and that was the fact that the water had abated from the earth (v.11).
36. Noah examined the leaf and saw that it was "freshly picked."
37. This told him that there was sufficient forage for the animals on the ark.
38. Noah sends out the dove a third time, after waiting another seven days, not expecting her to return (v. 12).
39. Nothing is said about water in connection with the dove’s final trip from the ark.

Noah then removed the covering from the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry (hm'd'a]h' ynEP. Wbr>x' hNEhiw> ar>Y:w: hb'Teh; hsek.mi-ta, x;nO rs;Y"w: [waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. sur turn aside; "removed" + proper noun Noah + d.o. marker + noun m.s.constr. mikeseh covering + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. tebah ark + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. ra-ah see + waw w/interj hinneh behold + Qal perf.3p. charebh dry up + noun both p.constr. paneh face + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. adamah ground]).

VERSE 14 In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry (#r,a'h' hv'b.y" vd,xol; ~Ay ~yrIf.[,w> h['b.viB. ynIVeh; vd,xob;W [waw w/prep beth w/def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. chodesh month + def.art.w/adj.m.s.abs. sheni two + prep beth w/adj.f.s.abs. sheba seven + waw w/adj.m.p.abs. esrim twenty + noun m.s.abs. yom day + prep lamedh w/noun m.s.abs. chodesh month + Qal perf.3f.s. yabesh be dry + def.art.w/noun both s.abs. eretz]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 13-14

1. Both these verses observe that the earth was dry.
2. It this mere repetition?
3. Each verse uses a different verb for "dry up."
4. In v. 13 the verb is charab, which means "to be free from moisture."
5. In v. 14 it is yabash, which refers to the complete absence of moisture.
6. This verb is cognate to the noun "dry land" (yabbashah) used in connection with the appearance of Pangea in Genesis 1 (cf. vv. 9, 10).
7. Both verses begin with different chronological notations.
8. V. 13 has year 601, month one, day one (i.e., New Year’s Day).
9. V. 14 has year 601, month two, day twenty-seven.
10. Comparing the last date given in the Flood event with the first date given (7:11), an point of interest appears: flood begins (7:11): 17^th day/2^nd month/600^th year of Noah as compared to: flood has gone (8:14; 27^th day/2^nd month/601^st year of Noah.
11. The Flood lasted 12 months 11 days, the exact period required to equate the year of twelve lunar months, 354 days, with the solar year of 365 days.
12. The Flood lasted one solar year.
13. The third comparison to note in these two verses is the distinct perspective of each.
14. V. 13 records the drying of the ground from Noah’s perspective—"he looked."
15. V. 14 records the same result, but here it is an objective reporting of the fact.
16. A similar dual reporting is seen with regard to the reason for the Flood: objective statement about the earth’s corruption (6:11), followed by God’s personal observation of corruption in the earth (6:12).
17. Whenever God and the narrator report or observe, or whenever Noah and the narrator report or observe, both parties are in agreement.

Debarkation (vv. 15-19)

VERSE 15 Then God spoke to Noah, saying (rmoale x;nO-la, ~yhil{a/ rBed;y>w: [waw w/Piel impf. dabar speak + noun m.p.abs. Elohim + prep el to + proper noun Noah + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr. amar say]),

VERSE 16 "Go out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and your sons' wives with you (%T'ai ^yn<b'-yven>W ^yn<b'W ^T.v.aiw> hT'a; hb'Teh;-!mi ace [Qal imper.m.s. yatsa go out + prep min from + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. tebah ark + pro.3m.s. attah you + waw w/noun f.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. ishshah wife + waw w/noun m.p.constr. ben son + waw w/noun f.p.constr. ishshah wife + noun m.p.const.w/2m.s.suff. ben son + prep eth w/2m.s.suff.]).

VERSE 17 "Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you, birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, (#r,a'h'-l[; fmeroh' fm,r,h'-lk'b.W hm'heB.b;W @A[B' rf'B'-lK'mi ^T.ai-rv,a] hY"x;h;-lK' [noun m.sconstr. kol + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. chayyim living thing + rel.pro. asher + prep eth w/2m.s.suff. + prep min w/noun m.s.constr. kol all + noun m.s.abs. bashar flesh + def.art.w/prep beth w/noun m.s.abs. oph + waw w/def.art.w/prep beth w/noun f.s.abs. behemah beast, animal + waw w/prep beth w/noun m.s.constr. kol + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. remesh creeping organism + def.art.w/Qal part.m.s.abs. ramash creep on all fours + prep al upon + def.art.w/noun both s.abs. eretz] that they may breed abundantly on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth [#r,a'h'-l[; Wbr'w> Wrp'W #r,a'b' Wcr>v'w> %T'ai Îacey>h;Ð ¿aceAhÀ [Hiphil imper.m.s. yatsar go out (not translated as it is textually in question) + prep eth w/2m.s.suff. "with you" + waw w/Qal perf.3m.p. sharatz swarm, teem; "they may breed abundantly" + def.art.w/prep beth w/noun both s.abs. eretz + waw w/Qal perf.3p. parah bear fruit; "be fruitful" + waw w/Qal perf.3p. rabah multiply + prep al upon + def.art.w/noun both s.abs. eretz])."

VERSE 18 So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him (ATai wyn"b'-yven>W ATv.aiw> wyn"b'W x;nO-aceYEw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. yatsar go out + proper noun Noah + waw w/noun m.p.constr.w/3m.s.suff. ben son + waw w/noun f.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. ishshah wife + waw w/noun f.p.constr.w/3m.s.suff. ben + prep eth w/3m.s.suff.]).

VERSE 19 Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by their families from the ark (hb'Teh;-!mi Wac.y" ~h,ytexoP.v.mil. #r,a'h'-l[; fmeAr lKo @A[h'-lk'w> fm,r,h'-lK' hY"x;h;-lK' [noun m.s.constr. kol + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. chayyim living thing; "every beast" + noun m.s.constr. kol + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. remesh creeping thing + waw w/noun m.s.constr. kol + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. oph bird + noun m.s.constr. kol every + Qal part.m.s.abs. remesh creep + prep al upon + def.art.w/noun both s.abs. eretz + prep lamedh w/noun f.p.constr.w/3m.p.suff. mishpachah family, clan + Qal perf.3p. yatsar go out + prep min w/def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. tebah ark]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 15-19

1. Verses 15-17 constitute the 8^th scene, and verses 18-19 the 9^th scene.
2. Scene 8 corresponds to scene 3 where Noah was told by God to enter the ark (7:1-4).
3. The entire time Noah was on the ark he did not receive a direct verbal communication from God.
4. Here the directive is to leave the ark.
5. Noah already knows that is safe to leave the ark.
6. Why did he not just leave?
7. The answer: he subordinates his own inquiry, however effective, to a twix from God.
8. God speaks only to Noah and Noah in turn releases those on board.
9. The passenger list here is closest to 7:7-14.
10. Noah, the first to enter the ark, is the last to leave.
11. Earlier Noah had been told to take the animals on board to preserve life on earth, now he is told that these creatures are to be sent out to "breed abundantly on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply."
12. The expansion of these species into many from just two (or seven) of each kind was under the providence of God.
13. God is greater than the tenuousness of the situation facing these animals as they made their way in a new world.
14. The commands given in Genesis 1 to just the fish and birds (1:20, 22) when they were created is here extended to all the land animals.
15. This signifies the start of a new creation in the post-flood era that extends to our very time and forward.
16. A new world is born for the watery grave of the antediluvian era, which is the post-diluvian civilization.
17. Scene 9 corresponds to scene 2 (6:22); both scenes tell of Noah’s obedience to the divine directive.
18. Noah is told to release in an orderly fashion "every living thing of all flesh" from the ark.
19. The first to leave is "birds" followed by "animals (in genera), and finally "every creeping thing that creeps on the earth" (i.e. rodents, reptiles).
20. "Birds" were the last group to board (Gen. 7:14).
21. The animals are portrayed as leaving in large groups of similar types, "by their clans."
22. The clan (mishpachah) was a subcategory of a tribe, the family being the basic unit.
23. Clans are extended families.
24. This is not the same term as "according to their kind."
25. The animals left the ark under the same hidden hand that brought them to and on board the ark and enabled them to behave while on the ark.
26. Around each other they acted like millennial animals (cf. Isa. 11:6-9).

Noah Offers Sacrifice (vv. 20-22)

VERSE 20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar (x;Bez>MiB; tl{[o l[;Y:w: rhoJ'h; @A[h' lKomiW hr'AhJ.h; hm'heB.h; lKomi xQ;YIw: hw"hyl; x;Bez>mi x;nO !b,YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. banah build + proper noun Noah + noun m.s.abs. mizebeach altar + prep lamedh w/proper noun Yahweh + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. laqach take + prep w/noun m.s.abs.kol every + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. behemah beast, animal + def.art.w/adj.f.s.abs. tahor clean + waw w/prep min w/noun m.s.abs. kol every + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. oph bird + def.art.w/adj.m.s.asbs. tahor clean + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. alah offer up + noun f.p.abs. olah burnt + def.art.w/prep beth w/noun m.s.abs. mizebeach altar]).

VERSE 21 The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself (ABli-la, hw"hy> rm,aYOw: x;xoyNIh; x;yre-ta, hw"hy> xr;Y"w: [waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. riach smell + proper noun Yahweh + d.o. marker + noun m.s.abs. reach smell + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. nichoach quieting, soothing + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + proper noun Yahweh + prep el to + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. lebh heart], "I will never again curse the ground [soil] on account of man [~d'a'h' rWb[]B; hm'd'a]h'-ta, dA[ lLeq;l. @siao-al{ [neg lo + Hiphil impf.1s. yasaph do again + prep lamedh w/Piel infin.constr. qalal curse + adv odh again + d.o. marker + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. adamah ground + prep beth w/part abhor on account of + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. adam mankind], for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth [wyr'[uN>mi [r; ~d'a'h' ble rc,y yKi [part ki for + noun m.s.constr. yester form; "intent" + noun m.s.abs. leb heart + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. adam man + adj.m.s.abs. ra evil + prep min w/noun m.p.constr.w/3m.s.suff. neurim youth]; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done [ytiyfi[' rv,a]K; yx;-lK'-ta, tAKh;l. dA[ @siao-al{w> [waw w/neg lo + Hiphil impf.1s. yasaph do again + adv odh until + prep lamedh w/Hiphil infin.constr. nakah strike; "destroy" + d.o. marker + noun m.s.constr. kol + adj.m.s.abs. chay living + prep kaph w/rel.pro. asher + Qal perf.1s. ashah do]).

VERSE 22 "While the earth remains (#r,a'h' ymey>-lK' d[o [adv odh while + noun m.s.constr. kol + noun m.p.constr. yom day + def.art.w/noun both s.abs. eretz], Seedtime and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease [WtBov.yI al{ hl'y>l;w" ~Ayw> @r,xow" #yIq;w> ~xow" rqow> ryciq'w> [r;z< [noun m.s.abs. zera- seed + waw w/noun m.s.abs. qatsir harvest + waw w/noun m.s.abs. qor cold + waw w/noun m.s.abs. chom hot + waw w/noun m.s.abs. qayitz summer + waw w/noun m.s.abs. choreph autum; "winter" + waw w/noun m.s.abs. yom day + waw w/noun m.s.abs. layil night + neg lo + Qal impf.3m.p. shabhath cease])."

ANALYSIS: VERSES 20-22

1. Scene 10 (8:20-9:17) beings with a divine monologue and in that regard is like scene 1 (6:9b-21).
2. The scene is basically a monologue wherein God speaks to Noah or Noah and his sons.
3. As in the first scene, mankind’s acts and Noah’s especially are the cue for the ensuing speech.
4. The primary feature of this scene is the divine promise in 9:1-17.
5. V. 20 records the first building of an altar in Scripture (one is presupposed in 4:3-5).
6. V. 20 also records the first mention of a specific category of sacrificial offering—the whole burnt offering (olah).
7. The corresponding Hebrew verb is alah which means ‘to ascend’ and here points to the smoke that arise while the sacrifice is cooking.
8. In it the entire animal was slaughtered and placed on an altar with fire consuming the entire carcass until it was reduced to ashes; hence, burnt offering (cf. Ex. 29:18).
9. The burnt offering is the most common and basic of the offerings prescribed under the Law.
10. The procedure for offering this sacrifice is described in Lev. 1.
11. This offering was designed to teach that aspect of Ph 1 salvation that is termed propitiation.
12. The animals Noah sacrificed were from the clean animals.
13. For definitions of clean animals see Lev. 11 and Deut. 14.
14. The earlier insistence that Noah take on board seven pairs of clean domesticated animals and birds now becomes obvious to the reader.
15. Noah took one each from the flock, from the herd, and from the fowl.
16. As the smoke of Noah’s elaborate offering, made all the more so by the relative scarcity of available animals, ascended heavenward an unexpected divine response takes place.
17. "Yahweh smelled the soothing aroma" implies that God was pleased with Noah’s ritualistic endeavor and was accepting of it as valid in all respects.
18. This is the only place where God is said to have "smelt" a sacrifice.
19. David prays that God will (1Sam. 26:19) and Lev. 26:31 (cf. Amos 5:21-22) declares that God will not "smell" the offerings of those who are disobedient.
20. "Soothing aroma" is the regular term for the smell produced by burning sacrifices (Lev. 1:9; 2:2; 3:5, etc.).
21. Soothing sacrifices have a restful, soothing, pacifying effect on deity.
22. God’s anger over human sin which led to the near destruction of the human race is pacified when the leading member of the human race offers sacrifice on behalf of the surviving human race (7 souls).
23. The very first thing that man did after leaving the ark was to worship God in a way that honored the truth.
24. The term soothing (nichoach) is as pun on Noah’s name (noach).
25. I guess we could translate: "Yahweh smelt the Noahic sacrifice."
26. Lamek called his son "Noah" because he hoped he would bring him rest from the toil of his hands (5:29).
27. For God to "smell" a sacrifice implies His acceptance of it and the one offering it.
28. Israel in reversionism offered soothing aroma to false gods (Ezek. 6:13; 16:19).
29. Once again language of accommodation is employed by the narrator (akin to seeing, hearing, stretching out the hand, etc.).
30. Following the statement that "Yahweh smelled the soothing aroma" is Yahweh’s self-deliberation in the words "Yahweh said in His heart."
31. This is not the first time we have seen divine deliberation—it was used in connection with the wrath God planned to lay down on those He knew to be corrupt to the core (6:7).
32. The words "I will never curse the ground on account of man" does not refer to the Edenic curse since things like pain in childbearing and sweating to earn a living persists.
33. It refers to universal the destruction of land animals and man via massive flooding.
34. God promises to not curse the ground as He did in the days of Noah.
35. The cause-and-effect relationship of v.21 is that based on Noah’s action God binds Himself to a negative course of action for the future.
36. He does not make this pronouncement to Noah.
37. The last half of v. 21 has generated much controversy.
38. Some commentators go so far as to say that God is frustrated because the Flood has not changed human nature.
39. The post-diluvian’s turned out to be just as negative and corrupt as the antediluvians!
40. Some see God acting unwisely and simplistically; but happily He admits his mistake and is willing to learn from it (the higher critic D. L. Peterson, "The Yahwist on the Flood").
41. All we have here is that God lifts the threat on ever bringing a universal flood upon the ground.
42. "I will never again curse the ground [soil] on account of man" is a promise that God will never so curse the ground so as to eliminate land creatures from its surface.
43. The curse of Genesis 3, which includes cursing related to the soil (like weeds, insects and toil by the sweat of one’s brow) remains over the course of the post-diluvian era.
44. The dry land will remain dry land allowing for local flooding but not world-wide inundation.
45. The curse on the soil mentioned in Gen. 3 remains but God will never ever again do as He did at the great Flood.
46. The term for curse here is the milder term (qalal) which means ‘to treat lightly, disdain.’
47. The stronger term for ‘curse’ is arar found in Gen. 3:17.
48. Both terms are found in Gen. 12:3 in connection with the Abrahamic Covenant.
49. Grace is granted to humanity because Noah did what He did.
50. Just as when Israel’s high priest offered sacrifice for atonement and the people were spared another year.
51. Job offered sacrifice for his children and his "friends" (Job 1:5; 42:8).
52. In OT times when men sinned they offered sacrifice to abate the wrath of God.
53. His friends were spared because Job offered up a rebound offering.
54. So here the soil is spared and all that lives upon it from world-wide death via flooding.
55. Noah’s righteous actions result in mercy for humanity to this very day and forward.
56. He like Moses acted as a mediator to lessen the deserved wrath of sinners.
57. Whether by prayer or sacrifice mercy is shown to the guilty.
58. The mediator’s right response to God opens the mercy gate.
59. This despite the fact that human nature remains corrupt.
60. God knows that man will not take the lesson of the flood to heart and behave himself on the soil.
61. Human nature is described by God in His self-deliberation as "the imagination/intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth."
62. God had no allusions about post-flood humanity and the course of human affairs has born out His assessment of humankind.
63. This promise is further amplified in v. 22 as not ceasing "while the earth remains, seedtime (spring) and harvest (fall), cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night."
64. Seasonal phenomena characterizes the post-flood era.
65. Before the Flood seasons were essentially non-existent.
66. Man could plant a crop anytime within the solar year and turn right around and plant a second crop not being impeded by the change in climate.
67. Mankind before the flood did not experience rain and snow and extreme heat and cold.
68. He lived under the water vapor canopy that was no more.
69. Early post-diluvian man experienced his first rain showers which did not bring destruction and ruin.
70. These pairs in v. 22 refer to the diurnal and seasonal rhythms of nature on which all life depends.
71. God’s assurance that these rhythms will be maintained is a mark of His continuing providential care upon the world.
72. God’s personal thoughts on the matter provides the reader with an understanding as to why God would not act in the same fashion as He did when He sent the great flood.
73. After all, man is just as corrupt and given time and opportunity man would do just as his ancient ancestors did.
74. Gen. 9:1-17 gives no explanation for the divine change of heart.
75. Something like Gen. 8:20-22 is required to explain this change.
76. God’s public change of heart is expressed; the slate is wiped clean; man is given a fresh start.
77. However irregular the human heart will be (v. 21b) there will be a regularity in the natural world.
78. What He will not longer do is attributed to undeserved mercy over His creation.