8 Also he sent forth a dove from him, to if the waters were abated from off the face of ground;

see the

GENESIS, IX.

CHAP. 8.-B. C. 2349.

LORD, and returned,

and came to their house
knew Hannah his wife;
bered her. 1 Sam. 1, 19.

to Ramah: and Elkanah
and the LORD remem-

For he remembered his

holy promise, and Abra-
ham his servant. Psalm
105, 42. Who remem-
estate: for his mercy

bered us in our low
endureth for ever. Ps.

136, 23.

b And Moses stretched out his hand over the the sea to

Noah goeth forth of the ark.

CHAP. 8-B. C. 2349. the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of highest, and on earth the ground was dry.

i Glory to God in the

peace, good will toward
inen. Luke, 2, 14.

j In the selfsame day
entered Noah,
Shem, and Ham, and
Japheth, the sons of
Noah, and Noah's wife,
and the three wives
of his sons with them,
into the ark. Genesis,

13. The LORD shall

preserve thy going out,
and thy coming in, from
this time forth, and

even for evermore. Ps.

121, 8

14 And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried. 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 is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, And God blessed and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon ful, and multiply, and the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the sens, and let fowl multi-earth, and be fruitful, and multiplyuponthe earth. 18 And Noah went forth, and his sons, and

wind all that night, and them, saying, Be fruit-
and the waters were fill the waters in

sea; and the LORD back by a strong east made the sea dry land, divided Exodus, 14, with the deep as with food above the moun

21. Thou coveredst it ply in the earth. Gen.

a

garment: the waters

tains. At thy rebuke
they filed; at the voice
of thy thunder they
hasted away. Ps. 104, 7.
e See chapter 7, 11.

Also by watering he

wearieth

cloud; he scattereth his
bright cloud, and it is
turned round about by
may do whatsoever he

his counsels; that they
commandeth themupon

the face of the world in
the earth. He causeth
it to come, whether for
land, or for mercy. Job,
ber the clouds in wis-
dom? or who can stay
the bottles of heaven?

correction, or for his
37.11-13. Who can num

1 in going and return.

ing.

e And the waters prevailed upon the earth an Genesis, 7, 24.

1, 22.

See Leviticus,chap.11. his wife, and his sons' wives with him: 19 Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their 5 kinds, went forth out of the ark. 20 And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean 'beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And the LORD smelled a 6 sweet savour; and sworn that I would not the LORD said in his heart, I will not again "curse rebuke thee. Is. 54, 9. the ground any more for man's sake; 7 for the the wickedness of that imagination" of man's heart is evil from his was great in the earth, youth; neither will I again smite any more his heart was only evil every thing living, as I have done.

2 were in going and decreasing.

f A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish

conceive me.

in sin did my mother

Psalm

51, 5. The heart is de-
ceitful above all things
and desperately wicked:
who can know it? Jer.
17, 9.

9 But the dove found no rest for the sole of Job, 38, 37.
her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark,
for the waters were on the face of the whole hundred and fifty days. Chapen in iniquity; and
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 was an olive leaf pluckt
off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated
from off the earth.

it above; and the door
of the ark shalt thou set
in the side thereof; with
lower, second, and third
stories shalt thou make
it. Genesis, 6, 16.

Who provideth for!
the raven his food?when

his young ones cry unto
God, they wander for
lack of meat. Job, 38, 41.

12 And he stayed yet other seven days; and And it shall be, that sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.

thou shalt drink of the
brook; and I have com-
manded the ravens to
feed thee there. 1 Kings,

17, 4.

3

returning.

in going forth and
tonalt thou find
of thy foot have rest.
Deut. 25.

sole

4 caused her to come.

CHAPTER IX.

1 God blesseth Noah. 4 Blood and murder are forbidden. 8 God's covenant, 13 signified by the rainbow. 23 Noah is drunken, and mocked by Ham: 25 he pronounceth a curse on Canaan, and blessings on Shem and on Japheth: 29 he dieth.

ND "God blessed Noah and his sons, and Paid unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.

2 And 'the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon beasts, and of birds, every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon tained, an the sea, is the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; mankind into your hand are they delivered.

and the word rendered burnt-offerings here first occurs: yet Abel's offering seems to have been of the same nature, and laid on some kind of altar. By these burntofferings, Noah, in faith, ascribed his preservation to the mercy of God through the promised Saviour; he rendered to him a tribute of fervent gratitude and adoration; he devoted himself and family to his service; and he sought further protection and blessing amidst the desolations which surrounded him.-The smell of burning flesh could in itself be no more pleasing to God, than "the blood of bulls or of goats:" but as it typified the sacrifice of Christ, and expressed Noah's obedient faith and grateful love, the Lord graciously accepted it, and promised that he would no more curse the earth; that is, after the manner of the flood: for the original curse was not removed, nor is it clear that it was mitigated. He added, "for," or though, "the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth." The flood washed away that generation of wicked men, but it did not remove depravity from man's nature; who, being conceived and born in sin, thinks, devises, and loves wickedness, even from his youth; and that as much since the flood as before. Other methods indeed would be used to repress wickedness, but an universal deluge should no more be employed for that purpose; nor should any other year, like the past, occur to the end of the world, in which there was neither sowing nor reaping; and scarcely any distinction of seasons, or difference between day and night.-Partial failures of seed-time and harvest, or other irregularities, are not inconsistent with this gracious assurance; according to which the heavenly bodies have ever since preserved their courses, the seasons their successions, and the earth hath produced its increase for the use of man, notwithstanding his ingratitude. And on this word we depend, that thus it shall be "till the mystery of God is finished."

13 And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of CHAP. VIII. CHRIST OUR ARK.-There is much of our gospel-duty and privilege to be seen in Noah's preservation in the ark. The apostle makes it a type of our baptism, that is, our Christianity, 1 Pet. 3, 20, 21. Observe, then, 1. It is our great duty, in obedience to the gospel-call, by a lively faith in Christ, to come into that way of salvation which God has provided for poor sinners. When Noah came into the ark, he quitted his own house and lands; so must we quit our own righteousness and our worldly possessions, whenever they come into competition with Christ. Noah must, for a while, submit to the confinements and inconveniences of the ark, in order to his preservation for a new world; so, those that come into Christ, to be saved by him, must deny themselves, both in sufferings anl services. 2 Those that come into the ark themselves, should bring as many as they can in with them, by good instructions, by persuasions, and by a good example: What knowest thou, O man, but thou mayest thus save thy wife, (1 Cor. 7, 16,) as Noah did his. There is room enough in Christ for all comers. 3. Those that by faith come into Christ, the Ark, shall by the power of God be shut in, and kept as in a strong hold by the power of God, 1 Pet. 1, 5. God put Adam into paradise, but he did not shut him in, and so he threw himself out; but, when he put Noah into the ark, he shut him in, and so, when he brings a soul to Christ, he insures the salvation; it is not in our own keeping, but in the Mediator's hand. 4. The door of mercy will shortly be shut against those that now make light of it. Now, knock,|| and it shall be opened; but the time will come, when it shall not, Luke 13, 25.-H. THE DOVE.-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, which 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 inquired concerning them. Having directed his prayer, he looked up, Ps. 5, 3. 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; but return thou to thy rest, O my soul, to thy Noah, so the word is, Ps. 116, 7. Oh that I had wings like a dove, to flee to him! Ps. 55, 6. 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. 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 disposi-gious appearance; and who, "in time of temptation fall away!" But the true Christion that brings into the soul earnests of rest and joy. 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.-H.

THE FIRST ALTAR, -Ver, 20-22, This is the first time that an altar is mentioned;

PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.-The Lord "knoweth how to reserve the wicked unto the day of judgment, to be punished," however numerous, powerful, and haughty they may be; and also "to deliver the godly out of temptation" in the best time and manner, though few, despised, and helpless. (2 Pet. 2, 9.) For a season he seems to forget his afflicted children, and they are prone to judge according to appearances; but in due season he will manifest his kind and careful remembrance of them.-The devoted servant of God will make haste to keep his commandments; and patiently wait his time for deliverance and promised blessings.-The faithfulness of God is the best security; and it is given to all them that trust in him: for, his glory is engaged for their salvation, as much as for Noah's preservation.-Alas! how many are there in the visible church, who resemble the raven more than the dove! who retain a relish for worldly things under a relitian, partaking of the Spirit of Christ, may indeed, through temptation, for a season, quit the ark, and go to the world; but like the dove, he can find no rest till he returns to the Lord.-They, who are saved from destruction, must on earth witness the desolations which sin makes, with aching hearts and weeping eyes; and in many things share in them. But the consolations of God will counterbalance these sorrows: and in heaven all tears shall be wiped away; so that even the destruction of the wicked will in nowise abate the perfect felicity of the righteous.-S.

God's covenant with Noah.

3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be "meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

4 But flesh with d the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

e

will

I

the

5 And surely your blood of your lives I require; at the hand of every beast will require it, and at the hand of f man; at hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.

6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

7 And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.

8¶ And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,

9 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;

with

10 And with every living creature that is you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.

11 And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.

k

12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and and every living creature that is with you, perpetual generations:

13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it be for a token of a covenant between me the earth.

you

for

shall

and

26

h He that smiteth a shall be surely put to death. But if a man come presumptuously slay him with guile; from mine altar, that

man, so that he die,

upon his neighbour, to
thou shalt take him
he may die. Exodus,
killeth any man shall
Leviticus, 24, 17. Then

21, 12, 14. And he that
surely be put to death.

said Jesus unto him,
Put up again thy sword

into his place: for all

they that take the sword
shall perish with the
sword. Matthew, 26,

He that leadeth
into captivity shall go
killeth with the sword
must be killed with the
sword. Rev. 13, 10.

into captivity; he that

So God created man
the image of God creat-
female created he them.

in his own image, in
ed he him; male and

Genesis, 1, 27.

The LORD is good to all: and his tender merworks. Psalm 145, 9.

cies are over all his
For this they willing.
by the word of God the
the earth standing out
water. 2 Peter, 3, 5.

ly are ignorant of, that
heavens were of old, and

of the water and in the

I See Matthew, 26, 26

that the waters of Noah

m as I have sworn

CHAP. IX. THE FIRST MAGNA CHARTA.—The grants of this charter are kind and gracious to men. Here is,

rebuke thee. Isa. 54, 9.
n He that is born in

thy house, and he that

is bought, with thy
circumcised: and my
your flesh for an ever-

money, must needs be
covenant shall be in
lasting covenant. Gen.
17, 13. He hath made
with me an everlasting
covenant, ordered in all

21 And he drank of the wine, and "was drunken; things, and sure: for and he was uncovered within his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.

this is all my salvation,
and all my desire.
Sam. 23, 5.

And the sons of Ham;
Phut, and

2

Canaan.

Cush, and Mizraim, and
Genesis, 10, 6.

1 Chenaan.

p See Genesis, 10, 32.
7 In the sweat of thy

face shalt thou eat
unto the ground; for
taken: for dust thou art

bread, till thou return

out of it wast thou

and unto dust
thou return. Genesis,
3, 19.

Wine is a mocker,

strong drink is raging;
and whosoever is de-
ceived thereby is not
wise. Proverbs, 20, 1.

8 Honour thy father
and thy mother: that
thy days may be long

upon the land which

the LORD thy God giv-
eth thee. Exodus, 20,
12 Brethren, if a man
be overtaken

ye

which are spiritual,

8

23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.

24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.

25 And he said, 'Cursed be Canaan; a servant of "servants shall he be unto his brethren.

26 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be 2 his servant.

3

27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall the spirit of meckness; be his servant. thou also be tempted.

restore such an one in

considering thyself, lest

Galatians, 6, 1.

Cursed be he that father or his mother. say, Amen. Deut. 7,

setteth light by his

And all the people shall

u Now therefore ye [the Gibeonites] are

28 And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years:

29 And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died. CHAPTER X.

cursed, and there shall 1 The generations of Noah. 2 The sons of Japheth, 6 and of Ham. 8 Nimrod the first monarch. 15 The descendants of Canaan. 21 The sons of Shem.

none of you be freed
from being bondmen,
and hewers of wood and
drawers of water for
the house of my God.
Joshua, 9, 23.

2 Or, servant to them.

3 Or, persuade.

Now these, eth, fam, and Japheth: and

TOW these are the generations of the sons

of

But now in Christ unto them were sons born after the flood.

Jesus ye who some-
times were far off are
made nigh by the blood
of Christ. For he is

a

2 The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog,

our peace, who hath and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, hath broken down the and Tiras.

made both one, and

middle wall of partition
between us. Ephes. 2,
13, 14 That the Gen-
tiles should be fellow-
heirs, and of the same
body, and partakers of
his promise in Christ

by the Gospel. Ephes

3,

6.

3 And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and

Riphath, and Togarmah.

4 And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, 1 Kittim, and 2 Dodanim.

5 By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.

6 And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.

But now man is allowed to feed upon flesh, as freely and safely as upon the green herb.-H.

THE RAINBOW.-1. This seal is affixed, with repeated assurances of the truth of cloud, (ver. 13,) it shall be seen in the cloud, (ver. 14,) that the eye may affect the heart, and confirm the faith; and it shall be the token of the covenant; (ver. 12, 13,) and I will remember my covenant, that the waters shall no more become a flood, ver. 15. Nay, as if the Eternal Mind needed a memorandum, I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant, ver. 16. Thus here is line upon line, that we might have sure and strong consolation, who have laid hold on this hope. 2. The rainbow appears then when the clouds are most disposed to wet, and returns after the rain; then, when we have most reason to fear the rain prevailing, God shows this seal of the promise, that it shall not prevail. Thus God obviates our fears with such encouragements as are both suitable and seasonable. 3. The thicker the cloud, the brighter the bow in the cloud. Thus, as threatening afflic tions abound, encouraging consolations much more abound, 2 Cor. 1, 5. 4. The rainbow appears when one part of the sky is clear, which intimates mercy remembered in the midst of wrath; and the clouds are hemmed, as it were, with the rainbow, that it may not overspread the heavens; for the bow is coloured rain, or the edges of a cloud gilded. 5. The rainbow is the reflection of the beams of the sun, which intimates, that all the glory and significancy of the seals of the covenant are derived from Christ the Sun of righteousness, who is also described with a rainbow about his throne, (Rev. 4, 3,) and a rainbow upon his head; (Rev. 10, 1,) which bespeaks, not only his majesty, but his mediatorship. 6. The rainbow has fiery colours in it, to signify, that, though God will not again drown the world, yet, when the mystery of God shall be finished, the world shall be consumed by fire. 7. A bow bespeaks terror, but it has neither string nor arrow, as the bow ordained against the persecutors has; (Ps. 7, 12, 13;) and a bow alone will do little execution: it is a bow, but it is directed upward, not toward the earth; for the seals of the covenant were intended for comfort, not to terrify. Lastly, As God looks upon the bow, that he may remember the covenant, so should we, that we also may be ever mindful of the covenant, with faith and thankfulness.-H.

1. A grant of lands of vast extent, and a promise of a great increase of men to occupy and enjoy them. The first blessing is here renewed, Be fruitful, and multi-that promise which it was designed to be the ratification of. I set my bow in the ply, and replenish the earth, ver. 1, and repeated, ver. 7, for the race of mankind was, as it were, to begin again. Now, (1.) God sets the whole earth before them, tells them it is all their own, while it remains, to them and their heirs. Note, The earth God has given to the children of men, for a possession and habitation, Ps. 115, 16. Though it is not a paradise, but a wilderness rather, yet it is better than we deserve. Blessed be God, it is not hell. (2) He gives them a blessing, by the force and virtue of which mankind should be both multiplied and perpetuated upon earth; so that, in a little time, all the habitable parts of the earth should be more or less inhabited; and though one generation should pass away, yet another generation should come, while the world stands, so that the stream of the human race should be supplied with a constant succession, and run parallel with the current of time, till both be delivered up together into the ocean of eternity. 2. A grant of power over the inferior creatures, ver. 2. He grants, (1.) A title to them. Into your hands they are delivered, for your use and benefit. (2.) A dominion over them, without which the title would avail little. The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast. This revives a former grant, ch. 1, 28, only with this difference, that man in innocence ruled by love, fallen man rules by fear. Now this grant remains in force, and thus far we have still the benefit of it. That those creatures which are any way useful to us, are reclaimed, and we use them either for service, or food, or both, as they are capable. Those creatures that are any way hurtful to us are restrained, so that though now and then man may be hurt by some of them, yet they do not combine together to rise up in rebellion against man; else God could by these destroy the world as effectually as he did by a deluge; it is one of God's sore judgments, Ezek. 14, 21. 3. A grant of maintenance and subsistence, ver. 3. Every moving thing that liveth, shall be meat for you. Hitherto, most think, man had been confined to feed only upon the products of the earth, fruits, herbs, and roots, and all sorts of corn and milk; so was the first grant, ch. 1, 29. But the flood having perhaps washed away much of the virtue of the earth, and so rendered its fruits less pleasing and less nourishing; God now enlarged the grant, and allowed man to eat flesh, which perhaps man himself never thought of, till now that God directed him to it, nor had any more desire to, than a sheep has to suck blood like a wolf.

PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.-Ver. 1--23. The blessing of God is the real cause of prosperity, personal, relative, and national.-With what thankfulness should we receive that immense advantage, ease, and pleasure, which result from the ||labour of the domestic animals, and which the flesh of so many creatures affords

The descendants of Canaan.

7 And the sons of Cush, Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.

8 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.

9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.

с

3

10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

11 Out of that land 4 went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and 5 the city Rehoboth, and Calah,

12 And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city.

13 And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,

14 And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (d out of whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim.

15 ¶ And Canaan begat & Sidon his first-born, and Heth,

16 And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite,

17 And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and Sinite,

the

18 And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite. and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.

19 And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto 7 Gaza, as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.

20 These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations.

21 Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born.

22 The fchildren of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.

23 And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash.

d

And Pathrusim, and
and Caphtorim. iChron.

Casluhim, (of whom
came the Philistines,)

1, 12.

6 Tzidon.

e Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot

dwelt in the cities of the

plain, and pitched
tent toward Sodom.
And the LORD said unto

Abram, after that Lot

was separated from him,
Lift up now thine eyes,
and look from the place
where thou art north-

ward, and southward,

and eastward, and west-
ward; For all the land
which thou seest,to thee
seed for ever. Arise,
walk through the land
in the length of it, and
in the breadth of it; for

will I give it, and to thy

will give it unto thee.

Genesis, 13, 12, 14, 15, 17.
In the same day the
LORD made a covenant

with Abram, saying,

Unto thy seed have I
given this land, from
the river of Egypt unto

the great river, the

river Euphrates: the
Kenites, and the Keniz-
zites, and the Kadmon-

ites, and the Hittites,
the Rephaims, and the

and the Perizzites, and

Amorites, and the Ca-
naanites, and the Gir
gashites, and the Jebus-
ites.

This is the land that
an inheritance, even the
the coasts thereof. And

shall fall unto you for

land of Canaan with

24 And Arphaxad begat Eber.

The building of Babel. begat Salah; and Salah

25 And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was 10 Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother's name was Joktan.

26 And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, These are the three and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,

sons of Noah: and of
them was the whole
earth overspread. Gen.
9, 19.

CHAP. 11.-B. C. 2247.
a Now when this was
noised abroad, the mul
and were confounded,

titude came together,
because that every man
own language. Acts,

heard them speak in his

2,6

3

1 lip.

2 words.

Or, eastward.-Lot 13, 11.

journeyed east.

Gen

b And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king

of

Judah into his hand,

27 And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah, 28 And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba, 29 And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan.

30 And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest, unto Sephar, a mount of the east.

31 These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.

32 These are the families of the sons of Noah with part of the vessels after their generations, in their nations: and by which he carried into these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.

the border shall go down only? John, 5, 44.
to Jordan, and the go-
ings out of it shall be at

the salt sea: this shall
about. Num. 34, 2, 12.

be your land with the
coasts thereof round

7 Azzab.

The sons of Shem;

Elam, and Asshur, and
Arphaxad, and Lud,and
Aram, and Uz, and Hul,
and Gether, and Mesh:

ech. 1 Chron. 1, 17.
8 Arpachshad.

And Arphaxad lived

g And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah. Gen. 11, 12.

9 Shelah,

h And unto Eber were born two sons: the name

strength with his arm:
he hath scattered the
proud in the imagina-
tion of their hearts.
Luke, 1, 51.

I will go down now,

and see whether they
have done altogether

mortar.

4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city, and a tower whose top 6 may reach unto heaven; according to the cry of and let us makeus da name, lest we be 'scattered it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

know. Genesis, 18, 21.
The LORD looketh from
heaven; he beholdeth
all the sons of men.
Psalm 33, 13. God
looked down from hea-
ven upon the childen of
men, to see if there
were any that did un-
God. 53, 2.

5 And the LORD came down to see the city and
the tower, which the children of men builded.
6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people
is one, and they have all one language; and this
derstand, that did seek they begin to do: and now nothing will be res-

of Noah was baffled by the confusion of tongues, out of that land he went forth into
Assyria, (so the margin reads it, v. 11,) and built Nineveh, &c. that, having built
these cities, he might command them, and rule over them. Observe, in Nimrod,
the nature of ambition. 1. It is boundless; much would have more, and still cries,
Give, give. 2. It is restless; Nimrod, when he had four cities under his command,
could not be content till he had four more. 3. It is expensive; Nimrod will rather
be at the charge of rearing cities, than not have the honour of ruling them. The
spirit of building is the common effect of a spirit of pride. 4. It is daring, and
will stick at nothing.-H.
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.-As all mankind are of one family, and nearly re-

us; and the security that we enjoy from the assaults of the noxious and ferocious, through the fear and dread of man which God hath impressed upon them! -But, though we are masters, God will call us to an awful account if we act as tyrants; and avenge the cause of his oppressed creatures upon their oppressors.How greatly then should we dread murder, and all those passions which produce that enormous crime! Though the murderer may escape, or bribe, or outbrave, || human justice; yet, except he repent, he shall never escape the vengeance of God. -The Lord takes care to obviate the fears and anxieties of his people; and we should copy the example of his kindness in this and in every other instance.-But what is man in his best estate? "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall:" and let not him, who has triumphed over great temptations, be|lated in Adam and Noah, how reasonable is it that we should love and do good secure even in respect of such as are less; for they who have behaved well in to each other! Whenever we behold a human being, whatever be his language the worst of company, and amidst the worst examples, are not safe even in soli- and garb, or wherever he was born, we should recognize a near relation, and tude. Let us then watch and pray, and not be high-minded, but fear; and behave to him accordingly. In this view, how unnatural and absurd is that preremember that drunkenness is a sin especially to be shunned, as it both exposes judice against foreigners, and that contempt of them, which generally prevail! men to shame, and is an occasion of further wickedness, of various kinds, in them- And how can it consist with love to our neighbours, our brethren, "bone of our selves and others. But, though the righteous fall, he shall not be utterly cast bone, and flesh of our flesh," to treat them with rigour, or hold them in slavery? down; nor is a single act of sin, inadvertently committed, to be looked upon in -But, "whence then come wars and fightings amongst us?" From that first the same light, as allowed and habitual transgression: the former may be the murderer, who so early stirred up in fallen man the vile lust of ambition, covetblemish of the saint, the latter is the brand of the hypocrite.-In honouring ousness, revenge, and cruelty, and armed brethren against each other in horrid parents, magistrates, seniors, and other honourable characters, we ought to war; and who hath in all ages filled the earth with slaughter and devastation, imitate the example of Shem and Japheth; not only respecting their wisdom and which, it might previously have been supposed, could gratify none but himself. goodness, but covering their incidental blemishes and failures: for, a peculiar But the very existence of war, and the necessity of always being ready for it, blessing belongs to those who act in this manner.-S. and of sometimes waging it, too plainly prove man's depravity, as well as Satan's CHAP. X. NIMROD.-I. Nimrod was a great hunter; this he began with, and influence. Blessed be God, the days are coming, when all the "nations shall beat for this became famous, to a proverb: every great hunter is, in remembrance of their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks, and they him, called a Nimrod. 1. Some think he did good with his hunting, served his shall learn war no more:" and then ambitious or rapacious conquerors will no country by ridding it of the wild beasts which infested it, and so insinuated him- longer be illustrious characters, as in man's partial histories.-S. self into the affections of his neighbours, and got to be their prince: those that exercise authority, either are, or at least would be called, benefactors, Luke, 22, 25. || 2. Others think, that, under pretence of hunting, he gathered men under his command, in pursuit of another game he had to play, which was to make himself master of the country, and to bring them into subjection.

CHAP. XI. THE PLAIN OF SHINAR.-Ver. 1, 2. Many learned men are of opinion, that the events here recorded occurred about the time of Peleg's birth, or a hundred and one years after the deluge: but their arguments are by no means conclusive; and the idea impressed on the mind in reading the chapter, of the numbers, to which the family of Noah was already increased, favours the II. Nimrod was a great ruler, v. 10. The beginning of his kingdom was Babel. opinion that a longer term of years had elapsed. Probably the division of the Some way or other, by arts or arms, he got into power, either chosen into it, or earth before mentioned, was a distinct transaction from the dispersion which took forcing his way to it, and so laid the foundations of a monarchy, which was after-place on this occasion. It was the purpose of God, declared in the blessing proward a head of gold, and the terror of the mighty, and bid fair to be universal.nounced on the sons of Noah, that they should "replenish the earth." (ix, 1.) It does not appear that he had any right to rule by birth; but either his fitness This implied that they should be divided into distinct nations, under separate for government recommended him, as some think, to an election, or, by power governments, inhabiting different countries, till the whole earth was repeopled. and policy, he advanced gradually, and perhaps insensibly, into the throne. See But, as they all spake one language, and, with but few exceptions, had cast off the antiquity of civil government, and particularly that form of it which lodges the fear of God; they formed a project which tended to counteract his purpose.the sovereignty in a single person, Some regular division of the earth seems to have taken place at the time that Peleg was born, probably by divine appointment, under the direction of Noah and his sons. But, the several families, to which the different regions were

III. Nimrod was a great builder; probably he was architect in the building of Babel, and there he began his kingdom; but, when his project to rule all the sons

7 Go to, let us go down, and there their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they j left off to build the city.

GENESIS, XII.

CHAP. 11.-B. C. 2247. rage, and the people The kings of the earth rulers take counsel to

Why do the heathen imagine a vain thing?

set themselves, and the

gether, against the
LORD, and against his
Anointed, saying, Let
us break their bands

asunder, and cast away

their cords from us.
He that sitteth in the
heavens shall laugh:
the LORD shall have
them in derision. Ps.

And God said, Let us make man in our image. Gen. 1, 26.

9 Therefore is the name of it called 7 Babel: 214 because the LORD did there confound the lanof all the earth: and from thence did the And they were all guage LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

10 T These are the generations of Shem: 'Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:"

11 And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. 12 And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat "Salah:

13 And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.

Eber:

14 And Salah lived thirty years, and begat 15 And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.

16 And " Eber lived four and thirty years, begat 8 Peleg:

and

17 And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.

18 And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat 9 Reu: 19 And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.

20 And Reu lived two and thirty years, begat 10 Serug:

and

21 And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters.

22 And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor:

23 And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.

filled with the Holy
and began

Ghost,

to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit
gave them utterance.

And thereweredwelling

at Jerusalem Jews, de-
vout men, out of every
nation under heaven.
Now when this was
noised abroad, the
multitude came to
founded, because that

gether, and were con-
every man heard them
age, Acts, 2, 4-6,

speak in his own lan

j For, lo, thine ene-
mies, O LORD, for, lo,
thine enemies shall

berish; all the workers
scattered. Psalm 92,

of iniquity shall be

9.

Judgments are prepar
ed for scorners, and
stripes for the back of

fools Proverbs, 19, 29.

7 That is, confusion.

If therefore the

the

whole church be come

God blesseth Abram.

25 And Nahor lived after he begat "Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.

26 And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

27 ¶ Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat "Lot.

28 And йaran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. 29 And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, "Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.

together into one place, him, I am the LORD 1 God calleth Abram, and blesseth him with a promise of Christ:

and all speak
tongues, and there
come in those that are
or unbe-
lievers, will they not
say that ye are mad?
1 Corinthians, 14, 23.

learned

The sons of Shem;
Arphaxad, and Lud.

Elam, and Asshur, and

and Aram, and Uz, and
Hul, and Gether, and
Meshech.
Shem,
Shelah,

Reu,

Eber, Peleg, Ren,
Abram; the same is
1,17, 24-27.

Serug, Nahor, Terah,
Abraham. 1Chronicles,

m Which was the son
of Cainan, which was
the son of Arphaxad,
Sem, which was the son
of Noe, which was the

which was the son of

son of Lamech. Luke,

3,

36

born two

n And unto Eber were sons: the name of the one was Peleg, because in his days the earth was

divided: and his bro

ther's name Joktan.
1 Chronicles, 1, 19,
8 Or, Phalec.

9 Or, Ragau

10 Or, Saruch.

11 Or, Thara. Luke,

o Joshua said unto all

24 And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and 3,31,35 begat 11 Terah:

the people, Thus saith
the LORD God of Israel,

that brought thee out
of Ur of the Chaldees,
to give thee this land
to inherit it. Genesis,
15, 7.

b And thou shalt speak
and say before the

LORD thy God, A Sy
was my father, and he

rian ready to perish
went down into Egypt,
and sojourned there
with a few, and became

there a nation, great,

mighty, and populous.
Deuteronomy, 26, 5.

And the LORD hath

blessed my master
greatly; and he is be-
come great: and he
and herds, and silver,
and gold, and men-ser
vants, and maid-ser-
vants, and camels, and
asses. Genesis, 24, 35.

hath given him flocks,

d His name shall en

dure for ever: his name

2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and din thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot

e See chapter 11, 31. his brother's son, and all their substance that

assigned, had not yet separated, and were unwilling to separate.-The expres-idolatry. "Thus the God of glory appeared to him," probably by a visible manision, "as they journeyed from the east," may refer to some of the expeditions headed festation; and, having made himself known unto him, and satisfied him that this by Nimrod, who, having united the whole company under his government, per- was a divine revelation, he commanded him to leave his native country.—It is haps led them to combine in this undertaking: (Note, x, 8--12;) though some not certain that idolatry was more prevalent there than in Canaan; but Abram think that Noah had settled to the east of Shinar, when he left the ark, and that might more easily avoid it among strangers, than among his former associates: he his descendants were now removing towards the west.-S. was therefore likewise required to leave all his kindred, who would not accomCONFUSION OF TONGUES.-God, who, when he made man, taught him to speak, pany him. "The LORD had said," etc. That is, when he was in Ur of the Chaland put words into his mouth fit to express the conceptions of his mind by, now dees: and perhaps he repeated the call after Terah's death. To engage his prompt made those builders to forget their former language, and to speak and understand obedience, God promised to bless him, personally, in things temporal, spiritual, a new one, which yet was the same to those of the same tribe or family, but not and eternal, and relatively in his posterity, "to make of him a great nation."-God to others; those of one colony could converse together, but not with those of would also "make his name great."-Abram was not renowned, either as a conanother. Now, 1. This was a great miracle, and a proof of the power which queror, a law-giver, or an inventor of useful and ingenious arts: he was not a God has upon the minds and tongues of men, which he turns as the rivers of monarch, a genius, a philosopher, or so much as an author; but a plain man, dwellwater. 2. This was a great judgment upon those builders; for, being thus de-ing in tents, and feeding cattle all his days: yet perhaps no mere man has been so prived of the knowledge of the ancient and holy tongue, they were become incap- widely and permanently honoured. The Jews, and many tribes of the Saracens able of communicating with the true church, in which it was retained; and, and Arabians, justly own and revere him as their progenitor: many nations in the probably, it contributed much to their loss of the knowledge of the true God. East exceedingly honour his memory at this day, and glory in their real or pre3. We all suffer by it, to this day: in all the inconveniencies we sustain by the tended relation to him. Throughout the visible church he has always been highly diversity of languages, and all the pains and trouble we are at to learn the lan- venerated; and at this day, Jews, Mahometans, and many Gentiles, vie with each guages we have occasion for, we smart for the rebellion of our ancestors at other and with Christians, who should most honour this ancient patriarch! NoBabel. Nay, and those unhappy controversies, which are strifes of words, and thing could be more improbable at the time, than this event; yet, the prediction arise from our misunderstanding of one another's language, for aught I know, has been fulfilling, most exactly and minutely, during the course of almost four are owing to this confusion of tongues. 4. The project of some to frame an thousand years! Need we any other proof, that the historian wrote as he was universal character, in order to an universal language, how desirable soever it moved by the Holy Ghost?-The Lord also promised Abram that "he should be may seem, is yet, I think, but a vain attempt; for it is to strive against a divine a blessing." To the latest ages important blessings would for his sake be vouch sentence, by which the languages of the nations will be divided while the world safed to his posterity; he should be an instrument of great good, while he lived, stands. 5. We may here lament the loss of the universal use of the Hebrew to his relations, domestics, and neighbours; and his example would be eminently tongue, which, from this time, was the vulgar language of the Hebrews only, and useful, till the end of time. All the true blessedness the world is now, or ever continued so till the captivity in Babylon, where, even among them, it was shall be, possessed of, is owing to Abram and his posterity. Through them we exchanged for the Syriac. 6. As the confounding of tongues divided the chil- have a Bible, a Saviour, and a Gospel. They are the stock on which the Chrisdren of men, and scattered them abroad, so the gift of tongues, bestowed upon tian church is grafted. Their very dispersions have proved the riches of the the apostles, (Acts, 2,) contributed greatly to the gathering together of the chil-world.'-The Lord would also have the same friends and enemies with his chosen dren of God, which were scattered abroad, and the uniting of them in Christ, servant, rewarding the kindness, and punishing the injuries, done to him, as if that with one mind and mouth they might glorify God, Rom. 15, 6.-H. done to himself. In him, and in One descended from him, all blessings centre; CHAP. XII. CALL OF ABRAHAM.-Ver. 1--3. To prevent the universal pre- and through and from him they have been communicated to unnumbered millions, valence of idolatry, and to reserve a remnant, to whom his oracles might be and shall continue to be so, till all nations shall be made happy in him, and by delivered, and among whom his ordinances might be established, till the coming faith in Jesus become "Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the proof Christ; the Lord, as a Sovereign, chose Abram from among his associates in mise."-S.

And when Abram hast thou done unto peared to Abram, and hast brought on the Almighty God; great sin? thou hast thou perfect. Genesis, that ought not to be

was ninety years old us? and what have I and nine, the LORD ap- offended thee, that thou said unto him, I am and on my kingdom a walk before me, and be done deeds unto me done. Genesis, 20, 9.

and he called the name wife; and he said, She cause they strove with is my sister: for he him. Gen. 26, 20. feared to say, She is my Now therefore there men of the place should you, because ye go to because she was fair Why do ye not rather not rather suffer your

place asked him of his of the well Esek; be

wife; lest, said he, the is utterly a fault among kill me for Rebekah; law one with another. take wrong? why do ye