EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)
(13)
The end of all flesh is come before me.—A metaphor taken from the customs of earthly kings. Before an order is executed the decree is presented to the sovereign, that it may finally be examined, and if approved, receive the sign manual, upon which it becomes law.
I will destroy them.—Not the verb used inGenesis 6:7, but that translatedhad corruptedinGenesis 6:12. It means “to bring to ruin, devastate.”
With the earth.—Rather,even the earth: eth,as inGenesis 4:1. The meaning is, “I will bring them to nought, even the whole present constitution of earthly things.”
Genesis 6:13.
The end,or ruin,
of all flesh is come before me —Is approaching, is at the very door. It is come in my purpose and decree, and shall as certainly take place, as if it were come already, in what manner soever vain men may flatter themselves with hopes of longer impunity.
I will destroy them with the earth;but
make thee an ark —I will take care to preserve thee alive. This ark was like the hulk of a ship, fitted not to sail upon the waters, but to float, waiting for their fall. God could have secured Noah by the ministration of angels, without putting him to any care or pains; but he chose to employ him in making that which was to be the means of his preservation, both for the trial of his faith and obedience, and to teach us that none shall be saved
by Christ,but those only that
work out their salvation;we cannot do it without God, and he will not without us: both the providence of God, and the grace of God, crown the endeavours of the obedient and diligent.
6:12-21 God told Noah his purpose to destroy the wicked world by water. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, Ps 25:14. It is with all believers, enabling them to understand and apply the declarations and warnings of the written word. God chose to do it by a flood of waters, which should drown the world. As he chooses the rod with which he corrects his children, so he chooses the sword with which he cuts off his enemies. God established his covenant with Noah. This is the first place in the Bible where the word 'covenant' is found; it seems to mean, 1. The covenant of providence; that the course of nature shall be continued to the end of time. 2. The covenant of grace; that God would be a God to Noah, and that out of his seed God would take to himself a people. God directed Noah to make an ark. This ark was like the hulk of a ship, fitted to float upon the waters. It was very large, half the size of St. Paul's cathedral, and would hold more than eighteen of the largest ships now used. God could have secured Noah without putting him to any care, or pains, or trouble; but employed him in making that which was to be the means to preserve him, for the trial of his faith and obedience. Both the providence of God, and the grace of God, own and crown the obedient and diligent. God gave Noah particular orders how to make the ark, which could not therefore but be well fitted for the purpose. God promised Noah that he and his family should be kept alive in the ark. What we do in obedience to God, we and our families are likely to have the benefit of. The piety of parents gets their children good in this life, and furthers them in the way to eternal life, if they improve it.
The directions concerning the ark embrace the purpose to destroy the race of man
Genesis 6:13, the plan and specification of the ark
Genesis 6:14-16, the announcement of the deluge
Genesis 6:17, the arrangements for the preservation of Noah and his family, and certain kinds of animals
Genesis 6:18-21.
Genesis 6:13
The end of all flesh. - The end may mean either the point to which it tends, or the extermination of the race. The latter is the simpler. All flesh is to be understood of the whole race, while yet it does not preclude the exception of Noah and his family. This teaches us to beware of applying an inflexible literality to such terms as all, when used in the sense of ordinary conversation. "Is come before me," is in the contemplation of my mind as an event soon to be realized. "For the land is filled with violence." The reason. "I will destroy them." The resolve. There is retribution here, for the words "corrupt" and "destroy" are the same in the original.
13. And God said unto Noah—How startling must have been the announcement of the threatened destruction! There was no outward indication of it. The course of nature and experience seemed against the probability of its occurrence. The public opinion of mankind would ridicule it. The whole world would be ranged against him. Yet, persuaded the communication was from God, through faith (Heb 11:7), he set about preparing the means for preserving himself and family from the impending calamity.
i.e. The time of ruin, as this word is used,
Ezekiel 7:2-3,Ezekiel 7:6, Amos 8:2,
of all flesh, to all men, as
Genesis 6:12, though the beasts also were involved in the same destruction,
is come, i.e. is approaching, and at the very door, and shall as certainly come as if it were actually come.
Before me, i.e. in my purpose and decree, howsoever vain men flatter themselves with hopes of longer impunity.
Through them, i.e. By their means; so that the earth even groans under them.
With the earth, i.e. with the fruits and beauty, though not the substance of the
earth. Or,
from the earth, as
Genesis 6:7; the Hebrew
eth being oft put for
min or
meeth, as
Genesis 44:4Deu 34:11 Kings 8:43, compared with
2 Chronicles 6:33.
And God said unto Noah,.... This is a proof that he found favour in his eyes, since he spake to him, and told him what he had observed, and what he was determined to do, and gave him directions to make an ark for the security of himself and family, when he should destroy the world:
the end of all flesh is come before me; that is, it was determined to put an end to the lives of all men, and of all cattle, and fowl and creeping things on the earth; all which are included in the phrase, "all flesh", even every living substance on the earth:
for the earth is filled with violence through them; that is, through men, for they are principally intended in the preceding clause, though not only; and it was through them, and not through other creatures, that the earth was filled with violence, in the sense in which it is explained in See Gill onGenesis 6:11,
and behold, I will destroy them with the earth; meaning, that he would destroy all men, together with the cattle and creeping things of the earth, the trees, and herbs, and plants in it, yea, that itself, for that is said to perish by the flood,2 Peter 3:6. Some render it, "out of the earth" (b); that is, would destroy them from it, that they should be no more on it.
(b) "e terra", Cartwright; some in Vatablus; so Ar. vers. Aben Ezra, Jarchi, Ben Gersom & Ben Melech.
And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
