Genesis — Chapter 7

AND THE LORD SAID TO NOE: GO IN, THOU AND ALL THY HOUSE, INTO THE ARK: FOR THEE I HAVE SEEN JUST BEFORE ME IN THIS GENERATION. — \"All thy house\" = all thy family. \"In this generation\" = among the men of this time.

OF ALL CLEAN BEASTS TAKE SEVEN AND SEVEN, THE MALE AND THE FEMALE. — The distinction of clean and unclean animals existed before the Mosaic Law — it was part of the law of nature, revealed by God by instinct and tradition from the time of Adam (Chrysostom, Didymus, Pererius). Clean animals = those later decreed clean by Moses (Lev. 11). \"Seven and seven\" = fourteen (seven males, seven females): one pair for propagation of the species, one pair for sacrifice after the Flood (Gen. 8:20), one pair for food, and the seventh male for the actual sacrifice. So argue Josephus, Ambrose, Chrysostom, Theodoret, Eucherius, Lyranus, Abulensis, Cajetan, and Pererius.

IN THE SIX HUNDREDTH YEAR OF THE LIFE OF NOE, IN THE SECOND MONTH, THE SEVENTEENTH DAY OF THE MONTH, ALL THE FOUNTAINS OF THE GREAT DEEP WERE BROKEN UP, AND THE FLOODGATES OF HEAVEN WERE OPENED. — The Flood began in the 600th year of Noe's life, on the 17th day of the second month (November, according to the Hebrew calendar reckoning from March). Two causes: (1) the eruption of subterranean waters from the \"great deep\" — the vast underground reservoirs that supplied the seas; (2) the opening of the \"cataracts of heaven\" — rain. Forty days and forty nights of rain followed.

AND THEY THAT WENT IN, WENT IN MALE AND FEMALE OF ALL FLESH, AS GOD HAD COMMANDED HIM: AND THE LORD SHUT HIM IN ON THE OUTSIDE. — \"The Lord shut him in on the outside\" — God Himself miraculously sealed the ark, so that neither the violence of waves nor the force of the waters could break its joints or open its door. This is a mark of extraordinary divine care.

AND THE WATERS PREVAILED EXCEEDINGLY UPON THE EARTH: AND ALL THE HIGH MOUNTAINS UNDER THE WHOLE HEAVEN WERE COVERED. — The Flood was universal (against those who say it was only a partial flood): all the high mountains under all heaven were covered — 15 cubits above the highest peaks. Lapide refutes local-flood theories: Moses says \"all the high mountains under all heaven,\" leaving no exception.

ALL THINGS WHEREIN THERE IS THE BREATH OF LIFE ON THE EARTH, DIED. — All terrestrial creatures perished. Fish and aquatic animals were preserved in the waters. Lapide: it is probable that some sinful adults repented as the waters rose and were spiritually saved (1 Pet. 3:19 – Christ preached to the spirits in prison); especially infants of that time who were baptized by the sacrament then in force (circumcision or its equivalent) were saved.