Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/258

 on decreasing from off the earth, 4. and the ark rested on the mountains of Ararat.—On the landing-place of the ark, see p. 166 below.

6b-12. The episode of the sending out of the birds appears in many forms of the Deluge-tradition; notably in the Babylonian. It is here related as an illustration of Noah's wisdom (Gu.). Tuch quotes from Pliny, vi. 83 (on the Indians): "siderum in navigando nulla observatio; septentrio non cernitur; sed volucres secum vehunt, emittentes sæpius, meatumque earum terram petentium comitantur."—7. He sent out a raven] The purpose of the action is not stated till v.$8$; partly for this reason, partly because the threefold experiment with the dove is complete and more natural, the genuineness of the v. has been questioned (We. Ho. Gu. al.). Dahse, ZATW, xxviii. 5 f., calls attention to the fact that in G$M$ the v. is marked with the obelus. The Bab. account has three experiments, but with different birds (dove, swallow, raven).—8. And he sent out a dove] perhaps immediately; see G below. But if v.$7$ be a later insertion, we must supply and he waited 7 days (see v.$10$).—9. The description of the return and admission of the dove is unsurpassed even in the Yahwistic document for tenderness and beauty of imagination.—10. Seven other days] implying a similar statement before either v.$7$ or v.$8$.—11. a freshly plucked olive leaf] The olive does not grow at great altitudes, and was said to flourish even under water (Tu.). But it is probable that some forgotten mythological significance attaches to the symbol in the Flood-legend (see Gu. p. 60). Cf. the classical notices of the olive branch as an emblem of peace: Virg. Aen. viii. 116 (Paciferaeque manu ramum prætendit olivæ); Livy, xxiv. 30, xxix. 16.—12. The third time the dove returns no more; and then at last—*

here and in v.$7$.—7. ] on the art. see G-K. § 126 r; but cf. Smith's note, RS$2$, 126.—G here supplies, as in v.$8$.—] G ; so VS (accepted by Ball): see on 3$a$.—8. ] G (= ); assuming that both birds were sent forth on the same day.—10. ] cf. , v.$12$ ([E] has both times). Both forms are incorrect: read in each case (Bu. Di. al.).*