Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/83

 Ararat, and the  tops  of  the  hills  began  to  appear. Noe perceived this with  great  joy,  for  he  had  been  now  three  hundred  and  fifty days shut  up  in  the  ark.



In order  to  see  whether  the waters had  subsided  on  the  earth, he opened  the  window  and  sent  forth a raven which  did  not  return. He next sent  forth  a dove,  but  she,  not finding a spot  whereon  to  rest  her foot, returned  to  the  ark. After seven days he  again  sent  forth  the  dove. She came  back  to  him,  in  the  evening, carrying in  her  mouth  a bough  of  an olive-tree with green  leaves  (Fig. 3). Noe, therefore,  Understood  that  the waters had  abated  from  off  the  face of the  earth. He stayed  in  the  ark  yet  other  seven  days,  and  he sent  forth  the  dove  again,  which  did  not  return  to  him.

God then  said  to  Noe:  “Go  out  of  the  ark.”  So  Noe  went out of  the  ark  with  his  wife,  his  sons  and  their  wives,  together with all  the  living  creatures  which  he  had  placed  in  it. Filled with gratitude  towards  the  Lord  who  had  so  wonderfully  pre-