“So the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the furniture of them.”
That is, the innumerable abundance of creatures in heaven and earth.
“And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made: and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done.”
For he had now finished his creation, but his providence still watcheth over his creatures, and governeth them. Cross references: : Exod. 20:11 ; Exod. 31:17 ; Deut. 5:14 ; Heb. 4:4
“And he blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.”
Appointed it to be kept holy, that man might therein consider the excellency of his works and God’s goodness toward him.
“These are the generations of the heaven and the earth, when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the heaven and the earth:”
Or, the original and beginning.
“And every plant of the field before it sprung up in the earth, and every herb of the ground before it grew: for the Lord God had not rained upon the earth; and there was not a man to till the earth.”
God only openeth the heavens and shutteth them, he sendeth drought and rain according to his good pleasure. Or, tree, as Gen. 21:15 .
“And the Lord God formed man of the slime of the earth: and breathed into his face the breath of life, and man became a living soul.”
Or, formed. 1 Cor. 15:45 He showeth whereof man’s body was created, to the intent that man should not glory in the excellency of his own nature.
“And the Lord God had planted a paradise of pleasure from the beginning: wherein he placed man whom he had formed.”
This was the name of a place, as some think in Mesopotamia, most pleasant and abundant in all things.
“And the Lord God brought forth of the ground all manner of trees, fair to behold, and pleasant to eat of: the tree of life also in the midst of paradise: and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.”
That is, of miserable experience, which came by disobeying God. Which was a sign of the life received of God.
“The name of the one is Phison: that is it which compasseth all the land of Hevilath, where gold groweth.”
Which Havilah is a country joining to Persia Eastward, and inclineth toward the West.
“And the gold of that land is very good: there is found bdellium, and the onyx stone.”
Or, precious stone, or pearl. Pliny saith it is the name of a tree.
“And the name of the third river is Tigris: the same passeth along by the Assyrians. And the fourth river is Euphrates.”
Or, Tigris. Or, Assyria. Or, Euphrates.
“And the Lord God took man, and put him into the paradise of pleasure, to dress it, and to keep it.”
God would not have man idle, though as yet there was no need to labor.
“And he commanded him, saying: Of every tree of paradise thou shalt eat:”
Hebrew, eating thou shalt eat of . So that man might know there was a sovereign Lord, to whom he owed obedience.
“But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat. For in what day soever thou shalt eat of it, thou shalt die the death.”
By this death he meaneth the separation of man from God, who is our life and chief felicity: and also that our disobedience is the cause thereof. Or, whensoever.
“And the Lord God having formed out of the ground all the beasts of the earth, and all the fowls of the air, brought them to Adam to see what he would call them: for whatsoever Adam called any living creature the same is its name.”
By moving them to come and submit themselves to Adam.
“And the Lord God built the rib which he took from Adam into a woman: and brought her to Adam.”
Hebrew, built . Signifying that mankind was perfect, when the woman was created, which before was like an imperfect building.
“And Adam said: This now is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man.”
Or, Manness, because she cometh of man: for in Hebrew Ish is man, and Ishah the woman. 1 Cor. 11:8
“Wherefore a man shall leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they shall be two in one flesh.”
So that marriage requireth a greater duty of us toward our wives, than otherwise we are bound to show to our parents. Matt. 19:5 ; Mark 10:7 ; 1 Cor. 6:16 ; Eph. 5:31
“And they were both naked: to wit, Adam and his wife: and were not ashamed.”
For before sin entered, all things were honest and comely.