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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Calvin Complete Commentary - Genesis 1:9 - 1:9
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9.Let the waters... be gathered together This also is an illustrious miracle, that the waters by their departure have given a dwelling-place to men. For even philosophers allow that the natural position of the waters was to cover the whole earth, as Moses declares they did in the beginning; first, because being an element, it must be circular, and because this element is heavier than the air, and lighter than the earth, it ought cover the latter in its whole circumference. (64) But that the seas, being gathered together as on heaps, should give place for man, is seemingly preternatural; and therefore Scripture often extols the goodness of God in this particular. See Psa_33:7,
‘ has gathered the waters together on a heap,
and has laid them up in his treasures.’
Also Psa_78:13,
‘ has collected the waters as into a bottle.’ (65)
Jer_5:22,
‘ ye not fear me? will ye not tremble at my presence,
who have placed the sand as the boundary of the sea?’
Job_38:8,
‘ has shut up the sea with doors? Have not I surrounded it with gates and bars?
I have said,
Hitherto shalt thou proceed; here shall thy swelling waves be broken.’
Let us, therefore, know that we are dwelling on dry ground, because God, by his command, has removed the waters that they should not overflow the whole earth.
(64) This reasoning is to be explained by reference to the philosophical theories of the age. — Ed.
(65) “Velut in utrem;” “ the Vulgate.” The English version is, “ made the waters to stand as an heap.”