Notes, Critical and Explanatory, on the Holy Scriptures

The assurance given by the tempter was of no account " He is a liar, and the father thereof." John 8 : 44. w H. } It is better to omit it in English.

Adam songbt to hide himself apprehending that God would manifest Himself and call him to account.

II. "The tree it is put for trees generally. God addresses Adam, as if inquiring; although all things lie open to Him. Adam was seized with terror, feeling that his shame was a consequence of his sin. w These inquiries are directed to make Adam more sensible of his transgression. ft. " Whom thou gavest with me."

Adam casts the blame on the woman, and Indirectly on Ood, who gave him so dangerous a companion.

P. " Bruise." means to strike, or crush. The Redeemer was foretold as destined to crush the head of the serpent, to repress bis power, and rescue man from his grasp. St Leo writes : "The Almighty and Merciful Lord, whose nature is goodness, whose will is power, whose work is mercy, as soon as the malignity of the Devil inflicted death on us by the poison of his envy, at the very commence- ment of the world, through Uis clemency pointed out the remedies for restoring mankind, denouncing to the serpent, that seed would arise from the woman, which should crush by His power the pride of its noxious head; namely, that Christ would oome in the flesh, the God-man, who, being born of the Virgin, by His undefiled birth would condemn the destroyer of the human race." Serm. 2 di Nativ.

H. is tho same, but Sept., V„ vary the translation, as the heel suggests rather an Insidious attack. Some MS.% Sept, which Grotius prefers, have TCtprjatif, " thou shalt bite instead of Trjpijaets, " thou shalt lie in wait." Vat.

By hendyadu the pains of parturition are expressed. In a state of innooence, if conjugal intercourse should exist, as seems probable, parturition might have been free from pain, in consequence of the natural vigor of the human constitution. It is now penal, on account of the share of the woman in the original transgression. Animals generally do not experience pain in parturition, as Aristotle remarks. Hilt, anim. 7. 9. n 1 Cor. 14 : 34. The woman desires the society of her husband, notwithstanding the power of a master which he exercises over her. Infra 4:7; Cant. 7 : 10.

God may be said to have made those garments, having directed or Impelled Adam to make them.