of destruction hath passed,') and those who believe. But there believed not with him except a few.t And Noah said, Embark thereon, in the name o GOD; while it moveth forward, and while it standeth still; for my Lorr is gracious and merciful. And the ark swam with them between waves like mountains: and Noah called unto his son, who was separated from him, saying, Embark with us, my son, and stay not with the unbelievers. He answered, I will get on a mountain, which will secure me from the water. Noah replied, There is no security this day from the decree of GOD, except for him on whom he shall have mercy. And a wave passed between them, and he became one of those who were drowned.* And it was said, O earth. swallow up thy waters, and thou, O heaven, withhold thy rain. And immediately the water abated, and the decree was fulfilled, and the ark rested on the mountain Al Jûdi; and it was said, Away with the This was an unbelieving son of Noah, named Canaan, or Yam; though others say he was not the son of Noah, but his grandson by his son Ham, or his wife's son by an other husband; nay, some pretend he was related to him no farther than by having been educated and brought up in his house. The best commentators add, that Noah's wife, named Wâïla, who was an infidel, was also comprehended in this exception, and perished with her son.' Noah's family being mentioned before, it is supposed that by these words are intended the other believers, who were his proselytes, but not of his family: whence the common opinion among Mohammedans, of a greater number than eight being saved in the ark, seems to have taken its rise." viz. His other wife, who was a true believer, his three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japhet, and their wives, and seventy-two persons more.' That is, omit no opportunity of getting on board. According to a different reading, the latter words may be rendered, who shall cause it to move forward, and to stop, as there shall be occasion. The commentators tell us that the ark moved forwards, or stood still, as Noah would have it, on his pronouncing only the words, In the name of God." 10 It is to be observed, that the more judicious commentators make the dimensions of the ark to be the same with those assigned by Moses; notwithstanding others have enlarged them extravagantly. as some Christian writers" have also done. They likewise tell us that Noah was two years in building the ark, which was framed of Indian plane tree," that it was divided into three stories, of which the lower was designed for the beasts, the middle one for the men and women, and the upper for the birds; and that the men were separated from the women by the body of Adam, which Noah had taken into the the ark. This last is a tradition of the eastern Christians," some of whom pretended that the matrimonial duty was superseded and suspended during the time Noah and his family were in the ark; though Ham has been accused of not observing continency on that occasion, his wife, it seems, bringing forth Canaan in the very ark." 16 See note r. The waters prevailing fifteen cubits above the mountains.19 "The waters arose, and all men were swallowed up."-Savary. This mountain is one of those which divide Armenia, on the south, from Mesopotamia, and that part of Assyria, which is inhabited by the Curds, from whom the mountains took the name of Cardu, or Gardu; by the Greeks turned into Gordyæi, and other names. Mount al Júddi (which name scems to be a corruption, though it be constantly so written by the Arabs, for Jordi or Giordi) is also called Thamanîn, probably from a town at the foot of it," so named from the number of persons saved in the ark, the word thamanîn signifying eighty, and overlooks the country of Diyâr Rabîah, near the cities of Yahya. 2 Jallalo'ddin, Al Beidâwi. Ebn Shohnah. Al Zumakhshari. Vide D'Herbel. Bibl. Orient. p. 676. 'Jallalo'ddin, Al Kamakhshari, Al Beidâwi. See chap. 7. p. 122. See ibid. note b. Al Beidâwi, &c. Idem, &c. Yahya. Vide Marracc. in Alcor. p. 350. "Origen contr. Cels. lib. 4. Vide Kircher. de Arca Noë, c. 8. 12 Al Beidâwi. Vide D'Herbel. p. 675, and Eutych. p. 34. 13 Al Beidâwi. Vide Eutych. Annal. p. 34. 14 Yahya. 17 Vide 15 Jacob, Edessenus, apud Barcepham de Parad. part 1, chap. 14. Eutych. ubi. sup. Vide etfam Eliezer. pirke chap. 23. 16 Ambros. de Noa et Arca, chap. 21. Heidegger. Hist. Patriarchar. v. 1, p. 409. 18 Al Beidâwi. Phaleg. lib. 1, c. 3. "Geogr. Num. p. 202. Orient. p. 404, and 676, et Agathiam, lib. 14, p. 135. 19 See Bochart. Vide D'Herbelot, Bibl с ungodly people! And Noah called upon his LORD, and said, O LORD, verily my son is of my family, and thy promise is true; for thou art the most just of those who exercise judgment. God answered, O Noah, verily he is not of thy family; this intercession of thine for him is not a righteous work. Ask not of me therefore that wherein thou hast no knowledge: I admonish thee that thou become not one of the ignorant. Noah said, O LORD, I have recourse unto thee for the assistance of thy grace, that I ask not of thee that wherein I have no knowledge; and unless thou forgive me, and be merciful unto me, I shall be one of those who perish. It was said unto him, O Noah, come down from the ark, with peace from us, and blessings upon thee, and upon a part of those who are with thee; but as for a part of them, we will suffer them to enjoy the provision of this world; and afterwards shall a grievous punishment from us be inflicted on them, in the life to come. This is a secret history, which we reveal unto thee: thou didst not know it, neither did thy people, before this. Wherefore persevere with patience: for the prosperous issue shall attend the pious. And unto the tribe of Ad we sent their brother Hud. He said, O my people, worship God; ye have no God besides him; ye only imagine falsehood, in setting up idols and intercessors of your own making. O my people, Mawsel, Forda, and Jazîrat Ebn Omar; which last place one affirms to be but four miles from the place of the ark, and says that a Mohammedan temple was built there with the remains of that vessel, by the Khalîf Omar Ebn Abd'alazîz, whom he by mistake calls Omar Ebn al Khattab. The tradition which affirms the ark to have rested on these mountains must have been very ancient, since it is the tradition of the Chaldeans themselves: the Chaldee paraphrasts consent to their opinion, which obtained very much formerly, especially among the eastern Christians. To confirm it, we are told, that the remainders of the ark were to be seen on the Gordyæan mountains: Berosus and Abydenus both declare there was such a report in their time; the first observing that several of the inhabitants thereabouts scraped the pitch off the planks as a rarity, and carried it about them for an amulet: and the latter saying, that they used the wood of the vessel against many diseases with wonderful success. The relics of the ark were also to be seen here in the time of Epiphanius, if we may believe him; and we are told the emperor Heraclius went from the town of Thamanîn up to the mountain al Jûdi, and saw the place of the ark. There was also formerly a famous monastery, called the monastery of the ark, upon some of these mountains, where the Nestorians used to celebrate a feast-day on the spot where they supposed the ark rested; but in the year of Christ 776, that monastery was destroyed by lightning, with the church, and a numerous congregation in it." Since which time it seems the credit of this tradition hath declined, and given place to another, which obtains at present, and according to which the ark rested on Mount Masis in Armenia, called by the Turks, Aghir dagh, or the heavy or great mountain, and situate about twelve leagues south-east of Erivan." Noah here challenges God's promise, that he would save his family. Being cut off from it on account of his infidelity. According to a different reading this passage may be rendered, For he hath acted unrighteously. The Mohammedans say that Noah went into the ark on the tenth of Rajeb, and came out of it the tenth of al Moharram; which therefore became a fast. So that the whole time of Noah's being in the ark, according to them, was six months." viz. Such of them as continued in their belief. That is, such of his posterity as should depart from the true faith, and fall into idolatry. See chap. 7, p. 122. But if ye turn back, I have already was sent unto you; and my LORD and ye shall not hurt him at And when our sentence came those who had believed with I ask not of you for this my preaching, any recompense: my recompense Or madness: having deprived thee of thy reason for the indignities thou hast offered them. That is, he exerciseth an absolute power over it. A creature held in this manner being supposed to be reduced to the lowest subjection. Who were in number four thousand." See chap. 7, p. 123. Repent! Turn unto him! He is near unto you, and hears you."-Savary. Designing to have made thee our prince, because of the singular prudence and other good qualities which we observed in thee; but thy dissenting from us in point of religious worship has frustrated those hopes." 8 niz. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. See chap. 7, p. 124, note k. bestowed on me mercy from himself; who will protect me from the vengeance of GOD, if I be disobedient unto him? For ye shall not add unto me, other than loss. And he said, O my people, this she-camel of God is a sign unto you; therefore dismiss her freely, that she may feed in GoD's earth, and do her no harm, lest a swift punishment seize you. Yet they killed her; and Saleh said, Enjoy yourselves in your dwellings for three days after which ye shall be destroyed. This is an infallible prediction. And when our decree came to be executed, we delivered Saleh and those who believed with him, through our mercy, from the disgrace of that day; for thy LORD is the strong, the mighty God. But a terrible noise from heaven assailed those who had acted unjustly; and in the morning they were found in their houses, lying dead and prostrate; as though they had never dwelt therein. Did not Thamud disbelieve in their LORD? Was not Thamud cast far away? Our messengers r also came formerly unto Abraham, with good tidings: they said, Peace be upon thee. And he answered, and on you be Peace! And he tarried not, but brought a roasted calf. And when he saw that their hands did not touch the meat,* he misiked them, and entertained a fear of them. But they said, Fear not: for we are sent unto the people of Lot. And his wife Sarah was standing by," and she laughed; and we promised her Isaac, and after Isaac, Jacob. She said, Alas! shall I bear a son, who am old; this my husband also being advanced in years? Verily this would be a wonderful thing. The angels answered, Dost thou wonder at the effect of the command of GOD? The mercy of God and his blessings be upon you, the family of the house: > These were the angels who were sent to acquaint Abraham with the promise of Isaac, and to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Some of the commentators pretend they were twelve, or nine, or ten in number; but others, agreeable to scripture, say they were but three, viz. Gabriel, Michael, and Israfîl." "When he saw that they did not touch his hand."+-Savary. Apprehending that they had some ill design against him, because they would not eat with him. Being angels, whose nature needs not the support of food.1 Either behind the curtain, or door of the tent; or else waiting upon them. The commentators are so little acquainted with scripture, that, not knowing the true occasion of Sarah's laughter, they strain their inventions to give some reason for it. One says, that she laughed at the angels discovering themselves, and ridding Abraham and herself of their apprehensions; and another, that it was at the approaching destruction of the Sodomites (a very probable motive in one of her sex). Some, however, interpret the original word differently, and will have it that she did not laugh, but that her courses, which had stopped for several years, came upon her at this time, as a previous sign of her future conception.2 Al Beidâwi writes that Sarah was then ninety, or ninety-nine years old, and Abraham a hundred and twenty. Or the stock whence all the prophets were to proceed for the future. Or the ex Al Beidâwi, Jallalo'ddin. See Gen. xviii. When the Orientals meet, after having made the ordinary salutation, Peace be with you, they move the hand to the left side, and mutually shake hands. When they are very intimate, they repeat this ceremony, and wish good wishes to each other. If they do not know the person whom they meet, they merely give him the salutation, and if it be an unbeliever, they content themselves by saying Good day. Abraham, seeing that the two celestial messengers did not touch his hand, concluded them to be strangers to whom he was not known.-Savary. Al Beidâwi. Idem. Jallalo'ddin, Al Zamakhshâri. for he is praiseworthy, and to be glorified. And when his apprehension had departed from Abraham, and the good tidings of Isaac's birth had come unto him, he disputed with us concerning the people of Lot; for Abraham was a pitiful, compassionate, and devout person. The angels said unto him, O Abraham, abstain from this; for now is the command of thy LORD come, to put their sentence in execution, and an inevitable punishment is ready to fall upon them. And when our messengers came unto Lot, he was troubled for them," and his arm was straightened concerning them; and he said, This is a grievous day. And his people came unto him, rushing upon him, and they had formerly been guilty of wickedness. Lot said unto them, O my people, these my daughters are more lawful for you: therefore fear GOD, and put me not to shame by wronging my guests. Is there not a man of prudence among you?* They answered, Thou knowest that we Lave no need of thy daughters; and thou well knowest what we would ave. He said, If I had strength sufficient to oppose you, or I could have ecourse unto a powerful support, I would certainly do it. The angels aid, O Lot, verily we are the messengers of thy LORD; they shall by no neans come in unto thee. Go forth, therefore, with thy family, in some art of the night, and let not any of you turn back: but as for thy wife," hat shall happen unto her, which shall happen unto them. Verily the prediction of their punishment shall be fulfilled in the morning: is not the morning near? And when our command came, we turned those cities upside down, and we rained upon them stones of baked clay, one follow pression may perhaps refer to Abraham and Ishmael's building the Caaba, which is often called, by way of excellence, the house. That is, he interceded with us for them.3 Jallalo'ddin, instead of the numbers mentioned by Moses, says, that Abraham first asked whether God would destroy those cities if three hundred righteous persons were found therein, and so fell successively to two hundred, forty, fourteen, and at last came to one: but there was not one righteous person to be found among them, except only Lot and his family. Because they appeared in the shape of beautiful young men, which must needs tempt those of Sodom to abuse them. i. e. He knew himself unable to protect them against the insults of his townsmen. *Is all shame extinct among you?"-Savary. • Al Beidâwi says, that Lot shut his door, and argued the matter with the riotous assembly from behind it; but at length they endeavoured to get over the wall: whereupon Gabriel seeing his distress, struck them on the face with one of his wings, and blinded them; so that they moved off, crying out for help, and saying that Lot had magicians in his house. This seems to be the true sense of the passage; but according to a different reading of the vowel, some interpret it, Except thy wife; the meaning being, that Lot is here commanded to take his family with him except his wife. Wherefore the commentators cannot agree whether Lot's wife went forth with him or not; some denying it, and pretending that she was left behind and perished in the common destruction; and others affirming it, and saying, that when she heard the noise of the storm, and overthrow of the cities, she turned back, lamenting their fate, and was immediately struck down and killed by one of the stones mentioned a little lower. A punishment she justly merited for her infidelity and disobedience to her husband. For they tell us, that Gabriel thrust his wing under them, and lifted them up so high. that the inhabitants of the lower heaven heard the barking of the dogs, and the crowing of the cocks; and then inverting them, threw them down to the earth. The kiln wherein they were burned some imagine to have been hell. Vide Gen. xviii. 23, &c. c. 11. 'Jallalo'ddin, Al Beidâwi. Vide Joseph. Antiq. lib. 1 'Jallalo'ddin, Al Beidâwi. |