CHAP. LXXI.
Intitled, Noah; revealed at Mecca.
In the name of the most merciful God.
[a] Part of your sins;] i.e. Your past sins; which are done away by the profession of the true faith.
[b] And he will cause the heaven to pour down rain plentifully upon you, and will give you increase of wealth and of children;] It is said that after Noah had for a long time preached to them in vain, God shut up the heaven for forty years, and rendered their women barren [1] .
[1] Idem.
[a] What aileth you, that ye hope not for benevolence in God i.e. That God will accept and amply reward those who serve him? For some suppose Noah’s people made him this answer, If what we now follow be the truth, we ought not to forsake it; but if it be false, how will God accept, or be favourable unto us, who have rebelled against him [1] ?
[1] Idem.
[b] Hath created you variously;] That is, as the commentators expound it, by various steps or changes, from the original matter, till ye became perfect men [2] .
[2] See chap. 22. p. 274. and chap. 23. p. 281, &c.
[c] These were five idols worshipped by the Antediluvians, and afterwards by the ancient Arabs. See the Prelim. Disc. §. I. p. 19.
[d] Lord, leave not any families of this unbelievers, &c.] They say Noah preferred not this prayer for the destruction of his people till after he had tried them for nine hundred and fifty years, and found them incorrigible reprobates.
[e] My parents;] His father Lamech, and his mother, whose name was Shamkha, the daughter of Enosh, being true believers.
[f] My house;] The commentators are uncertain whether Noah’s dwelling-house be here meant, or the temple he had built for the worship of God, or the ark.