Genesis 8:20

“And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord, etc.] Not an house for himself and his family, but an altar for God; his first and greatest concern being for the glory of God, and not for the temporal good of himself and his: this altar was erected, and devoted to the service of God; it was built according to his will, and by his direction: Noah’s view was to renew the worship of God, preserve and propagate it by his example; and this was done by way of thanksgiving to God for his wonderful preservation of him, and was also propitiatory and typical of Christ: the Jewish writers f473 say, this was the altar on which Adam sacrificed, when expelled the garden of Eden, and on which Cain and Abel…”

“Noah builded an altar--literally, "a high place"--probably a mound of earth, on which a sacrifice was offered. There is something exceedingly beautiful and interesting to know that the first care of this devout patriarch was to return thanks for the signal instance of mercy and goodness which he and his family had experienced. took of every clean beast . . . fowl--For so unparalleled a deliverance, a special acknowledgment was due.”

“- XXVII. The Ark Was Evacuated 19. משׁפחה mı̂shpāchah, “kind, clan, family.” שׁפחה shı̂pchâh, “maid-servant; related: spread.” 20. מזבח mı̂zbēach, “altar; related: slay animals, sacrifice.” 21. עלה 'olâh, “whole burnt-offering.” That which goes up. “Step; related: go up.” Genesis 8:15-19 The command to leave the ark is given and obeyed. As Noah did not enter, so neither does he leave the ark, without divine direction. “The fowl, the cattle, and the creeper.” Here, again, these three classes are specified under the general head of every living tiring. They are again to multiply on the earth. “Every living thing.” This evidently takes the place of the cattle mentioned before. “After their…”

“And Noah builded an altar - Hitherto he had done nothing without particular instructions and commands from God but altars and sacrifices being already of Divine institution, he did not stay for a particular command thus to express his thankfulness. And he offered on the altar, of every clean beast and of every clean fowl - One, the odd seventh that we read of, Gen 7:2-3. Genesis 8:21”

“8:20 This first mention of an altar in the Bible shows Noah’s gratitude for having passed through the judgment. • sacrificed as burnt offerings: The same wording is used of the whole burnt offering in Leviticus (Lev 1:3-9); however, it can refer to any offering that is burned. Noah gave this offering to thank and worship God, who had delivered him and his family from the flood.”

“builded: Gen 4:4, Gen 12:7, Gen 12:8, Gen 13:4, Gen 22:9, Gen 26:25, Gen 33:20, Gen 35:1, Gen 35:7; Exo 20:24, Exo 20:25, Exo 24:4-8; Rom 12:1; Heb 13:10, Heb 13:15, Heb 13:16; Pe1 2:5, Pe1 2:9 clean beast: Gen 7:2; Lev. 11:1-47 burnt: Lev. 1:1-17 Genesis 8:21”

“The first thing which Noah did, was to build an altar for burnt sacrifice, to thank the Lord for gracious protection, and pray for His mercy in time to come. This altar - , lit., a place for the offering of slain animals, from , like θυσιαστη ριον from θυ ειν - is the first altar mentioned in history. The sons of Adam had built no altar for their offerings, because God was still present on the earth in paradise, so that they could turn their offerings and hearts towards that abode. But with the flood God had swept paradise away, withdrawn the place of His presence, and set up His throne in…”