Genesis 8:7

“And he sent forth a raven, etc.] That by it he might make his observation, how high or low the waters were upon the earth; and the rather he sent out the raven, a bird of prey, which feeds on carrion, that if the earth had been dry, the smell of the dead carcasses would have invited it to go far off from the ark, and not return; but if not, he would see it again: which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from the earth; or, “and it went forth, going forth and returning” f456; it went forth out of the ark, and returned, but might not go into it, but went forth again, and then returned; and thus it continued going backwards and forwards, until the waters were dried up, when…”

“And he sent forth a raven--The smell of carrion would allure it to remain if the earth were in a habitable state. But it kept hovering about the spot, and, being a solitary bird, probably perched on the covering.”

“- The Land Was Dried 1. שׁכך shākak “stoop, assuage.” 3. חסר chāsar “want, fail, be abated.” 4. אררט 'ărārāṭ, “Ararat,” a land forming part of Armenia. It is mentioned in 2 Kings 19:37, and Isaiah 37:38, as the retreat of Adrammelek and Sharezer after the murder of their father; and in Jeremiah 51:27 as a kingdom. 8. קלל qālal, “be light, lightened, lightly esteemed, swift.” 10. חוּל chûl, “twist, turn, dance, writhe, tremble, be strong, wait.” יהל yāchal “remain, wait, hope.” 13. חרב chāreb, “be drained, desolated, amazed.” Genesis 8:1-3 The waters commence their retreat. “And God remembered Noah.” He is said to remember him when he takes any step to deliver him from the waters.…”

“Noah sent forth a raven through the window of the ark, which went forth, as the Hebrew phrase is, going forth and returning, that is, flying about, but returning to the ark for rest; probably not in it, but upon it. This gave Noah little satisfaction: therefore, Genesis 8:8”

“8:7 The raven is the largest member of the crow family, and was among Noah’s unclean animals (Lev 11:15; Deut 14:14). As a scavenger and carrion eater, it was able to sustain itself without returning to the boat.”

“a raven: Lev 11:15; Kg1 17:4, Kg1 17:6; Job 38:41; Psa 147:9 went forth to and fro: Heb. in going forth and returning Genesis 8:8”