Chapter XVI.
Why was it said: 'No mention was made of Noah's wife and his sons'? Why were the animals named before the livestock, and what kind of spirit was brought upon the earth to make the waters recede?
56. The Lord remembered Noah, and the beasts, and the cattle (Gen. VIII, 1). Many are moved by the fact that the Author did not say the reason, that the Lord also remembered Noah's wife and sons, when he remembered the beasts and cattle. But when he said that Noah was remembered, he includes in the author and head of the household his other relationships. At the same time, a certain consensus of the remaining relationships seems to be expressed. Indeed, when they all love each other, they are one household: but when they disagree, they are separated and split into multiple households. Where charity is, there the name of the elder by whom the others hang signifies the whole house: just as if someone were to mention a tree, they also include the branches; if someone were to name a branch, they also encompass the fruits that are on it, in the same way and in the same discourse.
And it is not without purpose that he first mentioned that the Lord remembered Noah, then the beasts, then the cattle; that is, why he did not name those animals that are milder after man, but rather the more ferocious. In this, it seems that the reason is that those animals which were more ferocious would be tamed by the proximity of both sides. This also seems to be declared in that poetic verse: κακοὺς δ᾽ ἐς μέσσον ἔλασσεν (Homer, Iliad Δ). For from this, the poet also used it to arrange the disposition of the fighting army; to place the weaker ones in the middle, so that they would be supported more from both sides by the stronger ones, and they would engage in battle with both sides. In his writings it is evident. However, in a deeper sense, it is certain that the just person has his thoughts in the middle, not in a part of his mind: and as long as he lives this life, it is necessary for him to have them in his body, like heavy beasts in that ark. For there is no mind, no soul, that does not receive even the rough movements of evil thoughts. Therefore, the soul of a fool sharpens wild movements and inhales the poisons of serpents; but the strength of a wise person moderates and restrains them.
And the Lord brought a spirit upon the earth, and the water ceased (Genesis VIII, 1). I do not think this is said in such a way that we should understand the spirit as the name for wind. For the wind could not have dried up the flood. Otherwise, since the sea is stirred up daily by winds, it would certainly be emptied. For how could the sea, which had spread out over the whole earth in the flood, not be emptied by the force of the winds, if it had receded even to the pillars of Hercules, as they say, and the Great Sea was boiling up against the roofs of high mountains? Therefore, it is not doubtful that by the power of the invisible divine spirit, that flood was repressed, not by a gust of wind, but by celestial operation. Hence it is written: All wait for you to give them food in due season. When you open your hand, all things will be filled with goodness. You take away their breath, and they die, and return to their dust. You send forth your spirit, and they are created, and you renew the face of the earth (Psalm 104:27 and following). Therefore, the Spirit whose operations everything seems to follow, in whom is the power of the heavens themselves, as it is written: By the word of the Lord the heavens were established, and by the breath of his mouth all their power (Ps. 32:6); this Spirit is the creator of all things, as Job also says: The divine Spirit who made me (Job 33:4).