Douay-Rheims Bible: Genesis — Introduction, Chapter Summaries and Notes by Richard Challoner
The Book of Genesis: Notes by Bishop Richard Challoner
This book is so called from its treating of the generation, that is, of the creation and the beginning of the world. The Hebrews call it BERESITH, from the Word with which it begins. It contains not only the history of the Creation of the world; but also an account of its progress during the space of 2369 years, that is, until the death of Joseph.
Chapter 1
SummaryGod createth Heaven and Earth, and all things therein, in six days.
[1:6] A firmament. . .By this name is here understood the whole space between the earth, and the highest stars. The lower part of which divideth the waters that are upon the earth, from those that are above in the clouds.
[1:16] Two great lights. . . God created on the first day, light, which being moved from east to west, by its rising and setting, made morning and evening. But on the fourth day he ordered and distributed this light, and made the sun, moon, and stars. The moon, though much less than the stars, is here called a great light, from its giving a far greater light to the earth than any of them.
[1:26] Let us make man to our image. . . This image of God in man, is not in the body, but in the soul; which is a spiritual substance, endued with understanding and free will. God speaketh here in the plural number, to insinuate the plurality of persons in the Deity.
[1:28] Increase and multiply. . . This is not a precept, as some Protestant controvertists would have it, but a blessing, rendering them fruitful; for God had said the same words to the fishes, and birds, ( ver. 22) who were incapable of receiving a precept.