Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 6:17

17. And behold I, even I , do bring a Flood of Waters upon the Earth, to destroy all Flesh , wherein is the breath of Life, from under Heaven: And every thing that is in the Earth shall dye .

Which is thus emphatically repeated, to signifie that this Flood did not proceed from natural causes, but from the immediate hand and judgment of God.

(i. e.) Will assuredly and speedily bring.

(i. e.) All Men, Birds and Beasts.

This limitation is added to shew that the Fishes are not included in the threatned destruction, either because they did not live in the same element wherein men lived and sinned: Or because they were not so instrumental in mens sins, as the Beasts might be: Or because man had a greater command over the Beasts than over the Fishes and greater service and benefit from them; and therefore the destruction of the former was a greater and more proper punishment to man than the latter.