Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 6:3

3. And the LORD said , my spirit shall not always strive with man , for that he also is flesh , yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years .

Either 1. To the men of that age by the mouth of Noah. Or, 2. within himself: (See Psal. 14. 1.) he determined.

Or, Contend, or, Debate in or against men as it hath hitherto done, by inward motions and suggestions in the Minds and Consciences of wicked men, or by the mouths and Ministry of that small remnant of Holy Men, and particularly of Noah, who protested against and contended with the World of the ungodly, and by their doctrines, admonitions, threatnings and examples endeavoured to bring them to Repentance, 1 Pet. 3. 19. or, dispute with, or concerning or because of men, i. e. Whether I should destroy or save him as God disputes with or about Ephraim, Hos. 11. 8.

(i. e.) Even the Seed of Seth, or the Sons of God also, no less than the offspring of Cain: The Pronoun being here put for the foregoing Noun, and the singular number put for the plural, he, i. e. they, to wit, the Sons of God: Both which figures are frequent in the use of Scripture. Or, he, i. e. man, all mankind, the Sons of God not excepted.

Not only fleshly in part, or in some actions, but altogether, in regard of Soul as well as Body, minding nothing but making provision for the flesh to fulfill its Lusts, Rom. 13. 14. Not having the Spirit, Iude ver. 19, nor heeding its good motions, but suppressing and [illegible: 1+ letters]sisting them, [illegible: 1 word] not only in the condition of their nature but in the baseness and corruption of their Hearts and Lives, as the word flesh is commonly used when it is opposed to the Spirit, as Iohn 3. 6. Rom. 7. 18. and 8. 5, 7. Gal. 5. 17.

Though he deserve a speedy destruction,.

(i. e.) The time allowed him for Repentance and the prevention of his ruine.

During which time Noah was Preaching, and to assure them of the Truth of his Doctrine, preparing the Ark. See 1 Pet. 3. 20. 2 Pet. 2. 5. Quest. How did God perform this promise when there were but an hundred years between this time, and the Flood, by comparing Gen. 5. 32. with Gen. 7. 11. Answ. 1. The encreasing wickedness of mankind might justly hasten [illegible: 1+ letters]ir ruine and forfeit the benefit of this indulgence. 2. This promise though mentioned after that, Gen. 5. 32. yet seems to have been made twenty years before it: For that verse is added there out of its proper place, onely to compleat the Genealogy, and therefore, after this narration, it is repeated here in its due order, ver. 10. And such Hysteron Proterons are frequently noted in Scripture.