861. Verse 6 And it happened at the end of forty days that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made. 'It happened at the end of forty days means the duration of the former state, and the beginning of the one that followed. 'Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made' means a further state when the truths of faith appeared to him.

3505. 'Before I die' means the first state of awakening in the natural. This is clear from the meaning of 'dying' as rising again or awakening into life, dealt with in 3326, 3498. That this is the first state is evident from the consideration that it is the good of early childhood and therefore the good of life which comes first in regeneration, which first state up to now has been represented by 'Esau'. Subsequent states, dealt with consecutively, form the subject in this chapter.