Bereshis 7:19

19 And the waters rose exceedingly upon ha’aretz; and all the high hills, that were under kol HaShomayim, were covered.

Bereshis 7:19 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 7:19

And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth
Yet more and more, so that the people without the ark were obliged to remove, not only from the lower to the higher rooms in their houses, and to the tops of them, but to the highest trees; and when these were bore down, to the highest hills and mountains; and to those it was in vain to fly, by what follows:

and all the high hills that were under the whole heaven were
covered:
whence it appears there were hills before the flood, and that these were not caused by it, and that the deluge was universal, since there was not a hill under the whole heaven but what was covered with it. In Deucalion's flood all men are said to perish, except a few who fled to the high mountains ^F14; which story seems to be hammered out of this account.

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 Apollodorus, de Deor. Origin. l. 1. p. 19.

Bereshis 7:19 In-Context

17 And the mabbul was arba’im yom upon ha’aretz; and the waters increased, and lifted up the tevah (ark), and it rose above ha’aretz.

18 And the waters rose, and were increased greatly upon ha’aretz; and the tevah (ark) floated upon the face of the waters.

19 And the waters rose exceedingly upon ha’aretz; and all the high hills, that were under kol HaShomayim, were covered.

20 Fifteen cubits upward did the waters rise; and the harim were covered.

21 And kol basar perished that moved upon ha’aretz, both of Oph, and of Behemah, and of Beast, and of every Swarming Thing that swarms upon ha’aretz, and kol haadam;