There are those who treat the early chapters of Genesis as though they are mythical survivals of a dim past. The compiler of these comments thinks differently. He is convinced that there are few parts of Scripture more . . .

profound, more compressed, more important for good religious comprehension than these. Always there seems to be more to be learned from fresh study of these chapters.

The very compression of the record means that in not a few places more than one interpretation of the same detail is possible. This explains why it has been deemed wise to include alternative readings now and then.