And he called] That is, Lamech: not he of the posteritie of Cain, of whom see Genesis 4:23. but another Lamech descended of Seth.
shall comfort us] The name Noah if it be derived from Nahham, signifieth comfort: if from Nuahh, it importeth rest; and so it may note comfort derived from rest; or rest derived from comfort: but what manner of comfort is here meant, see the note following.
toile of our hands] Lamech here uttereth an hopefull presage concerning Noah, by whom he foretelleth some comfort to come to man-kind, wherein if he were guided by the Spirit of prophecie, (as the most learned conceive he was) he might fore-see not onely that Noah would prove a good man, for whose sake God would be good to others, as Genesis 18:26, &c. But secondly, that by Noah would be found out some more ready and easie way of tilling the ground; and it might be that before his time the earth was broken up, and tillage made with mans handy labour, using Spades or other such like Instruments: and Noah might invent the Plough and Harrow, and the drawing of them by Oxen or other beasts.