Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;
Also he sent forth a dove. Disappointed with the raven, Noah made choice of a bird on whose docile nature and characteristic habits he reasonably founded a strong hope of obtaining the longed-for intelligence; because the dove is not only capable of continuing long on the wing and flying far, but, however extensive its range of flight, it is naturally disposed to return to the place of its abode; it flies low, and it does not plant its foot except on clean and dry places. In looking for animals to serve his purpose, Noah would, naturally think of those which possessed the power of rapidly passing over an extensive country; and in the selection of the raven and the dove, he would be guided by his knowledge of the habits of each.
From him. The Septuagint renders this, 'after him' - i:e., the raven. But the Hebrew idiom requires that we should consider the dove as 'sent from Noah himself;' and although it is not expressly stated how long a time he allowed to elapse, it may be inferred (Genesis 8:10) that it was after an interval of seven days.
To see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground - i:e., the plains, the low country, which the instinct of the dove would lead her to seek.