pronoun "he" does not decide the question. This breath is by the nostrils, and therefore

differs in nothing from that of the lower creatures. Be the answers to these questions

what they may, here is the introduction of something special in the process of creation,

something quite exceptional, occurring nowhere in the record of Gen. 1:, but finding

somewhat of a parallel in the equally distinctive pause and counsel of Gen. 1: 26.

2. "Thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth" (Deut. 20: 16). We know that

sometimes both man and beast were destroyed by the advancing Israelites, as was the

case at Jericho. But when taking the next city, Ai, Israel were by divine command

expressly told to spare the cattle. "And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst

unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof shall ye take for

a prey." If we insist that n'shamah in Deut. 20: 16 must include cattle, we introduce a

serious problem, but if we leave it to mean man, all is harmony.  A glance at

Deut. 20: 17, 18 will strengthen this view, for it immediately goes on to enumerate those

who were to be utterly destroyed, namely, the Canaanites, and the reason given is "that

they teach you not, etc.".

3. "So Joshua . . . . . utterly destroyed all that breathed" (Josh. 10: 40). This is parallel

with No.2.  (What is Man - be-xix)

Our space is nearly used up. The reader should look up the remaining occurrences,

which are II Sam. 22: 16; I Kings 15: 29; Job 27: 3; 32: 8; Psa. 150: 6 and

Prov. 20: 27.

If these references are examined, it will be seen that all who have ruach "spirit" do not

necessarily have n'shamah "the breath of life". Psa. 18: 15 speaks of the blast (ruach)

of the breath (n'shamah) of Thy nostrils, and the quotations from Job 32: 18 and

Prov. 20: 27 show a close connection between this breath of life, understanding and

conscience, which goes beyond the range of the mere nephesh or living soul, without the

additional breath of life. The living creatures (souls) of Gen. 1: 21 had not conscience.

If there be no such distinction, then Gen. 7: 21, 22 tells us that all died twice over.

Man stands therefore as it were between two worlds. So far as his body is concerned,

he is a living soul, like the lower animals, and lower than the angels. But he was made in

the image of God, he received the breath of life and this links him with the world above,

and he is destined to be raised in His Redeemer above angels.