Noah's Ark Construction Duration in the Bible
The biblical account of Noah's Ark provides specific details about its construction and the duration it took. According to Genesis 6:3, God gives Noah instructions to build the ark, but the exact time it took to build it is not directly stated. However, based on the biblical narrative, we can infer the construction duration.
The biblical account mentions that Noah was 500 years old when he had his three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth (Genesis 5:32). Later, when Noah was 600 years old, the flood occurred (Genesis 7:6, 11). This indicates a 100-year gap between the birth of Noah's sons and the flood [1].
Some traditions interpret the 100-year period as the time taken to build the ark. According to Ramban (Nachmanides), a Jewish Kabbalistic/Philosophical commentator, Noah constructed the ark many days before the flood, implying a significant construction period [5].
The biblical text does not explicitly state the construction duration, but it does provide a timeline of events surrounding the flood. The command to enter the ark was given to Noah on the 10th day of the 2nd month in his 600th year, and he entered the ark on the 17th day of the same month [6].
While the exact construction duration is not explicitly stated, the 100-year period between the birth of Noah's sons and the flood has been interpreted by some as the time taken to build the ark. This interpretation is based on the understanding that the construction began after Noah had his sons.
The duration of Noah's stay in the ark is, however, clearly stated in the biblical account. Noah entered the ark on the 17th day of the 2nd month in his 600th year and left it on the 27th day of the 2nd month in his 601st year, totaling 371 days or approximately one solar year [2, 3].
The biblical account emphasizes Noah's obedience to God's commands, including the construction of the ark. The New Testament also references Noah's faith and obedience in building the ark (Hebrews 11:7). The construction of the ark serves as a testament to Noah's faith and God's salvation plan [1].
The specifics of the ark's construction, such as the type of wood used (Gopher wood), are mentioned in Genesis 6:14. Various traditions have interpreted this as cedar, box tree, or pine [4].
The biblical narrative surrounding Noah's Ark highlights the significance of faith, obedience, and salvation. The construction duration, while not explicitly stated, is inferred to be around 100 years based on the biblical timeline.
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Noah — (motion), one of the five daughters of Zelophehad. (Numbers 26:33; 27:1; 36:11; Joshua 17:3) (B.C. 1450.) (rest), the tenth in descent from Adam, in the line of Seth was the son of Lamech and grandson of Methuselah. (B.C. 2948-1998.) We hear nothing of Noah till he is 500 years old when It is said he begat three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth. In consequence of the grievous and hopeless wickedness of the world at this time, God resolved to destroy it. Of Noah's life during this age of almost universal apostasy we are told but little. It is merely said that he was ”
- Genesis (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Genesis 8:14: And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day - From this it appears that Noah was in the ark a complete solar year, or three hundred and sixty-five days; for he entered the ark the 17th day of the second month, in the six hundredth year of his life, Gen 7:11, Gen 7:13, and continued in it till the 27th day of the second month, in the six hundredth and first year of his life, as we see above. The months of the ancient Hebrews were lunar; the first six consisted of thirty days each, the latter six of twenty-nine; the whole twelve months making three hundre”
- Genesis (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Genesis 8:13: Noah waited some time, and then, on the first day of the first month, in the 601st year of his life, removed the covering from the ark, that he might obtain a freer prospect over the earth. He could see that the surface of the earth was dry; but it was not till the 27th day of the second month, 57 days, therefore, after the removal of the roof, that the earth was completely dried up. Then God commanded him to leave the ark with his family and all the animals; and so far as the latter were concerned, He renewed the blessing of the creation (Gen 8:17 cf. Gen 1:2”
- Genesis (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Genesis 6:12: Make thee an ark of Gopher wood,.... It is not called a ship, for it was not made for sailing to any distant parts, but an ark or chest, being like one, flat bottomed, and ridged and sloping upwards, and was made for floating on the waters for a little way. So Lucian (c), and other Heathen writers, call it "an ark" or "chest": this was made of "Gopher wood", which all the Targums, and the more ancient Rabbins, understand of cedar wood; some the box tree, as the Arabic version; others, the pine; others, fir; the Mahometans say it was the Indian plane tree; and others,”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Kabbalistic/Philosophical)) “Ramban (Nachmanides) on Genesis 7:1: COME THOU AND ALL THY HOUSE INTO THE ARK. Noah constructed the ark many days before the flood, and when the time of the flood arrived on the tenth day of the second month, He again commanded him that he and all his household come into the ark. This is why He said to him at first: thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee . 75 Above, 6:18. He thereby informed him that on account of his merit alone they will be saved since He did not say, “Ye [in the plural] I have seen righteous before Me.” And He commanded that he take and bring of the”
- Genesis (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Genesis 7 (introduction): God informs Noah that within seven days he shall send a rain upon the earth, that shall continue for forty days and nights; and therefore commands him to take his family, with the different clean and unclean animals, and enter the ark, Gen 7:1-4. This command punctually obeyed, Gen 7:5-9. In the seventeenth day of the second month, in the six hundredth year of Noah's life, the waters, from the opened windows of heaven, and the broken up fountains of the great deep, were poured out upon the earth, Gen 7:10-12. The different quadrupeds, fowls, and reptile”