Genesis 6:14-16 KJV – 14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. 15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. 16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.
Boat or Box
The word for “ark” (Hebrew: תֵּבָה) means box. It doesn’t mean “boat”, which would be אֳנִיָּה.
There were no sails. There were no oars. There was a window, a door, and rooms on three stories inside. It was 300 cubits long. It was 50 cubits wide. It was 30 cubits high. It was a box. It was not built to go anywhere. It was built to float until it grounded after the flood waters retreated.
Many folk think that the global flood never happened. Many folk think the Bible repeated tales that were already well known. Many folk think all kinds of stuff.
The global flood occurred. The biblical account is accurate. Walt Brown offered the hydroplate theory describing what happened during the flood. One can read his book, In the Beginning: Compelling Evidence for Creation and the Flood, at the Creation Science Center. I find it compelling, although not all creationists do.
So When Did the Flood Occur?
Based on his textual reconstruction of the Genesis 5 and 11 genealogies, Henry B. Smith, Jr. estimates it occurred in 3298 BC.
Walt Brown estimates the flood occurred in 3290 BC based on the orbits of the comets Halley and Swift-Tuttle. See pages 580-583 of In the Beginning.
Based on Dodwell’s obliquity of the ecliptic data, John Hartnett estimates it occurred in 3154 ± 191 BC.
Those estimates put creation at about 7600 years ago. This clearly conflicts with the 6000 year age of the Earth in the James Ussher chronology. Although I think this longer biblical chronology is more accurate, not all creationists agree.
What Is Your Biblical Chronology?
I know of no one who agrees with me on every point of this biblical chronology. If you don’t, you are one among everyone else.
When I reference “Smith, Jr.”, see his paper, The Case for the Septuagint’s Chronology in Genesis 5 and 11, presented at the 2018 International Conference on Creationism. When I reference “Petrovich”, see his book, Origins of the Hebrews, New Creation, 2021. Rows without a reference refer to an earlier post I made, Patching Together Two Messianic Chronologies, which I still think is accurate.
| Date | Event | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 5554 BC | Creation | Smith, Jr. |
| 3298 BC | Global Flood | Smith, Jr. |
| 1876 BC | Jacob moves to Egypt | Petrovich |
| 1446 BC | Exodus | Petrovich |
| 20 March 6 BC (Nisan 1) | Birth of Jesus | |
| 16 February 27 AD | Baptism of Jesus | |
| 28 April 28 AD (Wed) | Crucifixion of Jesus | |
| 1 May 28 AD (Saturday) | Resurrection of Jesus | |
| 2 May 28 AD (Sunday) | Tomb found empty | |
| 20 June 28 AD | Pentecost of Acts 2 | |
| 70 AD | Temple destroyed |
I’ve read many a compelling case for a Wednesday crucifixion and tend to agree. I have no reason to argue with anyone’s chronology, the fact it all happened is more important than figuring out exact dates and times, at least I think so.
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It did happen. I agree. That is more important. Blessings, Mimi!
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I have to say your blogs are always interesting, Frank, and a pleasure to read. I never get carried away with the minutiae of bible stories or creation dates, but concentrate more on the human aspect of what it means for our relationships.
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Thank you, Lens! There’s more going on than the human aspect. I am glad you stopped by. Blessings!
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Tell me more.
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Tell me more.
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The more going on is associated with the biblical chronology. The Bible is more than moral advice on how we should interact with each other. It is also how we relate to God the Father and Jesus as Lord through the Holy Spirit.
The geological interpretation of the flood by Walt Brown helps explain what happened to the Earth 5300 years ago. You can read his book online at https://www.creationscience.com/ There is also a YouTube channel, Hydroplate Theory University. Bryan Nickel’s channel offers introductory videos to hydroplate theory.
Besides Brown, Douglas Petrovich fills in what happened in ancient Egypt. Henry B. Smith, Jr. pieces together the conflicting Masoretic and Septuagint biblical traditions (https://biblearchaeology.org/research-topic/genesis-5-11-project/). Other researchers from the Associates for Biblical Research are helpful at https://biblearchaeology.org/
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interesting, as always. And, imo, when effort is put into presenting ideas, it shows (and makes the presentation all the more effective.)
slightly not related: I liked your “…you are one among everyone else.” which I do not read as a dig or criticism.
good read
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I am glad you liked that phrase, Clark. It is one way to distract any potential critics before they start. Thank you and blessings!
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So fascinating. I too think its a box.
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Thank you and blessings, Jim!
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YW!
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Thanks for sharing these super interesting interpretations. I have always felt that when I meet the Lord, I will have all the answers to these deep questions. Just over here living by faith. 🙂 But I do want to know all the things. haha
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Living by faith is the way to really live. Blessings!
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Abigail Van Sus has written some amazing articles for the New Creation blog. Regarding biblical chronology, I recommend October 23, Bishop Ussher’s Birthday of the World and The Archeology of Christmas.
Bishop Ussher began creation in the fall. Others might prefer the spring. It depends on when you want to start the beginning of the year.
Previously, I thought the star might refer to Nisan 1 (about March 20, 6 BC) in the springtime. Although she doesn’t suggest this, the star (a conjunction of Jupiter with the Moon) may refer to the day that Mary became pregnant, not the birth of Jesus. If that is on Nisan 1, then December 25 or January 6 might have been the birth of Jesus, as tradition in the West or East has celebrated it.
The Magi came about 40 days later, and then Joseph, Mary, and Jesus went to Egypt. This would make Jesus 32 when He was crucified, not 33, if one reckons by birth His age. But the incarnation would have been from Mary’s conception. The actual star the Magi saw may have been a supernatural angelic light over the house in Bethlehem where they lived, much like what the shepherds saw.
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