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  • Sefer Bereshit

Days in Ark ( Noah)

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Rabbi David Sperling

Cheshvan 7, 5780
Question
how many days or years did Noah was in the Ark and how much time did the flood last ? is this understanding of that time different ?
Answer
Shalom, Thank you for your question. The Torah relates many dates about the timing of the flood. Berashit (Genesis) chapter 7,11 states that the flood started on the 17th of the 2nd month. (That was the 600th year of Noah's life (7:6)) The next verse tells us that it rained for 40 days and 40 nights. Then in verse 24 we learn that the waters had swelled on the earth for 150 days. So, up to here we have 150 days – of which 40 were raining – of the sea level rising. We then learn in chapter 8, verse 3, that on the 17th day of the 7th month the ark came to rest. That is at the end of 150 day since the starting of the flood and entering the ark. Chapter 8,5 tells us that the waters went on diminishing until the 10th month – and on the first of the 10th month the tops of the mountains became visible. From then we have an additional 40 days until Noah opened the window of the ark (8, verse 6) – that would be the 11th of the 11th month. Then we have two 7 day periods of sending the dove away twice (verses 10 and 12). Then verse 13 tells us that in the 601th year of Noah's life, in the 1st month, on the 1st day the waters began to dry from the earth and Noah removed the covering of the ark and saw the surface of the ground. Then, verses 14-17 (chapter 8) tell us that in the 2nd month on the 27th day the earth was dry, and G-d told Noah to leave the ark. Altogether that means they stayed in the ark for 1 year and 10 days, or 370 days. I hope this is of some help to you. Blessings.
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