Welcome to the Free Thinkers guide to the bible. I created this series so that ‘anyone’ can explore and understand the bible. You don’t need to be a biblical scholar; all you need is a desire to see what is written. I will present to you several biblical examples and demonstrate the process of sifting the accounts to reveal the hidden. This process is very similar to archeology, where the layers are excavated and analyzed. Just not the dirty part, though you will be digging up some dirt along the way.
Warning:
The series unfolds like a story in a book. Please study the content in the order it is presented in order to have the best learning experience.
This series is not for the faint of heart. Be prepared, as you sift through the layers you will likely find that there is a lot you will need to unlearn. By the time you have completed the studies it will probably have shaken the pillars of your faith and possibly cracked the foundation.
I will pose potential resolutions to problematic passages that may seem unorthodox or even outlandish. I ask that you remain open minded and not rule out the possibilities I present. I will validate all of my submissions to you with a preponderance of concrete evidence (a solid foundation) by the end of the series.
Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes, that I might see wonders from Your Torah.
The Flood - Intermixed
Preface
Have you ever read the Flood account and got that tingle in the back of your mind after reading the verses? I know I did. Every time I told myself that I would look into it and it was many years later before I actually did. This study will be an examination of the well known story of Noah and the flood. If you are like me, you will have a few questions in the back of your mind after reading it.
Let’s begin the process of revealing the hidden.
Before beginning, read Genesis chapters 6:5 – 9:17 Look for anything out of the ordinary and Jot down any questions that come to mind.
We will go through the biblical account and identify areas that should be investigated. This exercise will give you practice in spotting anomalies in future studies and when you read portions of the bible that are not covered in this series. Also look for word and subject repetitions.
I will use the King James Bible for our studies. I do not prefer this version, but I use it since it is the bible most people use, or are familiar with.
*Genesis 6:5 And GOD (יהוה) saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the LORD (יהוה) that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the LORD (יהוה) said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD (יהוה). Gen 6:9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God (אלהים). (Scroll of Generations)
Observation study - The Creators Name/Title
Our first observation study is probably one of the most difficult to spot. It is centered on the different ways the Creator is referred to in the bible. We do this because it is important that you recognize the differences when you perform your studies, and when reading the bible in general.
It is not necessary, but I recommend that if you have not already done so that you study some basic Hebrew in the future so that you can gain an even deeper understanding of the writings in the bible.
GOD & LORD
Any time you see the Creator referred to as GOD or LORD (all caps) this is where the Hebrew “Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh” (יהוה) is used. This is The Name (Ha’Shem) of the Creator in Hebrew. I sometimes write it as Yahweh or Yehovah (which are common transliterations used by biblical scholars).
When speaking and writing I usually use the title “Creator” or the contraction of the Creators Name “YAH” which is demonstrated in the KJV bible in Psalm 68:4...
Psalms 68:4 KJV
Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.
The contraction is used in the common praise many use during worship. “Hallel-U (Yah)!” ”Everyone, Praise Yah!”
“Yah” is at the end of many Hebrew names such as Elijah “My God (Mighty One) is Yah”, Isaiah (Yesha’Yahu) “Yah is our salvation” and Zechariah “Yah remembers”
Note: (There are over 150 names that contain “Yah” in the bible).
God
Any time God (Upper case G) is used (Such as in Psalm 68:4 above) a variation of the Hebrew “Alef-Lamed-Vav-Heh” “Eloah” is used. This is a common Title used for the Creator and contextually has the connotation; “(The) Mighty One”.
The contraction “El” is at the end of many Hebrew names such as Dani’el “My Judge is The Almighty”, Micha’el “Who is like “The Almighty” and Nathaniel “The Almighty has given”.
Note: (There are over 100 names that contain “El” in the bible).
We see a good demonstration of the Creators Name and Title in the Ten Commands:
Exo 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD (יהוה) thy God (אלהיך - your Mighty One) in vain; for the LORD (יהוה) will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Observing, the use of these Names/Titles in the bible is one of the keys you will need to unlock the doors of higher learning in this series. (This key is especially valuable in the book of Genesis)
Observation one – How many animals?
One of the first anomalies you hopefully found is that there are two differing accounts
of how many animals are taken aboard the ark. We start In Exodus 6:17 – 22.
Two of every creature
6:17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. 18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. 20 Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. 21 And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them. 22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God (אלהים) commanded him, so did he.
In this part of the story we read that two of every creature male and female as well as food for them all is to be taken aboard the Ark. This is the traditional story that most people were taught as children. We read in verse 22 that Noah did all that God (Elohim), commanded him to do. Let’s keep reading…
Seven of every clean creature
7:1 And the LORD (יהוה) said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. 2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. 3 Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth. 4 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. 5 And Noah did according unto all that the LORD (יהוה) commanded him.
In this part of the story we read that the Creator (יהוה) told Noah that two of every unclean creature male and female and seven pair of every clean animal and bird were to be taken aboard the Ark. We then read in verse 5 that Noah did all that “the LORD” (יהוה) commanded him to do. We might reason that these verses are just clarifying the earlier verses, but we also see the difference in the Name/Title used.
Make note of the use of “God” (אלהים) in the first verses. God (אלהים) commanded Noah to take two pair of each creature aboard the ark, and so he did). In the later verses (The Lord (יהוה) commanded Noah to take seven pair of every clean creature aboard the ark and he did.
Is this mere coincidence? Let’s move on…
Observation two – How many days was the Flood upon the earth?
The next anomaly we will look at are the differing numbers of how many days the water was upon the earth.
7:4 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.
17 And the flood (downpour) was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth. 18 And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. 19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. 20 Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. 21 And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: 22 all in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. 23 And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. 24 And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.
8:1 And God (אלהים) remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God (אלהים) made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged; 2 The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained; 3 And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. 4 And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. 5 And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen. 6 And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made: 8 Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground 9 But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark. 10 And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; 11 and the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. 12 And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more. 13b the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.
Was the Flood on the earth forty days or One hundred and fifty days? Chapter seven states the Flood was on the earth for forty days. Chapter eight states that Noah opened the window of the ark after forty days after the deluge and two weeks later the dove found evidence of dry land.
We also read that the waters were upon the earth for one hundred and fifty days.
This is contradictory. We can attempt to rationalize the differences, and if we try hard, we may or may not be able to come up with a reasoning that satisfies our curiosity. Let’s continue…
Observation three – Raven or Dove?
In this anomaly we identify that both a raven and a dove are sent to search for dry land.
8:7 And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth. 8 Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground 9 But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark. 10 And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; 11 and the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. 12 And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.
These verses should make your mind want the answer the question: Why send a raven and a dove?
The answer..
We have compiled enough valid questions to help solve the mystery. Based on our observations, we should know that there is a logical explanation.
Someone skillfully combined two very different Flood accounts into a single account!
I will now provide you with two separate accounts to examine. This should ensure that the questions we posed earlier are satisfactorily answered.
*** = A break in the account with the missing text used in the other account
One story, two accounts -The Flood account “A”
Gen 6:9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God (אלהים). 10 And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11 The earth also was corrupt before God (אלהים), and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God (אלהים) looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. 13 And God (אלהים) said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
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. 17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and everything that is in the earth shall die. 18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.
19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. 20 Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. 21 And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them. 22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God (אלהים) commanded him, so did he.
7:8 Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of everything that creepeth upon the earth, 9 There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God (אלהים) had commanded Noah. 11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
*** 13 In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark; 14 They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort. 15 And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. 16 And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God (אלהים) had commanded him. 19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. 20a Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; *** 21 And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: 24 and the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.
8:1 And God (אלהים) remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God (אלהים) made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged; 2 The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. 3 And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. 4 And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. 5 And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen. 7 And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth. *** 13a And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: *** 14 And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried. 15 And God (אלהים) spake unto Noah, saying, 16 Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee. 17 Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth. 18 And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him: 19 every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark.
9:1 And God (אלהים) blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. 2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. 3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. 4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. 5 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. 6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God (אלהים) made he man. 7 And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein. 8 And God (אלהים) spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, 9 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; 10 And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth. 11 And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. 12 And God (אלהים) said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: 15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh 16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God (אלהים) and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. 17 And God (אלהים) said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.
One story, two accounts - The Flood “B”
Gen 6:5 And GOD (יהוה) saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the LORD (יהוה) that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the LORD (יהוה) said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD (יהוה).
7:1 And the LORD (יהוה) said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. 2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. 3 Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth. 4 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. 5 And Noah did according unto all that the LORD (יהוה) commanded him. 6 And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. 7 And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. 10 And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth. *** 12 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. ***16b and the LORD (יהוה) shut him in. 17 and the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth. 18 And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. *** 20b and the mountains were covered. 22 All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. 23 And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.
8:2a and the rain from heaven was restrained; 3 And the waters returned from off the earth continually: 6 And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made: 8 Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground 9 But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark. 10 And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; 11 and the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. 12 And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more. *** 13b and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.
8:20 And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD (יהוה); and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And the LORD (יהוה) smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD (יהוה) said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more everything living, as I have done. 22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
Comparison and Examination
The Flood “A” account has a pair of each type of animal taken aboard the ark. The flood subsides after 150 days and Noah and passengers leave the ark after approximately a year has past.
7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. 13 In the selfsame day entered Noah…
8:14 And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried. 15 And God (אלהים) spake unto Noah, saying, 16 Go forth of the ark, thou…
The flood waters come from the deep and the heavens. The floodwaters are so deep the ark comes to rest on Mount Ararat. The account refers to the Creator by the Hebrew אלהים (16X). Noah sends out a raven to scout for dry land.
The Flood “B” account has a pair of each unclean animal and seven pair of clean animals taken aboard the ark. The flood subsides after forty days and Noah and passengers leave the ark after approximately 54 days have past. The flood waters come from forty days and nights of rain. The floodwaters are approximately forty-five feet deep. This account refers to the Creator by the name יהוה. Noah sends out doves to scout for dry land.
Summary
We see that an extremely adept Scribe /Redactor has skillfully merged two accounts into one almost seamless account.
Conclusion
The two accounts vary considerably as seen in the examination and comparison. We are beginning to see a pattern. Once again, we do not have enough information to deduce who wrote each account, or why they wrote them. We need to continue to analyze similar accounts to see if the patterns will continue to develop.
If you wish to continue exploring and seek greater understanding, please continue with the next Study:
Part 1 #2 – In the Beginning