taking Noah and flood literally,it is said the animals came in 2 by 2?

Question

to accomadate all species the ark must have been huge,how big was this ark and how did noah gather all these animals and insects in one place.what about the animals that have been discovered recently and the massive amounts of creatures in the rain forests and jungles.how did noah complete such a task with so few helpers before the flood began

what is the symbolic meaning of this story

Answer 1

"Noah's Ark was taller than a 3-story building and had a deck area the size of 36 lawn tennis courts. Its length was 300 cubits (450 feet, or 135 meters); its width was 50 cubits (75 feet, or 22.5 meters); it had three stories and its height was 30 cubits (45 feet, or 13.5 meters)."

Even at that size, it would not be able to hold the diversity of life we see today...even if they were all babies:

"The United Nations Environment Programme's Global Biodiversity Assessment is often cited, which estimates the number of described species at approximately 1.75 million. One study done by prominent biologist E.O. Wilson and others estimate known species at approximately 1.4 million, while another study estimates the number at approximately 1.5 million."

That also doesn't include what these creatures would have eaten (many of which are meat eaters) or where their waste would go and how Noah's family could have possibly kept up with feeding and cleaning. Plus, add in that there were 7 of each 'clean' animal and 7 of each "birds of the air".

Now, someone trying to defend the Noah story could say that Noah didn't have to bring ocean creatures into the ark...but it would have been necessary. As the rain fell it would have quickly changed the salinity (salt content) of all bodies of water. Fresh and Salt water creatures would not be able to survive under such conditions.

Someone could also say that 'kind' isn't the same as species, however that would require accepting evolution. Also, even with just taking 'kinds' of animals, they still wouldn't all fit on the ark and some of them would try to eat the others. http://www.answersingenesis.org/ claims that 16,000 individual animals would be on-board the ark (of coarse, they also think dinosaurs would have been on the ark...lol)

Here's an idea of why they wouldn't fit. We first have to remember that the animals couldn't just be crammed in with each other...they need some space. So, assuming that on average they would need 10sf of space per animal. (this is probably a low estimate..especially if dinosaurs are included). The ark is 450ft by 75ft..that's 33,750 sft per floor. Divide that by 10sf and get 3,370 then take 3,370 and multiply by 3 levels (they can't use the roof because of the weather) and we have room for about 7,200 individual animals (give or take a thousand since I didn't actually calculate how much average room an animal would take up...it was just an estimate).

Answer 2

Yes, the ark must have been huge. The Bible was written by the hand of man but by the Spirit of God also. This story is a fact. The interpretation is another thing. First any animal that can live in water didn't need to get on the ark... Were there this many animals then as now.. Probably not... Take dogs... There must be 100s of different species of dogs... Maybe there weren't that many back then.... Other then strong speculation I just have faith the God guided Noah in building the Ark and all animals needed fit...

Answer 3

The ark was; 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. Every root species of land creatures would have fit - including insects.

You're still thinking in terms of EVERY ANIMAL on the face of the earth fitting in the ark.., I used to keep getting that mixed up as well.

It was a PAIR (male & female) of Lions, a PAIR of Goats and so on and so on.... not several pairs of each species, but a pair of each basic species.

According to the dynamics I read someplace the sheer scope of this ship would have easily accommodated the 1600 basic species and have enough food for all - including the human folks for the duration of the flood.

ALSO - keep in mind as far as insects - many species would have survived on floating objects in the water without having to be on the Ark - termites would have had a vast smorgesbord on large chunks of wood for example.

SO the event of the Ark was LITTERAL.

Answer 4

Some of the animals were not created yet, the ark was a space ship, also taking literally that the Noah family were gentiles, so when he said all animal he also meat 2 of each race of people. I never heard any preacher say that, I just discovered how all the other races survived.

Answer 5

I have forgotten the conversion for cubits.....but the ark was over 300 cubits long....several stories high and such....it was huge...look in Genesis...it gives the measurements

As far as gathering the animals.....God brought them to him....remember you are taking it literally....so you have to believe that if God is capable of flooding the earth and telling Noah what to do ....then he is MORE than capable to command the animals to come 2 by 2 and load up on the ark.

Answer 6

If you read the story of Noah and the ark in Genesis, you will find that he took 7 animals of the species Remember with God, all things are possible.

Answer 7

The only flaw in your premise is that NOAH brought the animals two by two. Actually there is nothing in the Bible that says he and his sons herded the animals. The God who created every living thing probably brought them together, called them two by two and they entered the ARK. Obviously God was an involved part of the story---because it relates that HE closed the door of the ark Himself. So when you have a foreman working on the project as capable as God Himself---what else do you need?

Answer 8

First, you assume all the animals were adults, not babies. Secondly, the animals that could survive outside the ark and in water, probably weren't on there. Also, you forget about adaptation. One pair of dogs, is all that would be needed for ALL dogs....ect. Also, don't forget. If God saw a need for an animal that might not have made it to the Ark, it's possible he coulda made it again. Don't ever set limits on God.

Answer 9

The animals that actually boarded the Ark were sent there by God himself. They obeyed him. They were chosen for their need on the dry earth and for their ability to mate and reproduce.
Yes the Ark was huge and high; several decks, many stalls all planned by God and given to Noah. It took nearly a hundred years to build by Noah's family, while he preached to the people who laughed at him all along because it had never rained before.
read our on line Bible if you have none.

Answer 10

God sent the animals to Noah they new what to do and Noah went out and they came to him and followed him in to this huge petting zoo yes people thought he was crazy until the rain came down it had never rain before then only a fog that misted everything you know the morning dew anyway the animals knew what to do this was need to repopulate the earth