Genesis 6:19 And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort (2)into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. 20 Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive. (2)
Next we see him being asked to bring a different number of "beasts" into the ark.
Genesis 7:2 Take with you seven pairs (14)of all clean animals, the male and his mate, and a pair (2)of the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate, 3 and seven pairs (14) of the birds of the heavens also, male and female, to keep their offspring alive on the face of all the earth.
2006-09-20 08:11:16 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
In both passages, there are 2 of every animal taken to be saved, as God had first said in Gen. 6:19&20. He added to the number of clean animals in the passage in Gen. 7:2-3. There was still 2 of every beast, in both passages. He did not reverse what he said in chapter 6. He merely added to the number of animals that were clean. I therefore do not see a contradiction here. The main idea is found in chapter 6:22, and chapter 7:5. "Noah did everything that the Lord God commanded him." The meaningful question is, will you do the same? Or, will you continue to scrape together scriptures in the attempt of discouraging those that would do the will of God?
2006-09-20 08:29:22 · answer #1 · answered by firebyknight 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The seven pairs of animals that are mentioned are not the same count as those that are to be preserved on the ark. The animals that are taken in seven pairs instead of two are animals that were permitted for eating. If you eat the last pair of an animal, then they are extinct. For that reason God has more clean animals be brought upon the ark than unclean animals. They had to have some for when they killed and ate some of them. Also, having more pairs of animals would mean that the population would increase faster after the flood was over. In 14 there it actually states that. It was to keep their offspring alive.
2006-09-20 08:19:07 · answer #2 · answered by GodsKnite 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a GREAT question. I had to do a search to find an adequate answer!
Here's what I found--I think it makes sense!
There is no contradiction here, if one bothers to read the full verses of Genesis 6:19 and Genesis 7:2-3. To begin, Genesis 7:2-3 does not say that Noah brought 7 pairs of each type of animal onto the ark. It only says that Noah brought 7 pairs of clean animals and fowls onto the ark. In fact, verse 2 specifically says that Noah brought only one pair of each type of unclean animals onto the ark.
Further, this claim to a contradiction leaves off a very important clause of Genesis 6:19. “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.”
The point is that Genesis 6:19 specifically says that Noah was to bring one pair of every type of animals to KEEP THEM ALIVE (i.e. so that their types could be propagated after the flood). Genesis 7:2-3 includes further instructions that Noah was to bring on ADDITIONAL clean animals for the purpose of the sacrifices important in Old Testament religion. In Genesis 8:20, after the flood, Noah built an altar and sacrificed of every clean beast and fowl unto the LORD. Thus, we see that the purpose of these extra animals was for Noah and his family to be able to keep the sacrifices utilised in Old Testament times. Obviously, if these extra clean animals were used as sacrifices, then they couldn't have been on the ark for the purpose of “keeping them alive”. They were there for sacrificial purposes.
Thus, we see that there is no contradiction between Genesis 6:19, which details the taking of one pair of every animal type so as to propagate the species, and Genesis 7:2-3, which details the taking on of additional clean animals who were NOT to be “kept alive”, in addition to the single pair which was for the purpose of propagating the clean kinds of animals.
Seriously, though, it is just a story. Genesis is not exactly a historical textbook and this contradiction doesn't have to do with faith and moralty, so its not a big deal. But, it's good to know people are out there challenging us in the faith, isn't it? Thanks for reading and God Bless!
2006-09-20 08:23:07 · answer #3 · answered by Mary's Daughter 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Two is a subset of seven. And God knew that the clean animals were going to be used in sacrifices and such. It's all very logical if you just think about it.
2006-09-20 08:18:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
He was relying on the wise council of a Magic 8-Ball.
(should we pack 7 goats? My sources say No. Face it - God has an infinate amount of time. Of course the Unicorns, dragons and jackalopes were screwed cuz God kepy getting "Ask again Later" and "Concentrate and try again.")
2006-09-20 08:15:35 · answer #5 · answered by ZombieTrix 2012 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
That's not changing his mind. Those are two different commands. He needed at least two of everything for procreation.
2006-09-20 09:18:20 · answer #6 · answered by cnm 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we always had great story tellers in the Mediterranean middle east, but they all don't seem to mind the facts when they have a good story.
2006-09-20 08:17:09 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
That's the problem with too many writers and not enough editors
2006-09-20 08:12:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Because it fits the story better, and it was a story written by many authors.
2006-09-20 08:14:54 · answer #9 · answered by nondescript 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋