Ark of Noah
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Greek
2787. kibotos -- a wooden box
... Phonetic Spelling: (kib-o-tos') Short Definition: an ark Definition: (properly:
a wooden box, hence) the Ark, in which Noah sailed; the Ark of the Covenant. ...
/greek/2787.htm - 6k
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Ark of Noah

ARK OF NOAH

ark, no'-a: A structure built by Noah at the command of God to preserve from the Flood a remnant of the human race and of the animals associated with man. It was constructed of "gopher wood" (Genesis 6:14)-very likely the cypress used extensively by the Phoenicians for ship-building. It was divided into rooms or nests, and was three stories high, pitched within and without with bitumen or "asphalt," of which there are extensive deposits at Hit, in the Euphrates valley, a little above Babylon. It was 300 cubits long, 50 cubits broad, 30 cubits high, which according to Petrie's estimate of a cubit as 22.5 inches would make it to be 562 1/2 ft. long, 93 2/3 ft. wide, 56 1/4 ft. deep, which are natural proportions of a ship of that size. The dimensions of the "Great Eastern," built in 1858, were 692 ft. long, 83 ft. broad, 58 ft. deep; those of the "Celtic" built in 1901 are 700 ft. long, 75 ft. wide, 49 1/3 ft. deep. It is extremely improbable that such reasonable dimensions should have been assigned to the Ark except they were based on fact. Unrestrained tradition would have been sure to distort the proportions, as is shown by what actually occurred in other accounts of the Ark. The cuneiform tablets represent it as six stories high, with the length, width, and depth, each as 140 cubits (262 ft.), and having a mast on top of all, and a pilot to guide the impossible craft (see Deluge Tablet, ll.22, 23, 38-41). Berosus, the Greek historian, represents it to have been five stadia (3,000 ft.) long and two stadia (1,200 ft.) broad, while Origen, in order to confound Celsus (Against Celsus 4.41) gave the figures an interpretation which made the Ark 25 miles long and 3/4 of a mile wide.

It is needless to speculate upon the capacity of the Ark for holding absolutely all the species of animals found in the world, together with the food necessary for them, since we are only required to provide for such animals as were native to the area to which the remnants of the human race living at that time were limited, and which (see DELUGE OF NOAH) may not have been large. But calculations show that the structure described contained a space of about 3,500,000 cubic feet, and that after storing food enough to support several thousand pairs of animals, of the average size, on an ocean voyage of a year, there would remain more than 50 cubic feet of space for each pair.

No mention is made in the Bible of a pilot for the Ark, but it seems to have been left to float as a derelict upon the waters. For that purpose its form and dimensions were perfect, as was long ago demonstrated by the celebrated navigator, Sir Walter Raleigh, who notes it had "a flat bottom, and was not raised in form of a ship, with a sharpness forward, to cut the waves for the better speed"-a construction which secured the maximum of storage capacity and made a vessel which would ride steadily upon the water. Numerous vessels after the pattern of the Ark, but of smaller dimensions, have been made in Holland and Denmark and proved admirably adapted for freightage where speed was not of the first importance. They would hold one-third more lading than other vessels, and would require no more hands to work them. The gradual rise and subsidence of the water, each continuing for six months, and their movement inland, render the survival of such a structure by no means unreasonable. According to Genesis 6:3 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:5, warning of the Flood was given 120 years beforehand, and during that time Noah, while preparing the Ark, became a preacher of righteousness. For evidence that there was a gradual destruction of the race previous to the Flood, see DELUGE OF NOAH.

George Frederick Wright

ATS Bible Dictionary
Ark of Noah

The vessel in which the family of Noah was preserved during the deluge, when all the rest of our race perished for their sins. The ark is called in Hebrew, in the Septuagint, and by Josephus, a chest; and the same word is used in the history of the infant Moses, Exodus 2:3. So far as this name affords any evidence, it goes to show that the ark of Noah was not a regular sailing-vessel, but merely intended to float at large guard it as a large, oblong, floating house, with a roof either flat or only slightly inclined. It was constructed with three stories, and had a door in the side. There is no mention of windows in the side, but "above," probably in the roof, where Noah was commanded to make them of a cubit in height, Genesis 5:16 8:13.

The dimensions of the ark, taking the cubit as eighteen inches, were 450 feet in length, 75 in breadth and 45 in height. It was built of gopher-wood, and made water-proof with bitumen, and was no doubt large enough to accommodate the eight persons of Noah's family and the animals to be saved in it-namely, of all birds and clean beasts seven each, and of unclean beasts two each, male and female. Many questions have been raised, and discussed at great length by skeptics and others, respecting the form and dimensions of the ark; the number of animals saved in it-whether including all species then existing in the world, except such as live in water or lie dormant, or only the species living in the parts of world then peopled by man; and as to the possibility of their being all lodged in the ark, and their food during the year, etc. Some of these questions the Bible clearly settles. Others it is vain to discuss, since we have no means of deciding them. Certain it is, that while the Bible eulogizes the faith and obedience of Noah, it shows that his salvation was a miracle of Providence. It was by miracle that he was forewarned, and directed to prepare for the flood; and the same miraculous power accomplished all that Noah was unable to so in designing, building, and filling the ark, and preserving and guiding it through the deluge. It has been commonly supposed that the warning came to Noah 120 years before the flood. Compare Genesis 5:32 with Genesis 7:6, and Genesis 6:3 with 1 Peter 3:20. Traditions of the ark are found in most nations all over the globe. See DELUGE.

Subtopics

Ark

Ark of Bulrushes

Ark of Moses

Ark of Noah

Ark of Testimony

Ark of the Covenant

Ark of the Covenant was Called The: Ark of God

Ark of the Covenant was Called The: Ark of God's Strength

Ark of the Covenant was Called The: Ark of the Covenant of the Lord

Ark of the Covenant was Called The: Ark of the Testimony

Ark of the Covenant was Carried by Priests of Levites Alone

Ark of the Covenant was Carried: Before the Israelites in Their Journeys

Ark of the Covenant was Carried: Sometimes to the Camp in War

Ark of the Covenant was Holy

Ark of the Covenant: A Copy of the Law Laid in the Side of

Ark of the Covenant: A Symbol of the Presence and Glory of God

Ark of the Covenant: A Type of Christ

Ark of the Covenant: Anointed With Sacred Oil

Ark of the Covenant: At Kirjath-Jearim Twenty Years

Ark of the Covenant: Brought by Solomon Into the Temple With Great Solemnity

Ark of the Covenant: Brought Into the City of David

Ark of the Covenant: Captured by the Philistines

Ark of the Covenant: Covered With the Vail by the Priests Before Removal

Ark of the Covenant: David Made a Tent For

Ark of the Covenant: Dimensions of

Ark of the Covenant: Entirely Covered With Gold

Ark of the Covenant: Esteemed the Glory of Israel

Ark of the Covenant: Furnished With Rings and Staves

Ark of the Covenant: Mercy-Seat Laid Upon

Ark of the Covenant: Miracles Connected With: Fall of Dagon

Ark of the Covenant: Miracles Connected With: Fall of the Walls of Jericho

Ark of the Covenant: Miracles Connected With: Jordan Divided

Ark of the Covenant: Miracles Connected With: Manner of Its Restoration

Ark of the Covenant: Miracles Connected With: Philistines Plagued

Ark of the Covenant: Placed in the Holy of Holies

Ark of the Covenant: Profanation of, Punished

Ark of the Covenant: Protecting of, Rewarded

Ark of the Covenant: Removed from Kirjath-Jearim to the House of Obed-Edom

Ark of the Covenant: Sanctified Its Resting Place

Ark of the Covenant: Surrounded With a Crown of Gold

Ark of the Covenant: Tables of Testimony Alone Placed In

Ark of the Covenant: The Israelites Enquired of the Lord Before

Ark of the Covenant: The Pot of Manna and Aaron's Rod Laid up Before

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant in John's Vision

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant of God

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant of God's Strength

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant of the Covenant

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant of the Testimony

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Aaron's Rod

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: An Oracle of God

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Captured by the Philstines

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Carried by Kohathites

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Ceremonies Connected With, on the Day of Atonement

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Construction of

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Directions for Making

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Holy

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: How Prepared for Conveyance

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: On Special Occasions Carried by Priests: Crossing Jordan

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Place of

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Pot of Manna

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Prophecy Concerning

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Remains at the House of Abinadab

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Remains in the House of Obed-Edom

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Returned by the Philistines

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Sanctification of

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Set up in Jerusalem

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Set up in Shiloh

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Siege of Jericho

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Taken to Battle

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: The Law

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Transferred to Solomon's Temple

Ark: Noah's: Animals Saved In

Ark: Noah's: Directions for Building of

Ark: Noah's: Noah and Family Preserved In

Ark: of Bullrushes

Removed from Jerusalem by Zadok at the Time of Absalom's Revolt, But Returned by Command of David

Arius
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