Noah’s Flood: Exposing The Biblical Myths Part 4

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Campus Ministry Report 11 years ago

Since time immemorial, there are many who have questioned the authenticity of the scriptures.

Some do with all sincerity to ascertain the understanding of some texts, which the Scriptures itself challenges us to do, for i ...
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Since time immemorial, there are many who have questioned the authenticity of the scriptures.

Some do with all sincerity to ascertain the understanding of some texts, which the Scriptures itself challenges us to do, for it is written "be sure of all things".

However, many others continue to wallow in disbelief and never getting baptized, and eventually taken unawares by unforeseen circumstances such as death.

Christ himself attested to the truthfulness of the Scriptures, by reading the Scriptures in the synagogues, quoted from the inspired prophetic writings, and even ascribed the writings to himself.

Christ, specifically, made references to the accounts of Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah as well as Jonah, all of which have been questioned over the centuries.

These accounts are verifiable, because of the world is now 'small' because of Technology. Blessed are those who could not verify these accounts, yet believed, because Christ spoke of them.

There are people who will never BELIEVE the WORD, no matter what. Those people would be left to their own fate, since they prefer to be deceived by mere mortals.

Don't you know that there are many who study theology, yet are not born again? They are academicians whose eyes are not opened, spiritually, to receive the Salvation of God. They do know that God has given us Life, and that Life is in Christ.

I will encourage you to commit yourself to the study of the WORD, prayerfully. Fellowship with believers, and humble yourself before the Lord, and HE would surely reveal things to you.
browne 11 years ago

Brother Andy.....Very well put ..Amen

Brother Andy.....Very well put ..Amen
SACKIE 11 years ago

ARE U TALKING ABOUT BUDDHIST OR HINDU SCRIPTURE. THERE ARE MANY RELIGIONS. WHY IS CHRISTIANTY THE TRUTH? HOW DO YOU JUDGE?

ARE U TALKING ABOUT BUDDHIST OR HINDU SCRIPTURE. THERE ARE MANY RELIGIONS. WHY IS CHRISTIANTY THE TRUTH? HOW DO YOU JUDGE?
Campus Ministry Report 11 years ago

SACKIE, it is an indisputable fact, without controversy, that Christ Jesus is the Truth! Infact, Jesus Christ, the Son of God is the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE, an no one comes to the FATHER except through the HIM(SON), acco ...
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SACKIE, it is an indisputable fact, without controversy, that Christ Jesus is the Truth! Infact, Jesus Christ, the Son of God is the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE, an no one comes to the FATHER except through the HIM(SON), according to WORDS of Jesus Christ.

Throughout the NEW TESTAMENT, we come across various bold claims of Jesus Christ. For example John 3:16 "FOR God loves the world that HE(God) gave is only begotten SON(Jesus Christ) that whosoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have Eternal Life.

It is the responsibility of everyone to investigate this matter, and we are encouraged to do so! Whoever, wants to find God, God would allow HIMSELF to be found by that person.

Our beliefs are somehow tied to the geographical locality of our birth, often as a result of where we grew up in the knowledge and doctrines received, the rituals which are inherent in the beliefs.

A Japanese is likely to be Buddhist, an Indian (a Hindu), a Saudian (a Moslem), Italian(a Catholic), In Germany and Scandinavia (Lutheran), UK (Anglican). The list is endless.

Nevertheless, in every country in the world, one can still find almost every other religion, which is openly or secretly practiced, depending on the law of the land; in the US, Europe, most part of Africa and some part of Asia, one could practice any kind of religion, as long as the authorities in the land do not see anything wrong. In most Arabic countries, Christianity, especially, is restricted.

We have to understand that religious beliefs have existed, since time immemorial; they have all developed from various strands of belief systems over the years into what we have now.

Throughout the ages, battles have been fought in the name of religion, politics, land and economic ownership and security even up to the present time.

Issues about religious beliefs can be very emotional to the extend that families may shun other family members as a result of one denouncing his or her religious beliefs for another. This is "understandable" because we have so much believed in what we have been taught from infancy, and therefore thrown our weight on what we have been made to belief.

Even within main group religious groups, there are other subgroups(denominations as it is refereed to in the case of Christianity). Denominations within Christianity have evolved over the centuries. Nevertheless, they all use the Bible.

Whatever beliefs that you are ascribed to, it is important to be very certain that, your beliefs and the commands which are spelt out in the texts are in harmony with the writings.

People, obviously, would like to defend whatever they have been made to belief. We have to know that it is not everything that we have received from generations that are all approved of God. There are some goods in almost every beliefs.

In almost every religious gathering, people read texts, sing songs, dance to the occasion, refresh themselves with food and drink etc., encourage one another. On some special occasions they may sacrifice(if their beliefs ascribes to that), or engage in rituals, as the case may be. Infact, if you are ignorant, you may ascribe to the thinking that every religion is OK in the eyes of God.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is not everything religious that is pleasing to God(I will prove this in the subsequent paragraphs, I will also suggest to you some of the litmus test to verify whether something is of God or not).

A few years ago, I offered a voluntary service to someone(about in his late 50's or early 60's) whose house was to be renovated. I came across religious materials of a group (Theosophical Society) which he was a member. Later on, I felt led by the Holy Spirit to sit him down. Wisdom and love is required in this exercise. I also knew that, purposely, I was sent there to lead him to the Lord; the prompting of the Spirit was evident. In short, we prayerfully read passages in the Scriptures(Book of John) and he gave his Life to Jesus Christ; He received the Lord as his personal Savior. The Holy Spirit did his own thing. Jesus says "The world do not belief in me, and the Holy Spirit will convict them of sin, righteousness and judgment"

The Bible contains the Prophetic writings, all pointing to Christ! The existence of God is declared in the very first verse of the Bible, as the one who created the Heaven and the earth. Moses, a Prophet, was used by God to judge the religious beliefs of the Egyptians EX 12:12. Infact, all the miracles that God performed, using Moses was to put to shame the gods ascribed to Agriculture, the Nile, Life, protection etc. In the 10th miracles, God gave a simulate of how one day, Jesus Christ was going to be the passover lamb. The lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

God's dealings with the Jews was as result of a covenant relation that HE established with Abraham, through Isaac and hence Jacob(Israel). It is the Faithfulness of God that brought the Jews from Egypt in honour of HIS covenant promise with Abraham; God had declared to Abraham, that by means of him, Abraham, the world would be blessed. This declaration came after Abraham passed the test of being obedience to God on mountain Moriah. If Abraham willing to sacrifice his only Son, Isaac, in obedience to God, then God was going to use his Son, Jesus Christ, one day as the real sacrifice for humanity; the Son of God was and did come through the lineage of Abraham(read Mathew for the genealogy of Jesus Christ).

More than 1000 years before the coming of Christ, God gave the Jewish people through Moses the law, constituting ceremonial and moral laws, with regard to how God ought to worshiped and how to deal with people on the issues of morality.

The Jewish Prophets who came after Moses were repeatedly warning, among other things, the Jews about their relationship with the True God.

In the Bible, you see clearly, how the nations were doing their own thing in ignorance which have continued till today. In the year around 560 BC when Buddha was born, there were a few Minor prophetic writings remaining before the end of the old testament at about 400BC.

The coming of Christ had been prophesied by the Jewish Prophets, and God himself prophesied first about his Son in Gen 3:15. Throughout the the Millenia, the God of Israel proved to the other nations through the Jews who were Faithful in empires that had come and gone, all acknowledging that the true God is the one who was with the Jews, the people who were the custodians of the ORACLES of God. There is no partiality with God, though(Acts 10:34). In all nations, whoever lives righteously is pleasing to him. In this dispensation, the Scriptures makes it clear that our righteousness is in Christ Jesus. In other words, we have right standing before God, only though Christ. John the Baptist behold Jesus Christ, and says of him "This is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world". When we receive Jesus Christ, as our Savior, it means we acknowledge what God did for us, through the blood that HIS Son shed on the cross.

Jesus Christ attested to the truthfulness of the Inspired writings by refering to Prophets, quoting and reading from the OT, and ascribing the writings to himself. The NT is a proof of all these.

All the promises of God are tied to who you are in Christ Jesus. It has to me from your lips, by way of testimony that you have received Christ Jesus as a Savior, for it is written with a heart a man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation. Remember your Baptism by immersion.

Daniel and co left a legacy in Persia to the extent that kings had to come all the way from the East to pay obeisance to Jesus Christ (Read Psalm 2) for they knew from the Jewish writings that a Star would rise up from Jacob, as prophesied in the book of Numbers, and they had a responsibility or an obligation to acknowledge him(Psalm 2).

The promises in the Bible are your inheritance. Do not compromise about them. Use them in your prayers, with thanks. Fellowship with born again Christians, who would testify of the Lord.

If you do not take time to study the scriptures, you can easily be deceived into other beliefs which do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Lord and Saviour. Also, do not join any occult group. You may even see Bible there, but do not be deceived.
Be in a living Church where Christ is preached in power and Holy Ghost.
Commit yourself to personal Bible reading, praise and make melodies in your heart always.
SACKIE 11 years ago

THERE ARE MUSLIMS WHO HAVE CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY. THERE ARE CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE CONVERTED TO BUDDHISM. CONVERSIONS HAPPED IN ALL RELIGIONS. ALL THESE PEOPLE BELIEVE THEY HAVE FOUND THE TRUTH, JUST LIKE YOU THINK YOU HAVE ...
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THERE ARE MUSLIMS WHO HAVE CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY. THERE ARE CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE CONVERTED TO BUDDHISM. CONVERSIONS HAPPED IN ALL RELIGIONS. ALL THESE PEOPLE BELIEVE THEY HAVE FOUND THE TRUTH, JUST LIKE YOU THINK YOU HAVE FOUND THE TRUTH IN CHRISTIANITY.

CAN YOU BE A LITTLE OPEN-MINDED? YOU SOUND SO PAROQUIAL. YOU REFUSE TO SEE FROM OTHER ANGLES. YOU ARE SO STEEPED IN YOUR CHRISTIANITY THAT YOU ARE BLIND AND DEAF.

THE CLAIMS YOU ARE MAKING HAVE EQUALLY BEEN MADE BY OTHERS FOR THEIR RELIGION WITH THE SAME PASSION AND FAITH.

READ ABOUT OTHER RELIGIONS AND OPEN YOUR MIND. JUST THINK OPENLY FOR ONCE.
Campus Ministry Report 11 years ago

These conversions should not surprise you. Don't we see people joining the occult or groups who even clearly label themselves as satanic?

The reasons for the conversions are due to many factors. Coming to know Christ does ...
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These conversions should not surprise you. Don't we see people joining the occult or groups who even clearly label themselves as satanic?

The reasons for the conversions are due to many factors. Coming to know Christ does not come easily. It is a visa to the Kingdom of God, and the enemy would do what it takes to blind many to the knowledge of Truth. Broad is the way that lead to destruction, but straight is the was that lead to Life and few shall find it.

When I take time to post something, my prayer is that someone who is genuinely yearning for the Truth would be blessed! In John 3:16 we come across the phrase, "whosoever believes" in his declaration of salvation. There are people who definitely would argue themselves out of the kingdom of God. It has been so and it shall continue to so.

The things of God are free, but they are no cheap. The Mercy and Grace of God is always yearning to save souls, for those whose hearts are ready; read the whole of Acts chapters 8 and 10.

The WORD of God is forever sure;take time and investigate the Bible and any other religious texts. You would in no time discover that the Bible stands out;it is powerful, convicting, full of wisdom. You would discover that righteousness and justice are the foundations of the throne of God, and that Mercy and Truth go before him.

Sometimes, you see intellectuals (even Doctorates or professors) aligned to one religious persuasion or the other, it should not surprise you, for there is a great deception in the world. You see, knowledge is the key, and it takes time, energy and effort to investigate; seek and you shall find. The knowledge of the Truth sets us free. It is not the Truth that would set you free, but the KNOWLEDGE of it. The Bible can be in home, but if you do not know or believe its contents you cannot be set free from ignorance, uncertainty, insecurity and fear of death.

In our generation, we have so many useful resources at our disposal that you can investigate and compare things. You will have to diligently seek him. You can visit various religious meetings, one at a time. When you happen to be in a place where you are convicted by the power of the Holy Ghost, you will know for sure. No one will tell. you will bear testimony to your own personal experience because of the overwhelming joy, love and peace of the presence of the Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is present in where Christ is preached in Holiness and in Truth.
AFRIKABI 11 years ago

AFRICANS DID WERE NOT THE CHILDREN OF NOAH. BLACK AFRICANS GAVE BIRTH TO NOAH, THE JEWS AND OTHER RACES. BLACK AFRICANS GAVE BIRTH TO OTHER RACES.

AFRICANS DID WERE NOT THE CHILDREN OF NOAH. BLACK AFRICANS GAVE BIRTH TO NOAH, THE JEWS AND OTHER RACES. BLACK AFRICANS GAVE BIRTH TO OTHER RACES.
Gagantuan Ganaman 11 years ago

Acadamic exsercise cannot unravel mystery. Rational analysis cannot permeate the boundaries of irrationality. The two are apart. So, you think we appeared on this earth from nowhere erh? Its a mystery that some see where othe ...
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Acadamic exsercise cannot unravel mystery. Rational analysis cannot permeate the boundaries of irrationality. The two are apart. So, you think we appeared on this earth from nowhere erh? Its a mystery that some see where others see nothing.Those contradictions you point to, mean nothing.
SACKIE 11 years ago

who created the universe? it was done in 7 days the christians say. They Buddhists and Hindus have their own stories. So which religious story do we beleive? There are many spieitual stories.

Which God created the universe ...
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who created the universe? it was done in 7 days the christians say. They Buddhists and Hindus have their own stories. So which religious story do we beleive? There are many spieitual stories.

Which God created the universe? Yahweh or Ra ir Krishna or Tigari?
shey-Gelege 11 years ago

Yahweh, Ra, Krishna or Tigari refers to same supernatural being. same is onyame, Nyomboh, Allah.

Yahweh, Ra, Krishna or Tigari refers to same supernatural being. same is onyame, Nyomboh, Allah.

Campus Ministry Report 11 years ago

All you need is a humble heart to read the Scriptures, and you would discover that "Every good and perfect thing comes from the Father of Lights in whom there is no turning of shadows"

Remember, it is for your own good ...
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All you need is a humble heart to read the Scriptures, and you would discover that "Every good and perfect thing comes from the Father of Lights in whom there is no turning of shadows"

Remember, it is for your own good that you become acquainted with the WORD; in order not to be deceived, but rather claim your inheritance(the promises of God, which have become Ye and Amen in Christ Jesus)

Read the whole of John 17. In Jesus prayer to the Father concerning us, he entreated, "This is Eternal Life, they may know you, the only True God, and the one(Jesus Christ) whom you sent"
C.Y. ANDY-K 11 years ago

Folks,

Been busy and just seen that this has been posted. Unfortunately, the BOLD AND ITALIC formatting have been lost, hence the essence of the difference b/n the J and P versions will be lost on most. Perhaps, I shld hav ...
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Folks,

Been busy and just seen that this has been posted. Unfortunately, the BOLD AND ITALIC formatting have been lost, hence the essence of the difference b/n the J and P versions will be lost on most. Perhaps, I shld have made one capital letters for Ghanaweb, which doesn't have the functions that ModernGhana has to format.

Anyway, I might rectify this problem by re-posting as specified above, just for posterity sake.

As for the staunch believers whose minds are closed to Reason and Rational Thinking, there is not much we can do about them. The intention is to reach those whose minds are opened and are searching for the truth, and the young and impressionable not yet firmly caught in the firm grip of religious obscurantism.

Andy-K

Andy-K
C.Y. ANDY-K 11 years ago

NOAH’S FLOOD: EXPOSING THE BIBLICAL MYTHS
PART 4

The story so far. In Part 1, we tackled the query whether Africans were also descendants of any of Noah’s children, specifically Ham through his youngest son Canaan wh ...
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NOAH’S FLOOD: EXPOSING THE BIBLICAL MYTHS
PART 4

The story so far. In Part 1, we tackled the query whether Africans were also descendants of any of Noah’s children, specifically Ham through his youngest son Canaan whom God cursed in true “trokosi style” because Ham had seen the father Noah naked when he was heavily drunk, as whites claimed before, and some misinformed Africans are now claiming in spite of this claim being debunked by white Abolitionists in the C19th. It was concluded that they are not – in effect, not descendants of the Jews/Hebrews, and that the flood story in the Bible was simply a juxtaposition of myths from earlier civilisations in the Middle East, chief among them the Gilgamesh Epic. In Parts 2 and 3, we saw an article which debunked an attempt on CBS TV by Creationists purporting to show the discovery of Noah’s ark. It was presented as an example of a rational and scientific way of questioning claims by Christians [and believers in general], a way of thinking or viewing the cosmos (cosmology) which most Africans lack, irrespective of their level of education. They [Africans] are mostly grounded in the Weberian primitive, substantive rationality.

In Part 4, we examine the biblical texts from Genesis 6:5 to 8:22 that narrate the flood story and point out the two main versions, the Jehova (J) and Priestly (P) texts, which were joined together to make what is Noah’s flood story. As mentioned earlier, the Gilgamesh Epic provided much of the material for the Noah flood story but not all. The Gilgamesh Epic of Sumerian origins and thus older than the Bible is available on the Internet at several links with comments and comparisons with the Noah Flood story by both Christians and biblical scholars. The reader seeks who knowledge and the truth is advised to google for and read some of those links to complement this presentation in order to gain a broader and deeper insight. One, for example, will find several comparisons of the Genesis and Gilgamesh Epic versions of the deluge.

The motive remains the same: making a little dent in the behemoth of ignorance and superstition that bedevil Africans and form one of the cogs in the vicious cycle of continuing backwardness and underdevelopment of most people of African origins, especially those of the continent. As I told our senior brother – equally now dismayed at the thick-headedness, dim-witness and mendacity of our wannabe leaders - when 2012 was coming to a close, after 500 years of association with the white people whom our coastal ancestors saw as barbarians without a refined culture, with our father managing over 20 of them at John Holt Bartholomew in a senior position when S. Africa was getting Apartheid, I was tired of being classified among the “developing peoples,” the current politically correct euphemism for “backward people,” “savages” or “underdeveloped people.” So after nearly 30 years of living in Europe and listening to and rubbing shoulders with some of the foremost scholars and development consultants of the West, etc., I declared myself civilised. In fact, even more than some of them, as the civilising process is a continual and changing process, a topic I shall be returning to in itself. It doesn’t mean though I had discarded my spikes-studded club carved for the T-hustlers, just as Obama is still keeping the nuclear bombs and nearly dropped uranium depleted bombs on poor Syrian women and children too as if drone bombing innocent Afghans and Pakistanis was not enough. I told my brother they [those in Ghana] could continue to remain uncivilised, as even Ken Kuranchie went to prison and realised, and continue to believe that a god created this universe; hold séances at the seat of government; that trokosi is a culture that must be respected (that’s why I am not even a cultural relativist and scorn those who push that concept); build new and “modern” witch camps, and sacrifice to river goddesses not appeased when new roads and bridges were built and untrained drivers turn the new roads into race courses leading to horrendous traffic deaths! In short, it is my little contribution to bringing the Enlightenment to Africans too, after my “plenty, plenty education,” as one of my more imaginative clansmen put it. Gold and silver have I none to give! I made a great sacrifice years back in order to retain my freedom of conscience and freedom to speak my mind without fear or favour of the powers-that-be. Time to speak is here.

Such are the contradictions and repetitions contained therein that the narration in Genesis would not be accepted as a well written end of first term sophomore essay. For the sake of brevity, I shall not make long comments, trusting that the reader shall be able to observe the differences pointed out. Perhaps, a table of the contradictions would have served to bring them clearer for the less able but I have dispensed of that in this version in order to save space. After all, this discourse is only an introduction to the material exposing the biblical myths and the insight provided, hopefully, will generate some debate amongst we Africans too, leading to deeper insight to fight off the religious charlatans now holding the mental shackles.

The Jehovah (J) texts are in regular type, the Priestly (P) in BLOCK LETTERS:

Genesis 6:5 And God 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.
Genesis 6:6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
Genesis 6:7 And the LORD 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.
Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
Genesis 6:9 THESE ARE THE GENERATIONS OF NOAH: NOAH WAS A JUST MAN AND PERFECT IN HIS GENERATIONS, AND NOAH WALKED WITH GOD.
Genesis 6:10 AND NOAH BEGAT THREE SONS, SHEM, HAM, AND JAPHETH.
Genesis 6:11 THE EARTH ALSO WAS CORRUPT BEFORE GOD, AND THE EARTH WAS FILLED WITH VIOLENCE.
Genesis 6:12 AND GOD LOOKED UPON THE EARTH, AND, BEHOLD, IT WAS CORRUPT; FOR ALL FLESH HAD CORRUPTED HIS WAY UPON THE EARTH.
Genesis 6:13 AND GOD 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.
Genesis 6:14 MAKE THEE AN ARK OF GOPHER WOOD; ROOMS SHALT THOU MAKE IN THE ARK, AND SHALT PITCH IT WITHIN AND WITHOUT WITH PITCH.
Genesis 6:15 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.
Genesis 6:16 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.
Genesis 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.
Genesis 6:18 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.
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.
Genesis 6:20 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.
Genesis 6:21 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.
Genesis 6:22 THUS DID NOAH; ACCORDING TO ALL THAT GOD COMMANDED HIM, SO DID HE.

Genesis 7:
Genesis 7:1 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
Genesis 7:2 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.
Genesis 7:3 Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.
Genesis 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.
Genesis 7:5 And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.
Genesis 7:6 AND NOAH WAS SIX HUNDRED YEARS OLD WHEN THE FLOOD OF WATERS WAS UPON THE EARTH.
Genesis 7:7 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.
Genesis 7:8 OF CLEAN BEASTS, AND OF BEASTS THAT ARE NOT CLEAN, AND OF FOWLS, AND OF EVERY THING THAT CREEPETH UPON THE EARTH,
Genesis 7:9 THERE WENT IN TWO AND TWO UNTO NOAH INTO THE ARK, THE MALE AND THE FEMALE, AS GOD HAD COMMANDED NOAH.
Genesis 7:10 And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.
Genesis 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.
Genesis 7:12 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.
Genesis 7:13 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;
Genesis 7:14 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.
Genesis 7:15 AND THEY WENT IN UNTO NOAH INTO THE ARK, TWO AND TWO OF ALL FLESH, WHEREIN IS THE BREATH OF LIFE.
Genesis 7:16 AND THEY THAT WENT IN, WENT IN MALE AND FEMALE OF ALL FLESH, AS GOD HAD COMMANDED HIM: and the LORD shut him in.
Genesis 7:17 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.
Genesis 7:18 And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.
Genesis 7:19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.
Genesis 7:20 Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.
Genesis 7:21 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:
Genesis 7:22 All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.
Genesis 7:23 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.
Genesis 7:24 AND THE WATERS PREVAILED UPON THE EARTH AN HUNDRED AND FIFTY DAYS.

Genesis 8:
Genesis 8:1 AND GOD REMEMBERED NOAH, AND EVERY LIVING THING, AND ALL THE CATTLE THAT WAS WITH HIM IN THE ARK: AND GOD MADE A WIND TO PASS OVER THE EARTH, AND THE WATERS ASSUAGED;
Genesis 8:2 THE FOUNTAINS ALSO OF THE DEEP AND THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN WERE STOPPED, and the rain from heaven was restrained;
Genesis 8:3 And the waters returned from off the earth continually: AND AFTER THE END OF THE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DAYS THE WATERS WERE ABATED.
Genesis 8:4 AND THE ARK RESTED IN THE SEVENTH MONTH, ON THE SEVENTEENTH DAY OF THE MONTH, UPON THE MOUNTAINS OF ARARAT.
Genesis 8:5 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.
Genesis 8:6 And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made:
Genesis 8:7 AND HE SENT FORTH A RAVEN, WHICH WENT FORTH TO AND FRO, UNTIL THE WATERS WERE DRIED UP FROM OFF THE EARTH.
Genesis 8:8 Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;
Genesis 8:9 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.
Genesis 8:10 And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;
Genesis 8:11 And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf plucked off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.
Genesis 8:12 And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.
Genesis 8:13 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: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.
Genesis 8:14 AND IN THE SECOND MONTH, ON THE SEVEN AND TWENTIETH DAY OF THE MONTH, WAS THE EARTH DRIED.
Genesis 8:15 AND GOD SPAKE UNTO NOAH, SAYING,
Genesis 8:16 GO FORTH OF THE ARK, THOU, AND THY WIFE, AND THY SONS, AND THY SONS' WIVES WITH THEE.
Genesis 8:17 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.
Genesis 8:18 AND NOAH WENT FORTH, AND HIS SONS, AND HIS WIFE, AND HIS SONS' WIVES WITH HIM:
Genesis 8:19 EVERY BEAST, EVERY CREEPING THING, AND EVERY FOWL, AND WHATSOEVER CREEPETH UPON THE EARTH, AFTER THEIR KINDS, WENT FORTH OUT OF THE ARK.
Genesis 8:20 And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
Genesis 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savor; and the LORD 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 every thing living, as I have done.
Genesis 8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Here ends the relevant quote. As earlier mentioned, I shall not indulge in any indepth criterion or internal analysis of the above except point to some areas of contention and pose some questions.

Now, can we say precisely how many pair of animals and fowls were taken into the ark? The P text of Genesis 6:9 says pair each, whereas the J text of Genesis 7:2 and 7:3 says seven of unclean beasts and birds and two of each clean beasts.

How long did the flood last before Noah sent out the raven, conforming to the Gilgamesh Epic? Forty days, 150 days or 360 days? The J text in Genesis 8:6 says forty days, whereas the calculation of P texts in Genesis 7:24 and 8:3 says 150 but the calculation in the P texts altogether show that it took 360 days for the flood to dry before Noah and the animals could leave the ark. If for only 40, not to mention 360 days, how were the herbivores and carnivores fed? We can speculate. They were not fed at all: God prevented them from feeling hungry and eating! Ok! I know that the biblical years were not of the same length as we have today but don’t tell me the days and nights were shorter then too!

Anyway, which bird was sent out first, raven or dove? Raven, according to the P text, as mentioned in the Gilgamesh Epic. Dove, according to the J text.

I think the reconciliation of these contradictory accounts shall form a good exercise to leave the readers with. We have a long way to go and just starting.

Andy C.Y. Kwawukume©
cyandyk@ymail.com

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Noah’s Flood: Exposing The Biblical Myths Part 4

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