The Flood

The following outlines the length of time that elapsed during the flood. Although most people characterize the flood as lasting only 40 days and 40 nights, the total elapsed time that Noah and his family were in the ark is considerably longer. Below is a description of events pertaining to the flood. To the right of each event are the number of days that elapsed. As this chronology clearly indicates, Noah was in the ark for over one year.

Chronology of the Flood

There were forty days during which the rain fell	40
Throughout another 110 days, the waters continued to rise, making 150 days in all for their "prevailing." (Gen. 7:24)	110
The waters occupied 74 days in their "going and decreasing" (AV margin). This was from the 17	74
Forty days elapsed before Noah sent out the raven (Gen. 8:6-7)	40
Seven days elapsed before Noah sent out the dove for the first time (Gen. 8:8). This period is necessary for reaching the total and is given by implication from the phrase "other seven days" (Gen. 8:10)	7
Seven days passed before sending out the dove for the second time. (Gen. 8:10)	7
Seven days passed before the third sending of the dove (Gen. 8:12)	7
Up to this point, 285 days are accounted for, but the next episode is dated the 1st of the month in the 601st year. From the date in Gen 7:11 to this point in Gen. 8:13 is a period of 314 days; therefore, an interval of 29 days elapses	29
From the removal of the covering of the Ark to the very end of the experience was a further 57 days (Gen. 8:14)	57
Total	371

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The Size of Noah’s Ark

Most people fail to grasp the tremendous size of Noah’s ark because they don’t understand its measurements (see Gen. 6:14-16). Estimates on the size of a cubit range from 18 to 25 inches.
Size based on a 18" cubit
Length: Width: Height: Displacement:	450 feet 75 feet 45 feet 35 to 43 thousand tons
Size based on a 21" cubit
Length: Width: Height: Displacement:	525 feet (a 45-story building) 87 feet, 6 inches 52 feet, 6 inches 40 to 50 thousand tons
Size based on a 25" cubit
Length: Width: Height: Cubic feet: Carrying capacity: Three decks:	625 feet 104 feet 63 feet 3,600,000 25 trains (each with 52 cars) 38 college basketball courts
Consider how long it took to build the ark: 120 years (Gen. 6:3)

* * * *

The Size of Noah’s Ark

Most people fail to grasp the tremendous size of Noah’s ark because they don’t understand its measurements (see Gen. 6:14-16). Estimates on the size of a cubit range from 18 to 25 inches.
Size based on a 18" cubit
Length: Width: Height: Displacement:	450 feet 75 feet 45 feet 35 to 43 thousand tons
Size based on a 21" cubit
Length: Width: Height: Displacement:	525 feet (a 45-story building) 87 feet, 6 inches 52 feet, 6 inches 40 to 50 thousand tons
Size based on a 25" cubit
Length: Width: Height: Cubic feet: Carrying capacity: Three decks:	625 feet 104 feet 63 feet 3,600,000 25 trains (each with 52 cars) 38 college basketball courts
Consider how long it took to build the ark: 120 years (Gen. 6:3)

Photo courtesy of Arnold Mendez

The replica of Noah's ark shown above is 1/75 scale. For comparison purposes, both the railroad stockcar and model of the sailing ship Pinta (one of Columbus' ships) are also at the same 1/75 scale model size.

The full-size version of the railroad stockcar model shown in the picture is 44 feet long and has a capacity of 2,670 cubic ft. The ark's volume was 1,518,000 cubic ft., which is equal to 569 railroad stockcars. Strung together these stockcars would make a train five and one-half miles long!

Although no one knows exactly the length of the Biblical cubit used as a measurement by Noah, the above model is based upon the ratio of one cubit equaling 18 inches. If a larger cubit of 20 or 24 inches would have been used the ark model would have been proportionally larger.

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The Flood

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