Ben Zartman
Puritan Board Junior
I see it asserted here and there--in the RHB Study Bible, among other places--that from the time God told Noah to build the ark until the rains began it was 120 years. But in 5:32 Noah's age is placed at 500 years, at which time he begets children. Then launches (heh) the flood narrative, and again in 6:10 Noah's three sons are mentioned, after which God tells Noah to build a boat.
We see later that Noah was 600 years old when he entered the ark. So unless God told Noah to build an ark 20 years before he begat children, there's no way it took 120 years to build his boat.
I see two possibilities: God told Noah to start building before Noah procreated, or the 120 year number was God reducing the ordinary lifespan of Man from hundreds of years to a shorter time, possibly to give each one less time to accumulate wrath against himself. I'm for the latter, since just a few generations after the flood, Abraham was considered aged at a measly 100 years.
Thoughts?
We see later that Noah was 600 years old when he entered the ark. So unless God told Noah to build an ark 20 years before he begat children, there's no way it took 120 years to build his boat.
I see two possibilities: God told Noah to start building before Noah procreated, or the 120 year number was God reducing the ordinary lifespan of Man from hundreds of years to a shorter time, possibly to give each one less time to accumulate wrath against himself. I'm for the latter, since just a few generations after the flood, Abraham was considered aged at a measly 100 years.
Thoughts?