Difference between revisions of "Chronology of the Flood/2/en"
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<opinion>Months from Creation | <opinion>Months from Creation | ||
<p>All the months mentioned in the verses are calculated according to the yearly calendar, from creation.</p> | <p>All the months mentioned in the verses are calculated according to the yearly calendar, from creation.</p> | ||
− | <mekorot><multilink><a href="QumranScroll4Q252Fragment1Columns1-2" data-aht="source">Qumran Scroll 4Q252</a><a href="QumranScroll4Q252Fragment1Columns1-2" data-aht="source">Fragment 1 Columns 1-2</a><a href="Qumran Scrolls" data-aht="parshan">About the Qumran Scrolls</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="YefetbElitheKaraiteBereshit8-4" data-aht="source">the Karaites</a><a href="YefetbElitheKaraiteBereshit8-4" data-aht="source">Yefet b. Eli Bereshit 8:4</a><a href="AharonbYoseftheKaraiteBereshit8-3-8" data-aht="source">Aharon b. Yosef Bereshit 8:3-8</a><a href="AharonbEliyahutheKaraiteBereshit8-3-6" data-aht="source">Aharon b. Eliyahu Bereshit 8:3-6</a></multilink>, rejected approach in <multilink><a href="LekachTovBereshit7-24" data-aht="source">Lekach Tov</a><a href="LekachTovBereshit7-24" data-aht="source">Bereshit 7:24</a><a href="R. Toviah b. Eliezer (Lekach Tov)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Toviah b. Eliezer</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="IbnEzraBereshit8-3-5" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraBereshit8-3-5" data-aht="source">Bereshit 8:3-5</a><a href="IbnEzraAdditionalCommentaryBereshit7-11" data-aht="source">Additional Commentary Bereshit 7:11</a><a href="IbnEzraAdditionalCommentaryBereshit8-14" data-aht="source">Additional Commentary Bereshit 8:14</a><a href="IbnEzraIggeretHaShabbat" data-aht="source">Iggeret HaShabbat</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYosefBekhorShorBereshit7-24" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorBereshit7-24" data-aht="source">Bereshit 7:24</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorBereshit8-3-10" data-aht="source">Bereshit 8:3-10</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RidBereshit7-12" data-aht="source">Rid</a><a href="RidBereshit7-12" data-aht="source">Bereshit 7:12</a><a href="RidBereshit8-4" data-aht="source">Bereshit 8:4</a><a href="R. Yeshayah of Trani (Rid)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yeshayah of Trani</a></multilink>, approach in <multilink><a href="ChizkuniBereshit8-3-13" data-aht="source">Chizkuni</a><a href="ChizkuniBereshit7-17" data-aht="source">Bereshit 7:17</a><a href="ChizkuniBereshit7-24" data-aht="source">Bereshit 7:24</a><a href="ChizkuniBereshit8-3-13" data-aht="source">Bereshit 8:3-13</a><a href="R. Chizkiyah b. Manoach (Chizkuni)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Chizkiyah b. Manoach</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RambanBereshit8-4-5" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="RambanBereshit8-4-5" data-aht="source">Bereshit 8:4-5</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Nachman</a></multilink> #2,<fn>Ramban raises two possible understandings of the chapter.  This approach represents his second option; see below for his first possibility.</fn> <multilink><a href="AkeidatYitzchakBereshit13" data-aht="source">Akeidat Yitzchak</a><a href="AkeidatYitzchakBereshit13" data-aht="source">Bereshit 13</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Arama (Akeidat Yitzchak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Arama</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="AbarbanelBereshit7-24" data-aht="source">Abarbanel</a><a href="AbarbanelBereshit7-24" data-aht="source">Bereshit 7:24</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Abarbanel" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href=" | + | <mekorot><multilink><a href="QumranScroll4Q252Fragment1Columns1-2" data-aht="source">Qumran Scroll 4Q252</a><a href="QumranScroll4Q252Fragment1Columns1-2" data-aht="source">Fragment 1 Columns 1-2</a><a href="Qumran Scrolls" data-aht="parshan">About the Qumran Scrolls</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="YefetbElitheKaraiteBereshit8-4" data-aht="source">the Karaites</a><a href="YefetbElitheKaraiteBereshit8-4" data-aht="source">Yefet b. Eli Bereshit 8:4</a><a href="AharonbYoseftheKaraiteBereshit8-3-8" data-aht="source">Aharon b. Yosef Bereshit 8:3-8</a><a href="AharonbEliyahutheKaraiteBereshit8-3-6" data-aht="source">Aharon b. Eliyahu Bereshit 8:3-6</a></multilink>, rejected approach in <multilink><a href="LekachTovBereshit7-24" data-aht="source">Lekach Tov</a><a href="LekachTovBereshit7-24" data-aht="source">Bereshit 7:24</a><a href="R. Toviah b. Eliezer (Lekach Tov)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Toviah b. Eliezer</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="IbnEzraBereshit8-3-5" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraBereshit8-3-5" data-aht="source">Bereshit 8:3-5</a><a href="IbnEzraAdditionalCommentaryBereshit7-11" data-aht="source">Additional Commentary Bereshit 7:11</a><a href="IbnEzraAdditionalCommentaryBereshit8-14" data-aht="source">Additional Commentary Bereshit 8:14</a><a href="IbnEzraIggeretHaShabbat" data-aht="source">Iggeret HaShabbat</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYosefBekhorShorBereshit7-24" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorBereshit7-24" data-aht="source">Bereshit 7:24</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorBereshit8-3-10" data-aht="source">Bereshit 8:3-10</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RidBereshit7-12" data-aht="source">Rid</a><a href="RidBereshit7-12" data-aht="source">Bereshit 7:12</a><a href="RidBereshit8-4" data-aht="source">Bereshit 8:4</a><a href="R. Yeshayah of Trani (Rid)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yeshayah of Trani</a></multilink>, approach in <multilink><a href="ChizkuniBereshit8-3-13" data-aht="source">Chizkuni</a><a href="ChizkuniBereshit7-17" data-aht="source">Bereshit 7:17</a><a href="ChizkuniBereshit7-24" data-aht="source">Bereshit 7:24</a><a href="ChizkuniBereshit8-3-13" data-aht="source">Bereshit 8:3-13</a><a href="R. Chizkiyah b. Manoach (Chizkuni)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Chizkiyah b. Manoach</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RambanBereshit8-4-5" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="RambanBereshit8-4-5" data-aht="source">Bereshit 8:4-5</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Nachman</a></multilink> #2,<fn>Ramban raises two possible understandings of the chapter.  This approach represents his second option; see below for his first possibility.</fn> <multilink><a href="AkeidatYitzchakBereshit13" data-aht="source">Akeidat Yitzchak</a><a href="AkeidatYitzchakBereshit13" data-aht="source">Bereshit 13</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Arama (Akeidat Yitzchak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Arama</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="AbarbanelBereshit7-24" data-aht="source">Abarbanel</a><a href="AbarbanelBereshit7-24" data-aht="source">Bereshit 7:24</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Abarbanel" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="SfornoBereshit7-24" data-aht="source">Sforno</a><a href="SfornoBereshit7-24" data-aht="source">Bereshit 7:24</a><a href="R. Ovadyah Sforno" data-aht="parshan">About R. Ovadyah Sforno</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="ShadalBereshit7-24" data-aht="source">Shadal</a><a href="ShadalBereshit7-24" data-aht="source">Bereshit 7:24</a><a href="ShadalBereshit8-2" data-aht="source">Bereshit 8:2</a><a href="ShadalBereshit8-4" data-aht="source">Bereshit 8:4</a><a href="R. Shemuel David Luzzatto (Shadal)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="HoilMosheBereshit7-11" data-aht="source">Hoil Moshe</a><a href="HoilMosheBereshit7-11" data-aht="source">Bereshit 7:11</a><a href="R. Moshe Yitzchak Ashkenazi (Hoil Moshe)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe Yitzchak Ashkenazi</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RDZHoffmannBereshit7-21-24" data-aht="source">R. D"Z Hoffmann</a><a href="RDZHoffmannBereshit7-21-24" data-aht="source">Bereshit 7:21-24</a><a href="R. David Zvi Hoffmann" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Zvi Hoffmann</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="UCassutoBereshitIntroductiontotheFlood" data-aht="source">U. Cassuto</a><a href="UCassutoBereshitIntroductiontotheFlood" data-aht="source">Bereshit Introduction to the Flood</a><a href="Prof. Umberto Cassuto" data-aht="parshan">About Prof. Umberto Cassuto</a></multilink></mekorot> |
<point><b>Months</b> – These commentators assume that all the months mentioned in the account of the flood are numbered from the beginning of the calendar year.  They disagree, though, regarding whether the first month is Tishrei or Nissan.<fn>The Rid, Ramban, Akeidat Yitzchak, Abarbanel and R. David Zvi Hoffmann all date them to Tishrei while Ibn Ezra, R"Y Bekhor Shor, and Shadal date them to Nissan.  The difference of opinion relates to the controversy in Bavli Rosh HaShanah 10b-11a regarding whether the world was created in Tishrei or Nissan.</fn></point> | <point><b>Months</b> – These commentators assume that all the months mentioned in the account of the flood are numbered from the beginning of the calendar year.  They disagree, though, regarding whether the first month is Tishrei or Nissan.<fn>The Rid, Ramban, Akeidat Yitzchak, Abarbanel and R. David Zvi Hoffmann all date them to Tishrei while Ibn Ezra, R"Y Bekhor Shor, and Shadal date them to Nissan.  The difference of opinion relates to the controversy in Bavli Rosh HaShanah 10b-11a regarding whether the world was created in Tishrei or Nissan.</fn></point> | ||
<point><b>150 and 40 Overlap</b> – This position assumes that the forty days of rain are subsumed in the 150 day period, reading the final verse of Chapter 7 "וַיִּגְבְּרוּ הַמַּיִם עַל הָאָרֶץ חֲמִשִּׁים וּמְאַת יוֹם", as a summary statement of the previously described events rather than a successive event.<fn>They do regard the later mention of forty days as its own independent unit.  There the text writes, "וַיְהִי מִקֵּץ אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם" but it is hard to suggests that this refers to the previously mentioned 40 days of rain, since there are several other time markers in between.  See point below.</fn></point> | <point><b>150 and 40 Overlap</b> – This position assumes that the forty days of rain are subsumed in the 150 day period, reading the final verse of Chapter 7 "וַיִּגְבְּרוּ הַמַּיִם עַל הָאָרֶץ חֲמִשִּׁים וּמְאַת יוֹם", as a summary statement of the previously described events rather than a successive event.<fn>They do regard the later mention of forty days as its own independent unit.  There the text writes, "וַיְהִי מִקֵּץ אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם" but it is hard to suggests that this refers to the previously mentioned 40 days of rain, since there are several other time markers in between.  See point below.</fn></point> | ||
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<point><b>"וַיִּגְבְּרוּ הַמַּיִם" and "וַיַּחְסְרוּ הַמַּיִם"</b> – Though all these sources agree that there was but one set of 150 days, they disagree in how they understand the relationship between the periods of increasing and receding waters:<fn>The various opinions relate to a number of other issues raised by the text, including the landing of the ark, chronology of the verses, and the shifting pace of water reduction, which will be discussed in the bullets below.</fn><br/> | <point><b>"וַיִּגְבְּרוּ הַמַּיִם" and "וַיַּחְסְרוּ הַמַּיִם"</b> – Though all these sources agree that there was but one set of 150 days, they disagree in how they understand the relationship between the periods of increasing and receding waters:<fn>The various opinions relate to a number of other issues raised by the text, including the landing of the ark, chronology of the verses, and the shifting pace of water reduction, which will be discussed in the bullets below.</fn><br/> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
− | <li><b>Water first decreased after 150 days</b> - The author of the Qumran Scroll, Yefet the Karaite, Ibn Ezra,<fn>Ibn Ezra does not refer to this phrase explicitly but also agrees that the waters first abated at the end of 150 days.</fn> Ramban, and | + | <li><b>Water first decreased after 150 days</b> - The author of the Qumran Scroll, Yefet the Karaite, Ibn Ezra,<fn>Ibn Ezra does not refer to this phrase explicitly but also agrees that the waters first abated at the end of 150 days.</fn> Ramban, and Sforno all understand the phrase "וַיַּחְסְרוּ הַמַּיִם מִקְצֵה חֲמִשִּׁים וּמְאַת יוֹם" to mean that the water only began to decrease at the end of the 150 days. Until that point the water level was either still rising, or at least, maintaining its height. Sforno suggests that even though the rain stopped after 40 days, the underground sources of water were still open,<fn>Chapter 7:17 speaks of the flood lasting for 40 days, but it is only in 8:2 that the text mentions the closing of the heavenly windows and subterranean sources of water.  This leads Sforno (and Ramban) to suggest that there were two stages.  However, the continuation of 8:2 reads, "וַיִּכָּלֵא הַגֶּשֶׁם מִן הַשָּׁמָיִם" which leads others to suggest that the two events happened simultaneously.</fn> causing continued water pressure during this entire period.<fn>His words are slightly ambiguous, and can be interpreted to mean either that the subterranean waters caused an increase in the water throughout this period or that they simply caused a continuous pressure, preventing the water from standing still or decreasing.</fn> Ramban, in contrast, seems to maintain that though the waters did not continue to increase after the fortieth day, due to the great humidity<fn>This was caused by the fact that the heavenly windows and subterranean water sources were still open.</fn> they retained their height throughout this period.</li> |
<li><b>Water decreased after the forty days of rain</b> – Most of the other commentators in this approach<fn>See R"Y Bekhor Shor, Akeidat Yitzchak, Abarbanel,, Shadal, R. D"Z Hoffmann, and U. Cassuto.</fn> assume that the water started to recede right after the rain stopped. The phrase " וַיִּגְבְּרוּ הַמַּיִם עַל הָאָרֶץ חֲמִשִּׁים וּמְאַת יוֹם" simply means that the waters were is a state of strength (relative to normal water heights), not that they were increasing, or even maintaining their level.  R"Y Bekhor Shor, R. Hoffmann and U. Cassuto explain the verse "וַיַּחְסְרוּ הַמַּיִם מִקְצֵה חֲמִשִּׁים וּמְאַת יוֹם"   to mean not that the water first began to recede at this point but that the decrease was first noticeable to Noach after this period, when the ark landed.<fn>Until then, when the ark was still moving and Noach could only see water and sky he had no way of knowing if the water level was increasing, staying the same or decreasing.</fn></li> | <li><b>Water decreased after the forty days of rain</b> – Most of the other commentators in this approach<fn>See R"Y Bekhor Shor, Akeidat Yitzchak, Abarbanel,, Shadal, R. D"Z Hoffmann, and U. Cassuto.</fn> assume that the water started to recede right after the rain stopped. The phrase " וַיִּגְבְּרוּ הַמַּיִם עַל הָאָרֶץ חֲמִשִּׁים וּמְאַת יוֹם" simply means that the waters were is a state of strength (relative to normal water heights), not that they were increasing, or even maintaining their level.  R"Y Bekhor Shor, R. Hoffmann and U. Cassuto explain the verse "וַיַּחְסְרוּ הַמַּיִם מִקְצֵה חֲמִשִּׁים וּמְאַת יוֹם"   to mean not that the water first began to recede at this point but that the decrease was first noticeable to Noach after this period, when the ark landed.<fn>Until then, when the ark was still moving and Noach could only see water and sky he had no way of knowing if the water level was increasing, staying the same or decreasing.</fn></li> | ||
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
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<li><b>Persian/Egyptian</b> – Ibn Ezra suggests, in contrast, that Noach was using a calendar like that of the Egyptians or Persians who would intercalate their year by adding 5 days to a certain month. The total days in the five month period can thus equal or surpass 150.<fn>Based on the math, one would think that such a calendar would allow for more than 150 days in the five month period.  Yet, Ibn Ezra himself seems to assume that such a calendar would equal exactly 150 days, since right beforehand and in his comments elsewhere, he rejects the possibility that Noach used a solar calendar because that would add two days to the 150 given in the text.</fn></li> | <li><b>Persian/Egyptian</b> – Ibn Ezra suggests, in contrast, that Noach was using a calendar like that of the Egyptians or Persians who would intercalate their year by adding 5 days to a certain month. The total days in the five month period can thus equal or surpass 150.<fn>Based on the math, one would think that such a calendar would allow for more than 150 days in the five month period.  Yet, Ibn Ezra himself seems to assume that such a calendar would equal exactly 150 days, since right beforehand and in his comments elsewhere, he rejects the possibility that Noach used a solar calendar because that would add two days to the 150 given in the text.</fn></li> | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
− | <li><b> Lunar calendar based on eyewitnesses</b> – Yefet and Anan the Karaites maintain that Noach did use a lunar calendar, but one in which the months were determined by eyewitnesses rather than calculations.<fn>In their arguments with the Rabbis, they even point to this story as proof of their position that moths are determined by eyewitnesses, claiming that if one uses calculations the dating in the story does not work.</fn> They assume that if no one can see the moon (as was the case when Noach was in the Ark)<fn>R. Saadia questions this assumption, suggesting that after the rain ceased on the fortieth day, the moon should have been visible.  Moreover, there is no reason to assume that the months mentioned were calculated by Noach, rather than Hashem, who does not need the moon to calculate time.</fn> the default length of a month is thirty days.<fn>R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, | + | <li><b> Lunar calendar based on eyewitnesses</b> – Yefet and Anan the Karaites maintain that Noach did use a lunar calendar, but one in which the months were determined by eyewitnesses rather than calculations.<fn>In their arguments with the Rabbis, they even point to this story as proof of their position that moths are determined by eyewitnesses, claiming that if one uses calculations the dating in the story does not work.</fn> They assume that if no one can see the moon (as was the case when Noach was in the Ark)<fn>R. Saadia questions this assumption, suggesting that after the rain ceased on the fortieth day, the moon should have been visible.  Moreover, there is no reason to assume that the months mentioned were calculated by Noach, rather than Hashem, who does not need the moon to calculate time.</fn> the default length of a month is thirty days.<fn>R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, Sforno, and Hoil Moshe also maintain that Noach was using a thirty day per month calendar, but do not elaborate regarding how they reach this conclusion.  Hoil Moshe suggests that in the time of Noach people might not have been very adept at mathematical and astronomical calculations, leading to an inexact calendar.</fn>  This allows for exactly 150 days between 2/17 and 7/17.<fn>This count does not include the end date, 7/17. Alternatively, according to Aharon b. Yosef and Aharon b. Eliyahu the Karaites, though 7/17 is included and there are really 151 days, the Torah was not bothered by the extra day and rounded it to 150.</fn></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
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<category>150 Days Which Do Not Include the First 40 Days | <category>150 Days Which Do Not Include the First 40 Days | ||
<p>The two mentions of 150 days are one unit of time, while the forty days of rain are a distinct unit.  As such, there was a 190 day period before the waters began to decrease.</p> | <p>The two mentions of 150 days are one unit of time, while the forty days of rain are a distinct unit.  As such, there was a 190 day period before the waters began to decrease.</p> | ||
− | <mekorot><multilink><a href="SederOlamRabbah4" data-aht="source">Seder Olam Rabbah</a><a href="SederOlamRabbah4" data-aht="source">4</a><a href="Seder Olam Rabbah" data-aht="parshan">About Seder Olam Rabbah</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="BereshitRabbah33-7" data-aht="source">Bereshit Rabbah</a><a href="BereshitRabbah33-7" data-aht="source">33:7</a><a href="Bereshit Rabbah" data-aht="parshan">About Bereshit Rabbah</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href=" | + | <mekorot><multilink><a href="SederOlamRabbah4" data-aht="source">Seder Olam Rabbah</a><a href="SederOlamRabbah4" data-aht="source">4</a><a href="Seder Olam Rabbah" data-aht="parshan">About Seder Olam Rabbah</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="BereshitRabbah33-7" data-aht="source">Bereshit Rabbah</a><a href="BereshitRabbah33-7" data-aht="source">33:7</a><a href="Bereshit Rabbah" data-aht="parshan">About Bereshit Rabbah</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="SeferHeArukhsvקל" data-aht="source">Sefer HeArukh</a><a href="SeferHeArukhsvקל" data-aht="source">s.v. קל</a><a href="R. Natan b. Yechiel (Sefer HaArukh)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Natan b. Yechiel</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RashiBereshit7-12" data-aht="source">Rashi</a><a href="RashiBereshit7-12" data-aht="source">Bereshit 7:12</a><a href="RashiBereshit8-3-14" data-aht="source">Bereshit 8:3-14</a><a href="RashiBereshit8-5-6" data-aht="source">Ms. Leipzig 1 Bereshit 8:5-6</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="LekachTovBereshit8-10-14" data-aht="source">Lekach Tov</a><a href="LekachTovBereshit7-24" data-aht="source">Bereshit 7:24</a><a href="LekachTovBereshit8-3-6" data-aht="source">Bereshit 8:3-6</a><a href="LekachTovBereshit8-10-14" data-aht="source">Bereshit 8:10-14</a><a href="R. Toviah b. Eliezer (Lekach Tov)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Toviah b. Eliezer</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RashbamfromMsOxford970" data-aht="source">Rashbam</a><a href="RashbamfromMsOxford970" data-aht="source">from Ms. Oxford 970</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel b. Meir</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="ChizkuniBereshit8-3-13" data-aht="source">Chizkuni</a><a href="ChizkuniBereshit7-24" data-aht="source">Bereshit 7:24</a><a href="ChizkuniBereshit8-3-13" data-aht="source">Bereshit 8:3-13</a><a href="R. Chizkiyah b. Manoach (Chizkuni)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Chizkiyah b. Manoach</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RChaimPaltielBereshit8-6" data-aht="source">R. Chaim Paltiel</a><a href="RChaimPaltielBereshit8-6" data-aht="source">Bereshit 8:6</a><a href="R. Chaim Paltiel" data-aht="parshan">About R. Chaim Paltiel</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="TosafotHaShalemBereshit8-4-8infootnote" data-aht="source">Ba'alei HaTosafot</a><a href="TosafotHaShalemBereshit8-4-8infootnote" data-aht="source">MS JTS 793</a><a href="TosafotHaShalemBereshit8-4-8" data-aht="source">Tosafot HaShalem Bereshit 8:4:8</a><a href="TosafotHaShalemBereshit8-5-5" data-aht="source">Tosafot HaShalem Bereshit 8:5:5)</a><a href="Ba'alei HaTosafot" data-aht="parshan">About Ba'alei HaTosafot</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="MinchatYehudaBereshit8-6" data-aht="source">Minchat Yehuda</a><a href="MinchatYehudaBereshit8-6" data-aht="source">Bereshit 8:6</a><a href="R. Yehuda b. Elazar" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yehuda b. Elazar</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="DaatZekeinimBereshit8-3" data-aht="source">Daat Zekeinim</a><a href="DaatZekeinimBereshit8-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit 8:3</a><a href="Daat Zekeinim" data-aht="parshan">About Daat Zekeinim</a></multilink>, first approach of <multilink><a href="MaaseiHashemBereshit26" data-aht="source">R. Eliezer Ashkenazi</a><a href="MaaseiHashemBereshit26" data-aht="source">Ma'asei Hashem Bereshit 26</a><a href="R. Eliezer Ashkenazi (Ma'asei Hashem)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Eliezer Ashkenazi (Ma'asei Hashem)</a></multilink></mekorot> |
<point><b>Distinct 40 and 150 days</b> – This approach assumes that there is no overlap between the description of the flood and the 150 days of strong waters.  The verses follow sequentially, with the 150 days following the forty days of rain.</point> | <point><b>Distinct 40 and 150 days</b> – This approach assumes that there is no overlap between the description of the flood and the 150 days of strong waters.  The verses follow sequentially, with the 150 days following the forty days of rain.</point> | ||
<point><b>One Set of 150</b> – This position, nonetheless, agrees that there is only one set of 150 days and that the waters receded at the end of the previously mentioned 150 days, and not after a new set.</point> | <point><b>One Set of 150</b> – This position, nonetheless, agrees that there is only one set of 150 days and that the waters receded at the end of the previously mentioned 150 days, and not after a new set.</point> | ||
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<ul> | <ul> | ||
<li><b>Waters retained strength</b> – According to Seder Olam Rabbah and the Arukh, the water stopped increasing after the forty days of rain, but maintained their level throughout.<fn>The Arukh explains that the verse, "וַיָּשֻׁבוּ הַמַּיִם מֵעַל הָאָרֶץ הָלוֹךְ וָשׁוֹב" mans that after the rain stopped, the waters went back and forth, neither increasing nor decreasing during this period. Seder Olam Rabbah explains that during these 150 days the wicked were each being sentenced for their actions.</fn> According to this, the phrase "וַיִּגְבְּרוּ הַמַּיִם" does not mean that the waters increased but that they stayed in their strength.</li> | <li><b>Waters retained strength</b> – According to Seder Olam Rabbah and the Arukh, the water stopped increasing after the forty days of rain, but maintained their level throughout.<fn>The Arukh explains that the verse, "וַיָּשֻׁבוּ הַמַּיִם מֵעַל הָאָרֶץ הָלוֹךְ וָשׁוֹב" mans that after the rain stopped, the waters went back and forth, neither increasing nor decreasing during this period. Seder Olam Rabbah explains that during these 150 days the wicked were each being sentenced for their actions.</fn> According to this, the phrase "וַיִּגְבְּרוּ הַמַּיִם" does not mean that the waters increased but that they stayed in their strength.</li> | ||
− | <li><b>Waters increased</b> – According to Ba'alei HaTosafot, in contrast, even after the rain stopped, the water continued to increase throughout the 150 days. He might maintain that the waters continued to emerge from underground.<fn>Cf. | + | <li><b>Waters increased</b> – According to Ba'alei HaTosafot, in contrast, even after the rain stopped, the water continued to increase throughout the 150 days. He might maintain that the waters continued to emerge from underground.<fn>Cf. Sforno above.</fn></li> |
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
<point><b>How do 190 days fit into 5 months?</b> The verses state that the ark rested on the 17th of the seventh month.   According to this position, though, at this point the waters were still at their height (and would be through the 29th of the eighth month)!<fn>The rain lasted through the 27th of the third month. 150 days from there, in a regular year in which months alternate between 29 and 30 days, would conclude on the 29th of the eighth month, more than a month after the ark landed. <br/>Seder Olam Rabbah writes, "עד מתי חמשים ומאת יום עד א' בסיון" leading many to assumes that he calculated the end of the 150 days to the first of the ninth month rather than the 29th of the eighth.  It is possible, though, that he simply means that the 150 days ended before the first of the month (עד א' בסיו is not inclusive). <br/>Rashi apparently tries to solve the problem emerging from Seder Olam Rabbah in two different ways in his commentary, leading to an internal contradiction in Rashi.  In his comments to 7:12, he posits that the last day of the 150 really was the first of the ninth month, because the first day of rain was not included.  In his comments to 8:3, though, he asserts (as per the discussion above) that the first of the month is the day after the 150.</fn>  This forces these commentators to reinterpret this date and to assume that it is dated to an event in the flood narrative rather than the beginning of the calendar year:<br/> | <point><b>How do 190 days fit into 5 months?</b> The verses state that the ark rested on the 17th of the seventh month.   According to this position, though, at this point the waters were still at their height (and would be through the 29th of the eighth month)!<fn>The rain lasted through the 27th of the third month. 150 days from there, in a regular year in which months alternate between 29 and 30 days, would conclude on the 29th of the eighth month, more than a month after the ark landed. <br/>Seder Olam Rabbah writes, "עד מתי חמשים ומאת יום עד א' בסיון" leading many to assumes that he calculated the end of the 150 days to the first of the ninth month rather than the 29th of the eighth.  It is possible, though, that he simply means that the 150 days ended before the first of the month (עד א' בסיו is not inclusive). <br/>Rashi apparently tries to solve the problem emerging from Seder Olam Rabbah in two different ways in his commentary, leading to an internal contradiction in Rashi.  In his comments to 7:12, he posits that the last day of the 150 really was the first of the ninth month, because the first day of rain was not included.  In his comments to 8:3, though, he asserts (as per the discussion above) that the first of the month is the day after the 150.</fn>  This forces these commentators to reinterpret this date and to assume that it is dated to an event in the flood narrative rather than the beginning of the calendar year:<br/> |
Latest revision as of 03:42, 12 July 2024
Chronology of the Flood
Exegetical Approaches
150 Days Which Includes the First 40 Days
The two mentions of 150 days refer to the same time period and encompass the forty days of rain. The ark landed at the conclusion of these 150 days. This approach subdivides regarding how the commentators understand the chapter's dating:
Months from Creation
All the months mentioned in the verses are calculated according to the yearly calendar, from creation.
- Water first decreased after 150 days - The author of the Qumran Scroll, Yefet the Karaite, Ibn Ezra,5 Ramban, and Sforno all understand the phrase "וַיַּחְסְרוּ הַמַּיִם מִקְצֵה חֲמִשִּׁים וּמְאַת יוֹם" to mean that the water only began to decrease at the end of the 150 days. Until that point the water level was either still rising, or at least, maintaining its height. Sforno suggests that even though the rain stopped after 40 days, the underground sources of water were still open,6 causing continued water pressure during this entire period.7 Ramban, in contrast, seems to maintain that though the waters did not continue to increase after the fortieth day, due to the great humidity8 they retained their height throughout this period.
- Water decreased after the forty days of rain – Most of the other commentators in this approach9 assume that the water started to recede right after the rain stopped. The phrase " וַיִּגְבְּרוּ הַמַּיִם עַל הָאָרֶץ חֲמִשִּׁים וּמְאַת יוֹם" simply means that the waters were is a state of strength (relative to normal water heights), not that they were increasing, or even maintaining their level. R"Y Bekhor Shor, R. Hoffmann and U. Cassuto explain the verse "וַיַּחְסְרוּ הַמַּיִם מִקְצֵה חֲמִשִּׁים וּמְאַת יוֹם" to mean not that the water first began to recede at this point but that the decrease was first noticeable to Noach after this period, when the ark landed.10
- Chronological –Those who maintain that the waters maintained their strength throughout the 150 days, read the verses chronologically, with Chapter 7 describing the rising flood and the opening verses of Chapter 8 detailing the decreasing waters at the end of the 150 days.11
- Achronological – The other commentators, though, assume that verses 8:2-4 (the sending of the wind and closing of the heavenly windows) occurred in the midst of the 150 days that are mentioned in the preceding chapter and that there is an element of achronology in the verses. Akeidat Yitzchak and Shadal explain that the Torah purposely separated the images of destruction and salvation, detailing the world's collapse in Chapter 7 before describing its rebuilding in Chapter 8.
- Different calendar – Several sources reject the assumption that the dates in the story are based on the Hebrew lunar calendar:
- Solar Calendar – Some commentators14 assert that the months mentioned relate to the solar calendar. According to this reckoning there are 152 days in five months and the 150 day period ended a couple of days before the ark rested.15
- Persian/Egyptian – Ibn Ezra suggests, in contrast, that Noach was using a calendar like that of the Egyptians or Persians who would intercalate their year by adding 5 days to a certain month. The total days in the five month period can thus equal or surpass 150.16
- Lunar calendar based on eyewitnesses – Yefet and Anan the Karaites maintain that Noach did use a lunar calendar, but one in which the months were determined by eyewitnesses rather than calculations.17 They assume that if no one can see the moon (as was the case when Noach was in the Ark)18 the default length of a month is thirty days.19 This allows for exactly 150 days between 2/17 and 7/17.20
- Fixed Hebrew Lunar Calendar – A last group of sources attempt to uphold the idea that the Torah is employing the Rabbinic calendar:
- Round Numbers - The Rid and U. Cassuto solve the problem by simply suggesting that 150 days is a round number. Though, in reality there were fewer days in the five month period, the Torah rounded up to the the next ten.21
- Full Leap Year - R. Saadia suggests that one can reach 150 days using a regular fixed lunar calendar if the year was a "full" leap year. In such a year, 4 of the 5 months( Marcheshvan, Kislev, Shevat and Adar I) would all have 30 days. As such 7/17 is the 150th day.22
- Receded over 110 days – According to those who say that the water started to decrease already after the 40 days of rain, this is not an issue,24 and is, in fact, one of the factors that motivate them to explain the verses as they do. Shadal even maintains that by this point the higher mountain tops were totally uncovered, and that Bereshit 8:5 describes only the revealing of the shorter mountains.
- Receded over 2 days – According to those who maintain that the waters retained their strength throughout, but that a solar calendar was used and thus the 150 period ended by the 15th of the seventh month, there was a period of two days in which the water lessened, allowing the ark to land.
- Miraculous intervention – Ramban, in contrast, is forced to assert that Hashem sent a miraculous wind which decreased the waters substantially on the 150th day itself.25
- If one posits that the water first decreased after the 150 days, then it went down only 15 cubits in the 2 1/2 months from 7/17 until 10/1 compared to thousands of cubits in the 3 months from then until the land dried on 1/1.26 Ramban explains that there is no reason to think that the water needed to decrease at a steady pace. In addition, according to him, Hashem's intervention on the first day led to a vast decrease in the water, 27 minimizing the difference in the rate of reduction thereafter slightly.28
- Those who posit that the water began to recede after the rain stopped have an even bigger problem, since according to them, initially the water receded only 15 cubits in over 180 days!29 Shadal minimizes the problem by asserting that by the time the ark landed on 7/17, more than 15 cubits of water had already receded, since Mt. Ararat was not the tallest, but rather one of the shorter mountains.30 There would, nonetheless, still seem to be a significant increase in the rate of water reduction in the last 3 months, assuming that even the shorter mountains were a few thousand cubits high.
- From the revealing of the mountain tops – Most of these commentators count the 40 days from the preceding date mentioned in the verses, the first of the tenth month, when the mountain tops were visible. This leaves about a month between the landing of the dove and opening of the ark's cover when the land dried on the first of the first month.31 It is not clear, though, why Noach waited.32
- From the landing of the ark – The Rid questions the dating of the above approach, wondering why the dove could not find a resting place if the land had already been visible for over a month.33 This prompts him to instead count the forty days from the landing of the ark on the seventeenth of the seventh month. He assumes that Noach waited for ten days to see how the raven was faring, then sent the first dove 7 days later and the final dove 14 days after that, reaching the first of the tenth month. It was only then, when the mountaintops were finally revealed, that the dove could rest.34
Varied Dating
Some months are counted to creation and some are dated in reference to key points during the flood.
150 Days Which Do Not Include the First 40 Days
The two mentions of 150 days are one unit of time, while the forty days of rain are a distinct unit. As such, there was a 190 day period before the waters began to decrease.
- Waters retained strength – According to Seder Olam Rabbah and the Arukh, the water stopped increasing after the forty days of rain, but maintained their level throughout.45 According to this, the phrase "וַיִּגְבְּרוּ הַמַּיִם" does not mean that the waters increased but that they stayed in their strength.
- Waters increased – According to Ba'alei HaTosafot, in contrast, even after the rain stopped, the water continued to increase throughout the 150 days. He might maintain that the waters continued to emerge from underground.46
- End of rain – Following Seder Olam Rabbah, most of these commentators48 assert that the 17th of the seventh month is being counted from the month in which the rain stopped. As such, it is really equivalent to to the 17th of the ninth month,49 which gives ample time for the waters to decrease before the ark landed.50
- Beginning of rain – The Arukh, Lekach Tov and R. Yitzchak51 get to the same date but through a different calculation. They assert that one needs to count seven full months from the date the rain began. Thus, 2/17 plus 7 months brings one to 9/17.52
- From when the waters began to abate – According to Seder Olam Rabbah, Rashbam, and one version of R. Tam55 the 40 days are counted from the first of the ninth month, when the waters began to decrease. The motivation for their interpretation is the assumption that the first two doves would have found a resting place if the mountaintops had been visible. Thus, their chronological reconstruction have the third and final dove being sent on the day the mountain tops appear.56 This reading, though, necessitates dating the appearance of the mountains to the first of the eleventh month,57 forcing them to adopt the notion mentioned above that the date mentioned in the verses, the first of tenth month, is really dated to the beginning of the rain (and not the year).58
- From the revealing of the mountain tops – The Arukh and Rashi,59 in contrast, maintain more simply that the forty days are counted from the last date mentioned in the verses, the revealing of the mountain tops.60 They assume that the final sending of the dove must have coincided with the drying of the land on the first of the first month,61 as only this would explain why it did not return.62 Thus, working backwards from this date (1/1), they, too, need to suggest that the mountain tops appeared on the first of the eleventh month,63 and that the date mentioned in the verses (10/1) is from the beginning of the rain (and not the year).64
- From the resting of the ark – R. Tam, as brought by R. Chayim Paltiel,65 and R. Eliezer Ashkenazi assert that the forty days began with the landing of the ark, which they date to the seventeenth of the ninth month.66 R. Tam rejects Seder Olam's possibility above, asserting that Noach would have been unaware of the day in which the water started decreasing,67 and so he must have counted the forty days from an event he was cognizant of,68 such as the landing.69
Two sets of 150 Days Which Include the Second 40 Days
The verses speak of two different sets of 150 days, one in which the waters rose and one in which they receded. The forty days of rain are not included in the first unit, but the forty day wait before the sending of birds is subsumed in the second set.
- At the end of the 150 days – In his comments to 8:3, Radak suggests that the 21 days worth of sending of the birds occurred after the second set of 150 days. He seems to be motivated by a desire to have the times mentioned in the text reach a year: 40+ 150+ 150 + 21=361, or about 12 months of 30 days each. Such a reckoning, though, is very difficult as it assumes that the birds were sent in the second month of the second year, after Noach had removed the ark's covering and saw that the waters had already dried!71
- After the ark landed – In his explanation to 8:6, Radak writes that the forty days be counted from when the ark landed (on 9/17),72 assuming that the starting point had to be an event that Noach was aware of.73 This would mean that the first dove was sent after the mountains were already visible,74 making it difficult to understand why it could not find a resting place.75 One of the Ba'alei HaTosafot answers that perhaps "וְלֹא מָצְאָה הַיּוֹנָה מָנוֹחַ" means that she did did not find anything to serve as a sign for Noach and was, thus, not at peace for she did not fulfill her mission.76
- After the mountain tops appeared – A few verses later, Radak suggests that the last dove found a place to land on the first of the first month,77 which would mean that the forty days were counted from the appearance of the mountain tops, two months before.78 This possibility works best with the chronology of the verses.