The story of Noah’s Ark is a cornerstone of biblical narrative, often sparking questions about its practicality and the timeline of events. One common query revolves around the construction period: How Long Did Noah Build The Ark? While popular belief sometimes suggests a century, a closer look at scripture reveals a more nuanced picture.
Genesis 6:3 mentions a period of 120 years, which is sometimes interpreted as a countdown to the flood. However, this verse is subject to different interpretations and doesn’t definitively state the ark’s construction timeline. Genesis 6:14-18 tells us about the commandment to build the ark and that Noah, his wife, his sons, and their wives were to enter it.
To understand the timeline, it’s crucial to consider the ages of Noah and his sons. Genesis 5:32 states:
32 And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Gen. 5:32 KJV)
It’s important to note that while Shem is often listed first, Japheth was actually the eldest. Furthermore, Genesis 11:10 indicates that Shem was 100 years old two years after the flood:
10 These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood: (Gen. 11:10 KJV)
Genesis 7:6 reveals Noah’s age when the flood began:
6 And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. (Gen. 7:6 KJV)
Based on these verses, we can deduce that Shem was born when Noah was approximately 502 years old (at the latest), and Japheth, being the eldest, was likely born when Noah was 500. This suggests Japheth and Shem were only about two years apart in age. Consequently, Japheth would have been around 100 years old when the flood commenced. It’s reasonable to infer Ham was born within a similar timeframe.
This calculation is likely where the idea of a 100-year period originates – potentially linking it to Japheth’s age at the flood. However, it’s crucial to understand that this 100-year figure doesn’t directly correlate to the ark’s construction time. There is no explicit scriptural evidence providing the exact duration Noah spent building the ark.
Furthermore, scripture implies that Noah’s sons were already married when God commanded him to build the ark. Genesis 6:18 states:
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. (Gen. 6:18 KJV)
If the command to build the ark came when Noah’s sons were already married, fitting a 100-year construction period into this scenario becomes challenging. It suggests a potentially shorter timeframe from the divine instruction to the flood.
In conclusion, while the Bible provides a detailed genealogical timeline surrounding Noah and the flood, it does not explicitly state how long Noah built the ark. The popular notion of 100 years appears to be a misinterpretation, possibly derived from the age of Noah’s son Japheth at the time of the flood. Scriptural clues may even hint at a shorter construction period. Ultimately, the Bible emphasizes Noah’s obedience to God’s command rather than the specific duration of the ark’s construction.
