Jan. 7, 2012 - Genesis 7

“Take with you seven of every kind of clean animal…and also seven of every kind of bird…”

Now this seems to contradict the earlier commands in Gen. 6:19-20 of “You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures…Two of every kind of bird…”

So how many birds do I need? Two, or seven? And clean animals? Seven, not two, of them as well? What’s going on? Well, for starters, remember that we’re putting together a couple of different accounts here. After the latter part of chapter 6, from the P source, chapter 7 now switches back to the J source. Eventually, we’ll see that the J source is the one that includes Noah’s sacrifices after the flood, and as such requires these extra animals. Since the P source doesn’t focus on this aspect, there is no need to mention anything extra besides the two of each kind that will carry on the species.

There are also many ways both accounts are the same, however, and as you read chapter 7, you should notice quite a bit of repetition. For example, animals come to Noah, and enter the ark(v.9 and 15). Rain falls for 40 days(v.12 and 17). The ark is lifted above the earth(v.17 and 18). Everything not on the ark dies(v.21 and 23).