Abraham Knew The Story of Noah
As we explore the story of Abraham, let us first examine the world in which he lived and consider the things he might have known, based on archaeological evidence that has been found.
We start with the epic and apocalyptic story of the Flood. Abraham was well acquainted with Noah and the flood. Moreover, many myths around the world tell the tale of an ancient flood. The Book of Genesis records it in detail:
Genesis 8:6-12
“At the end of forty days, Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made and sent out the raven; it went to and fro until the waters had dried up from the earth. Then he sent out the dove to see whether the waters had decreased from the surface of the ground. But the dove could not find a resting place for its foot, and returned to him to the ark, for there was water over all the earth… He waited another seven days, and again sent out the dove from the ark. The dove came back to him toward evening, and there in its bill was a plucked-off olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the waters had decreased on the earth. He waited still another seven days and sent the dove forth; and it did not return to him anymore.”
Overview
In the Bible
At the end of forty days, Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made and sent out the raven; it went to and fro until the waters had dried up from the earth.
Then he sent out the dove to see whether the waters had decreased from the surface of the ground. But the dove could not find a resting place for its foot, and returned to him to the ark, for there was water over all the earth…
He waited another seven days and again sent out the dove from the ark. The dove came back to him toward evening, and there in its bill was a plucked-off olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the waters had decreased on the earth. He waited still another seven days and sent the dove forth, and it did not return to him anymore.
וַיְהִ֕י מִקֵּ֖ץ אַרְבָּעִ֣ים י֑וֹם וַיִּפְתַּ֣ח נֹ֔חַ אֶת-חַלּ֥וֹן הַתֵּבָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָֽׂה: וַיְשַׁלַּ֖ח אֶת-הָֽעֹרֵ֑ב וַיֵּצֵ֤א יָצוֹא֙ וָשׁ֔וֹב עַד-יְב֥שֶׁת הַמַּ֖יִם מֵעַ֥ל הָאָֽרֶץ: וַיְשַׁלַּ֥ח אֶת-הַיּוֹנָ֖ה מֵֽאִתּ֑וֹ לִרְאוֹת֙ הֲקַ֣לּוּ הַמַּ֔יִם מֵעַ֖ל פְּנֵ֥י הָֽאֲדָמָֽה: וְלֹא-מָֽצְאָה֩ הַיּוֹנָ֨ה מָנ֜וֹחַ לְכַף-רַגְלָ֗הּ וַתָּ֤שָׁב אֵלָיו֙ אֶל-הַתֵּבָ֔ה כִּי-מַ֖יִם עַל-פְּנֵ֣י כָל-הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יָדוֹ֙ וַיִּקָּחֶ֔הָ וַיָּבֵ֥א אֹתָ֛הּ אֵלָ֖יו אֶל-הַתֵּבָֽה: וַיָּ֣חֶל ע֔וֹד שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים אֲחֵרִ֑ים וַיֹּ֛סֶף שַׁלַּ֥ח אֶת-הַיּוֹנָ֖ה מִן-הַתֵּבָֽה: וַתָּבֹ֨א אֵלָ֤יו הַיּוֹנָה֙ לְעֵ֣ת עֶ֔רֶב וְהִנֵּ֥ה עֲלֵה-זַ֖יִת טָרָ֣ף בְּפִ֑יהָ וַיֵּ֣דַע נֹ֔חַ כִּי-קַ֥לּוּ הַמַּ֖יִם מֵעַ֥ל הָאָֽרֶץ: וַיִּיָּ֣חֶל ע֔וֹד שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים אֲחֵרִ֑ים וַיְשַׁלַּח֙ אֶת-הַיּוֹנָ֔ה וְלֹא-יָֽסְפָ֥ה שׁוּב-אֵלָ֖יו עֽוֹד: