Somewhat similar details are given of the ship of Utnapištim
(p. 176). Asphalt is still lavishly applied in the
construction of the rude boats used for the transport of
naphtha on the Euphrates (see Cernik, quoted by Suess,
The Face of the Earth, 27).—15. Assuming that the cubit
is the ordinary Heb. cubit of six handbreadths (about 18 in.:
see Kennedy, DB, iv. 909), the dimensions of the ark are
such as modern shipbuilding has only recently exceeded
(see Ben. 140); though it is probably to be assumed that
it was rectangular in plan and sections. That a vessel of
these proportions would float, and hold a great deal (though
it would not carry cannon!), it hardly needed the famous
experiment of the Dutchman Peter Janson in 1609-21 to
prove (see Michaelis, Oriental, und Exeget. Bibliot. xviii.
27 f.).—16. The details here are very confused and mostly
obscure. The word (
Hebrew characters) ((Greek characters)) is generally rendered
'light' or 'opening for light,'—either a single (square)
aperture (Tu.), or "a kind of casement running round the
al.) suppose it to contain the root of (Greek characters), 'cypress,' a wood
used by the Phœn. in shipbuilding, and by the Egypt. for sarcophagi
(De.).—(Hebrew characters)] Lagarde's conjecture, (Hebrew characters) (OS1, ii. 95), has been
happily confirmed from Philo, Quæst. in Gen. ii. 3 (loculos loculos: see
Bu. 255), and from a Palest. Syr. Lectionary (Nestle, cited by Ho.).
On the idiom, see G-K. § 123 e.—(Hebrew characters)] also (Greek characters), = 'bitumen'
(GVSTO), Ar. ḳufr, Aram. [Aramaic: **], Ass. kupru (used in the Bab. Flood-*story).
The native Heb. word for 'bitumen' is (Hebrew characters) (113 1410, Ex. 23).—15.
(Hebrew characters)] G (Hebrew characters).—16. (Hebrew characters)] G (Greek characters) (rdg. (Hebrew characters)?); all other Vns.
express the idea of light (Aq. (Greek characters), Σ. (Greek characters), V fenestram,
S (Syriac characters), 'windows,' TO (Hebrew characters)). They connected it (as Aq. shows) with
(Hebrew characters), 'noon day'; but if (Hebrew characters) means properly 'summit' (see G-B.;
BDB, s.v.), there seems nothing in Heb. to connect the root with
the idea of light. The meaning 'back' is supported by Ar. ẓahr.—(Hebrew characters)]
The suff. may refer either to the (Hebrew characters) (whose gender
is unknown: cf. Kön. S. p. 163) or to the (Hebrew characters): the latter is certainly
most natural after (Hebrew characters). The prevalent explanation—that the cubit
indicates either the breadth of the light-opening, or its distance below
the roof (see Di.)—is mere guess-work. Bu. (following We.) removes
the first three words to the end of the v., rendering: "and according
to the cubit thou shalt finish it (the ark)": Di. objects that this would
require (Hebrew characters). Ball reads (Hebrew characters), "and for its (the ark's)
whole length thou shalt cover it above"; Gu.: (Hebrew characters), "and on
a pivot (see Is. 64) thou shalt make it (the roof) revolve,"—a doubtful
suggestion.
