sides of the ark (except where interrupted by the beams supporting the roof) a little below the roof" (Dri., so De. Di. al.). Exegetical tradition is in favour of this view; but the material arguments for it (see Di. 141) are weak, and its etymological basis is doubtful (v.i.). Others (Ew. Gu. G-B. al.) take it to mean the roof (lit. 'back': Ar. ẓahr).[1] The clause and to a cubit thou shalt finish it above is unintelligible as it stands: some suggestions are given in the footnote.—The door of the ark is to be in its (longer?) side; and the cells inside are to be arranged in three stories. The ship of Ut-napištim appears to have had six decks, divided into nine compartments (ll. 61-63).
17-22. The purpose of the ark.—Gunkel thinks that
v.17 commences a second communication to Noah; and
that in the source from which P drew, the construction of
the ark was recorded before its purpose was revealed (as in
the parallel account of J: see on 71). That, of course, is
possible; but that P slurred over the proof of Noah's faith
because he had no interest in personal religion can hardly be
supposed. There is really nothing to suggest that 17ff. are
not the continuation of 13-16.—17. Behold I am about to bring the Flood] (
Hebrew characters): see above on 77 (J), and in the Note below.—18.
I will establish my covenant, etc.] anticipating 99ff.. De.
and Gu. distinguish the two covenants, taking that here
referred to as a special pledge to Noah of safety in the
coming judgement; but that is contrary to the usage of P,
17. (Hebrew characters)] cf. Dri. JPh. xi. 226.—(Hebrew characters) (cf. 76)] The (Hebrew characters) is
certainly superfluous grammatically, but (Hebrew characters) is necessary to the
completeness of the sentence. G omits (Hebrew characters) in 76, and inserts it in 911b (P).
Whether it be an explanatory gloss of the unfamiliar (Hebrew characters) (so most), or a
peculiar case of nominal apposition (see Dri. T. § 188), it is difficult to
decide: on the idea that it is meant to distinguish the water-flood from
the light-flood, see above, p. 154. The pointing (Hebrew characters) (JDMich. al.) is
objectionable on various grounds: for one thing, P never speaks of the
Flood as coming 'from the sea.' J's phrase is (Hebrew characters): 77. 10; cf. 911a (P).—(Hebrew characters)]
[E], (Hebrew characters); but elision of (Hebrew characters) in Hiph. is unusual: some Sam. MSS
have (Hebrew characters) (Ball).—(Hebrew characters)] 'expire,'—peculiar to P in Hex. (cf. 721 258. 17
- ↑ According to Jensen (KIB, vi. 1, 487), the Bab. ark had a dome-shaped roof (muḫḫu)
