Posted by Bibleman [Bibleman] on November 14, 1999 at 14:42:08 {fiuUEQ5dxUMSSTtTA17sslyACFuF8c}:
In Reply to: 7or 14 animals posted by Bruce on November 14, 1999 at 11:06:19:
I've already posted below that the idea that the wording in scripture which says that of the clean animals you should tak in by sevens, a sire and its mate suggesting 14 is not what I ascribe to.
That's because if that were the case, then when the Bible says you should take into the ark out of all the unclean animals by TWO, a sire and it's mate that would two COUPLES, which are four.
So the question is, does the Bible mean two couples (four) and seven couoples (fourteen), or one couple (two) and a sire and it's MATES (a male with six females). Herds tend to group that way, with a dominant male and several females he impregnates.
My feeling is that it would have been understood that way and seven the number is seven there would have been an uneven number. Of note the word for "mate" is neither plural or singular and means "wife" and is the identical word used for "wives" when the context is more than obvious that it is plural, as in Lamech being the first man to have more than one mate/s.
But of no worry, whether four or fourteen, the ark was so huge, there was more than enough room for the intended occupants.
I say the more the merrier!
You do realize you can teach certain animals to play cards, don't you? That's right. The ark was the first luxury liner resort. I think that's where we get the idea of "chips" from because there were so many buffalo "chips" and other "chips" on the ark...maybe?
They're good for fire... or for betting on craps!
It was fun! I'm telling you. Noah had a hard time trying to coax those animals away from the tables after the flood was over... it was a mess!
:>
Cheers,
Bibleman