Part 30 (1/2)

1. The kind of wood used in building the ark 243.

2. Its various rooms 244.

3. The pitch by which it was protected 245.

4. Why G.o.d instructed Noah so particularly how each part was to be constructed 246.

5. The form of the ark, and how teachers differ on this point 247.

6. The place Noah occupied in the ark, and that of the animals 248.

7. Whether the ark had the proportions of a human body 249.

8. How the ark was a type of the body of Christ--of the Church 250.

9. The windows of the ark:

a. Whether it had more than one window 251.

* The Latin version is not clear here 252.

b. What kind of a window it was, and how it could stand the rain 253.

c. Luther's opinion of the Jews' ideas about the window 253.

10. The door of the ark 254.

11. How to meet the various questions about the ark 255-256.

* The deluge was a new method of punishment, hence the non incredible 257-258.

* G.o.d was in earnest in the threatening of this flood 259.

B. G.o.d COMMANDS NOAH TO BUILD AN ARK.

V. 14. _Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch (bitumen)._

242. G.o.d's first thought was to save a remnant through that tiny seed, the three sons of Noah, for Noah ceased henceforth to beget children.

This strongly attests the mercy of G.o.d toward those who walk in his ways.

243. _Gopher_ some make out to be pine, others hemlock, still others cedar; hence, a guess is rather difficult. The choice appears to have been made owing to its lightness or its resinous quality, so that it might float more easily upon the water and be impervious to it.

244. _Kinnim_ signifies ”nests” or ”chambers”; that is separate s.p.a.ces for the various animals. Bears, sheep, deer and horses did not dwell in one and the same place, but the several species had their respective quarters.

245. But what is meant by _bitumen_, I do not know. With us vessels are made water tight with pitch and tow. Pitch, it is true, withstands water, but it also invites the flame. There is no bitumen with us which resists water, hence we raise no objection to ”bitumen” being rendered ”pitch.”

246. You may ask: Why does G.o.d prescribe everything so accurately? The injunction to build the ark should have been sufficient. Reason could determine for itself the rules concerning dimensions and mode of construction. Why, then, does G.o.d give such careful instruction with reference to dimensions and materials? Certainly that Noah, after undertaking all things according to the Lord's direction (as Moses built the tabernacle according to the model received on the mount), should with the greater faith trust that he and his people were to be saved, nor entertain any doubt concerning a work ordered by the Lord himself, even how it should be made. This is the reason the Lord gives his directions with such attention to detail.

V. 15. _And this is how thou shalt make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits._