Genesis 8:14 - Exposition

And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried. יָבְשָׁה The three Hebrew verbs employed to depict the gradual cessation of the floods express a regular gradation; קָלַל ( Genesis 8:11 ), to be lightened, signifying their abatement or diminution ( κεκο ì πακε το Ì υ ̔ ì δωρ , LXX .); חָרַב ( Genesis 8:13 ), to be dried up, indicating the disappearance of the water ( ε ̓ ξε ì λιπε το ì υ ̔ ì δωρ , LXX .); יָבֵשׁ ( Genesis 8:14 ), to be dry, denoting the desiccation of the ground ( ε ̓ ξηρα ì νθη η ̔ γη ͂ , ( LXX .). Cf. Isaiah 19:5 , where there is a similar gradation: וְנָהָר יֶחֱרַב וְיָבְשׁ , and the river shall be wasted and dried up.

Chronology of the Flood

(Reckoning from the first day of the year.)

Mos.

Days

Days

I . Beginning of the flood

1

17 =

47

Continuance of Rain

=

40

Prevalence of Waters

=

110

II . The Ark touches Ararat

6

17 =

197

III . The Mountains seen

9

=

270

Raven sent after 40 days

=

310

Dove sent " 7 "

=

317

Dove sent " 7 "

=

324

Dove sent " 7 "

=

331

IV . The Waters dried up

12

27 =

360

V . The earth dry

13

27 =

417

The data are insufficient to enable us to determine whether the Noachic year was solar or lunar. It has been conjectured that the year consisted of twelve months of thirty days, with five intercalated days at the end to make up the solar year of three hundred and sixty-five days (Ewald); of seven months of thirty days and five of thirty-one (Bohlen); of five of thirty and seven of twenty-nine (Knobel); but the circumstance that the period from the commencement of the Deluge to the touching of Ararat extended over five months exactly, and that the waters are said to have previously prevailed for one hundred and fifty days, naturally leads to the conclusion that the months of Noah's year were equal periods of thirty days.