How long was Noah's Ark on the water?

Answer 1

== Genesis 7:19 says, And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. The highest hill is Mount Everest, which gives an increase over sea level of 32,000 feet. There are a number of problems that are met when trying to imagine where this water came from, or went to. International jetliners fly at around this altitude (32,000 feet). It is known that marine fossils are found near the summit of Everest. Marine fossils form under water. It is also known that geologic processes can take place much more rapidly under the right conditions. The work by Dr John Baumgartner on 'runaway subduction' indicates how rapidly these processes can take place. Rapid plate movement also relates to rapid mountain uplift which undoubtedly occurred towards the end of the flood year as the waters then receded into the ocean trenches.

With regard to the amount of water on the earth, it is also known that if the earth were flat (still spherical but with no mountains) water would cover the earth to a height of several miles. There is also a huge underground ocean underneath East Asia as large as the Arctic ocean. This has recently been revealed through a long term seismic study. So there is plenty of water on and under the planet.

In regard to Everest. It is also known that it is still rising, albeit slowly and is now slightly than it was when first climbed. No creation scientist would hold the view that Everest was as high then as it is now. This would also apply to many other peaks, many of which, incidentally, also have marine fossils near the top.

Answer 2

Either 40 days or one year:

• Genesis 8:4 says that the Ark came to rest on Mount Ararat (5 km above sea level) on the seventeenth day of the seventh month. Verse 8:5 says that in the tenth month the tops of the mountains were seen. Finally, on the fist month of the new year (8:13a) the waters were dried up on the land.
• Genesis 8:6 says that at the end of forty days, Noah opened the window of the Ark and (8:8-12) sent forth a dove to tell that the land was dry.

The difference arises from the differences in two different accounts of the same story, that have been intertwined to the point that can seem to be jusdt the one account, but for the internal contradictions. The verses attributed to the Priestly author are: Genesis 6:9-22, 7:6, 7:8-9, 7:11, 7:13-16a, 7:18-21, 7:24, 8:1-2a, 8:3b-5, 8:7, 8:13a, 8:14-19, 9:1-17. The verses attributed to the Yahwist are: Genesis 6:5-8, 7:1-5, 7:7, 7:10, 7:12, 7:16b-17, 7:22-23, 8:2b-3a, 8:6, 8:8-12, 8:13b, 8:20-22.