Noah's Ark?

[Gideon300]

I'm somewhat sceptical about the alleged discovery of Noah's Ark. However, this video is very interesting and I am looking forward to the updates when they come. Even if Noah's Ark sailed down Broadway and a resurrected Noah jumped out, many would still doubt. However, there are some who are borderline and finding the ark may help push them towards belief.

 

[DavidLamb]

I'm somewhat sceptical about the alleged discovery of Noah's Ark. However, this video is very interesting and I am looking forward to the updates when they come. Even if Noah's Ark sailed down Broadway and a resurrected Noah jumped out, many would still doubt. However, there are some who are borderline and finding the ark may help push them towards belief.

I am sceptical, too, mainly because of the shape of this archeological find. The Scriptures don't tell us that the ark was boat-shaped, with a pointed bow and curved stern. I take it as being the same basic shape as the ark of the covenant, i.e. box-shaped. I understand that in raging flood waters, a box-shaped ark would be far more stable than any boat.

 

[ResidentAlien]

She said they want to excavate and uncover it. That's really what needs to be done if they want to solve the mystery.

 

[Lanolin]

Am sure the ark would have had a keel underneath. It wasn't just a box shape.

 

[Gideon300]

I am sceptical, too, mainly because of the shape of this archeological find. The Scriptures don't tell us that the ark was boat-shaped, with a pointed bow and curved stern. I take it as being the same basic shape as the ark of the covenant, i.e. box-shaped. I understand that in raging flood waters, a box-shaped ark would be far more stable than any boat.

Agree. The design according to the Bible is more like a barge. Ken Ham's replica is based on the Bible pattern. However, I give them points for trying. Hopefully it will end the speculation.

 

[Gideon300]

Am sure the ark would have had a keel underneath. It wasn't just a box shape.

Not necessarily. It was more like a barge. It did not have to be steered. It had to point into the wind, but that is straightforward. There would be a bow structure to catch the wind and push bow into the wind. The ark is massive. The pathetic cartoon representations diminish understanding of just how big it was.​

 

[ResidentAlien]

The Hebrew uses two different words for Ark of the Covenant and Noah's Ark.

Ark of the Covenant = ’ă·rō·wn: chest, ark; money chest; Ark of the Covenant; coffin.​

​

Noah's Ark = tê·ḇaṯ: ark; vessel which Noah built; basket vessel in which Moses was placed.​

It's not clear to me that they shared the same shape just because translators used the word "ark" to translate both of these words. The narrative in scripture gives the dimensions, but doesn't describe its exact shape. ’ă·rō·wn describes something suitable for land use while tê·ḇaṯ describes something more suitable for water.

 

[JemimaJade]

Noah’s ark model tested

Could withstand monster waves without capsizing.

 

[OMC]

The Hebrew uses two different words for Ark of the Covenant and Noah's Ark.

Ark of the Covenant = ’ă·rō·wn: chest, ark; money chest; Ark of the Covenant; coffin.​

​

Noah's Ark = tê·ḇaṯ: ark; vessel which Noah built; basket vessel in which Moses was placed.​

It's not clear to me that they shared the same shape just because translators used the word "ark" to translate both of these words. The narrative in scripture gives the dimensions, but doesn't describe its exact shape. ’ă·rō·wn describes something suitable for land use while tê·ḇaṯ describes something more suitable for water.

That's a good observation.
The fact that English translators used the word "ark" in both cases can easily create the impression that the objects were conceptually or structurally similar when the Hebrew uses two different words.

'Aron' (אָרוֹן) is used for the Ark of the Covenant, but also for a chest, box, or even Joseph's coffin.
The word itself does not suggest a boat or floating vessel.
By contrast, 'tebah' (תֵּבָה) is used only for Noah's ark and the basket in which Moses was placed on the Nile.
In both cases, the object is designed to preserve life through water.

So I think your caution is justified.
We know the dimensions of Noah's ark because Genesis provides them, but the Hebrew word itself does not tell us its exact shape. Likewise, we should not assume that Noah's ark and the Ark of the Covenant shared a common design simply because English uses the same word for both.

In this case, the Hebrew distinction appears meaningful: aron describes a container or chest suitable for land use, while tebah is associated with a vessel of preservation upon water.
That doesn't settle every question about design, but it does remind us to let the Hebrew define the categories rather than the English translation.