‭‭‭7:11b on the same day all the fountains of the great deep were burst open, and the sky's windows were opened.

A Multidisciplinary Contextualized Analysis of Select Passages From Genesis Version 2.0

[This is an excerpt from a new edition of a study of the book of Genesis, the first edition of which can be found here. The purpose of this exercise is to compare a close reading of the text to our current understanding of language, paleontology, and the physical sciences. Constructive discussion on the elements presented is always encouraged!]

Approximate Year: 9,700 BC

Historical Period: Younger Dryas ends

Event: Massive regional flooding

Per traditional Torah interpretation:

Year: 2,104 BC

Historical Period: Start of Meghalayan (drought period)

Event: The flood

On this surprisingly specific date (and admittedly evidence against the “moons ‘vs’ years” hypothesis for chapter 5), a notably rapid flood begins to cover the world. This sensationalistic tale seems improbable in many ways, and there are many cultures around the world credited with having flood stories that contain similar elements. Because of this, the Genesis flood story is often considered a repurposed fable from other cultures.

But it is the very fact that so many cultures around the globe have a similar legend is why this story is corroborated. The Younger Dryas saw rapid climate shifts and rising sea levels due to melting ice sheets, which inundated coastal areas and river valleys where early human settlements were often located. Archaeological evidence supports significant regional flooding during this time including the flooding of the Persian Gulf and the Black Sea. These events disrupted prehistoric communities worldwide.

Catastrophic floods were not unique to one region but affected multiple civilizations, potentially inspiring a variety of flood narratives. Even if some of the particulars seem far-fetched, catastrophic floods and rising sea levels which may have submerged entire regions were at one point a common occurrence around the world.

“The largest floods known to have occurred in human history are those from the end of the last ice age, between 13,000 and 8,000 years ago. As the world's great glaciers began to melt, they left large freshwater lakes behind that had been precariously confined by retreating ice dams. When those ice dams failed, the floods that resulted were almost beyond comprehension.”

With the retreat of glaciers which caused worldwide flooding, there was also a rapid shift in global air temperature and weather patterns around the world. As mentioned in the analysis of Genesis 2:5, landfall rain that was rare during the ice age would have become more common as these ice sheets receded.

Regarding the likelihood of 40 days of rainfall mentioned in this tale, ”the number 40 generally symbolizes a period of testing, trial or probation” in the Bible. One could argue that its use in this case could be symbolic as opposed to being literal or precise. But it is not that big of a stretch for rainfall to persist for weeks or longer. There are numerous examples of extended periods of precipitation in modern history.

Note that most such records are concerned with the weather over land. But it is possible in today’s climate for a tropical depression which largely occurs over the ocean to last for several weeks. Such storms could be described as “the sky's windows” opening for such a period of time.

And if the flood itself was caused by the draining of a large glacial lake, the flood waters would have been a substantially different temperature to the temperate area we presume Noah would have been living in. Such a substantial and rapid shift in regional surface temperature is sure to induce a meteorological reaction, and it would be extended for as long as the unusual temperature differential persists.

Public Broadcasting Service. (2021, May 11). A flood of myths and stories. PBS. Retrieved September 27, 2021, from https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/blog/a-flood-of-myths-and-stories/.

https://www.mnn.com/family/protection-safety/photos/9-floods-of-biblical-proportion/great-floods-of-the-last-ice-age

“Meaning of Numbers in the Bible The Number 40.” Bible Study, https://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/40.html

The Conversation. "What's the record for how long it's ever rained without stopping?" The Conversation, 2022, https://theconversation.com/whats-the-record-for-how-long-its-ever-rained-without-stopping-167869. Accessed 2 May 2024.