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As the wording of the Hebrew text implies, there was all around the top, one cubit
below the roof, an opening for light and for air (rendered in our version "window"),
in which, it has been suggested, some translucent substance like our glass may have
been inserted. Here there seems also to have been a regular "window," which is
afterwards specially referred to (ch. 8:6). The door was to be in the side of the ark,
which was arranged in three stories of rooms (literally "cells"), or the accommodation
of all the animals in the ark, and the storage of food. For "of every living thing" Noah
was to bring with him into the ark, - seven pairs, in the case of "clean beasts," and
one pair of those that were not clean. Then, when the appointed time for it came, God
would "bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the
breath of life, from under heaven." But with Noah God would "establish" His
"covenant," that is, carry out through him His purpose in the covenant of grace,
which was to issue in the birth of the Redeemer. Accordingly, Noah, his wife - for
here there is no trace of polygamy, - his sons, and his sons' wives were to go into the
ark, and there to be kept alive during the general destruction of all around.
Thus far the directions of Scripture. Much needless ingenuity has been wasted on a
calculation of the exact space in the ark, of its internal arrangements, and of the
accommodation it contained for the different species of animals then existing. Such
computations are essentially unreliable, as we can neither calculate the exact room in
the ark, nor yet the exact number of species which required to be accommodated
within its shelter. Scripture, which sets before us the history of God's kingdom, never
gratifies such idle and foolish inquiries. But of this we may be quite sure, that the ark
which God provided was literally and in every sense quite sufficient for the purposes
for which it was intended, and that these purposes were fully secured. It may perhaps
help us to realize this marvelous structure if we compare it to the biggest ship known
- the Great Eastern, whose dimensions are six hundred and eighty feet in length,
eighty-three in breadth, and fifty-eight in depth; or else if we describe it as nearly half
the size of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. It should be borne in mind that the ark was
designed not for navigation, but chiefly for storage. It had neither masts, rudder, nor
sails, and was probably flat at the bottom, resembling a huge floating chest. To show
how suitable its proportions were for storage, we may mention that a Dutchman,
Peter Jansen, built in 1604 a ship on precisely the same proportions (not, of course,
the same figures), which was found to hold one-third more lading than any other
vessel of the same tonnage.
All other questions connected with the building of the ark may safely be dismissed as
not deserving serious discussion. But the one great fact would stand out during that
period: Noah preaching righteousness, warning of the judgment to come, and still
exhibiting his faith in his practice by continuing to provide an ark of refuge. To sum
up Noah's life of faith, Noah's preaching of faith, and Noah's work of faith in the
words of Scripture: "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet,
(^)