Topical Bible: The Deluge: Date of Its Commencement

◄ The Deluge: Date of Its Commencement ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Deluge, commonly referred to as the Great Flood, is a pivotal event in biblical history, marking a divine judgment upon the earth due to widespread corruption and violence. The account of the Deluge is primarily found in Genesis 6–9. Determining the exact date of its commencement involves examining the biblical text and understanding the genealogical and chronological data provided.

Biblical Account and Chronology

The narrative of the Deluge begins in Genesis 6, where God observes the wickedness of humanity and decides to bring a flood to destroy all flesh. Noah, a righteous man, is instructed to build an ark to preserve his family and pairs of every living creature. The specific timing of the flood's commencement is detailed in Genesis 7:11: "In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month—on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened."

Genealogical Context

To ascertain the date of the Deluge, one must consider the genealogical records provided in Genesis 5 and 11. These chapters list the generations from Adam to Noah and beyond, offering ages at which each patriarch fathered the next in line. According to the Masoretic Text, which is the basis for most modern translations, the genealogies suggest a timeline that places the creation of Adam approximately 4,000 years before Christ. Using this framework, the Deluge is often dated to around 2,348 BC.

Calendar Considerations

The biblical calendar system is another factor in determining the date. The Hebrew calendar, which is lunar-based, consists of 12 months of 29 or 30 days each, with an additional month added periodically to align with the solar year. The "second month" mentioned in Genesis 7:11 is traditionally understood as Iyar in the Hebrew calendar, which corresponds to April-May in the Gregorian calendar.

Historical and Theological Implications

The date of the Deluge is significant not only for its historical implications but also for its theological message. The event underscores themes of judgment, redemption, and covenant, as God establishes a covenant with Noah following the flood, promising never to destroy the earth by water again (Genesis 9:11). The rainbow is given as a sign of this covenant, symbolizing God's mercy and faithfulness.

Conclusion

While the exact date of the Deluge remains a topic of debate among scholars, the biblical account provides a framework for understanding its timing within the context of early human history. The narrative serves as a profound reminder of the consequences of sin and the hope of salvation through divine grace.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 7:11
In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

From the Close of the General Conference of 1816 to the ...
... Under date of Dec.18, 1745, he says: "We had within ... which about that time threatened
to deluge the land ... as a separate communion, and mark its successful progress ...
/.../chapter 4 from the close.htm

The Book of Enoch
... Noachic Deluge, which is of later date than the ... are inserted many particulars concerning
the Deluge, of which ... the temple, the sixth with its destruction, the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the book of enoch.htm

The Holy See and the Wandering of the Nations.
... The fountains of the nether deep are burst, The second deluge comes. And let it
come! ... We may place this moment at the date of its capture by Genseric. ...
/.../allies/the formation of christendom volume vi/chapter i the holy see.htm

In Judaea
... Passover," remarkably bearing out not only the date of that ... Baba M. iv.3) refers
to its merchants as a ... the effect that Joppa was not overwhelmed by the deluge. ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 5 in judaea.htm

Appendices
... Thou findest the date-palm in full bloom in its time. ... I extinguish not the lamp during
its appointed time. ... XI. THE BABYLONIAN ACCOUNT OF THE DELUGE. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/appendices.htm

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
... the period immediately subsequent to the Deluge, mention of ... Ammizadugga is mentioned
in the date of a ... same position as they had occupied at its commencement. ...
/.../chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm

The Seven Trumpets.
... and Boeotia were instantly covered with a deluge of barbarians ... of the movement which
is to date from that ... and eat the little book, shows that its contents were ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the seven trumpets.htm

Seances Historiques De Geneve --The National Church.
... of the Sabbath, the universality of the deluge, the confusion ... foundation, is not
even coeval with its reconstruction at ... For the Canons are of the date of 1603 ...
/.../seances historiques de genevethe national.htm

Answer to Eunomius' Second Book .
... the beginning of His being begotten limiting His life at the commencement, and
preventing it ... If, then, the creation is of later date than its Creator, and ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/answer to eunomius second book.htm

The Prophet Amos.
... cannot be regarded as a chronological date, intended to ... the days of creation, and
similar to its condition during ... once, at the time of the deluge, the natural ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet amos.htm