Bible Contradictions

What did I ignore? I addressed everything - and even extra, didn't I? It appears to me that you have some bad experience with religious people, which brought you to conclusions like that. Before you throw an insubstantiated accusation at a person; make sure it applies first instead of relying upon speculations based upon previous experiences... Well anyways, let's go into the argument: MY SOURCES Your argument revolves around there being no textual support for what I said in regard to certain things. While that may be true, it matters not. Jews do not go by the Bible alone; we also have tradition from our Sages. I quoted Midrash Rabbah, which was a work of our Sages; which is regarded as authoritative. Logically, it is only fair that I have permission to make arguments from an outside source, since all of your arguments reflect off of the Documentary Hypothesis. BATTLING YOUR INTERPRETATION That would technically end the issue; but I'd like to stand by the words of the Sages instead of just have you submit to their authority by default. > I said (Rashi) that Noah was one of those of little faith who did not fully believe in the flood, and that he did not enter the ark until 7 days after the rain began. You argued that "Genesis 6:22 plainly says Noah did all that God commanded him.", therefore he must have entered the ark on the first day... However, this is clearly referring to the building of the ark, not the entering of the ark; which would take place later. Noah was commanded to enter the ark in the next chapter, as it says "And the Lord said to Noah, "Come into the ark, you and all your household, for it is you that I have seen as a righteous man before Me in this generation." - Genesis 7:1 This should be obvious. I do not stand alone - Genesis Rabbah 31:14 and Rashi stand behind me on this. > I said (Rashi) that Noah was afraid of the people who threatened to kill him, and did not fully believe in the flood. Thus, he only entered the ark 7 days after it started raining. You argued that this was preposterous, because if Noah had little faith, he would not have built the ark. However, this is flawed. - First, G-d told Noah to build an ark; and then apparently did not speak with him for 120 years (when it was completed.) It is sensible that Noah lost some of his zeal as time went by. - Even those who have perfect faith do sometimes have subconscious doubts. Sometimes you will have a person who lives a religious life but always has subconscious doubts at the back of his mind, which kick in when he is in a tight situation. - Combine these factors with the pressure that he was experiencing from the wicked people who were mocking him for over a hundred years, and some even wanted to kill him. It is possible that he panicked when the flood actually came. > - I argued that Noah came to the ark, but only actually entered it 7 days later. - You argued "Besides that point, the idea that they were gathered around the ark but not go in until the seventh day is simply ignoring the text. Genesis 7:7 plainly says they "went into." They did not stand around the ark and wait seven days. They went into the ark. After which time the flood waters came. What reason is there for an "after" if there is not a date to pin it to? The date of the entering into the ark?" Does it really say that they "went into" the ark? The word "into" used in this verse is "אל/el" which also plainly means "to". They came TO the ark. Proof of this translation: "Vayomer Elokim el Moshe [...]" [...] וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים אֶל משֶׁה And G-d said to Moses [...]" - Exodus 3:14 The translation of this verse is certainly not "God said into Moses". What you translate as "into" can also be translated as "to". > "Be'etzem hayom" which means "on that very day", is, if I understand correctly, synonymous with "in broad daylight", which is what R' Yochanan was trying to explain. > So let's clear things up. "For in another seven days, I will make it rain upon the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will blot out all beings that I have made, off the face of the earth." -Genesis 7:4 During these seven days, they were mourning for Methuselah. It was raining during these 7 days, but not hard; to give the people an opportunity to repent. At this point, Noah came to his ark but did not enter. And then, "In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on this day, all the springs of the great deep were split, and the windows of the heavens opened up." - Genesis 7:11. The flood began. The rain started in the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the tenth day, and intensified gradually; which forced Noah to enter the ark on the 17th of the second month. (Which was either Cheshvan or Iyar) I apologize if I was unable to address everything, as I was pressured at the last moment.