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When one reads the account of the Flood recorded in Genesis 6:1-9:19 it can
be quite difficult to determine its overall chronology.
The ark built by Noah endured 40 days and 40 nights of rain during the deluge,
but Scripture also quotes another period of 40 days, several periods of 7 days
and at least one span of 150 days.
To make matters worse the dates presented seem to confuse the issue still
further;
17th of 2nd month, year 600 - Gen 7:11
17th of 7th month - Gen 8:4
1st of the 10th - Gen 8:5
1st of 1st month, year 601 - Gen 8:13
27th of 2nd month - Gen 8:14
Due to the ambiguity present in this area of Scripture there has arisen
several different perspectives. How should we distinguish error from wisdom?
The following litmus test should be applied. Does the theory presented
ensure there exists a cohesive relationship between the dates and periods
encountered. In other words, theories which isolate a particular date or
period are reflecting a weak solution.
With this in mind the author has arrived at the following chronology.
Noah told to start - 9/2 
to load the ark | interim 7 days
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40 days of rain start - 17/2 START OF FLOOD -- Start of 150 days
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| 40 days |
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40 days of rain end - |
| | 150 days
| | - Waters
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Ark Rests - 17/7 -- Interim 151st day
| | (lull between rising
| | and falling waters)
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Mountains seen - 1/11 (10th of Flood) |
| | 150 days
| 40 days | - Dry Wind
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Raven/Dove sent out - 10/12 |
| 7 days |
Dove has olive leaf - 17/12 END OF FLOOD -- End of 2nd 150 days
| 7 days (301st day)
Dove not return - 24/12
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Ground 'parched' - 1/1/601
* 27th day of 2nd month - Earth 'ashamed'
* Notes *
1) The compilation of the chronology of the Flood makes it clear
that under God's calendar the months always consisted of 30
days. (This refutes the common, but inaccurate, teaching that
the months were lunar based.)
2) Two periods of 150 days are mentioned in Gen 7:24 and Gen 8:3.
i) Gen 7:24 - The first 150 days defines the period of
rising waters and spans,
17th of 2nd month to 16th of 7th month.
[NB: On the following day, the 17th of the 7th month
the ark rested on the mountains of Ararat, refer
Gen 8:4. ]
ii) Gen 8:3 - The second 150 days defines the period of
decreasing waters and spans,
18th of 7th month to 17th of 12th month.
[ NB: The Hebrew word found at the end of Gen 8:24
(translated 'decreased' by the NKJV) is Strong's
2637 and is in other verses commonly rendered
'fail', 'lack' or 'want'. ]
3) The repetitive mention of 7 day periods indicates a Sabbath cycle.
Sabbaths fall on most of the indicated dates;
9th day of second month,
10th, 17th, 24th days of twelfth month,
1st day of first month,
27th day of second month.
4) Gen 7:4 in the Hebrew reads "For after days yet seven ..."
Gen 7:10 reads "And was after seven the days ..."
On a Sabbath day God had met with Noah and advised him that
after seven more days He would begin the Flood. The day after
the following Sabbath was when the Flood would start.
The Flood started on the 17th (Gen 7:11) so the statement made
by God to Noah in Gen 7:4 had to take place on the 9th.
5) Some have mistakenly thought the text indicates a delay
between the peak of the Flood waters and the settling of the
ark upon the mountains of Ararat.
However, it is worth noting that the ark had a height of 30
cubits (Gen 6:15) and the Flood only prevailed 15 cubits
above the mountains (Gen 7:20).
Assuming the ark was half submerged the ark would rest on the
peak of the mountains of Ararat at the height of the Flood!
6) Many translations imply the Flood ended on the 27th day of the 2nd
month of the 601st year of Noah. This is not correct!
Genesis 7:6 states Noah was 600 years old during the duration of the
Flood, which excludes the possibility that the Flood lasted longer
than 12 months.
7) The Hebrew words used for 'dried' (Gen 8:13) and 'dry' (Gen 8:14)
carry meanings not apparent from most translations.
Gen 8:13 - 1/1/601
a) 'dried' - Strong's 2717 - to 'parch' (through drought)
by analogy to 'desolate' or
'destroy'
b) 'dry' - Strong's 2717 - as above
Gen 8:14 - 27/2/601
a) 'dried' - Strong's 3001 - to 'be ashamed', 'confused'
or 'disappointed';
for water to 'dry up' and
for herbage to 'wither'.
It is important to note the following points;
- If the ground was parched on the 1/1/601 it
was already dry and the Flood had previously
ended!
- The Hebrew word for 'ashamed' in verse 14 must
be understood in relation to the subject being
discussed. The subject in this verse is not
water, but rather the earth.
Any explanation of this verse has to explain
why the earth had reason to be 'ashamed' on
the 'seven and twenty day' of the second month
of the 601st year.
8) Why would the earth would be 'ashamed' on the 'seven and twenty day'
of the second month.
Obviously so soon following the Flood there would be still be no
new year's grain ready to harvest.
God's calendar of 12 months of 30 days duration was 5 days shorter
than an average solar year of 365 days. Hence, in years where the
grain harvest was not ready in the first month God's annual festivals
would instead begin in the second month.
The 27th day of the second month was in this year the first Sabbath
after what, under the Old Covenant, became the wave sheaf day.
(Notionally, if there had of been a 'wave sheaf' day at that time
it would have taken place on the prior 21st day.)
The 27th day of the second month represented the first Sabbath day
when Noah would have normally been expected to offer to the Angel
of the Lord first fruits of the new year's harvest.
However by this day, despite the one month delay, no grain was ready
to be harvested. Hence the earth was 'ashamed'.
9) The Flood and the periods associated with it have prophetic significance.
For example the 150 day period is also alluded to in Rev 9:5 as 'five
months'.
Since Rev 9:5 is a part of the description of the 5th trumpet there
is the suggestion the following period of 150 days of dry wind would
correlate to the 6th trumpet.
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