Book Of Mormon Hit? Noah Used Precious Stones To Illuminate The Ark

[BCSpace]

Something I did not know until know:

 

As I was reading up on the ancient accounts of Noah and the Ark for the other Noah's Ark thread in the News forum regarding the newly deciphered Mesopotamian clay tablet about Ark construction found here...

 

http://www.mormondialogue.org/topic/62671-noahs-ark-new-details-on-mesopotamian-clay-tablet/

 

...I came across the interesting tidbit that, according to Rabbinical literature, Noah illuminated the Ark with precious stones 'bright as the sun at noonday'.  The parallel with the Jaredite account is obvious.

 

It is mentioned in a general wikipedia article:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah%27s_ark#Rabbinic_Judaism

 

And following the footnotes led me here:

 

One hundred and twenty years before the Deluge, Noah planted cedars from which he afterward made the Ark (Gen. R. xxx. 7; compare Christian parallels; Ginzberg, "Monatsschrift," xliii. 411). This lengthy period was requisite, partly in order to urge the sinful people to amend their ways, and partly to allow sufficient time for the erection of the Ark, which was of very large proportions. According to one view the Ark consisted of three hundred and sixty cells, each ten yards long by ten yards wide; according to another it consisted of nine hundred cells, each six yards long by six yards wide (Gen. R. xxxi. 11; compare commentaries on the passage for the exact mathematical computations). The lowest of thesestories was used as a depositary for refuse; in the second the human beings and the "clean" beasts were lodged, and the uppermost was reserved for the "unclean" beasts. A differing opinion reverses the order, so that the refuse was deposited in the third story, from which it was shoveled into the sea through a sort of trap-door (καταράκτης; Gen. R. l.c.). For purposes of illumination, Noah used precious stones, bright as the sun at noonday (Sanh. 108b; Yer. Pes. i. 27b; Gen. R. l.c.), which shone by night and were dull by day. The stones were the sole light in the Ark, since the stars and planets did not fulfil their functions during the Deluge (Gen. R. xxxiv. 11). Another miracle witnessed by the occupants of the Ark was the entrance of the animals. They were not led in by Noah, a task which would have been impossible for any human being; but God caused them, as well as the spirits of those whose bodies were yet uncreated, to gather there from all sides (Gen. R. xxxi. 13, xxxii. 8; Zeb. 116a; for Christian parallels see Ginzberg, "Monatsschrift," xliii. 414). Another Midrash says that the angels appointed over the various species of animals brought each his allotted animal with its necessary fodder (Pirḳe R. El. xxiii.). In regard to the feeding of the animals, the greater number of Haggadot say that each received suitable food at the usual time (Tan., ed. Buber, NoaḦ ii.; Gen. R. xxxi. 14); and since Noah was constantly employed in feeding them, he did not sleep for a moment during the year in the Ark. As Noah was an exception among his contemporaries, so also were the animals that were destined to be saved. They were the best of their species, and, unlike the other animals of the time, they remained true to their proper natures, without overstepping the limitations which nature had prescribed for them (TanḦuma, l.c. v.; Gen. R. xxviii. 8; Sanh. 108a). Besides the regular occupants, the Ark supported Og, king of Bashan, and the immense animal "Reëm," neither of whom, owing to their enormous size, could get into the Ark, but held fast to it, remaining alongside (Pirḳe R. El. xxiii.; Gen. R. xxxi. 13). In order that Noah on his entrance into the Ark might not be molested by the wicked people, lions and other wild animals were placed to guard it. A beam of the Ark was found by Sennacherib, and he made an idol of it (Sanh. 96a). Another beam of the Ark was used as the gallows for Haman, according to Midrash Abba Gorion, iv.; ed. Buber, 19a (see Flood in Rabbinical Literature.).

 

http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/1780-ark-of-noah

 

 

So how likely could Joseph Smith have known this detail via his own research?

Edited January 24, 2014 by BCSpace

[Nevo]

.

Edited October 1, 2014 by Nevo

[The Nehor]

It was known but not that well-known. One has to remember that Joseph Smith had access to a comprehensive travelling library to get books from and it was the greatest font of scholarly wisdom of its day.

[cinepro]

It was known but not that well-known. One has to remember that Joseph Smith had access to a comprehensive travelling library to get books from and it was the greatest font of scholarly wisdom of its day.

 

He wouldn't need access to "a comprehensive travelling library".  It would just take someone mentioning it.  

[ERayR]

It was known but not that well-known. One has to remember that Joseph Smith had access to a comprehensive travelling library to get books from and it was the greatest font of scholarly wisdom of its day.

 

Wasn't there a special book mobile that ran between his place and thee university library?

[BCSpace]

Wasn't there a special book mobile that ran between his place and thee university library?

 

I believe it came all the way from Miskatonic University in Arkham.

Edited January 25, 2014 by BCSpace

[BCSpace]

It is mentioned in Adam Clarke's commentary on the Bible. See Clarke's note on Genesis 6:16

 

Then at the very least we have consistency and a Divine explanation for the lights.

[Gervin]

"A recently deciphered 4,000-year-old clay tablet from ancient Mesopotamia - modern-day Iraq - reveals striking new details about the roots of the Old Testament tale of Noah."

 

I hope someone will do KJVersion translation of these ancient word so we kin try it out as scripshurrr

[volgadon]

It is mentioned in Adam Clarke's commentary on the Bible. See Clarke's note on Genesis 6:16.

 

It is important to acknowledge that Clarke's commentary was a known, respected work, and that even if Joseph hadn't read it, one of his acquaintances could very well have done so. That being said, I think that there is more in the Ether chapter that cannot be found in Clarke's commentary, but in no way can a how could joseph have known argument be applied here.

[strappinglad]

IIRC Bro. Sorenson made mention of the Noah lights in one of his books , An Ancient American Setting...??

[Calm]

I think Bro. Nibley did....

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

Something I did not know until know:

 

As I was reading up on the ancient accounts of Noah and the Ark for the other Noah's Ark thread in the News forum regarding the newly deciphered Mesopotamian clay tablet about Ark construction found here...

 

 

So how likely could Joseph Smith have known this detail via his own research?

Joseph's days were filled with hard work and avoiding persecution. It is highly doubtful that he could have had the time to little more than translate. From an engineering aspect, illuminated stones, or LED's, would have been the only viable option at night. The use of flames for illumination would have made it a short ride. I spent three years designing and installing methane direction systems for electrical systems, because in an environment such as this (7 clean and 2 unclean beasts upon this stile Ark) to ensure than explosions did not occur. Even a flash light that is not Class I, Division 1 as defined in Article 500 & 501, can cause an explosion that would have sent the Ark to the bottom of whatever ocean in which it found itself. So, absent such information in Joseph's day and with what we know now...it is only the unknowing who like to mock what they don't understand in any of the Standard Works.

[Gervin]

Joseph's days were filled with hard work and avoiding persecution. 

 

I would think that avoiding persecution could be considered hard work if the persecution was pervasive, un-lawed, or threatening. Has anyone gone to the trouble of documenting the persecution - or documenting the lack of documentation?  I imagine that honest hard work requires no documentation other than the results. 

[mfbukowski]

Then at the very least we have consistency and a Divine explanation for the lights.

There seems to be some ambiguity about if the stones glowed or were windows.

[mfbukowski]

Quartz is essentially natural glass.

[iriemon]

It's not a hit when you consider that the Flood Story is a myth, and could not possibly have happened. The evidence against a global flood 4500 years ago is simply too overwhelming.

[BCSpace]

It's not a hit when you consider that the Flood Story is a myth, and could not possibly have happened. The evidence against a global flood 4500 years ago is simply too overwhelming.

 

I agree that there is evidence against a global flood at the appropriate time. I personally accept a local flood.  However, I disagree with the premise that there necessarily has to be a global flood as the Jaredites were merely crossing the extant seas.

[CMZ]

Could have been a local flood plus some rain briefly over the rest of the earth. When a person is baptized different parts of them are under different depths of water. And some of those parts sometimes seem to be only under maybe a millimeter or so of water, and even then only for a very, very brief moment. So, I'm not sure the entire earth at the time of Noah's flood had to be an equal 20,000 leagues under the sea.

Edited January 29, 2014 by CMZ

[nmcknz]

neat! Adam, Cain n Noah might be begotten sons of Enki. Enki found something like a liahona at the door of his 'tent' confirming a dream. The dream told him to warn Noah against Enlil's orders. Most cultures remember the deluge. Could the Book of Mormon be a more ancient tale? Or refer to a cosmic ocean?

[Calm]

Have you read the Book of Mormon?

[BCSpace]

Have you read the Book of Mormon?

 

My favorite parts are when Adam tamed the whale and Joseph Smith rode the white buffalo.