Q&A: Noah — Did He Exist or Not?
Noah — Did He Exist or Not?
Question
Well, after you already convinced me on the subject of God and logic, I decided to direct my next question to you as well.
As for historical evidence for the truth of the Bible's stories, one can keep playing on the field of uncertainty for a long time, until one reaches the stories of creation and Noah.
I read a bit on your site about the subject and also went through a few questions and articles, (“Did It Happen or Not?” for example), but I am still in doubt. How can one build a strong and stable world of faith on creation stories that do not accord with reality or logic at all? That is, how could “let the earth sprout vegetation” happen before the creation of the sun? Or how can one even imagine that 5,000 years ago all life under the heavens was destroyed and Noah brought every existing kind and species into his ark?
If we want, we can say that all these stories are only allegories meant to convey a message, but it really does not seem as though that is what Moses intended when he gave the Torah. In addition, how can we even understand where the line passes between allegory and reality?
Answer
If you read what I wrote, what more are you expecting from me? In my opinion it really isn’t difficult at all, but if in your opinion it is — then suit yourself.
Discussion on Answer
Aharon, if it interests you, I heard from Rabbi Uri Sherki that this is the position of Rabbi Shem Tov Gafen.
Thank you, Noah, for the link. In any case, it is fairly similar, but not exactly what I said. Rabbi Sherki says there that God lends His support to these writings and says to include them in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh). I am arguing that it is simply impossible to know whether God really said to include them or not.
Aharon,
Regarding what you wrote, you can look into the writings of M. D. Cassuto.
I think his words are closer to what you wrote.
Look, Uriyah Nuriel, it really is possible that the book of Genesis is a collection of stories that indeed happened (the stories of the patriarchs, the tribes, Joseph in Egypt, etc.), alongside stories that may have happened, just not in the exact form in which they are written (like the story of the Flood, or creation) — and all of this was written by a group of Hebrews. And in the end it entered the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh). I do not see any necessity to say that Genesis was given directly by God, because unlike the other books of the Torah, where it is explicit that God spoke with Moses and told him to write these things and command the people, Genesis is not written in that form. Note this carefully.
Honorable Rabbi Michael Abraham, with your permission, I would be glad to know: what is your opinion of this theory?