Expert: Thurman C. Petty, Jr. - 6/19/2004

Question
I know this may be a strange question to ask, butI need to know or at least be able to take an educated guess regarding this questin.  

How many, of each animal did Noah have on the ark?  I know there is some distinction to the number of clean and unlcean.  So, perhaps you can help me figure out how many of the following animals might have been present on the ark.
Penguins
Pigs
Hamsters
Iguana
Gecko

I know this might seem silly, but it is for a good reason.
  Thanks,
       Steve G. <><


Answer
Dear Steve,

The following text will answer your question:

  Gen 7:2 (KJV) Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.

So Noah took 2 (1 pair) of each unclean animal, and it appears that he took 14 (7 pairs) of clean animals.

How do we know which is which?

  Lev 11:2-12 (KJV)  Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat. Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you. These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat. And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you: They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination. Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.

According to this list, all of the animals on your list would be considered unclean, and thus there were be only 2 (1 pair) of each species on the Ark.

Let me know if I can answer any other question you might have.

Thurman C. Petty, Jr.
Thurman@PettyPress.com

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