Man builds working replica of Noah's Ark (exact scale given in Bible)

Spirit Daily ^ | October 17, 2009

[NYer]

This is amazing. The wood alone would have cost him a fortune.   
 
Man builds working replica of Noah's Ark (exact scale given in Bible)

In Schagen , Netherlands

The massive central door in the side of Noah's Ark was opened to the first crowd of curious townsfolk to behold the wonder. Of course, it's only a replica of the biblical Ark , built by Dutch creationist, Johan Huibers, as a testament to his faith in the literal truth of the Bible.

The ark is 150 cubits long, 30 cubits high an d 20 cubits wide. That's two-thirds the length of a football field and as high as a three-story house.

Life-size models of giraffes, elephants, lions, crocodiles, zebras, bison and other animals greet visitors as they arrive in the main hold.


A contractor by trade, Huibers built the ark of cedar and pine. Biblical Scholars debate exactly what the wood used by Noah would have been.

Huibers did the work mostly with his own hands, using modern tools and with occasional help from his son, Roy. Construction began in May 2005.. On the uncovered top - deck not quite ready in time for the opening - will come a petting zoo, with baby lambs, chickens, goats and one camel.

Visitors on the first day were stunned. 'It's past comprehension', said Mary Louise Starosciak, who happened to be bicycling by with her husband while on vacation when they saw the ark looming over the local landscape.

'I knew the story of Noah, but I had no idea the boat would have been so big ' There is enough space near the keel for a 50-seat film theater where kids can watch a video that tells the story of Noah and his ark. Huibers, a Christian man, said he hopes the project will renew interest in Christianity in the Netherlands , where church-going has fallen dramatically in the past 50 years.

Now that I am old and gray...give me the time to tell this new generation (and their children, too) about all your mighty miracles.
Psalm 71:18

[Reaganesque]

Since I mentioned Bill Cosby...

YouTube audio of "Noah...RIGHT!!"

[GodGunsGuts]

I think those are pictures of Johan Huiber's half-sized replica. Last I checked, he is still working on the full sized Ark. Here is a link to a story about the half-sized version:

http://creation.com/one-man-and-a-vision-johan-huibers-ark-builder-in-netherlands

Here is a picture of one of the uncompleted decks of Huiber's full size replica. I think it's safe to say they could hold one heck of a lot of animals in there!!!

Here is a link to Huiber's website where you will find more pictures of the construction of the full sized version:

http://www.arkvannoach.com/index.php/en/about-the-ark/photos-ark

And here is an AP video of a land-based, full-size replica of the Ark in Hong Kong. I'm surprised I haven't heard of any stories of the Red Chinese making life difficult for this Ark museum.

http://en.video.canoe.tv/video/news/weird/14644262001/raw-video-full-size-noahs-ark-replica/24161706001

[count-your-change]

“gopher” is simply a transliteration of the Hebrew and refers to a resinous tree, possibly cypress. It may be related to the word “kopher” or tar.

[goat granny]

LOL that was my first reaction also......glad I wasn’t the only one.........

[count-your-change]

An interesting project. The most ancient shipbuilding techniques are just the opposite of what he used, i.e; the hull was built first and sewn together and then a framework inside built. Since most of the strength would be in the outer hull massive frameworks internally were not necessary.

So even with the tools available at the time, (axes, scrapers and rope) building a large floating box or ark is quite feasible. No rudder or tapered bow needed just water tightness which bitumen would furnish.

[RegulatorCountry]

“gopher” is simply a transliteration of the Hebrew

"Transliteration" in and of itself is not any sort of dismissal of "gopher" or "gofer." That's the way Hebrew words are dealt with in other languages, and how words in other languages are dealt with in Hebrew.

The fact remains that the intended meaning of the word remains unclear to Hebrew scholars of the modern era.

It's been thought to mean any number of species of tree, and so it's reasonable to name species known to be used in shipbuilding. Cypress was and is treasured because it doesn't rot. But, that's speculation.

It's also thought to be a reference to a means of processing or forming wood for shipbuilding. Squared beams is one such translation. Laminated wood is another.

One thing it's not, is unpitched knotty pine lap siding, though. Not seaworthy at all. It would sink.

[nmh]

BUMP!

[RegulatorCountry]

He’s making the same nod to conventional expectation of a “ship” that countless illustrators of books containing reference to the ark of Noah have. So, it has a bow and a rudder.

The directions contained within the Bible lead to a large floating box, as you note, the very specific proportions of which have been tested in the modern era and shown to be ideal for remaining upright and afloat in very rough seas. That’s enough. But, people expect to see what they expect to see, and have been accomodated.

[steveo]

Evan Almighty

[count-your-change]

Not a dismissal of course, just a way of not translating the word and leaving the specifics open. Knotty pine? No. And think of how many man caves are lacking wall covering now.

And of course the needs of a vessel that is under power and /or steered are different from one that just needs to stay afloat for a relatively short period of time.

Still the fellow has accomplished quite a feat and helped to visualize somewhat the scale of what the Noah and family built.

[RegulatorCountry]

Knotty pine? No.

Check out the close-up photos. Appears to be pine, with a large number of knots, to me.

[count-your-change]

Not what Naoh used I meant.

[Grizzled Bear]

one of these days im gonna proof read before posting.

Don't do that! That leads to reading the article before posting a comment!

[MediaMole]

Steering is critical in a storm. You have to keep in the proper direction so the waves don’t hit the ship on the side and cause the it to capsize.

[ReneeLynn]

You think God would let the Ark sink in a storm?

[redgolum]

Heard of this guy.

Would love to see it someday. The Faith isn’t quite all gone in Europe.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[GOP Poet]

very cool and incredibly inspiring.

[Tennessee Nana]

Awesome..

[Tennessee Nana]

Strongs says “gofer” is apparantly cypress..