Preparing the Ark
God tells Noah that the violent earth is headed for destruction and commands him to build an ark. Detailed instructions give the shape of the refuge God is providing.
T13hen God said to Noah, “The end of all living creatures has come before Me, because through them the earth is full of violence. Now behold, I will destroy both them and the earth. 14Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark and coat it with pitch inside and out. 15And this is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. 16You are to make a roof for the ark, finish its walls a cubit from the top, place a door in the side of the ark, and build lower, middle, and upper decks.
God declares the coming flood, then promises covenant with Noah and lays out who and what must enter the ark to stay alive. The ark is filled in the telling with family, animals, and food.
17And behold, I will bring floodwaters upon the earth to destroy every creature under the heavens that has the breath of life. Everything on the earth will perish. 18But I will establish My covenant with you, and you will enter the ark — you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. 19And you are to bring two of every living creature into the ark — male and female — to keep them alive with you. 20Two of every kind of bird and animal and crawling creature will come to you to be kept alive. 21You are also to take for yourself every kind of food that is eaten and gather it as food for yourselves and for the animals.”
Noah does everything exactly as God commands. The long instruction ends in simple obedience.
22So Noah did everything precisely as God had commanded him.