Question: In Noah and the ark, the writings tell us God destroyed everything on the planet except what was on the ark in pairs. So Noah sent out the dove that came back, but on the next trip it never returned. That left one dove on the ark. How did the world get repopulated with just one dove? Also, there are many flood stories all around the great rivers of the world. But there are none from areas where there were no large rivers. Is it possible that the flood was a local event?
— Name withheld, via email
Answer: There was more than one pair of doves on the ark. It is true that God commanded pairs of every animal: “Of all living creatures you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, one male and one female” (Gn 6:19). However, the Scripture later clarifies: “Of every clean animal, take with you seven pairs, a male and its mate; and of the unclean animals, one pair, a male and its mate; likewise, of every bird of the air, seven pairs, a male and a female, to keep their progeny alive over all the earth” (Gn 7:2-3). Hence, there were seven pairs of doves ensuring their continuation as the story relates.
As to the extent of the biblical flood, different opinions exist. Many English translations of Genesis 6-9 speak of a flood that covers the “earth,” and this implies the whole world. However, some point out that the two words used for “earth” (Adamah and erets) can also be translated as “ground” or “land,” and this might permit a more local flood event, in Mesopotamia, for example. That said, the need to gather pairs of animals, and God’s intent to all to start over with the human family, seems to require a worldwide flood of some sort. Further, God says he will “destroy every creature under the heavens” (that is not on the ark). So the context of the narrative points to the worldwide effect of the flood.
Also, given that so many ancient cultures had some sort of flood story, there seems external evidence of a worldwide flood at some point in ancient history. Geologists are more skeptical, but some find evidence of a worldwide flood, if the date is ancient enough. At some point, we must remember that the stories of early Genesis may in fact describe some very ancient events.
