Feeding the Animals on the Ark

[Keith Broaders]

he story of Noah’s Ark, as described in the Bible (Genesis 6-9), doesn’t provide explicit details on exactly how Noah provided food for all the animals, but it offers some insights that can be pieced together with practical reasoning. Here’s a concise explanation based on the biblical account and reasonable assumptions:

1. Divine Instruction and Preparation: Genesis 6:21 states that God instructed Noah to take food for himself, his family, and the animals: “And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.” This suggests Noah was tasked with gathering a sufficient quantity of food in advance.
2. Types of Food: The food likely included a variety of provisions suited to the animals’ diets:
   • Herbivores: Hay, grains, fruits, and vegetables could have been stored for animals like cattle, deer, or elephants. These could be dried or preserved to last the duration of the flood (about a year, per Genesis 7:11 and 8:13-14).
   • Carnivores: For meat-eating animals like lions or eagles, possibilities include preserved meat (dried or salted), fish (if aquatic animals were on board), or even the idea that some animals could have eaten plant-based food temporarily, as some interpretations suggest all animals were herbivorous before the flood (based on Genesis 1:29-30).
   • Omnivores and Others: A mix of grains, seeds, and perhaps insects or small creatures could suffice for animals with varied diets.
3. Logistical Considerations:
   • Storage: The ark, described in Genesis 6:14-16, was massive (approximately 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high, based on a cubit of 18 inches). It likely had multiple decks, providing ample space for food storage. Noah could have used compartments to store dried grains, hay, and other non-perishable items.
   • Quantity: Noah had years to prepare (some interpretations suggest up to 120 years, based on Genesis 6:3). This allowed time to amass large quantities of food through farming, gathering, or divine provision.
   • Animal Needs: Some suggest God may have supernaturally reduced the animals’ metabolic rates (e.g., hibernation-like states) to lower food and water needs, though the text doesn’t explicitly state this.
4. Supernatural Assistance: The story emphasizes divine intervention (e.g., animals coming to Noah, Genesis 7:9). It’s reasonable, within the narrative’s theological framework, to assume God ensured the food supply was sufficient, either through miraculous provision or by guiding Noah’s planning.
5. Practical Management: Noah and his family (eight people total, Genesis 7:7) likely had a system to distribute food efficiently, perhaps feeding animals in shifts or prioritizing those with higher needs. Water could have been collected from rain or stored in containers.

Addressing Skepticism

Skeptics often question the feasibility of feeding thousands of animals (estimates vary, but some suggest 1,000-35,000 animals, depending on whether “kinds” in Genesis refers to species or broader categories). Without invoking miracles, the logistics would be daunting but not impossible with careful planning, especially if “kinds” represent broader groups (e.g., one “canine kind” instead of every dog species). Modern studies on animal husbandry and ancient storage techniques (e.g., Egyptian granaries) show that large quantities of food could be preserved for long periods.

Conclusion

Noah likely provided food through careful pre-flood preparation, storing diverse provisions like grains, hay, and preserved meat in the ark’s ample space. The biblical account implies divine guidance ensured the task was