In our modern age, the Genesis flood account has been probed and analyzed for answers to scientific, apologetic, and historical questions. Some claim that the very veracity of Scripture hinges on a particular reading of the flood narrative. But what might the biblical author have been saying to his ancient audience?
The answer to our quest to rediscover the biblical flood requires that we set aside our own cultural and interpretive assumptions and visit the distant world of the ancient Near East. Responsible interpretation calls for the patient examination of the text within its ancient context of language, literature, and thought structures. And as we return from that lost world to our own, we will need to ask whether geological science supports the notion of flood geology.
The story of Noah and the flood will continue to invite questions and explorations. Without attempting to answer all of our questions, Longman and Walton offer an informative and enlightening reading of a timeless biblical narrative.
