Thanks for your comments.
Regarding Gn.2:5 and 2:6, I believe they are consistent: no rain...but
there went up a mist... Nothing started to grow until the mist appeared.
Concerning the rainbow: the phenomenon is essentially the consequence of
certain physical details built into the Creation - in particular, the
optical properties of sunlight, the performance of the human retina, and
the sphericity of airbourne water droplets. Its non-appearance before it
rained is surely entirely consistent with the information provided in
these early chapters. As I see it, were it not for the spectre of
evolution haunting the proceedings, this reading would not be disputed.
Concerning your 'minor surgical procedure' analogy: in my view this does
nothing to rebut my case.
Sincerely,
Vernon
gordon brown wrote:
>
> On Wed, 9 Jun 1999, Vernon Jenkins wrote:
>
> > It is unthinkable that Moses would have erred in these details, I agree.
> > But what of Gen.2:6? Aren't we informed there of a different - but
> > equally-effective - source of water that was to sustain life throughout
> > the antediluvian period? If rain had fallen during this time, why is the
> > post-Flood rainbow so clearly a novelty? Is it logical to suppose the
> > Lord would use some commonplace phenomenon as a guarantee and reminder
> > of his covenant with Noah and his descendants (Gen.9:13)? I suggest the
> > significance of this event cannot be lightly dismissed.
>
> Gen. 2:6 must be consistent with Gen. 2:5. Unless this was a new
> phenomenon, it still did not allow for the growth of the vegetation
> mentioned. Thermal areas have steam arising from the ground without
> allowing the growth of vegetation, although I am not saying that that is
> what this was.
>
> I don't think that it is clear that the post-Flood rainbow was a novelty.
> By analogy, are we to assume that because circumcision was the sign of the
> covenant with Abraham, he was the certainly the first person ever
> circumcised?
>
> Gordon Brown
> Department of Mathematics
> University of Colorado
> Boulder, CO 80309-0395