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Hebrew Text
וַתָּנַח הַתֵּבָה בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי בְּשִׁבְעָה־עָשָׂר יוֹם לַחֹדֶשׁ עַל הָרֵי אֲרָרָט׃
English Translation
And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.
Transliteration
Va-tanach ha-teva ba-chodesh ha-shvi'i b'shiv'a-asar yom la-chodesh al hare Ararat.
Hebrew Leining Text
וַתָּ֤נַח הַתֵּבָה֙ בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י בְּשִׁבְעָה־עָשָׂ֥ר י֖וֹם לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ עַ֖ל הָרֵ֥י אֲרָרָֽט׃
The Timing of the Ark's Resting
The verse states that the ark came to rest on the seventeenth day of the seventh month. According to Rashi (Bereshit 8:4), this date corresponds to the 17th of Nisan, which is significant for several reasons:
The Significance of the Seventh Month
The seventh month (Nisan) is highlighted by the Ramban (Bereshit 8:4) as being the month of redemption. He notes that Nisan is when nature renews itself (springtime), symbolizing a new beginning for the world after the flood. The Sforno adds that this timing demonstrates Hashem's mercy in allowing the ark to rest as soon as possible once the waters subsided.
The Mountains of Ararat
The location where the ark rested—the mountains of Ararat—is discussed in several commentaries:
The Numerical Significance of the Seventeenth Day
The number seventeen (י"ז) carries deeper meaning in Jewish thought: