Inquiry:
How many of each clean animal did Noah take into the ark, two (Genesis 6:19; 7:8, 9, 15) or seven (Genesis 7:2)? Is there a contradiction?
Response:
First, notice that the texts listed are all from the same writer, and taken from the same context, spanning less than 20 verses. One might think that Moses would have noticed if he were contradicting himself.
So, was it 2 or 7? How many of each species were brought into the ark? Neither. Through the text, we see that they would be in pairs. The text reveals that there would be four of each unclean animal and fourteen of each clean animal.
The general command to save animals in the ark is given in Genesis 6:19. If this were the only thing mentioned in the text, then we would conclude that 2 of each animal were in the ark. However, just 5 verses later, the Lord clarifies the command. Of the unclean, Noah would take two pair (4), and of the clean animals, he would take seven pairs (14).
Genesis 6:19 reveals that they should come in pairs, Genesis 7:2 reveals how many pairs of each class of animal, and Genesis 7:8-9, 15 reveal that it happened even as God said – that they went into the ark in pairs, a male and female.
There is no contradiction.
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