quote:
at the end of the 40 days the rains ceased.
Yes, they ceased. But after that it has rained. That certainly doesn't mean it never rained anymore after that or it would be a total lie. I think what the Bible is saying is that it rained continous for 40 days, and then the continous rain stopped and perhaps the sun came out. But obviously rain showers still occured after that. So if after the 40 days, there was a daily rain shower, followed by seveal hours of sunshine, then there was ample opportunity to collect fresh rain water for drinking.
quote:
a the rain you could get while the sun was out for the rainbow would hardly be sufficient for all the water needs of all the inhabitants.
I guess I must have been misunderstood. First, the rainbow happened AFTER Noah came out of the ark. I thought you were referring to the fresh water supply while they were ON the ark. But in either case, the significance of my mentioning the rainbow was only to show that the Bible seems to indicate that it was raining at that time. So there was rain after the initial 40 days. It probably rained a lot on that day of the rainbow. It may have rained for hours and then a few minutes of a rainbow. The rain happening while the rainbow is in the sky has no significance. The only thing of significance, with relation to your argument, is whether or not there was significant enough rainfall after the 40 days to sustain a fresh water supply for the inhabitants. I say there had to be unless God somehow created another miracle and ended all rainfall of any sort at that time.