Noah & The Ark

00:00:00 Speaker 1: This is an iHeart Podcast. 00:00:02 Speaker 2: Guaranteed human. 00:00:04 Speaker 3: Previously on The Chosen People. The Earth was still young, and humanity multiplied from within small families and stretched outward. Cain, driven by a restless ambition, ventured further east, carving a name for himself in the annals of history. His progeny, a dark brood, sowed the seeds of destruction, chaos, and pride. marring God's creation with their deeds. Seth, however, chose a different path, one laden with the weight of redemption. Amidst these clashing legacies, Enoch walked, a righteous man navigating the perilous expanse. 00:00:46 Speaker 4: This earth has been corrupted, Matty. 00:00:49 Speaker 2: It's been tainted, not just by the giants, but by the darkness that's spread in the hearts of men. I fear the Creator won't endure this evil much longer. 00:01:01 Speaker 4: Why is that? 00:01:04 Speaker 2: Evil grieves his heart. This corruption, this violence, it wasn't his intention. 00:01:12 Speaker 3: Enoch left the earth, and now it was Methuselah's turn to carry the torch of God's promise. 00:01:19 Speaker 1: My spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh. A hundred and twenty years is what they will have left. I will blot out man from the face of the land, for I am sorry that I have made them. 00:01:37 Speaker 3: When Methuselah passed, Noah was the last to honor the Creator, a solitary light in a dark world. 00:01:46 Speaker 1: A storm was coming. 00:01:48 Speaker 3: The purifying and terrifying work of God was at hand. Yet, in the midst of it all, Hope still remained. It flickered like a faint light, carried carefully by Noah. 00:02:04 Speaker 2: Perhaps we will endure the judgment to come. 00:02:11 Speaker 1: Run, Ham! Don't look back! 00:02:13 Speaker 5: Where's Japheth? 00:02:14 Speaker 4: I'll go back and get him. 00:02:15 Speaker 1: Go get father! 00:02:16 Speaker 3: Ham's instincts took over. 00:02:18 Speaker 1: He slid under a wooden beam. 00:02:20 Speaker 3: And bolted under the archway leading out of the city. The sound of cackling men grew louder from behind, a dreadful chorus to his escape. Ham obeyed his brother's command and did not look back, though he could hear the sickening sound of fists striking flesh. Shen's sacrifice echoed in Ham's ears, driving him forward. Tears streamed down his face, evaporating almost as soon as they fell. Their father had warned them about lingering in the city. Hem ran like a hunted deer, his feet barely touching the ground as. 00:02:57 Speaker 4: He crossed grass and logs and. 00:02:59 Speaker 1: Leaped over brooks. 00:03:00 Speaker 3: His father's farm lay beyond the city, nestled in a protective embrace of twin mountains. Smoke curled from the chimney, a beacon of warmth and safety. Ham burst through the door, collapsing in front of the dusty hearth. 00:03:16 Speaker 6: Father, Shem and Japheth have been captured by the men of the city. 00:03:19 Speaker 2: We only went because- Do you know which part of. 00:03:21 Speaker 6: The city- Yes, the south entrance, in the Tanner's district. 00:03:25 Speaker 1: Come with me. 00:03:26 Speaker 3: Noah retrieved a bow and arrow and slung it over his shoulder. He darted toward the city, saying little to his youngest son as he paced behind him. Noah had repeatedly warned his sons about the city's dangers. It was a den of iniquity. The city's corruption was pervasive and violence lurked in every shadow. At times, it was a necessary task since most precious materials were hoarded there. but Noah had strictly warned them not to linger. Bloodlust corrupted every inch of the city. If you remained too long, it was only a matter of time before a passing glance or nod of the head would earn you a spear through the throat, or worse. The surrounding villages weren't much safer either. Mankind was blighted by bloodshed and discord. Noah was determined to oppose the culture. Like his great-grandfather Enoch, Noah possessed a heart attuned to God's voice. He walked with him daily, as one would with a friend. It was a lost art, hearkening back to the ancient days in the Great Garden. Noah and Ham reached the south entrance. Noah briskly strode around a jagged wooden totem and crouched down. Ham remained his shadow, mimicking every move. Ham could feel his father's steady breaths, neither panicked nor frustrated. Ham, ashamed at his own stress, pointed to the large building made of bone and wood. 00:05:00 Speaker 6: They should be in there. I swear, father, we didn't do anything wrong. I wanted to buy a carving knife, but didn't realize what a harsh man the tanner was. He said our hides would make him more than the southern gazelles. 00:05:14 Speaker 3: These. 00:05:15 Speaker 4: People fall further into darkness each day, Ham. They've become more like animals than humans. Your mistake was staying in the den too long. 00:05:27 Speaker 3: Noah was not a violent man. He was not corrupted by the same evil that blighted the others. His bow was for moments like these and these alone. Noah removed his bow, placed an arrow on the string, and stretched it backward. His arms flexed in place. perfectly still. His breath was steady as the rivers flow. He surveyed the scene through the arrow's shaft, marking the men by the rear entrance and the livestock pen nearby. A large water basin stood beside the pen. Noah breathed in sharply, then released the arrow with an exhale. It whistled through the air, striking one of the thin legs underneath. The basin tumbled with a loud crash, spilling water over the livestock and causing a panic. The men rushed to the scene, leaving the rear entrance unguarded. Now Noah and Ham darted toward the back entrance. Noah's legs were lean and muscular, easily kicking down the door. Shem was tied up, face swollen and bloodied from several beatings. Japheth was in better shape. supposedly because the Tanner wanted him unblemished. They swiftly removed their vines and held them out. The four rushed out, nearly unnoticed, until a voice cackled from behind. 00:06:47 Speaker 4: Is that the, uh, hermit farmer, uh, Noah? 00:06:51 Speaker 1: Here in the city. 00:06:53 Speaker 5: What a rare sight this is. 00:06:55 Speaker 3: Noah and his sons were cut off by some large men. Their ridged brows and serpent-like eyes gave away their heritage. These men were descendants of the Nephilim, One struck Noah in the jaw, sending him back into the mud. The tanner skulked closer and grabbed Noah by the hair. 00:07:13 Speaker 1: If I'd known these were your boys, I would have prepared them over a fire to enjoy between bread. 00:07:24 Speaker 4: Let the boys go! 00:07:25 Speaker 1: Or what, son of Seth? 00:07:29 Speaker 4: What will you do to me? 00:07:30 Speaker 6: Will you shoot me with your tiny twigs? 00:07:34 Speaker 3: Nah! 00:07:35 Speaker 5: I know you don't have it in you. 00:07:39 Speaker 1: You wouldn't swat a fly. 00:07:42 Speaker 3: The tanner removed Noah's bow and snapped it over his leg. The beastly man laughed and wiped his nose. 00:07:50 Speaker 4: Your boys don't know how business is done here. 00:07:53 Speaker 1: You should have taught them right. 00:07:56 Speaker 4: Maybe I'll keep the youngest, raise him myself. 00:08:01 Speaker 3: He seized Ham's jaw, his rotten teeth bared in a smile. Noah's eyes remained steady, his palms outstretched. 00:08:10 Speaker 4: Let's negotiate and find a path to peace. Hey, we've crops we've cultivated. How about three years of grain for the trouble? 00:08:20 Speaker 5: Why get three years when I could have three fine young men working my. 00:08:28 Speaker 4: Shop for me? Maybe I'll kill you. Take them and go back for your wife and land. 00:08:36 Speaker 3: The Tanner's grin widened. He pressed a blade to Noah's throat, but a distant drumbeat stilled his hand. The Tanner's smile faded as the drums grew louder, accompanied by bestial screams. The sounds intensified, causing the Tanner and his companions to shake in fear. 00:08:55 Speaker 4: They're back! 00:08:56 Speaker 3: The tanner lowered his blade and ran back into his home. Noah and his sons turned to run, but the gates burst open and the woods split open in a hundred directions, revealing warriors from Cain's line, feral and bloodthirsty, come to murder and plunder. Their weapons were crudely crafted, not for noble battle, but for torture. Some were swords with jagged tips. Others were clubs with barbed edges. Some came with nets and others with nothing, naked and giant, cracking the skulls of those unfortunate enough to cross their path. Noah and the boys hid behind the fallen water basin. Ham trembled in place, tears silently falling from. 00:09:40 Speaker 4: His shaking cheeks. 00:09:41 Speaker 3: Noah turned and gave him a reassuring squeeze on the arm. 00:09:45 Speaker 4: Trust in God. We will find a way. 00:09:48 Speaker 1: Father, look! 00:09:49 Speaker 3: Shem pointed to a reservoir beside the gate. The pool was filled from a small opening in the wall, allowing water from the brook to flow freely in. Noah nodded in approval and signaled for the boys to hold. They waited until the last of the men stormed the city. They were all unhinged like rabid dogs. People slaughtered for sport, violence for the sake of violence. They lived in a truly fallen world, a world of despair. When it seemed like they were all occupied, Noah charged his sons to run. They flew to the reservoir and dove in, then swam through the small opening leading to the other side of the gate. Noah waited for all his sons to dive in before bolting. His legs were worn from years of farming but still strong enough to pound through the mud. He dove into the water but before reaching the opening he was pulled out by the ankle. 00:10:47 Speaker 1: A man threw him backward and. 00:10:48 Speaker 3: Pressed his thumbs on Noah's neck. His hands were thick like the paws of a bear. Noah feared he wouldn't escape them. He reached for a stick, a stone, anything to use against a man, but his fists were empty and weakening. His vision blurred at the edges and his head throbbed from the lack of oxygen. Before succumbing to the man's grip, he was struck on the side of the head. Japheth had returned for him. 00:11:16 Speaker 4: Come on, father, up! 00:11:18 Speaker 3: Japheth lifted Noah. The two stumbled into the water and swam through the hole and out the other side. Shem and Ham were already running, arrows and stones whistling past them. They escaped into the wilderness, bruised but alive, the shadow of the city left behind. Shem and Japheth stared blankly into the crackling fire. Their mother pressed a damp cloth to their bloody cheeks, her touch tender yet firm. Shem winced and pulled away, while Japheth remained still, his eyes unfocused. 00:11:54 Speaker 5: How many times has your father warned you about bartering in the city without him? Whose idea was it? 00:12:01 Speaker 3: Shem and Japheth's eyes shifted to Ham, then quickly back to the fire, betraying their guilt. 00:12:08 Speaker 5: Ham, you three are men, ready to marry and start your own families. Think about your responsibility to the future next time you think about something so foolish. 00:12:20 Speaker 4: Yes, Mother. 00:12:26 Speaker 5: Tomorrow, we head west to our relatives beyond the Tishar. You will meet your future wives. Do not mention any of this recklessness when we go. Do you all understand? 00:12:39 Speaker 3: The boys all nodded with weary faces. Noah entered, his steps heavy with fatigue. His voice, though gruff, carried an earnestness that commanded attention. 00:12:51 Speaker 4: These are dark times, my sons. Remaining in the light will require wisdom. Learn to listen to the voice of God. 00:13:02 Speaker 5: Noah, come here. Let me look at you. 00:13:06 Speaker 4: No, no. 00:13:06 Speaker 3: I'm fine. 00:13:07 Speaker 1: I'm fine. 00:13:10 Speaker 4: I'm going to walk with the Creator. I will be back before dawn. 00:13:17 Speaker 3: Wrapping himself in thick fur, Noah stepped into the frigid night. The evening mist, illuminated by the moonlight, hovered over the valley. 00:13:26 Speaker 4: Like a specter. 00:13:28 Speaker 3: Noah ascended a small hill, his mind turning to the Creator. He spoke of his sons, the city. and the pervasive wickedness that plagued the sons of Adam. 00:13:39 Speaker 4: What kind of world are my sons inheriting? I fear they'll be forced to become men of bloodshed just to survive. 00:13:49 Speaker 3: The grass underfoot swayed slightly. The mist followed. Noah drew a deep breath and closed his eyes. He had practiced the art of listening. He knew the Creator was about to speak. He could feel his presence in and around him. 00:14:05 Speaker 1: The earth is filled with violence and corruption. I will endure it no longer. 00:14:14 Speaker 4: What does that mean? 00:14:15 Speaker 1: I have determined to make an end to all flesh. 00:14:19 Speaker 3: Visions assailed Noah's mind. Corrupt cities built by the Nephilim. War, senseless violence and despair. Then, He saw the heavens open, and a cascade of water fell from the skies. Through the roaring thunder, God's voice boomed. 00:14:38 Speaker 1: Behold, I would destroy them with the earth. I would bring a flood to wipe this earth clean. All flesh shall drown, and the breath of life under heaven. will cease. 00:14:55 Speaker 3: Noah's heart tightened. He fell to his knees, the weight of God's words pressing down on him. 00:15:02 Speaker 4: What am I to do with this knowledge? Do I wait in silence for it to happen? 00:15:07 Speaker 2: Or rush my family to the mountains? 00:15:10 Speaker 1: You have found favor in my sight. You walk with me, speak with me, and have kept yourself from the wickedness blighting humanity. I have appointed you, Noah, build an ark an ark i will establish my covenant with you noah you shall build a vessel of salvation for you your wife your sons and their. 00:15:37 Speaker 4: Wives what of the others what of the. 00:15:40 Speaker 1: Animals two of every living thing shall accompany you one male and one female i shall charge you as their steward You will keep them alive until the time has come to walk the earth again. How much time do we have? Go when the sun rises. Take your sons and begin. The waters are coming. 00:16:06 Speaker 3: The divine presence shifted with the wind, leaving Noah alone on the hill. He gazed eastward, where the distant city's light shimmered dimly through the fog. Tears glistened in his eyes. His jaw quivered, then his shoulders, and finally his knees. Noah fell to the ground and wept, gripping the damp earth in his palms. The knowledge of God's will was just and true, but it did nothing to numb the pain in Noah's heart. Noah sobbed, knowing he was about to witness the destruction of the world. Ham slammed his shoulder into the side of a cedar tree. He'd been hacking away at it for over an hour, and all it needed was some applied force. Ham was glad to let out some aggression. Months of hard labor wore on him. His first days as a married man were spent chopping wood and laying pitch. All because his father claimed to hear something from God. The whole thing seemed inconceivable and far-fetched. Shem approached with the saw to make the tree into gopher wood. 00:17:20 Speaker 1: Well done, Ham. Ready to smooth it out? 00:17:24 Speaker 3: I suppose. 00:17:25 Speaker 1: What's wrong? 00:17:27 Speaker 6: We're building a ship in the middle of the valley. Shem, that's what's wrong. Everyone from here to the desert has visited to mock us, and I don't blame them. 00:17:36 Speaker 5: This is insane! 00:17:38 Speaker 6: How are these planes going to flood? Where will the water even come from? 00:17:42 Speaker 2: I don't quite understand it either, but I have little reason to doubt our father. 00:17:47 Speaker 6: What a firstborn thing to say. 00:17:49 Speaker 3: Shem and Ham stared at each other intensely for a moment, but their stares quickly broke into brotherly smiles. Ham shook his head and sighed. 00:17:59 Speaker 6: I'm tired, hungry, and feel foolish. 00:18:04 Speaker 3: But I'm here. 00:18:05 Speaker 1: That you are. 00:18:07 Speaker 3: Shem ruffled Ham's hair, earning a playful punch on the shoulder in return. Together, they smoothed out the beam and carried it to Noah and Japheth, who were deep in discussion about the Ark's construction. 00:18:19 Speaker 4: Once all the gopher wood has been smoothed out and measured, we'll begin making the rooms. The outside will be covered with pitch. Remind me the dimensions again. God has shown it all to me. 300 cubits in length, 50 cubits wide. Its height will be 30 cubits. The roof will be finished to a cubit above. It will be made with three separate decks. We'll organize the animals accordingly. 00:18:52 Speaker 2: The door will need to be much higher to be above the water, but it also needs to be drawn down so we can still enter. 00:18:59 Speaker 4: Precisely, sir, yes. 00:19:01 Speaker 2: What about food storage? 00:19:03 Speaker 4: The animals' food will be stored in the bottom. Ours will be stored beside our quarters. 00:19:09 Speaker 1: They looked up. 00:19:11 Speaker 3: Charcoal clouds galloped across the sky. With them came a chilly wind that bit at their cheeks. They hadn't heard the clapping of thunder before. The sound made their muscles tense, as if they were witnessing the birth of a new predator. 00:19:29 Speaker 4: And so, it begins. 00:19:34 Speaker 3: This Prey Dog Com production is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Gatina, Max Bard, Zach Schellevager, and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwald, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Jr., Rosanna Pilcher and Mitch Lashinsky. Music by Andrew Morgan-Smith. written by Aaron Salvato, Brie Rosely, and Chris Baig. You can hear more Prey.com productions on the Prey.com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People, please rate and leave a review. 00:20:20 Speaker 2: This is an iHeart Podcast. 00:20:22 Speaker 5: Guaranteed human.