In the Biblical account of Noah’s Ark and the Great Flood, an interesting detail is often overlooked. The vaulted dome structure of the firmament of heaven is described to have physical openings through which the flood waters burst forth:
Genesis 7:10-11
And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood were on the earth. In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and 👉the windows of heaven were opened.👈
Genesis 8:2
The fountains of the deep and 👉the windows of heaven👈 were also stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained.
An ancient Israelite scripture known as the book of Jubilees says there are 7 of those windows:
Jubilees 5:24-25
And the Lord opened seven flood-gates of heaven, and the mouths of the fountains of the great deep, seven mouths in number. And the flood-gates began to pour down water from the heaven forty days and forty nights, and the fountains of the deep also sent up waters, until the whole world was full of water.
In the Book of 1st Enoch, Jared recounts a vision of the flood where he describes the heaven as a lofty roof that spewed forth 7 cataracts ‐ a type of waterfall with a large, vertical drop:
Enoch 88:1-2
Then one of those four went to the white cows, and taught them a mystery. While the cow was trembling, it was born, and became a man, and fabricated for himself a large ship. In this he dwelt, and three cows dwelt with him in that ship, which covered them. Again I lifted up my eyes towards heaven, and saw a lofty roof. Above it were 👉seven cataracts,👈 which poured forth on a certain village much water.