NOAH’S WIFE? WHAT WAS HER JOB?

Barb Rumson

Have you heard the story of Noah’s Ark? Have you heard this part of it? Noah and his family must have had giant problems collecting and loading the animals on board. What did Mrs. Noah or Emzara (that was actually her name), do when Noah went missing and the animals were getting restless?

A LITTLE HISTORY :

The name of Noah’s wife is Emzara in the “Book of Jubilees”
which is a very early book of tradition and religion.

“Book of Jubilees”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Jubilees
(Accessed June 24, 2016)

“And in the twenty-fifth ... jubilee Noah took to himself a wife, and her name was Emzara, the daughter of Rake'el ...”

from “The Book of Jubilees”
From "The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament" R.H. Charles Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913
http://wesley.nnu.edu/index.php?id=2127
(Accessed June 24, 2016)

Build an Ark

Noah was shouting again! He was looking up at the sky? What was happening?

Well, you see, when things went well, Noah spoke softly to the sky. When things went badly, Noah roared up at the sky and begged for help. This time Noah had roared his complaints, and the sky roared back.

“Yes, Noah, I agree that things are not really bad down there. But I think the people and the land must be cleansed.”

Noah almost fell backwards. The sky had never repliéd to his complaining. He looked up at the twirling clouds above him. He crouched and hid his face. Then he jumped up. He had nothing to be afraid of. He hadn’t done anything wrong. He was asking for help, and someone was yelling back to him.

Noah yelled up at the swirling clouds, “It’s not that bad, you know. Probably a good rain would wash and clean everything and everyone.”

“No, that’s not enough.” The voice in the sky was louder.

The roaring shook the trees beside Noah and he leapt away with his hands shaking and sweat pouring down his face.

“Okay, okay. What do you want me to do about it?”

“Noah, listen carefully,” said the giant voice.

“Okay, okay, I’m listening.” Noah stood up straighter.

“There will be a Flood. Did you hear me? You and your family must build an Ark made out of cypress, which is the best wood for this long journey. After you have completed the Ark, you must round up two of each animal, large and small.”

“Wait a minute, that’s asking for a lot,” said Noah. “You’re saying my family and I have to build an Ark and then round up all those animals? That’s impossible! I don’t even know all the animals.”

“What did you say Noah?” came the roar that quaked the earth under Noah’s feet.

“I said, that I have to think for a minute because it’s so hot.” Sweat ran down Noah’s face as if someone had poured a bucket of water over his head.

“That’s better. I thought I heard you mutter something different,” said the voice from the sky.

“There’s just one thing.”

“What’s that, Noah?”

“I can handle the building, my children can handle rounding up the animals, but how do I get the animals to stand in line and wait patiently to enter the Ark. You know your animals … there will be meek ones, but there will be hungry ones, there will ferocious ones. There will be nervous ones and quiet ones. What will we do with them?”

“Well Noah, it’s very good of you to think of that. But your wife, Emzara, will take care of it. Just leave it to her. She’s in charge of that part. So Noah, get ready with the planning, selecting the wood, cutting, sawing and shaping. You are going to be a very busy man.”

And so it happened that in those ancient and troubled times, Emzara (who you and I had never heard about) had also been given a job that we never heard about, because we really only heard Noah’s story.

Well, here’s Mrs. Noah’s part ... or Emzara’s story

Noah told his wife about the voice commanding him to build an Ark, because there would be a flood. She listened and agreed that this was serious. They must start at once.

In less time than it takes to tell the Ark was completed.

Now they started to round up the animals. It was a miracle. The animals came from far and wide with very few problems. They walked briskly. They walked slowly. They slithered. They crawled. The animals had to be placed in suitable areas. They had to get along with the other animals.

Emzara, Noah’s wife, worked at keeping the animals busy and happy as they stood in line and waited. Noah, as God had commanded, had put her in charge of the long line of animals.

Emzara counted the animals. She smiled sweetly at each animal. She whispered softly into the animals’ ears to keep them calm.

When Emzara whispered, the animals rubbed against her and waited for her gentle pat and her beautiful smile. She walked up and down counting, checking, listening and smiling. She kept small treats in her big swirly apron pockets for special cases. As she handed out the small treats each and every animal licked her hand.

BUT ... something was wrong. The line was getting longer instead of getting shorter.

Emzara moved quickly out to the side of the line and looked up towards the Ark.

The animals had stopped moving. The large animals were stomping. The medium sized animals were thumping. And, the smaller animals were tapping.

Emzara ran forward a few steps.

“Noah! Noah! ” she called. “Where are you? Something is wrong. The animals are not moving. What should I do?” Emzara’s face was red and sweaty.

There were so many animals. She must make sure the animals were moved onto the Ark before the rains came.

Emzara looked towards the Ark again. She started bouncing up and down searching for Noah.

Where was he? Was he sleeping somewhere? She would scream if he was!

Where was Noah? What was he doing? Did something break? Did they find another leak? Were the animals that were already on board giving him trouble?

The line should be moving. It was getting late. The clouds were getting thicker and darker. The rains would be coming very soon.

She must do something to move the line forward. She stopped to think. Emzara had to warn Noah about the time. But, she couldn’t leave the animals.

Emzara picked up a stone and threw it into the air. Would Noah see it? No, that was silly.

Then she cupped here hands and yelled “Noah” – nothing. Noah was gone. He had disappeared. He had to be somewhere. But, he wasn’t answering.

Emzara looked around. She needed to make noise. Harsh, loud noises would get Noah’s attention fast. But how? What could she do?

It just so happened that Emzara was standing beside the African Bush Elephants. They were waiting quietly for orders. They looked down on her from their great height with warmth, friendship and wisdom in their eyes. Their giant ears flapped in the air and light glistened off their white tusks.

It dawned on Emzara. Elephants make loud sounds. She would get an elephant to trumpet! She patted the large male elephant. “Follow me,” she said. The giant creature stomped after Emzara. On a wordless cue from her he lifted his head, raised his long trunk and trumpeted loudly. The African Bush Elephant’s trumpeting roared over the hills and hummocks around them.

Emzara looked up towards the giant Ark.

There was no sign of Noah.

She smiled and patted the Elephant. She gave him a treat and took him back into the line. That didn’t work. What could she do?

The female Elephant came over to Emzara and rubbed against her.

“That’s a good idea,” Emzara said.

She called both the Elephants out of the long line. Taking their positions beside each other (the female was slightly smaller at the shoulder), their trunks arched into the air and a giant blast shocked everyone’s ears.

Then they waited. The Ark was silent and still.

There was no sign of Noah.

The two elephants stood listlessly, heads hanging and their trunks dragging on the ground.

Then Emzara saw the Howler Monkeys. Everyone knows that their screams can be heard for miles and miles. The Howler Monkeys jumped onto the Elephant’s back and screeched. Emzara grabbed at her ears to cover them.

It didn’t work.

There was no sign of Noah.

Then Emzara spotted the Gray Wolves. Their howls would add a new tone to this noisy, loud orchestra.

On Emzara’s orders the Elephants stomped out. The Howler Monkeys swayed back and forth on the Elephant’s backs. The two Gray Wolves loped along side them. At the centre of the field the six animals waited for Emzara’s signal. She counted loudly : “One! Two! Three!”

They all started to trumpet, to screech, and to howl. They continued until the other animals in line held their paws to their ears.

Emzara put up her hand and brought it down sharply. The Elephants stopped trumpeting. The Howler Monkeys stopped screeching. The Gray Wolves stopped howling.

There was no sign of Noah.

The three pairs of animal went back into the line, their heads hanging low.

Now the Gorillas jumped up howling a loud laughter-like sound. The Elephants stomped out. The Howler Monkeys ran and jumped on the backs of the Elephants. The Gray Wolves ran along side.

Then Emzara counted loudly: “One! Two! Three!”

The Elephants trumpeted. The Howler Monkeys screeched. The Gray Wolves howled. The Gorillas pounded their chests and barked and grunted and roared.

There was no sign of Noah. Was he deaf?

The animal octet trudged back into the line.

Then, a giant Bull clomped out of the line.

The Elephants stomped out. The Howler Monkeys ran and jumped on the backs of the Elephants. The Gray Wolves loped alongside. The Gorillas ran out beside the others. The Bull muscled his way next to the gorilla.

Then Emzara counted loudly: “One! Two! Three!”

The Elephants trumpeted. The Howler Monkeys screeched. The Gray Wolves howled. The Gorillas pounded their chests and barked and grunted and roared. The bull tightened up, pawed the ground and snorted.

Emzara jumped up and down trying to get a better view of the Ark.

There was no sign of Noah.

The animals continued the noisy cacophony of sound. The animals in line held their paws to their ears.

Emzara raised her arm and brought it down sharply. They all stopped. The animals plodded back into the line.

Then a donkey with humongous ears sauntered out and hee-hawed loudly.

The Elephants stomped out. The Howler Monkeys jumped on the elephant’s back. The Gray Wolves bounced along side. The Gorillas pounded their chests and thumped along. The Bull galloped beside the gorillas. The Donkeys with the humongous ears pranced close to the Bull.

Emzara counted loudly: “One! Two! Three!”

The Elephants trumpeted. The Howler Monkeys screeched. The Gray Wolves howled. The Gorillas pounded their chests and barked and grunted and roared. The Bull pawed the ground and snorted. The Donkeys with the humongous ears brayed, its “heehaws” breaking the sound barrier.

The terrible noise drove the other animals mad. They clawed furiously at their ears and snarled.

There was no sign of Noah.

Emzara raised her hand then brought it down sharply and the noise-making stopped. The animals filed back into the line with their tails between their legs.

Then a huge Lion sauntered out, his tail swinging wide and making large circles in the air. He looked around and his mouth stretched into a huge, loud yawn.

The Elephants stomped out after the Lion. The Howler Monkeys jumped on the Elephant’s backs. The Gray Wolves bounded along side. The Gorillas pounded their chests and thumped along. The Bull galloped beside the gorillas. The Donkey with the humongous ears pranced close to the Bull.

The Lion stretched his mouth wide and his practice roar resounded, cracking the rocks and making the earth tremble. He was hardly trying.

Emzara counted loudly: “One! Two! Three!”

The huge Lion raised his head and let out an ear-piercing roar that echoed through the valley, around the mountains and even rearranged the clouds in the sky.

Emzara raised her hand then brought it down sharply and the noise making stopped. Emzara looked towards the Ark.

There was no sign of Noah.

The animals were getting skittish. They wanted to lie down and rest. The line was not moving at all. This was bad ... very bad.

What could Emzara do? She prayed. She called upon the Lord’s name. She sat down and she moaned and groaned, tears running down her pudgy cheeks. If it started to rain, the animals would scatter, the Ark would be washed out to sea, and the mission would be lost.

Emzara put up her arms and yelled – “This is not the way it’s supposed to end. What can I do?”

THE DANCE

She stood up and wiped her nose into her cuffs. Then Emzara started to sway from side to side. She picked up the hem of her skirt, and twirled about. Emzara danced towards the Ark.

She raised her arms high in the air and created an oval over her head. This is called “en haute.” The animals looked on.

Then Emzara did a “plié” – which means a bending of the knees. The quiet animals stretched their necks to see better.

Emzara did a complete turn on one leg. Today, its called a “Pirouette.” The animals watched her carefully.

Emzara did a “glissade,” which means “glide.” The animals slowly turned their heads to follow her movements. Now, if only they would follow her lead!

She did the “Pas de chat,” or the “step of the cat.” All the felines smiled in recognition. The mice were a little frightened.

Emzara stopped and said, “Now it’s your turn.”

The monkeys, chimpanzees, gorillas and orang-utans all raised their arms high in the air. They were “en haut.”

Emzara turned to the tall animals and did a lovely “plié.” The Giraffes, Llama, and Camels all bent at their knees and imitated Emzara.

Each animal was doing the movement it could and the line began to inch forward.

Emzara tried a “Pirouette”. One donkey tried to spin on one of its legs. It didn’t work.

With her hands on her hips , Emzara smiled and said, “Maybe that’s not the best dance movement to try.” Instead, she demonstrated the “glissade” again. Every slithering animal, or low slung reptile followed suit: the snakes, the lizards, the newts, the Komodo Dragons (who were being unusually friendly to everyone else), the Tortoises and Turtles. They all did a wonderful slide – all towards the Ark.

To the felines – the tigers, the lions, the pumas, the panthers and the domesticated house cats, Emzara asked them to do the “pas du chat.” They were wonderful. But, the mice were now completely terrified and ran directly to the Ark to find a place to hide. Well, at least they were aboard.

Emzara noticed the giant animals who were all silent and still: the Elephants, the Horses, the Zebras, the Bison, the Water Buffalo, the Musk Ox, and the Cows.

“Follow me!” called Emzara and she showed these behemoths a new step: the “pas marche”, or “marching step.” With an earth shaking stomping of hooves, the long line of giants paraded to the Ark.

Emzara looked up at the heavens. The clouds were getting darker and thicker. Emzara knew she must make the animals move faster. But how?

Emzara got an idea. She did running steps called “pas couru.” She did the “pas couru” towards the Ark. When she looked back she saw all the animals following her.

NOW BOARDING...

The tall animals did the “pas couru” and then did a “plié” as they boarded. The horses and barn animals did the “pas couru” with charm and grace. they also went aboard.

The felines did a “tendu” (stretch), but then continued the “pas du chat” until they were all loaded.

The snakes and lizards were slow. They could not do the “pas couru.” They stopped and stayed put. Emzara rubbed her temples. Doing this helped her think. “Don’t worry about that,” she said. “Just keep doing the “glissade. That will get you aboard just as well.” And it did.

But there was one group of creatures that were not moving at all. The insects were still piled up in a gigantic heap, buzzing, chirping and threatening to sting one another.

Emzara shook her head. She got a stick and tied a cloth to it. She lifted the stick into the air and did the travelling steps – the “pas couru.” Then she did a wonderful “tour en l’air” (which is a turn done in the air) and all the flying insects soared upwards after her. However, the beetles, spiders and scorpions trundled along low to the ground.

The clouds were very dark and the smell of rain filled the air. Every living creature was moving in dance-time toward the Ark.

NOAH ARRIVES

Suddenly Noah appeared. Emzara glared at him. Her face was red and her eyes were crossed as she stomped towards Noah. Then, she stopped in her tracks. His robe was dirty. His sweaty face had mud smudges on it. But, there was a big victory smile on his face just for her. She smooth down her hair. She let go the hem of her skirt. She wiped her mouth on her sleeve. She licked her lips to give them a shine and she smiled at her husband.

She lifted her arms “en haute”, made a “glissade” across the field. Turning back towars Noah she returned with “pas du chat” and arrived with a “pirouette.” Finally, she ended with a “plié” in front of her hard working Noah.

Noah gazed lovingly at his wife, looked at the animals making their way aboard the Ark and he clapped his hands and yelled: “Mazel Tov to my wonderful wife! You saved the day with beauty and grace!”

As the first rain drops struck his forehead, Noah called “Now we can be on our way!”

Noah's Ark

Athanasii Kircheri è Soc. Jesu Arca Noë : in tres libros digesta, quorum I. De rebus quae ante diluvium, II. De iis, quæ ipso diluvio ejusque duratione, III. De iis, quae post diluvium a Noëmo gesta sunt, quæ omnia novâ methodo, nec non summa argumentorum varietate, explicantur, & demonstrantur
by Kircher, Athanasius, 1602-1680 (image CC BY 4.0, border added, resized and colourised for presentation here)

Sources

“Book of Jubilees” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Jubilees (Accessed June 24, 2016)

“The Book of Jubilees” From "The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament" R.H. Charles Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913 http://wesley.nnu.edu/index.php?id=2127
(Accessed June 24, 2016)

“Elephant,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant (Accessed Sept. 18, 2016).

“Howler Monkey,” Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howler_monkey (Accessed Sept. 18, 2016).

“Gray Wolf,” Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_wolf (Accessed October 2, 2016)

“Gorilla,” Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorilla#Communication (Accessed October 2, 2016)

“Bull,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bull (Accessed October 2, 2016)

“Dictionary,” American Ballet Theatre, http://www.abt.org/education/dictionary/index.html (Accessed, November 13, 2016)

“Ballet Dictionary,” BalletHub, https://ballethub.com/ballet-term(Accessed, November 13, 2016)

“Glossary of Ballet,” Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_ballet (Accessed, November 13, 2016)

Sample short stories by Barb Rumson

External links

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