a famous patriarch, was the son of Lamech, and was born in 2978 B.C. He alone with his family were preserved from the universal deluge, when God exterminated the rest of the human race on account of their crimes. Having by the divine command built an ark, he entered it with his wife, his three sons and their wives, and animals of every kind, who were to multiply upon the earth after the deluge. Noah and all the living creatures abode a year in that vessel; and, on his coming out, he immediately expressed his gratitude by erecting an altar to the Lord, and offering sacrifices.—On which God blessed Noah and his family, and promised that the waters should no more overflow the whole earth. He died at the age of 950, 350 years after the deluge; leaving three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, from whom sprung the whole human race.