The Bible recounts that humanity grew so wicked that God regretted creating the Earth. Observing their ways, He determined to send a great flood as punishment. However, for the sake of one righteous man, Noah, God decided to preserve life. God instructed Noah to build a great wooden Ark, with rooms for his wife, his sons, and their wives. It was to have a large window and a mighty door.
The Ark was to be sealed with pitch inside and out, and constructed to hold a pair of every living creature—animals, birds, and insects—along with ample food. Noah obeyed, gathering the animals and provisions, and then entered the Ark with his family.
Once they were inside, the floodgates of heaven opened. Waters rose above the highest mountains, and the wicked perished. But God remembered Noah. The rain stopped, the waters receded, and sunlight returned. Noah first sent out a raven, which did not return. He then sent a dove, which flew over the waters and came back. After seven more days, he sent the dove again; this time it returned with a fresh olive leaf in its beak.
Knowing the Earth was dry, Noah sent the dove forth once more, and it did not return. Noah and his family then left the Ark. They built a stone altar and gave thanks to God. Pleased, God placed a rainbow in the sky as a covenant.