Question
Why does the text give different numbers of animals that are to be taken into the ark?
Answer
The Torah requires seven pairs of kosher animals and only one pair of the non-kosher animals. The Kli Yakar, one of the classic biblical commentators, explains that since Noah would soon be permitted to eat the kosher animals, G-d insured that there would be enough kosher animals to repopulate themselves. (In addition, Noah perceived that G-d must have commanded there to be more kosher animals because He desired some of them to be used as sacrifices).
Sincerely,
Yochai Robkin