Atrahasis Vs Gilgamesh

When one approaches the biblical text, it is important to explore the cultural context in which the text occurs. With regard to the Book of Genesis, it is important to examine the writing with other contemporary works of similar geography and topics. The people of ancient Mesopotamia, where the oldest civilizations originated, produced a number of stories of creation and natural occurrences. It is important to note that many of the stories of the Sumerians, Akkadians and Hebrews began as oral traditions as the events they depict predate writing, so it is difficult to date these works on the basis of when these prehistoric myths were initiated. Comparison to writings contemporary to the people of Israel, can offer a deeper understanding of

In the myths of Artahasis and the Epic of Gilgamesh (Utnapishtsm’s story) we see two very similar versions of the flood that was sent by the God to kill humans due to over population. However, the endings of both of these myths have a significant difference. In the poem of Artahasis, the God Enki/Ea suggests to Ellil, the God whom decides the fate of humans, that the gods should introduce mortality in human infants and shorten the life span of humans. In comparison, the Epic of Gilgamesh (Utnapishsm’s story) states that Ea/Enki actually chastises Ellil for sending the flood and that there are better ways to subdue the over population of humans. He advises Ellil to send famine or a wild animal to kill off a few people in which is accepted

In the book of Genesis, the text and author of the book was expected to be written everything by one person because of the Hebrew word as a result of a devoted to god. The articles says, “Textual variants is

That there are two traditions blended into one narrative in Genesis can be seen by any reader in both Gen. 1-3 and 6-9. The dual accounts contradict each other in many places. The order of creation occurs on different days; God makes both Adam and Eve out of nothing in the first version (Gen. 1:27) but then makes Adam out of dust and Eve from his rib in the second (Gen. 2:23). Likewise there are two versions of the Deluge, discussed for centuries by the highest experts. What is important is that in either version, God shares the breath of life, investing the divine in man, and

Although the stories are similar they are not identical. In Genesis God sent the Flood to destroy humankind because of man’s wickedness. Unlike The Gilgamesha where the reason was never said however the sender of the flood was a secret council of gods the idea was brought up by Enlil , the god of earth wind and air. God favored Noah because he was a righteous man therefore, he was chosen to build the ark that was three hundred cubits long, fifty cubit wide, and thirty cubits high, about three stories. Utnapishtim was chosen out of the cleverness of Ea, the god of wisdom and crafts. God came directly to Noah to tell him about the Flood where as Ea was swore to secrecy so “he repeated their plans to the reed fence” so he would no break the oath to the group. The boat Utnapishtim was directed to build was a rectangle shaped measuring one acre and about 6 stories high. When the floor came in Gilgamesh it was only rainwater however the Flood in Genesis was rain water as well as ground water. Both floods did indeed wipe out all of humankind but the did not last equal as long. After the flood Utnapishtim was gifted the gift of eternal life where as Noah was to multiply and have rule over the animals.

Introduction: Genesis 12-21. The Context The aim of this analysis is to consider aspects of the context in which the book of Genesis was written, such as its authorship, recipients, time period of historical events and composition, and its biblical context, which may be useful in understanding the book as a whole. It is generally assumed, and most Scholars believe the Authorship of Genesis, as well as the next 4 books of the OT, is attributed to Moses. Although there is some speculation as to whether Moses was the actual author due to there being no straight forward text that states Moses as such.

For instance, the Epic of the Flood was approximately transcribed around 2000 BC; however, the tale of Manu and the Bible Genesis were composed around 1100-800 BC and 1400 BC respectively. The similarities between stories can be attributed to the trade relations among ancient civilizations. In fact, there is evidence due to the availability of certain items in the Indus River Valley that it traded with the ancient Mesopotamian civilization, which could potentially explain the similarities between the Epic of the Flood and the tale of Manu. Furthermore, “the Genesis stories are based on ancient oral traditions that had a long and complex history of transmission,” which could potentially explain the similarities between the Bible Genesis and the Epic of the Flood. Even with the presence of a multitude of similarities among all three stories, there are still some minor differences that occur.

Throughout history floods have acted as the great equalizer. Raging like bulls through civilization, eliminating mankind at the whim of Gods, or so until the flood of Genesis. Examining the key players in the Genesis flood with the key players in the Babylonian flood myths before it, particularly The Atrahasis Epic and The Epic of Gilgamesh, a more moral driven undercurrent begins to emerge. The changes that occur in the characterization of God(s) when switching from polytheistic to monotheistic views, the initial catalyst for the flood itself, and the salvation of the flood myths heroes, all provide contextual insight to the values held by the authors. By comparing The Atrahasis Epic, and Ut-napishtim’s story in The Epic

The book of Genesis is within the Narrative History and Genealogies genre. Genesis was written by Moses in 1445 B.C. (Hindson & Towns). Genesis is the first book in the entire bible, it tells about the beginning of life. The word Genesis literally means “in the beginning”. The book of Genesis opens with the story of creation. God, a spirit from above an empty void, creates the world by calling for there to be light, sky, land, vegetation, and living creatures over a period of six days, and there was. Each day God pronounced his works to be “good” (Genesis 1:4). God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden of Eden. God gives Adam and Eve one rule, he forbids them to eat from the tree of good and evil. Eve cannot resist the temptation and eats the fruit, and shares it with Adam, God curses the couple and bans the two from the Garden. Adam and Eve later have two sons Cain and Abel. Later Cain becomes enraged that God is more pleased with Abels sacrifice then with his, and kills his brother Abel (Genesis 4:8). God then exiles Cain from his home (Genesis 4:11-14). Adam and Eve then have a third son Seth, and with Cain and Seth the

Furthermore, in Genesis one God is referenced to as God, while in Genesis two God is referenced as Lord God. In hindsight, Genesis one gives the

The growing number of contemporary biblical researches help people to clarify the misunderstanding of the event background, and provide readers to identify if the characters in the Bible can be supportive while doing the analysis. In “Genesis 1 and Ancient Egyptian Creation Myths,” Johnston indicates that Genesis 1 is most likely to refute the Egyptian creation myths (Johnston 194). In specific, Johnston claims Egyptian creation myths is destined to be the same with Genesis 1 in literary since they refer to the same historical connection, and he also declares that Genesis 1 is opposing to ancient Egyptian

After reading chapter one and two there are a few distinct differences in the two creation accounts according to Genesis 1 and 2. The noticeable differences are the order in which God creates, the different name used for God, and the different methodologies for creation. These two accounts have been viewed throughout history considering their differences various ways. Depending on your faith, the different and interpretations of the accounts of creation help you interrupt them in a different light. Your religion and beliefs help you put the meaning behind what you think and believe in a different perspective.

In the sacred scripture of both the Bible or the Hebrew Tanakh, the first two chapters of Genesis consist of both the Creation, and the story of Adam and Eve. Despite one story being ordained to one and another. Both the Creation, and the story of Adam and Eve can be compared on both their similarities, the way how both stories can connect, and finally by their differences on connecting their stories.

I have taken the time to read every story in the Bible that I've been assigned in class and I have learned many things that I didn’t see it before. In the book of Genesis we read that there are two types of creations are two types of stories each in different time or can be in a different place. In each book of the Bible in each chapter we can see different things that sometimes are contradictory. In the book of Genesis Chapter one and two these stories are in different times.

The book of Genesis is largely narrative material. Some key themes and events include God as the creator and sustainer of his creation demonstrated through the accounts of the creation week, the fall of man, the flood, and Patriarchal History, including Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. After Adam and Eve sinned and ushered the era of sin and death into the world, men continued to become increasingly sinful. Eventually, God became so angry he completely destroyed mankind with a world-wide flood. However, He spared a remnant: Noah and his family. God chose Abraham and entered into a new covenant naming Israel as his chosen people. Again, with this act we see