Web Table A Ancient Near Eastern Texts Related to the Hebrew Bible by Theme, Literary Genre, or Historical Connection

Key to the coding of texts by their linguistic/cultural/political categories

Ak = Akkadian Hi = Hittite Ar = Aramaic Mb = Moabite As = Assyrian NB = New Babylonian Cn/Ph = Canaanite/Phoenician OB = Old Babylonian Eg = Egyptian Su = Sumerian Hb = Hebrew

Linguistic ANET* NERT* Code 1. Genesis A. Babylonian Creation Epic OB/NB(?) 60–72, 501–3 80–84 B. Babylonian New Year Festival OB/NB(?) 331–34 C. Enki and Ninhursag (Sumerian Paradise) Su 37–40 85–86 D. Adapa Myth OB 101–3 E. Dumuzi and Enkimdu (Cain-Abel motif) Su 41–42 F. Sumerian King List Su 265–66 87–89 G. Ziusudra Myth (Sumerian flood) Su 42–44 89–90 H. Gilgamesh Epic (tablet XI: flood) Ak 72–99, 503–7 93–97 I. Atrahasis Epic (Babylonian flood) OB 104–6, 512–14 90–93 J. Story of Sinuhe Eg 18–23 K. Nuzi Tablets OB 219–20 L. Story of Two Brothers Eg 23–25 M. Tradition of Seven Lean Years Eg 31–32

Linguistic ANET* NERT* Code 2. Exodus–Deuteronomy A. Asiatics in Egyptian Household Service Eg 553–54 B. Legend of Birth of Sargon Ak(?) 119 98–99 C. Hymn to Aton Eg 369–71 16–19 D. Merneptah or Israel Stela Eg 376–78 E. Law Codes: Ur-Nammu Su 523–25 Lipit-Ishtar Su 159–61 Eshnunna OB 161–63 Hammurabi OB 163–80 Middle Assyrian As 180–88 Hittite Hi 188–97 Neo-Babylonian NB 197–98 F. Edict of Ammisaduqa OB 526–28 G. Hittite Suzerain-Vassal Treaties Hi 201–6, 529–30 H. Syrian and Assyrian Suzerain-Vassal Treaties Ar, As 531–41, 659–61 129–31, 256–66

Linguistic ANET* NERT* Code 3. Joshua–Judges A. Execration of Asiatic Princes Eg 328–29 B. Amarna Letters Ak 483–90 C. Journey of Wen-Amon to Phoenicia Eg 25–29 D. War Against the Sea Peoples Eg 262–63 E. Baal and Anath Cn/Ph 129–42 190–221 F. Legend of King Keret Cn/Ph 142–49 223–25 G. Tale of Aqhat (Daniel) Cn/Ph 149–55 225–26

Linguistic ANET* NERT* Code 4. Samuel–Kings A. Ahiram Inscription Cn/Ph 661 B. Gezer Calendar Hb 320 C. Story of Idrimi of Alalakh As 557–58 D. Plague Prayers of Mursilis Hi 394–96 169–74 E. Moabite Stone Mb 320–21 F. Zakir Stela Ar 655–56 229–32 G. Samarian Ostraca Hb 321 H. Siloam Inscription Hb 321 I. Arad Ostraca Hb 568–69 253 J. Assyrian Royal Annals As 274–301 K. Neo-Babylonian Chronicles NB 302–7, 563–64 L. Lachish Letters Hb 321–22

Linguistic ANET* NERT* Code 5. Ezra–Nehemiah A. Babylonian Ration Tablets NB 308 B. Nabonidus Texts NB 308–16, 560–63 C. Cyrus Cylinder NB 315–16 D. Elephantine Papyri Ar 491–92, 548–49 252–55

6. Prophetic Books A. Protests of the Eloquent Peasant Eg 407–10 B. Prophetic Sayings from Mari OB 122–28 C. Assyrian Oracles of Salvation As 449–50, 605 D. Letter from the Time of Joshua Hb 568

7. Psalms A. Egyptian Hymns Eg 365–81 39–43 B. Mesopotamian Hymns and Laments Su, OB, As 383–92, 573–86 99–115

8. Proverbs A. Old Babylonian and Assyrian Proverbs OB, As 425–27, 593–96 B. Instructions of Amen-em-opet Eg 421–24 49–62 C. Words of Ahiqar Ar 427–30

Linguistic ANET* NERT* Code 9. Job and Ecclesiastes A. Man and His God (Sumerian Job) Su 589–91 140–42 B. “I Will Praise the Lord of Wisdom” NB 434–37, 596–600 137–40 C. Dialogue About Human Misery (Babylonian Ecclesiastes, Babylonian Theodicy) NB 438–40, 601–4 133–37 D. Pessimistic Dialogue Between Master and Servant NB 437–38, 600–601 E. A Satirical Letter Eg 475–79 F. Shurpu Texts (“Negative Confessions”) OB 131–32

10. Lamentations A. Lamentation Over the Destruction of Ur Su 455–63 116–18 B. Lamentation Over the Destruction of Sumer And Ur Su 611–19

11. Song of Songs A. Egyptian Love Songs Eg 467–69 B. Sumerian Love Song Su 496

12. Daniel “A Ruler Will Come . . .” As 606–7 118–19

*Translations: ANET = Pritchard, Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament NERT = Beyerlin, Near Eastern Religious Texts Relating to the Old Testament

The collection of extrabiblical texts is far fuller in ANET than in NERT, which often abbreviates as well. The latter does have the advantage of clearer introductions and notes for the student, especially with reference to proposed parallels with the Hebrew Bible. Both anthologies have indexes of biblical references but the connections cited are far from exhaustive and in some cases seem peripheral or even off-target.