Mesopotamian Flood Stories

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MESOPOTAMIAN FLOOD STORIES SUMERIAN BABYLONIAN YAHWIST PRIESTLY Enlil decrees the Gods decree flood YaHWeH decrees ELoHiM decrees destruction of destruction of man destruction of all mankind because for his wickedness, flesh for its of their noise regrets creation corruption Nintu protests Hero of the Flood: Ziusudra (Akkadian Utnapishtim Noah Noah Atrakhasis) Is “pious” Is “righteous” Is “perfect” or “blameless” Is warned by Enki Is warned by Ea Finds “favor in the Is instructed by (Ea) in a dream through wall of eyes of” YaHWeH, ELoHiM to build (by Ea through wall) reed hut is led to the ark an ark Vessel: A huge ship A cube: 120 by 120 Of cypress wood, by 120; 7 stories, 300 x 50 x 30 cubits 9 divisions. w/ rooms & 3 decks Every kind of animal 7 pairs of clean, 2 of all animals 2 of unclean animals YHWH shuts door Storm and Flood Flood from heavy Flood from heavy Fountains of great rain, windows of rain deep broken up, heaven opened windows of heaven opened: cosmic Flood Exact dates Flood lasts 7 days Flood lasts 6 days Flood lasts 40 days, Flood lasts 150 days, retires after 3 weeks retires in 150 days Ship grounds on Ark grounds on Mt. Nisir Mt. Ararat Utnapishtim sends out Noah sends out Noah sends out dove, swallow, & a dove (3 times) raven a raven Ziusudra sacrifices Utnapishtim offers Noah offers sacrifice to Sun-god in ship sacrifice on Mt. Nisir on an altar God’s gather like flies YHWH smells the around smoke sweet savor Immortality given Immortality and YHWH resolves ELoHiM makes a to Ziusudra deification given to not to curse the covenant with Noah Utnapishtim & wife ground again for not to destroy the man’s sake earth again by a flood Ishtar’s necklace ELoHiM sets rainbow of lapis-lazuli: sign in the clouds as a sign of remembrance of his covenant.

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