Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/95

 The Flood

77

From

obvious, contradictions are also present.

this

may

it

be inferred that in ancient Israel more than one version of story

flood

this

Biblical stories.

existed,

The

was the case with other

as

just

present narrative really contains details

taken from more than one of these ancient versions, and not perfectly harmonized.

More

siguihcant

is

tion story in Genesis

the fact that this story, like the creaI,

has a striking parallel in Babylonian

literature.

The Babylonian

gods,

enraged

Ellil,

story told that one of the great

at the inhabitants of a certain city,

termined to destroy them Ea, revealed the impending him, in preparation

doom

to

for the flood,

build a

ship,

dimensions of which he disclosed unto him.

The storm raged

exact

all

the

members

the ship, and animals of every

of his family, sailors to kind.

the

Just before the

flood began, Ut-Napishtim led into the ship

work Ea himself closed up

de-

But another god, Ut-Napishtim, and bade

a flood.

w^ith

the ship after

all

had entered.

for six days, so frightfully that

all

living

creatures perished, and even the gods were terrified at the destruction they had caused, and which they w^ere powerless to end.

But on the seventh day

all

was

alone upon the face of the water. a

little

island appeared.

top of a high mountain.

The

ship

still



the ship floated

After twenty-four hours

grounded

fast

upon the

After seven days a dove was sent

Later a swallow was sent forth, At last a raven was sent forth, and Thereupon Ut-Napishtim led forth all the did not return. occupants of the ship. A sacrifice was ofl:'ered, about which the gods swarmed greedily like flies. Ellil was pacified by the other gods, and finally bestowed upon Ut-Napishtim and forth, but

but

it,

too,

soon returned. returned.

his wife the blessing of eternal life.

The Biblical

other.

myth and our Clearly one is borrow^ed from the story is striking. xA.nd since the Babylonian story is the older, it must similarity

betw^een

this

Babylonian