Similarities |
Differences |
human population multiplying |
the world bellowed like a bull |
divine investigating mankind |
a great god and many other gods |
unhappiness at man's condition |
anger --man's noise keeps gods awake |
decision to bring a flood |
intent to wipe out mankind entirely |
one man warned |
warning given against great god's will |
the man told to build a boat |
words whispered to his reed house |
boat measurements given |
a square measure -- as wide as long |
seed of land animals to be on board |
seed of all living creatures |
the man obeying the warning |
told to say it would rain a rich harvest |
boat built and pitched |
built in seven days, with feasting |
many cubits long |
120 cubits square |
several decks |
6 decks below, divided into 9 sections |
living things came aboard |
also gold and other supplies |
his family came aboard |
also other kin and all the craftsmen |
he came aboard |
he boarded after the rain started |
the storm was terrible |
the gods of the storm rode on |
the land was affected |
the land was smashed like a cup |
the people were overcome |
they could not be seen from heaven |
the flood overwhelmed the world |
the gods were terrified, and cowered |
Ishtar lamented over the dead people |
|
the great gods of heaven and hell wept |
|
the storm raged for many days |
the flood was stilled the seventh day |
the sea streched flat on every side |
a mountain appeared 14 leagues away |
the boat grounded and held fast |
on the mountain of Nissir |
he opened a hatch |
the same day |
he released a few birds |
he waited only 7 days |
a raven and a dove |
also a swallow |
at intervals |
all in one day |
the raven did not return |
it was the last bird sent out |
dove found no resting place, returned |
he sent her out first, and not again |
the bird saw the waters had retreated |
the raven (not the dove) |
he opened all the boat coverings |
that same day |
he made a sacrificed on the mountain |
he set up 14 cauldrons on stands |
Divinity smelled the sweet aroma |
the gods came like flies and swarmed over the sacrifice but Ishtar kept the great god away |
Divinity promised to remember |
Ishtar said she'd remember this day |
by a colorful crescent |
by the blue jewels around her neck |
the gods rebuked the great god |
|
the man survived the flood |
the great god gave him immortality |
===================
Karen also formulated it as a project for teens:
GILGAMESH EPIC -- SIMILARITIES TO GENESIS 6-9
1. Read Genesis 6-9 and fill in the references to the events.
[supplied on this copy]
2. In the spaces, write in Biblical features
that were left out in Gilgamesh.
3. What kinds of things were left out in the Babylonian story?
The human population was multiplying. |
Gen. 6:1-4 |
A divine investigation of mankind |
:5-8 |
brought unhappiness at man's condition |
:6 |
and a decision to bring a flood. |
:7-17 |
One man was warned. |
:8-21 |
The man was told to build a boat, |
:14-16 |
and boat measurements were given. |
:15 |
Seed of animals was to be taken on board. |
:19-20 |
The man obeyed the warning. |
:22 |
The boat was built and pitched. |
:22 |
It was many cubits long, |
:15 |
with several decks. |
:16 |
Living things came aboard, |
7:1-5, 6-9, 13-15 |
and he and his family came aboard. |
:7, 13 |
The storm was terrible. |
:11-12 |
The land was destroyed by the flood. |
:17-19 |
All life on earth was overcome. |
:20-23 |
: |
|
The flood overwhelmed the world. |
:24 |
The storm raged for a certain number of days. |
:24, 8:1-3 |
The water surface extended out on every side. 8:5-9 |
|
The boat grounded and held fast. |
:4 |
He opened a hatch, |
:6 |
and he released a raven and a dove, |
:7-10 |
at intervals. |
:6,8,10,12 |
The raven stayed out. |
:7 |
The dove, finding no resting place, returned. |
:9 |
By them he knew when the waters had retreated. |
:10-12 |
He opened all the boat coverings. |
:13 |
He made a sacrificed on the mountain. |
:20 |
Divinity smelled the aroma, and responded. |
:21-22 |
and promised to remember, |
9:8-16 |
by a colorful crescent... |
:12-17 |
The man, and the others with him, |
:18; 8:16,18 |
and the animals, survived the flood. |
8:17,19 |
Ó 2010 Arthur V. Chadwick, Ph.D.