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Differences Between Gen 1 and the Enuma Elish
Gen 1 (Priestly Account of Creation)
- Divine spirit created by word all matter but is independent
of it
- earth is desolate w/ darkness over deep
- 1st day: light
- 2nd day: sky dome
- 3rd day: dry land
- 4th day: heaven lights
- 6th day: creation of humans
- 7th day: God rests and sanctifies sabbath
Enuma Elish
- Divine spirits and cosmic matters coexist
- primeval chaos; war of gods against Tiamat (the deep sea)
- light emanates from the gods
- creation of firmament (dome)
- creation of dry land
- creation of heavenly lights
- creation of humans
- the gods rest and celebrate with a banquet
Comparison between Gen 1 and enuma elish
- P account written in Babylon for final redaction (like enuma
elish)
- there is one god in the P account (Gen 1), without sexual
gender
- in Gen 1 world is created good-- can be sustained without
fertility rites, etc.
- in Gen 1 world is created good-- not result of whim or magic
- P account (Gen 1) ends with the foundation of tabernacle--
a new created order