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Differences Between Gen 1 and the Enuma Elish

 

Gen 1 (Priestly Account of Creation)

  1. Divine spirit created by word all matter but is independent of it
  2. earth is desolate w/ darkness over deep
  3. 1st day: light
  4. 2nd day: sky dome
  5. 3rd day: dry land
  6. 4th day: heaven lights
  7. 6th day: creation of humans
  8. 7th day: God rests and sanctifies sabbath

 

Enuma Elish

  1. Divine spirits and cosmic matters coexist
  2. primeval chaos; war of gods against Tiamat (the deep sea)
  3. light emanates from the gods
  4. creation of firmament (dome)
  5. creation of dry land
  6. creation of heavenly lights
  7. creation of humans
  8. the gods rest and celebrate with a banquet

 

Comparison between Gen 1 and enuma elish

  1. P account written in Babylon for final redaction (like enuma elish)
  2. there is one god in the P account (Gen 1), without sexual gender
  3. in Gen 1 world is created good-- can be sustained without fertility rites, etc.
  4. in Gen 1 world is created good-- not result of whim or magic
  5. P account (Gen 1) ends with the foundation of tabernacle-- a new created order