The Strand Study Bible

THE OLD TESTAMENT AND WORLD HISTORY

( Columbia, p. 66,67,69). The following is Utnapishtim’s reply to King Gilgamesh:

The assembly of the gods decided to send a DELUGE. They said, On the sinner let his sin rest. O man of Shuruppak, build a ship, save your life. Construct it with six stories, each with seven parts. Smear it with bitumen inside and outside. Launch it upon the ocean. Take into the ship seed of life of every kind. I built it. With all that I had I loaded it, with silver, gold, and all living things that I had. I embarked upon the ship with my family and kindred. I closed the door. The appointed time arrived. I observed the appearance of the day. It was terrible. All light was turned to darkness. The rains poured down. The storm raged; like a battle charge on mankind. The boat trembled. The gods wept. I looked out upon the sea. All mankind was turned to clay, like logs floating about. The tempest ceased. The FLOOD was over. The ship grounded on Mt Zazir. On the seventh day I sent out a dove; it returned. I sent out a swallow; it returned. I sent out a raven; it alighted, it waded about; it croaked; it did not return. I disembarked. I appointed a sacrifice. The gods smelled the sweet savor. They said, Let it be done no more. (See - Genesis 7:1 - 8:20)

* The Berossus Tablet (dated c. 300 BC) Berossus, the famous third century BC Babylonian priest/historian, recorded for us the event of the Flood when he copied an account of it out of the archives of the Temple of Marduk in Babylon ( Columbia , p. 189). This is what he recorded:

Xisuthros (no doubt a grossly modified name for Noah), a king, was warned by one of the gods to build a ship, and take into it his friends and relatives and all different kinds of animals, with all necessary food. Whereupon he built an immense ship, which was stranded in Armenia. Upon subsidence of the Flood, he sent out birds; the third time, they returned not. He came out, builded an altar, and sacrificed. (Gen 7:1 - 8:20)

* The Larsa Weld Prism (dated c. 2170 BC) This fine prism of baked clay was written by a scribe by the name of Nur-Ninsubur (c. 2170 BC). It was recovered and secured in 1922 at Larsa by the Weld-Blundell Expedition. It is the earliest known outline of world history, written around 174 years after the event of the Flood (c. 2344 BC). The Weld Prism records for us not only the list of the ten Pre-Flood kings but the “Event” that ended that history as well. Consider Nur-Ninsubur’s account: Alulim Reigned at Eridu 28,000 years Alalmar Reigned at Eridu 36,000 years Emenluanna Reigned at Badgurgurru 43,000 years Kichunna Reigned at Larsa 43,000 years Enmengalanna Reigned at Badgurgurru 28,000 years Dumuza Reigned at Badgurgurru 36,000 years Sibzianna Reigned at Larak 28,000 years Emenduranna Reigned at Sippar 21,000 years Uburratum Reigned at Shuruppak 18,000 years Zinsuddu (Utnapishtim) 64,000 years Then the deluge (FLOOD) overthrew the land It is interesting to note here that although the earliest known author of world history over exaggerated the ages of the ten Pre-Flood kings, he certainly believed there existed a Flood. He said so. * The Sumerian Flood Tablet (dated c. 2000 BC) This tablet records for us a legend of a man who was saved from a Flood by the intervention of the gods, in a huge boat. * The Sumerian Kings Tablet (dated c. 2000 BC) This tablet records for us a legend of a Deluge that had swept over the earth. * Other traditions of a great Flood abound throughout the world . For example: - Early Egyptian accounts record for us a legend of the gods who at one time purified the earth by a great Flood, from which only a few shepherds escaped. - Early Chinese accounts record for us a legend of a man by the name of Fa-He (no doubt a grossly modified name for Noah), founder of the Chinese civilization, who had escaped from a Flood sent because man had rebelled against heaven. Fa- He had a wife, three sons and three daughters. - Early Hindu accounts record for us a legend of a man by the name of Manu (no doubt a grossly modified name for Noah) who was warned to built a ship in order to escape the Deluge, which ended up destroying all creatures. - Early Greek accounts record for us a legend of a man by the name of Deucalion (no doubt a grossly modified name for Noah) who was warned that the gods were going to bring a Flood upon the earth because of the great wickedness of man. Deucalion is said to have built an ark, which ended up resting upon Mt. Parnassus from which a dove was sent out twice.

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