THE ENUMA ELISH

This Babylonian creation myth was found on seven tablets in the library of Assyrian emperor Ashubanipal (667 - 626 BC) in Ninevah. Although people have pointed out some slight similarities between the Enuma Elish and Genesis one, the differences are large.

Some of the main similarities relevant to Genesis 1 are:

(1) seven tablets -- versus seven days for the biblical account.

(2) earth and sky formed on tablet four in Enuma Elish -- earth and sky separated on day two of Genesis account.

(3) sun and moon etc. in the sky to mark seasons on tablet 5 of Enuma Elish -- day four of Genesis account.

(4) mankind formed on tablet 6 -- people formed on day 6 in the Genesis account.

There is material in common with other middle-eastern creation stories. The relationship of these stories to each other and to Genesis is interesting. If you are interested in the question of the historicity of the first eleven chapters of Genesis you might find the discussion and references in "The Origins Solution" by Dick Fischer (1996, Fairway Press) interesting.

It is important to note that despite some similarities, the Enuma Elish account is VERY different from the Biblical account. Here is a synopsis of the Enuma Elish:

Tablet 1

The primitive scene is presented. Apsu (the fresh water god) and Tiamat (the sea goddess) give birth to Anshar and Kishar, gods representing the horizon, which forms the boundary between the earth and sky. To Anshar and Kishar is born Anu, the sky god, who in turn bears Ea (the goddess representing earth). This brood of gods is so ill-behaved that Apsu determined to slay them. Instead Ea kills Apsu and establishes her abode above his body. Marduk (the city god of Babylon) is born to Ea. Tiamat, transformed into a raging avenger of her slain husband, takes a new husband, Kingu, in place of the slain Apsu.

Tablet 2

As goddess of the sea, Tiamat represents malevolence and chaos. She must therefore be challenged and subdued. First Ea confronts Tiamat, but fails. Then Anu challenges Tiamat, but even the sky god is unsuccessful.

Tablet 4

Finally, Marduk is selected to fight the raging Tiamat. He is chosen on the basis of ability to remake a destroyed garment. He is vested with great power and authoritative word, and he faces Tiamat, slaying the sea goddess and cutting her body in two. With one half he forms the sky, and with the other he forms the earth.

Tablet 5

Marduk places the celestial luminaries in the sky to establish days and months and years.

Tablet 6

Kingu, the husband and commander-in-chief of Tiamat, is also slain, and from his blood is formed mankind, who are assigned to perform menial tasks for the gods.

Tablet 7

Describes Marduk’s elevation as chief of Babylon and head of the Babylonian pantheon because of his role in creation. The Gods of Babylon rest.

[Summary of Enuma Elish adapted from "Unger’s Bible Handbook", Merrill F. Unger, 1967 (Moody Press, Chicago), pp. 39 - 40]