Genesis-2
Creation
The first tree chapters of Genesis contains no unique stories. Its more a graveyard of Mesopotamians mythology.
Later Genesis says, that first homeland of Abraham was Mesopotamia. This myth is memory of close relations between ancestors of Bibles authors and Mesopotamian cultures, same can be detected by myths of creation.
First of all, God created the world and life (1:1- 1:31), take a rest and then did it again (2:5- 2: 19).
Book of Genesis contains two myths of creations and that its result of re-editing, I mentioned in Genesis-1. In general, were is no surprise that ancient Hebrews have few myths on same issue, or versions of same myth. Its quite typical in fact and very natural- different versions appears because tribal and geographical subdivisions, and of course because of time.
For example- Greeks have few versions on Aphrodite’s origin. According one, she was daughter of Ouranos (and sister of Kronos, father of Dzeus), according another- she was daughter of Dzeus.
Similar differences can be find in any mythology but hardly were is another text giving both versions in same page, and both- as absolute undoubtable truth.
Jerusalem priests forgot to delete one version or merge them in to one, but its cleare they favor first.
And here appears Mesopotamians. One of Babylonians theogonical poems Enûma Eliš tels fallowing story:
In the beginning were was only water and chaos, from whom the gods born. Eventually this gods began to fight each other. God of chaos Apsu was killed by leader of gods of order- Ea. Apsu wife Tiamat decided to take her revenge. Son of Ea, Marduk fight her in great battle (Tiamat is usually shown as sea serpent, also a mother of serpents and dragons, so here we also see the origins of legend about Leviathan) and defeat her by cutting her in two pieces. One become the sky, other- the land. And from Tiamat blood, mixed with clay, first man appears.
From first sign this story do not have much common with Bible, but details of creation in Book of Genesis and in Enûma Eliš is the same- creation of sky and earth, separation of water and earth,man creation in sixth day- all goes in same order, eventually in Sunday all gods rested and have the feast.
It most unlikely, that “Enûma Eliš” is first version of Book of Genesis, but its obvious, that ancient Hebrews was under huge influence of Mesopotamia civilisations.
As world, man also was created twice.
And God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them (1:27)
Then the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (2: 12)
After creating man, God creates garden of Eden. This is also comes from Mesopotamian mythology, Sumerian this time- they version of Eden is known as Dilnum.
Bible indicate four rivers, who went out of Eden. Two of them- Tigris and Euphrates is major rivers of Mesopotamia (in fact, Mesopotamia means “between rivers”) and is known in same name today.
Pishon is still a mystery. Few hypothesis were proposed, most likely is Amu Darya. Gihon is a bit detailed, Bible says that river “encircling the entire land of Cush”, and that leads us to Africa.Its could be Nile, if we don’t take encircling literally, but were also many other hypothesis and both- Pishon and Gihon- is still unidentified.
The birth of Eve is quite a mystery, because God created her in most strange way- instead of looking for some more clay, he caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the place with flesh instead thereof. And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from the man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man ( 2: 21- 22).
Best guess is that this story is just a ancient version of “lost in translation”.
Sumerians had divinity named Nin- ti. It means “Lady who brings life” or “Lady who heals” (quite the same thing in days than most of injuries and diseases cosed death). But “ti” in Sumerian also means the rib. Probably ancient Hebrews used Nin- ti as one of prototypes for Eve and after that some strange and mysterious link between Eve and rib appear.
Eastern peoples always was known for they’r imagination, so and this time it was used to solve the case.
