Abstract
An analysis of the portrayal of the origins of human civilization in Mesopotamian literature, in comparison with that of Genesis 1–11, reveals discontinuity with regard to the divine mediation of civilization. In Mesopotamian texts, civilization is of divine origin and is mediated to humans from the divine sphere, whereas in Genesis 1–11 civilization is of human origin and is associated with the downward spiral of humanity, resulting from the human acquisition of illicit divine “knowledge” in Genesis 3.
Highlights
In the study of Genesis 1–11, it is common for scholars to make comparisons between the biblical material and ancient Near Eastern myths
I will argue that the Eden story in Genesis 3 is the key to understanding how and why the mythological motif of divine instruction was excluded from Genesis 1–11
It would seem that in its final form Genesis 1–11 has performed a similar move with regard to divine mediators
Summary
Articles in JHS are being indexed in the ATLA Religion Database, RAMBI, and BiBIL. Their abstracts appear in Religious and Theological Abstracts. MELVIN, DIVINE MEDIATION AND THE RISE OF CIVILIZATION IN MESOPOTAMIAN LITERATURE AND IN GENESIS 1–11
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