Is the Bible an original document or is it just a story based on other documents? Can we even know the answer?
Among the present attacks on the Bible's originality, there are two common ones used by anxious atheists and agnostics that doubt the Word of God. If you are unaware of these attacks, then you know now that some people like to say the Bible authors essentially copied some ancient documents, making it unoriginal and non-authoritative. These assertions are addressed below.
The Enuma Elish
Some say the Enuma Elish was a copy of a Sumerian text containing the roots of the biblical creation. They think it preceded the Genesis account of creation and they also think the Genesis account was simply a copy of it. However, there are many problems with these assertions.
In 1845, an archaeologist found seven, stone tablets in some ancient ruins in Assyria; specifically, ancient Nineveh. These tablets contained a Babylonian, creation account written in Akkadian cuneiform. It was published in 1876 and named the Enuma Elish after the first two words, which mean "when above."
There are a few, vague similarities with the Genesis account. However, there are countless other things mentioned such as several gods, the death of a god, someone being created from a god's blood, etc. It's quite a drama and you can click here to read it.
These tablets were found in the library of the Assyrian king Asshurbanapal. They are dated to the 12th century B.C. Some believe they are based on an older, Sumerian version of the poem from approximately 1800 B.C.; which was the time of Abraham and Hammurabi. Consequently, the real question is this: Did the alleged, Sumerian version pre-date the biblical account of creation and if it did, was the biblical account created from it?
The easiest way to find this answer is to discover when these stories were written. The events in the first five books of the Bible, often called the Pentateuch, pre-date the alleged, Sumerian text and were essentially written by Moses. Moses lived around 1500 B.C. There are a great number of reasons to believe Moses wrote 99% of the Pentateuch (including Genesis) and some of these reasons include the following.
1) In Exodus 17:14 and 34:27, we read that the Lord told Moses to write.
2) In Exodus 24:4, Numbers 33:2, Deuteronomy 31:9, 31:22, and Deuteronomy 32 we read that Moses wrote.
3) The New Testament affirms, in Luke 20:28, that Moses wrote in the Pentateuch. It reads, "Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother."
4) Later in biblical history, we read that there was a "Book of Moses." See Joshua 1:7 and 8, 2 Chronicles 25:4, Ezra 6:18, and Nehemiah 13:1.
5) Jesus and the early church attributed the Torah to Moses. See Matthew 19:7, 22:24, Mark 7:10, 12:26, John 1:17, 5:46, and 7:23.
6) The early Jewish and Christian tradition is virtually unanimous in ascribing Genesis through Deuteronomy to Moses. See Ecclesiasticus 24:23, Philo, Josephus, the Mishnah, and the Talmud.
Now, we have seen that the first five books of the Bible (including the creation account) were penned by Moses near 1500 B.C. This clearly predates even a late dating of the Enuma Elish. Therefore, one of our questions have been answered.
If we want to assume, for a moment, that there was an ancient, Sumerian creation account from 1800 B.C., then we must consider when and where Sumer originated and if the biblical account predated the Sumerians. It is widely accepted by scholars that Sumer is in Iraq and is mentioned in the Bible as Shinar. It is mentioned, for the first time, in Genesis 10:10. Therefore, we have a clear picture of the timing of creation, the first inhabitants of the Earth, their descendants, the creation of Shinar, the potential, Sumerian accounts, and so forth. Even though we do not currently have a biblical manuscript that predates Shinar, we still have a number of undeniable facts that do, so we can safely conclude that the biblical creation account predated any, possible Sumerian one because the first people in the Bible, which were the first people on Earth, predated the Sumerians. Any creation account that could have been created by the Sumerians had to have been taken from the original account and the original people that had a relationship with the Creator (e.g. Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel, etc.) and/or their descendants.
Gilgamesh
In the middle of the 19th century, 12 tablets were unearthed from the banks of the Tigris River. They were written in Akkadian cuneiform and were later translated. These tablets contained something called "The Epic of Gilgamesh."
The story on the 11th tablet resembles the Genesis account of the worldwide flood. There are, of course, similarities and differences. You can read this tablet, in English, by clicking here.
This, Babylonian account of a flood was likely recorded around 2000 B.C. Therefore, it was clearly penned after the Noahic flood of Genesis, but before the time when Moses wrote the Pentateuch. Does this provide a problem for biblical scholars?
The desire of a scholar should be the truth; not simply the most recent manuscript. Finding ancient manuscripts rarely happens. Finding biblical manuscripts from 2500 B.C., that were penned by the nomadic Semites as they traveled in the desert, is not likely or even expected. However, we would deem it possible that the people who were saved from the flood could transmit the flood account to their descendants and get the story correct until the time of Moses.
Does "The Epic of Gilgamesh" predate the authorship of the Pentateuch? Probably. Does this mean that the Pentateuch (e.g. the biblical flood account) was written from "The Epic of Gilgamesh"? Let's take a look. Click here for "The Epic of Gilgamesh." Click here for the biblical flood account from Genesis 6.
After reading those, two accounts, you will see how the biblical one couldn't have been derived from the Babylonian one. There are countless reasons why, but I've divided these reasons into two sections: Reasons Why It's Unlikely and Reasons Why It's Impossible.
Reasons Why It's Unlikely
1) Moses wrote the Pentateuch because he wanted to record the historical record of God's dealings with humankind. Why would he steal a story from the pagan Babylonians? Why would he steal a story at all? There seems to be no good reason that Moses would alter a Babylonian myth and adopt it as a historical heritage.
2) The biblical account gives us a sound and consistent story based on God's character, the sinfulness of humankind, principles of nature and science, reasons for the flood, etc. The Epic of Gilgamesh contradicts God's consistent and congruent plan of redemption by introducing a plant at the bottom of the sea that gives eternal life when eaten. It also assumes an absurdity: that Gilgamesh could swim to the bottom of this sea and uproot the plant. It is clearly full of fiction while the biblical account is not.
3) The dimensions of the boats were extremely different. Noah's ark was 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high (based on our understanding of a cubit) with the floors. Gilgamesh's boat was only 14 feet long (200 square feet), 200 feet high, and had six floors. Generously speaking, Gilgamesh's boat wouldn't float. After the flood waters rose, it would topple in a matter of seconds and all of the animals would be thrown to the side of the boat (which would be the new bottom of the boat). This would likely kill everyone and it would surely be noteworthy; even though Gilgamesh doesn't mention this happening.
Reasons Why It's Impossible
We have identified "The Epic of Gilgamesh" as a myth and a lie. Due to a large number of reasons, it is an impossibility. However, if we could find current, scientific findings that authenticate the biblical account, then it would be unequivocal evidence that the Genesis flood account is correct. How would Moses be able to forge something so detailed 3500 years ago and have it be scientifically correct, today? Answer: If science authenticates the biblical flood account, then it was surely the original and the Babylonian account was surely the fabrication.
1) Books like "Noah's Ark: A Feasibility Study," by John Woodmorappe, have shown that all of the animals necessary to populate the world as we know it would have been able to fit into Noah's Ark. Furthermore, scientific organizations like "Answers in Genesis," "The Institute for Creation Research," and "Creation Science Evangelism" have confirmed the fact that "two of each kind" of animal could have produced every animal on the Earth, today.
2) Before the biblical flood, the Earth was relatively flat and without much water. There was a great deal of water above the firmament, though. The amount of water we currently have in the oceans, rivers, and seas matches the amount of water that we would have expected to fall in the Noahic flood.
3) The runoff patterns are still visible on land masses, today. These include the Grand Canyon, the Black Sea carving the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles, the Mediterranean Lake flowing into the (much lower) Atlantic Ocean, forming a deep V notch at the straits of Gibraltar, a huge lake in Central California flowing through the gap under the Golden Gate Bridge, etc.
4) The biblical account identifies the "fountains of the deep" opening. This agrees with plate tectonics and the shifting that occurred.
5) The subsequent ice age was a result of the effects of the biblical flood. Even evolutionists agree on an ice age. They simply have a different date for its occurrence and its duration.
6) Here is a great web site that takes the biblical flood account and reveals its effects on the Earth and how we still see them, today. Link: link.
Since Gilgamesh is clearly a fabrication and since the Genesis flood account has been confirmed with present-day observation and facts, we know that the biblical flood account is correct. We also know that Moses penned the flood account from a reliable source. If the Babylonian author based his story on the truth, he deliberately changed it to reflect certain gods and ideas of his choosing that contradicted the truth, logic, and science.
Conclusion
People that do not know their Creator and are unsure about the truth have always been prone to adopt concepts from those that are 100% certain that their Creator is real. We have seen this with the Sumerians, the Babylonians, the Egyptians, and in modern cults like the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Mormons. They hear the truth and add things to it.
The Bible is the only religious, prophetic book that is inerrant. No other book compares. On issues of science, history, and morality, the Bible is head and shoulders above the rest. It is truly original and inspired by the Holy Spirit of God. If you haven't repented from your sins and trusted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please click here and see the gospel message.
The Epic of Gilgamesh, TABLET XI, Columns I - VI
Column I
To the most distant and removed of semi-gods, to Utnapishtim,
Gilgamesh said: "When I regard you now, my god-like man,
it's like seeing my own face on calm water
where I dare to study myself.
Like me, you are first of all a fighter who prefers to war-no-more.
How could one like you, so human, all-too-human, ascend to be at one with other gods?"
10. Utnapishtim said to him in swift reply:
"Only one as bold as you would dare expect
such knowledge. But I shall tell you what
no person has ever been told.
High up the constant Euphrates
there rests a place you call Shuruppak
where gods and goddesses recline.
Then came the flood, sent by gods' intent.
Mama, Anu, and Enlil were at Shuruppak.
So too was their coachman, Ninurta,
20. and Ennugi, the beastiarilis,
and one who watches over precious infants,
the ever vigilant Ea.
And Ea refrained their chant to the higli-grown reeds
upon the shore, giving this advice to me:
'Arise! Arise! Oh wall-like reeds.
Arise and hear my words:
Citizen of Shurtippak, child of Ubaratutu,
abandon your home and build a boat.
Reject the corpse-like stench of wealth.
Choose to live and choose to love;
30. choose to rise above and give back
what you yourself were given.
Be moderate as you flee for survival
in a boat that has no place for riches.
Take the seed of all you need aboard
with you and carefully weigh anchor
after securing a roof that will let in no water.'
"Then I said back in reverent prayer:
'I understand, great Ea.
I shall do just as you say to honor god,
40. but for myself
I'll have to find a reason to give the people.'
"Then Ea voiced a fair reply:
'Tell those who'll need to know
that Enlil hates you.
Say: "I must flee the city now
and go by sea to where Enlil waits to take my life.
I will descend to the brink of Hell
to be with Ea, god,
who will send riches to you like the rain:
50. all manner of birds;
birds ... bonds ... burds...
and the rarest of rare fish.
The land will fill with crops full grown at break of day.
Ea will begin to shower
gifts of life upon you all"."'
Column II
Then Utnapishtim continued, saying words like these:
"By week's end I engineered designs
for an acre's worth of floor upon the ark we built
so that its walls rose straight toward heaven;
60. with decks all round did I design its space;
120 cubits measured its deck.
With division of six and of seven
I patterned its squares and stairs;
left space for portals too,
secured its beams and stockpiled
all that ever could be used.
Pitch for the hull I poured into the kiln
and ordered three full volumes of oil
to start with and two times three more yet.
For what is security?
70. Each day I sacrificed the holy bulls
and chosen sheep for the people
and pushed the laborers to great fatigue
and thirst, allayed alone by wine
which they drank as if it were water running
from barrels set up for holding cheer
in preparation for a New Year's party they expected.
I set up an ointment box
and cleaned my fingers with its cream.
"After one week, the ark was done,
80. though launching was more work than fun
since hull boards caught and snapped
until the water burst most of its great ton.
I supplied the craft with all I owned
of silver, gold, and seed.
My clan brought on the food they'd eat
and all the things we thought we'd need.
At last, it was my turn just then
to shepherd beasts and birds and
babies wet and loud.
90. It was Shamash who ordained the time, saying:
'Prepare the way for your whole boat
and set to sail when the storm
begins to threaten you.'
"The Anunnaki too then cried for them.
The gods themselves, finally suffering, sat up
and let their first tears flow down
cheeks and over lips pressed closed.Column III
"For the whole next week
the sky screamed and storms wrecked the earth
100. and finally broke the war
which groaned as one in labor's throes.
Even Ishtar then bemoaned the
fates of her sad people.
Ocean silent.
Winds dead.
Flood ended.
Then I see a dawn so still;
all humans beaten to dirt
and earth itself like some vast roof.
110. I peeked through the portal into a morning sun
then turned, knelt and cried.
Tears flooded down my face.
"Then I searched high and low for the shoreline,
finally spotting an island near and dear.
Our boat stuck fast beside Mt. Nimush.
Mt. Nimush held the hull that could not sway
for one whole week.
"I released the watch-bird, to soar in search of land.
The bird came back within a day
exhausted, unrelieved from lack of rest.
120. I then released a swallow, to soar in search of land,
The bird came back within a day
exhausted, unrelieved from lack of rest.
I then released a raven, to soar in search of land.
The bird took flight above more shallow seas,
found food and found release and found no
need to fly on back to me.
"These birds I then released to carth's four corners
and offered sacrifice,
a small libation to the heights of many mountains,
130. from numbered chalices that I arranged.
Under these I spread the scents that gods favored
and when the gods smelled the sweet perfume of sacrifice,
they gathered in flight all above, like apparitions.Column IV
"From distant heights with heavenly sights,
the female of all female gods descended then;
Aruru who aroused the wry thought
that Anu made for intercourse.
'Great gods from far and wide
keep always in my mind
140. this thought for intercourse,
tokened by the sacred blue medallion on my neck,
Let me recall with smiles
these days in days to come.
Gods of my shoreline, gods of my sky,
come round this food that I prepared for you;
but do not let Enlil enjoy this too,
since he's the one who drowned my relatives
without telling the gods what he set out to do.'
When Enlil saw the boat, he released
150. his calm reason and let in the lgigi, monsters of blood.
'What force dares defy my anger!?
How dare a man be still alive!?'
Then with these words Ninurta said to Enlil:
'Can any of us besides Ea, maker of words,
create such things as speech?'
Then with these words Ea himself said to Enlil:
'Sly god,
sky darkener,
and tough fighter,
160. how dare you drown so many little people
without consulting me?
Why not just kill the one who offended you,
drown only the sinner?
Keep hold of his lifecord; harness his destiny.
Rather than killing rains, set cats at people's throats.
Rather than killing rains, set starvation on dry, parched throats.
Rather than killing rains, set sickness on the minds and hearts
of people.
I was not the one who revealed our god-awful secrets.
Blame Utnapishtim, Mr. Know-it-all,
170. who sees everything,
who knows everything."
"Reflect on these stories, my Gilgamesh."
"Then Enlil swooped down around my boat;
he gently raised me from the slime,
placed my wife beside my kneeling form
and blessed us both at once with hands upon our bowed heads.
So was it ordained.
So we were ordained."
Earlier than that time, Utnapishtim was not divine.
180. Then with his wife he was deified
and sent to rule the place where rivers start.
"Gods sent me everywhere to rule the place where rivers start."
"As for you, Gilgamesh, which gods will be called on
to direct your path and future life?
Arise! Be alert! Stay up with stars for
seven long and sleepless nights!"
But even as he tried to stay awake,
fog-like sleep rolled over his eyes.
Then Utnapishtim said these words:
190. "Dear wife, behold the one who tries to pray
while fog-like sleep rolls over his eyes."
She said to him who rarely talks:
"Arouse him now and let him
leave unharmed. Permit that one
to go back home at last."Column V
Then Utnapishtim said these words:
"An upset soul can upset many gods.
Be kind with food and generous to him.
But keep a count of how he
200. sleeps and what he eats."
She was kind with food and gentle with the man
and she kept count of how he slept.
"One, two, three, abate,
he slept with death~the-fairy.
Four, five, six, abate,
he looked so cold and wary."
Then he returned from death to breath!
210. So Gilgamesh said to the One-who-rarely-spoke:
"Just as I slipped toward sleep,
you sent my dream."
And to him in reply, Utnapishtim said these words:
"One, two, three, alarie,
you slept with death-the-fairy.
Four, five, six, alarie,
you looked so cold and wary.
Then you arose from death to breath."
So Gilgamesh said to the One-who-rarely-speaks:
"Help me, Utnapishtim. Where is
home for one like me whose self
220. was robbed of life? My own
bed is where death sleeps and
I crack her spine on every line
where my foot falls."
Utnapishtim calls out to the sailor-god:
"Urshanabi, dear, you will never land
again easily or easily sail the seas
to shores where you no more will find safe harbor.
Sandy and disheveled hair does not become
the one you nearly drowned.
230. Shingles now spoil his hidden beauty.
Better find a place to clean him up.
Better race to pools of saltless water soon
so that by noon he'll shine again for all of us to see.
Tie up his curly hair with ribbon fair.
Place on his shoulders broad the happy robe
so that he may return to his native city easily in triumph.
Allow him to wear the sacred elder's cloak
and see that it is always kept as clean
as it can be."
The sailor-god brought Gilgamesh
240. to where they cleaned his wounds.
By noon he shone again for all to see.
He tied his curly hair with ribbon fair,
and placed upon his shoulder broad the happy robe
so he would return to Uruk easily in triumph
with a cloak unstained and unstainable.
Urshanabi and Gilgamesh launched the boat
over the breakers on the beach and
started to depart across the seas.Column VI
To her distant husband, Utnapishtim's wife said:
250. "This Gilgamesh has labored much to come here.
Can you reward him for traveling back?"
At that very moment, Gilgamesh used paddles
to return his craft along the shore.
Then Utnapishtim called out to him:
"Gilgamesh! You labored much to come here.
How can I reward you for traveling back?
May I share a special secret, one
that the gods alone do know?
There is a plant that hides somewhere among the rocks
260. that thirsts and thrusts itself deep
in the earth, with thistles that sting.
That plant contains eternal life for you."
Immediately, Gilgamesh set out in search.
Weighed down carefully, he dove beneath
the cold, cold waters and saw the plant.
Although it stung him when he grabbed its leaf,
he held it fast as he then slipped off his weights
and soared back to the surface.
Then Gilgamesh said this to Urshanabi, the sailor-god:
270. "Here is the leaf that begins
all life worth having.
I am bound now for Uruk,
town-so-full-of-shepherds,
and there I'll dare to give
this plant to aged men as food
and they will call it life-giving.
I too intend to eat it
and to be made forever young."
After 10 miles they ate.
280. After 15 miles they set up camp
where Gilgamesh slipped into a pool;
but in the pool, a cruel snake slithered by
and stole the plant from Gilgamesh
who saw the snake grow young again,
as off it raced with the special, special plant.
Right there and then Gilgamesh began to weep
and, between sobs, said to the sailor-god who held his hand:
"Why do I bother working for nothing?
Who even notices what I do?
290. I don't value what I did
and now only the snake has won eternal life. in minutes, swift currents will lose forever
that special sign that god had left for me."
Then they set out again,
this time upon the land.
After 10 miles they stopped to eat.
After 30 miles they set up camp.
Next day they came to Uruk, full of shepherds.
300. Then Gilgamesh said this to the boatman:
"Rise up now, Urshanabi, and examine
Uruk's wall. Study the base, the brick,
the old design. is it permanent as can be?
Does it look like wisdom designed it?
The house of Ishtar in
Uruk is divided into three parts:
the town itself, the palm grove, and the prairie."
Enuma Elish - 'When On High'
When on high the heaven had not been named,
Firm ground below had not been called by name,
Naught but primordial Apsu, their begetter,
(And) Mummu-Tiamat, she who bore them all,
Their waters commingling as a single body;
No reed hut had been matted, no marsh land had appeared,
When no gods whatever had been brought into being,
Uncalled by name, their destinies undetermined-
Then it was that the gods were formed within them.
Lahmu and Lahamu were brought forth, by name they were called.
For aeons they grew in age and stature.
Anshar and Kishar were formed, surpassing the others.
They prolonged the days, added on the years.
Anu was their son, of his fathers the rival;
Yea, Anshar's first born, Anu was his equal.
Anu begot in his image Nudimmud.
This Nudimmud was of his fathers the master;
Of broad wisdom, understanding, mighty in strength,
Mightier by far than his grandfather, Anshar.
He had no rival among the gods, his brothers.
The divine brothers banded together,
They disturbed Tiamat as they surged back and forth,
Yea, they troubled the mood of Tiamat
By thier hilarity in the Abode of Heaven.
Apsu could not lessen their clamour
And Tiamat was speechless at their ways.
Their doings were loathsome unto (. . .).
Unsavory were their ways; they were overbearing.
Then Apsu, the begetter of the great gods,
Cried out, addressing Mummu, his vizier:
"O Mummu. my vizier, who rejoicest my spirit,
Come hither and let us go to Tiamat!"
They went and sat down before Tiamat,
Exchanging counsel about the gods, their first born.
Apsu, opening his mouth,
Said unto resplendent Tiamat:
"Their ways are verily loathsome unto me.
By day I find no relief, nor repose by night.
I will deystroy, I will wreck their ways,
That quiet may be restored. Let us have rest!"
As soon as Tiamat heard this,
She was wroth and called out to her husband.
She cried out arrgrieved, as she raged all alone,
Injecting woe into her mood:
"What? Should we deystroy what we have built?
Their ways are indeed troublesome, but let us attend kindly!"
Ill wishing and ungracious was Mummu's advice:
"Do deystroy, my father, the mutinonous ways.
Then shalt thou have relief by day and rest by night!"
When Apsu heard this, his face grew radiant
Because of the evil he planned against the gods, his sons.
As for Mummu, by the neck he embraced him
As (that one) sat down on his knees to kiss him.
(Now) whatever they plotted between them
Was repeated unto the gods, their first born.
When the gods heard (this), they were astir,
(Then) lapsed into silece and remained speechless,
Surpassing in wisdom, accomplished, resourceful,
Ea, the all wise, saw through their scheme.
A master design against it he devised and setup,
Made artfull his spell against it, surpassing and holy.
He recited it and made it subsist in the deep,
As he poured sleep upon him. Sound asleep he lay.
When Apsu he made prone, drenched with sleep,
Mummu, the adviser, was impotent to move,
He loosened his band , tore off his tiara,
Removed his halo (and) put it on himself.
Having fettered Apsu, he slew him.
Mummu he bound and left behind lock.
Having thus upon Apsu established his dwelling,
He laid hold on Mummu, holding him by the nose rope.
After he vanquished and trodden down his foes,
Ea, his triumph over his enemies secured,
In his sacred chamber in profound sleep he rested.
He named it "Apsu," for shrines he assigned (it).
In that same place his cult hut he founded.
Ea and Damkina, his wife, dwelled (there) in splendor.
In the chamber of fates, the abode of destinies,
A god was engendered, most potent and wisest of gods.
In the heart of Apsu was Marduk created,
In the heart of holy Apsu was Marduk created.
He who begot him was Ea, his father;
She who concieved him wa Damkina, his mother.
The breast of goddesses did she suck.
The nurse that nursed him filled him with awesomeness.
Alluring was his figure, sparkling the lift in his eyes.
Lordly was his gait, commanding from of old.
When Ea saw him, the father who begot him,
He exulted and glowed, his heart filled with gladness.
He rendered him perfect and endowed him with a double godhead.
Greatly exalted was he above them, exceeding throughout.
Perfect were his members beyond comprehension,
Unsuited for understanding, dificult to percieve.
Four were his eyes, four were his ears;
When he moved his lips, fire blazed forth.
Large were all hearing organs,
And the eyes, in like number, scanned all things.
He was the loftiest of the gods, surpassing was his stature;
His members were enourmous, he was exceedingly tall.
"My little son, my little son!
My son, the Sun! Sun of the heavens!"
Clothed with the halo of the ten gods, he was storng to the utmost,
As their awesome flashes were heaped upon him.
Disturbed was Tiamat, astir night and day.
The gods, in malice, contributed to the storm.
Their insides having plotted evil.
To Tiamat these brothers said:
"When they slew Apsu, thy consort,
Thou didst not aid him but remaindest still.
Although he fashioned the awesome Saw,
Thy insides are diluted and so we can have no rest.
Let Apsu, thy consort, be in thy mind
And Mummu, who has been vanquished! Thou are left alone.
Then joined issue Tiamat and Marduk, wisest of gods,
They swayed in single combat, locked in battle.
The lord spread out his net to enfold her,
The Evil Wind, which followed behind, he let loose in her face.
When Tiamat opened her mouth to consume him,
He drove the Evil Wind that she close not her lips.
As the fierce winds charged her belly,
Her body was distended and her mouth was wide open.
He released the arrow, it tore her belly,
It cut through her insides, splitting the heart.
Having thus subdued her, he extinguished her life.
He cast down her carcass to stand upon it...
The lord trod on the legs of Tiamat,
With his unsparing mace he crushed her skull.
When the arteries of her blood he had severed,
The North Wind bore (it) to places undisclosed.
On seeing this, his fathers were joyful and jubliant,
They brought gifts of Homage, they to him.
Then the lord paused to view her dead body,
That he might divide the monster and do artful works.
He split her like a shellfish into two parts:
Half of her he set up and ceiled as sky,
Pulled down the bar and posted guards.
He bade them to allow not her waters to escape.
He crossed the heavens and surveyed (its) regions.
He squared Apsu's quarter, the abode of Nudimmud,
As the lord measured the dimensions of Apsu.
The Great Abode, its likeness, he fixed as Esharra,
The Great Abode, Esharra, which he made as the firmament.
Anu, Enlil, and Ea he made occupy their places.
When Marduk hears the words of the gods,
His heart prompts (him) to fashion artful works.
Opening his mouth he addresses EA
To impart the plan he addresses EA
To impart the plan he had concieved in his heart:
"Blood I will mass and cause boned to be.
I will establish a savage, 'man' shall be his name.
Verily, savage man I will create.
He shall be charged with the service of the gods
That they might be at ease! The ways of the gods I will artfully alter.
Though alike revered, into two (groups) they shall be divided."
Ea answered him, speaking a word to him.
To relate to him a scheme for the relief of the gods:
"Let but one of their brothers be handed over;"
He alone shall perish that mankind may be fashioned.
Let the great gods be here in Assembly,
Let the guilty be handed over that they may endure."
Marduk summoned the great gods to Assembly;
Presiding graciously, he issued instructions.
Th is utterance the gods pay heed.
The king addresses a word to the Anunnaki:
"If your former statement was true,
Do (now) the truth on oath by me declare!
Who was it that contrived the uprising,
And made Tiamat rebel, and joined battle?
Let him be handed over who contrived the uprising.
His guilt I will make him bear that you may dwell in peace!"
The Igigi, the great gods, replied to him,
To Lugaldimmerankia, counsellor of the gods, their lord:
"It was Kingu who contrived the uprising,
And made Tiamat rebel, and joined battle."
The bound him holding him before Ea.
They imposed on him his guilt and severed his blood (vessels).
Out of his blood they fashioned mankind.
He imposed the service and let free the gods.
