VIII THE TOWER OF BABEL The Genesis story of the Tower of Babel, need not long detain us. Like the reference to Nimrod, an early emperor of Babylonia, it naturally deals with what is Babylonian. The light thrown upon the story of Babel by exploration and research, is well known; and need not be enlarged upon here. Suffice it to say, that one of the reasons why the Biblical writer made use of the story was to refer to the fact that people from his land journeyed eastward into the alluvium, for he tells us that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and dwelt there. These settlers, having come from Amurru, called the name of their city after their own god, Bab-El. Their temple they called Esagila "House (E) with a lofty (ila) head (sag)." Their tower they called E-temen-an-ki "house (E) of the foundation (temen) of heaven (an) and earth (ki)." As is well known, many other temple-names of Babylonia also refer to the heavens. Naturally, the names of these famous towers in Babylonia, and the idea expressed by them, namely, that they were intended to reach into the realm of heaven, an idea probably connected with all high places in the West, were, doubtless, known to intelligent people of the West. They probably even also knew of inscriptions referring to their reconstruction. If in Europe and America, museums now have not a few original inscriptions concerning the Tower of Babel, in which are found an expression almost identical with that of Genesis, namely, that they built up its head reaching into the heavens, it is quite probable that this conception was also well known at the time to the intelligent ancient of the Near East. Doubtless, also the fact that they had in mind making a name for themselves, which is also expressed in the inscriptions with which we ourselves are familiar, was also known to them. And naturally the fact that the Babylonians had to depend largely upon brick for this building material, instead of stone, and bitumen instead of mortar, was also very fully appreciated. Having in mind the comparatively close connections between Babylonia and Canaan, there should be no occasion for any difference in views concerning the origin of the Biblical story of Babel. The story in Genesis is the story of a foreigner, not of a Babylonian. His interpretation of the facts which he uses, clearly indicates this. The story may even have been occasioned by the sight of the tower in a period when it had been allowed to fall into decay, for we have references in the inscriptions to this having occurred. Knowledge of such a condition, however, was not gained when the Hebrews lived in captivity; for at that time Babel was at its height. The Biblical writer, doubtless, was also well acquainted with the fact that Babylon was a great metropolis of many tongues, especially in the period following its ascendency in the reign of Hammurabi. That it was the chief city of the land, following this period, was of course well known. Geographically, Babylon was built in a strategic position. There was always a great city or emporium in the vicinity-Kish, and Akkad before the days of Babylon; Seleucia, Ctesiphon, and Baghdad following its decay; which fact can easily be understood, for the trade routes between India, Persia, Assyria, and the West, owing to the position of the deserts, naturally passed through this part of the country. In short, the fact that so many languages were represented in Babylon, as is the case in Baghdad at present, was doubtless known to the Biblical writer, and was made use of in writing the story. APPENDIX A. THE AMORITE STORY OF CREATION (ENUMA ELISH)1 FIRST TABLET When above the heavens were not named, Apsu, the primeval, was their progenitor, Mummu-Tiamat was the bearer of all of them, 5 Their waters had been gathered together (embraced each other), A name was not called, destinies were not fixed, 10 Lakhmu and Lakhamu were fashioned, were called by name. Anshar and Kishar were created; they surpassed them. Long were the days, years were added. Anu, their son, (became) a rival of his fathers. 15 Anshar made Anu, his firstborn, an equal. Then Anu in his likeness brought forth Ea. Ea, who became the ruler of his fathers, 1 Parts of the text were published by Smith, TSBA 4, 364 ff, and Delitzsch, Ass. Les. 93 f; Bezold, Catalogue p. 716; Pinches, Bab. and Or. Record 1890; King CT 13; and Seven Tablets of Creation; Ebeling, Keilschrifttexte aus Assur, Religiösen Inhalts. Transliterations and translations appeared from the time of Smith by the above, including Sayce, Higher Criticism 63 ff; Jensen, Kosmologie 268 ff, 320 ff, and KB VI 1 2 ff; Zimmern in Gunkel, Schöpfung und Chaos; Delitzsch, Das Babylonische Weltschöpfungsepos; Bezold, Die Schöpfungslegende; Jeremias, Das Alte Testament im Lichte des alten Orients; Dhorme, Choix de Textes Religieux Assyro-Babyloniens; Jastrow, The Religion of Babylonia and Assyria 407 ff; see also the German edition, and Ancient Hebrew Traditions; Clay, Light on the Old Testament from Babel; Rogers, The Religion of Babylonia and Assyria, and Cuneiform Parallels; Budge, The Babylonian Legends of the Creation; Ungnad, Altorientalische Texte und Bilder, and Die Religion der Babylonier und Assyrer; Landsberger in Lehmann, Textbuch zur Religionsgeschichte 281 ff; Luckenbill, AJSL 38, 12 ff; Ebeling, Das Babylonische Weltschöpfungslied, etc. FIRST TABLET (Continued) Intelligent, thoughtful, mighty in strength, Stronger by far than the begettor, his father, Anshar, 20 He had no equal among the gods his fathers. (Thus) there came to exist the brotherhood of the gods. They perturb Tiamat; they are satiated (?) with their ... They disturb the soul of Tiamat With horrible things in the heavenly dwelling. 25 Apsu could not quell their clamor; And Tiamat was miserable because of their [conduct]. Their deeds were vexatious unto them; Their conduct was not good; they made themselves masters(?). Then Apsu, the begettor of the great gods, 30 Called Mummu, his messenger, saying to him: "Mummu, my messenger, who rejoiceth my heart, Come, to Tiamat let us go." They went, and before Tiamat they reclined. They discussed the matter concerning the gods their firstborn. 35 Apsu opened his mouth, addressing her; To Tiamat, the glistening one, he said to her: By day, I cannot repose; by night I cannot rest. 40 That there be silence, and that we may rest." She was angry, and she cried out to her consort, .sorrowful; she alone was irritated. She took the evil thing to her heart. 45 "[Whalt, shall we destroy what we have created? Their conduct truly is vexatious; yet we will act graciously." Unfavorable [advice], was the advice of Mum[mu]. 50 That by day thou may'st have repose, by night have rest." When Apsu [heard] this, his countenance grew bright [Because] of the evil-deed he planned against the gods, his children. Mummu became faint in his head. He sat down, his knees shaking violently. 55 Everything which they had planned in their assembly FIRST TABLET (Continued) Against the gods, their firstborn was repeated. The prodigious one, the prudent, the wise one, 60 Ea, who perceives everything, saw their plot. He reproduced it; he determined the plan (picture) of the whole thing. He devised cunningly his holy charm. He recited it, and put it into water. Sleep overcame him (Apsu); he slept soundly. 65 He caused Apsu to repose; sleep overcame (him). Mummu he grasped, he held his adversary. After he had bound, and executed his adversaries, 75 In his chamber, he rested peacefully. He named it apsû, he founded (appointed) shrines. Ea (Lakhmu), and Lakhamu, his spouse, in majesty sat In the abode of fates, the dwelling of destinations. 80 The mighty one of the mighty, the leader of the gods, Anshar, he begat. In the midst of the apsû, was Anshar created. In the midst of the holy apsû, was Anshar created. Lakhmu (Ea), his father, created him. [Lakhlamu, his mother, conceived him. 85 The breast of the goddesses, suckled him. The pregnant one who had conceived him, had implanted reverence. Splendid was his st[atu]re, brilliant was the glance of his eye. Noble was his going forth, a hero as of old. Lakhmu (Ea), the begettor, his father, saw him; 90 He rejoiced, he beamed, his heart was filled with joy. He exalted him; he endowed him with an equality of (god) El. He was exceedingly tall; he overtopped them—all of them. |