Many thought that the story of Noah’s Flood in the Bible (Book of Genesis) is the result of a cheat sheet of the Epic of Gilgamesh. This opinion is due to some similarities between the two accounts to the story of the Great Flood. The similarity appears to look at the following:
• Flooding occurred on the plains of Mesopotamia.
• The main character is warned to build a boat to escape the flood.
• The main character is told to save himself, his family, and sampling of animals.
• Boats covered / coated with tar.
• The boat came to rest on a mountain.
• Birds that are sent to determine whether the water has receded.
• The main character sacrificed to serve offerings.
However, in particular there is a significant difference between the biblical story of Noah’s Flood and the Epic of Gilgamesh. The following list of differences:
| Characteristic | Genesis1 | Gilgamesh2 |
|---|---|---|
| Reason for flood | human wickedness3 | excessive human noisiness |
| Response of deity | the Lord was sorry He made man because of his wickedness4 | gods could not sleep |
| Warned by | Yahweh (God)5 | Ea |
| Main character | Noah (“rest”)6 | Utnapishtim (“finder of life”) |
| Why character chosen | a righteous man6 | no reason given |
| Intended for | All humans except Noah and his family7 | all humans |
| Decision to send flood | Yahweh (God)8 | council of the gods (primarily Enlil) |
| Builders | Noah and family9 | Utnapishtim, his family, and many craftsmen from city |
| Character’s response | Noah warned his neighbors of upcoming judgment as “Preacher of righteousness”10 | Told by Ea to lie to neighbors so that they would help him build the boat |
| Building time | 100 years11 | 7 days |
| Boat size | 450x75x45 feet12 | 200x200x200 feet (unseaworthy cube) |
| Boat roof | wood13 | slate (top heavy?) |
| # Decks | 314 | 6 |
| Humans | Noah and family7 | Utnapishtim, his family, and craftsmen from city |
| Cargo | animals and food15 | animals, food, gold jewels, and other valuables |
| Launching | by the floodwaters16 | pushed to the river |
| Door closed by | Yahweh (God)17 | Utnapishtim |
| Sign of coming flood | none | extremely bright light sent by the Annanuki (collection of Sumerian gods) |
| Waters sent by | Yahweh (God)7 | Adad, with help from gods Shamash, Shullat, Hanish, Erragal, Ninurta |
| Reaction of deity to flood | in control of waters18 | gods scrambled to get away from water like “whipped dogs” |
| Duration of rain | 40 days19 | 7 days |
| Duration of flood | 370 days20 | 14 days |
| Boat landing | Mt. Ararat21 | Mt. Nisir |
| Deity’s reaction to human deaths | no regret mentioned | regretted that they had killed all the humans |
| Birds sent out | raven returns, dove returns second time with olive branch, then leaves22 | dove returns, swallow returns, raven does not return |
| Offering after flood | one of every clean animal and bird23 | wines and a sheep |
| Aftermath | God promises not to destroy humanity by flood again24 | gods quarrel among themselves, god Ea lies to Enlil. Utnapishtim and wife given immortality like the gods |
| Repopulation | Noah and family told to multiply and repopulate the earth25 | Ea and Mami created 14 human beings to help repopulate the eart |
Source: godandscience.org
Other irregularities contained in the Bible is the word of the Book of Genesis that:
“After the flood, Noah offered a sacrifice to God, who promised never again to destroy all life on earth with a flood [Genesis 9:11] and created the rainbow as a sign of His promised [Genesis 9:13]. After this, Noah became a farmer, and he planted a vineyard: and he drank wine, and drunk, and was found in his tent. Children of Noah: Ham, father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his brothers and Noah cursed Ham’s son: Canaan [Genesis 9:20-27].
Sentences above seem odd, because it seemed to put a rainbow (which is described as a bow) newly created after the Genesis Flood of Noah, while the rainbow caused by the refraction of sunlight by rain or dew point. All colors are produced by rainbow originated from sunlight. It did rain, moisture, and sunlight; newly formed after the Flood of Noah? The answer is clear: “NO”. So what Genesis says that contrary to scientific reasoning.
Moreover, is it worth a messenger of God to be drunk? A messenger of God would not behave like that. A messenger of the Lord shall give an example of the attitude of a good example for his people and followers. So here is clear, the author of the Bible was the one who was ‘drunk’ when writing the Bible, so it does not deserve to say as ‘an extension of the hand of God’, as expressed by the Pope.
No wonder it feels when Christians read the Bible to be pessimistic about the holy book, and eventually many become atheists.
And what about the Qur’an?
The Qur’an gives a very different account of the Flood than the Pentateuch and the other flood legends narrated in various cultures. The Pentateuch, the name given to the first five books of the Old Testament, says that the flood was cosmic and that it covered the whole world. Yet the Qur’an does not offer such as assertion, indeed on the contrary, the relevant verses imply that the Flood was regional and did not cover the whole world but only drowned Nuh’s (as) people who had been warned by Nuh (as) and so were punished.
Notes 10: Pictured above is the old map of Mesopotamia during the Babylonian and Assyrian kingdom experienced its heyday.
Source Image: history-world.org
When the Flood narrations of the Old Testament and the Qur’an are examined, this difference is plain. The Old Testament, which has been subject to so many alterations and additions throughout its history that it can truly be said that almost nothing of the original remains, describes how the Flood began as follows:
“And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.” [Genesis 7:19-23]
What is stated in the paragraph above, has actually been confirmed previously by the Book of Genesis 6:5-8:
“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”
The duration of a flood covered the earth according to the Bible verse that vary from one to another verse, in this case between Genesis 7:17 and Genesis 7:24:
“And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.” [Genesis 7:17]
“And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.” [Genesis 7:24]
In the Qur’an clearly showed that the flood did not cover the whole world (earth), but only the people of Prophet Noah is destroyed. No different as the Prophet Hud was sent only to the people of ‘Ad (Surah Hud: 50, QS. Al-A’raf 65), the Prophet Salih was sent to Thamud (Surah Hud: 61, QS. Al-A’raf 73) , and all the other Prophets before Prophet Muhammad who eventually was sent to all mankind (Surah 7:158, QS. 21:107).
Noah was sent only to his people and the flood only causing the extinction of the people of Prophet Noah.
“And We sent Noah unto his folk (and he said): Lo! I am a plain warner unto you. That ye serve none, save Allah. Lo! I fear for you the retribution of a painful Day.” {QS. Hud: 25-26}
They were destroyed are the ones who do not ignore and always opposed what was said by Noah’s. Similar verses have described in a way that is quite clear:
“Then do you wonder that there has come to you a reminder from your Lord through a man from among you, that he may warn you and that you may fear Allah so you might receive mercy.” But they denied him, so We saved him and those who were with him in the ship. And We drowned those who denied Our signs. Indeed, they were a blind people.” {QS. Al-A’raaf: 63-64}
In addition, in the Qur’an, Allah states that He will not destroy a community, but a messenger was sent to them. Destruction occurs when a warner has come to a people and warnings ignored. God declares it in Surat Al-Qasas 59:
“And never would your Lord have destroyed the cities until He had sent to their mother a messenger reciting to them Our verses. And We would not destroy the cities except while their people were wrongdoers.”
It is also enshrined in the QS. Al-Israa ‘(17) verse 15:
“Who receiveth guidance, receiveth it for his own benefit, and whosoever erreth, erreth only to its hurt. And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another, and We never punish until We have sent a messenger.”
It’s not the way of God to destroy the peoples until He sent a messenger, unless they are in a state of doing wrongdoers. As a warner, Noah was sent only to his own folk. Therefore, God does not destroy families are to them yet He sends a messenger, but (in this case) God just destroy the rebellious people of Prophet Noah.
Of revelation-statements in the Qur’an, we can ensure that the flood is more localized disasters, rather than global. This is in accordance with the scientific fact that has been proven by experts.
The excavations were carried out in areas thought to be the location of archaeological floods shows that flood is not a global event that destroyed many nations on earth, but it is a very widespread disaster affecting Mesopotamia and surrounding regions, which in the now covers the area around the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Euphrates and the Tigris, and the Mediterranean Sea.
Notes 11: Appears in the image above, the area of the Euphrates and the Tigris that runs from Iraq to Turkey.
Source Image: kaskus.co.id
Facts about the archaeological finds, turns out that the story of Noah’s flood is at the same time, discovered the existence of other civilizations that are still running.
Egyptian civilization began in the Neolithic Period (about 7000 BC) and continued up to the time after the Great Flood (4000 AD). Orientalist Morris Buckey based on data and modern archaeological findings also stated there civilizations in different parts of the world that in fact continue to exist until the next generations. Along with the flood of Noah, the history of ancient Egypt to tread the middle phase of the first half before the eleventh dynasty.
Archaeological data indicate that the domestication of animals and cultivation of a number of plants growing in several places throughout the world, began in the Holocene period (about 12000-11500 years ago to the present). Archaeological data indicate that the domestication of animals and cultivation of a number of plants growing in several places throughout the world, began in the Holocene period (about 12000-11500 years ago to the present). In the Middle East, developing agriculture in the Fertile Hilal since around 10.000-9000 BC; in Europe, there is evidence of the cultivation of wheat, sheep, goats, and pigs that indicate food production activities in Greece and the Aegean around 7000 BC; juwawut cultivation started in China since 8000 BC; in America, pumpkins are cultivated from 10000-8000 BC while corn since 7500 BC.
Transition from hunting to farming lifestyle of the period known as the Neolithic Revolution. Agriculture is suitable for a very dense population, and in its management created strata of workers because not all populations directly involved in agriculture. In the end the process of harvesting and strata of workers organized into a sovereign territory. The farm also produces a surplus of food that can sustain the lives of people who are not directly involved in the production of foodstuffs.
Agricultural development conduct the human to establishment of the first cities in the world. The region is a center of commerce, factories, and political forces that hardly produce food with its own resources. City created a symbiosis with the surrounding villages. City receives food products from villages and cities instead provide products factory and the protection and control of the military stratified.
Development of towns meant the emergence of civilization.
The community developed a number of characteristics in common, such as the central government, social structure and complex economy, writing systems and sophisticated language, and religion and distinctive cultural.
From here we can ask: What are the various cultures and civilizations are experiencing a disconnect during/after the Noah’s Flood? The answer is clear: “NO!”. With the exception of culture / civilization of Mesopotamia in the Middle East, culture / civilization of Egypt and China, and Mino (in Crete), Indus Valley (now Pakistan), Indian (American), not having a disconnect during and after the Flood of Noah.
Ancient civilizations remain stable and do not undergo rupture history or total perish as the Book of Genesis says.
However, it seems the effects of Noah’s Flood, which is a result of Mediterranean Sea storm and heavy water fall from the sky also touched Egypt, but not to destroy civilization in the country as was the case in Mesopotamia, on the contrary; events they will actually have a positive impact in the form of the establishment fertile land around the Nile that can be used to grow crops. As evidence of this is the form that shows the former Sphinx eroded salt water, and the spread of the Nile Delta to become the longest river in the world, and the development of post-flood civilization of Ancient Egypt marked the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt.
Even so, there are still who believe that Noah’s Flood was global by finding fossil shells on top of the Himalayas Mountains and Mount Everest, and the Grand Canyon. Yet according to geologists like Prof. Carol A. Hill and Prof. Stephen O. Moshier that the sedimentary rocks of the Grand Canyon and Everest does not show the form of floods, but purely an old sedimentary rocks of the sea. Sedimentary rocks of the Grand Canyon and Everest showed that both site they formed before the era of Noah’s Flood (see article “Flood Geology and the Grand Canyon: A Critque“).
Neither expressed from ThinkQuest team who said that once the Himalayas and Everest are on the ocean floor, then lifted up to the surface due to the movement of tectonic plates. That is why so fossilized marine animals only seen on top of the mountain.
In addition, if the whole world drown, the water then receded to where???
Baffle explanation of Noah’s Flood can also be seen through the writings of John D. Keyser with the title “Did Noah’s Flood Cover the Highest Mountains?” and the article from the site http://oldearthmygod.com entitled “Creation Evolution and Noah’s Flood“.
While good explanation if the Flood of Noah occurred locally or globally given also by Lorence G. Collins in his article titled “Yes, Noah’s Flood May Have Happened, But Not Over the Whole Earth” and Carol A. Hill through her article: “The Noachian Flood: Universal or Local?“, and Donald Hochner and Richard Anthony through their writings titled “Noah’s Flood: Global or Local?“.
One of them said: “If the flood was global, how plants, trees, etc. to survive with the salt water that covers the entire Earth?. That’s not possible!!. How animals arrive in Australia? How do animals live in South America?, even fish life will suffer in universal disaster. Mixing of salt and fresh water can be fatal to many of them!”.
The Story of Noah 