Figure1.DWingedProtectorAcherub(Hebrewpluralcherubim)wasnotacherry-cheekedchild,suchaswemightimagineCupidwithhisbowandarrow.IntheancientMiddleEastacherubwasaman-headedlionorbullwitheagles'wingsthatstoodguardoutsideMesopotamiantemples.ThetermcherubappearstoderivefromtheAkkadianwordkuributhatwasattachedtosuchprotectorfigures.Layard(1850),page76.[
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Figure1.CTemptationSealThisMesopotamiansealimpressionfromthe23rdcenturyB.C.E.displaysaseatedmaledeityfacingafemaleworshiper,withadatepalmandsnakebetweenthem.Thoughunlikelybytoday'sinterpretation,GeorgeSmithfamouslyrelatedthisscenetothetemptationofEveintheGardenofEden(seeTheChaldeanAccountofGenesis,London,1875,pages90-91).BritishMuseum,London--Lindl(1903)
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EgyptianCosmologyShu,thegodoftheair,upholdsNut,thesky-goddess,whileGeb,theearth-god,reclinesunderNut.ThisstructureissimilartoIsraelitecosmology.[
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CreationTheologyfromEgyptIntheearliestEgyptiancreationstory,theworldbeganasaformlesswateryvoid,entombedindarkness.Whenthisprimeval"water-stuff"subsided,thefirstmoundofearthappeared.Onthisfirstislandthecreator-godAtumbroughtintobeingallothercreaturesandthings.Howhedidthisvariesintheversions.Accordingtooneaccount,hemasturbated(sincehewasmaleandhadnomate)andbroughtthelessermaleandfemaledeitiesintoexi...[
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3.AncientMiddleEasternCreationStoriesThebiblicalwritersdrewfromlegends,stories,andliterarymaterialsthatwerepartofthelargerancientMiddleEasternculturalenvironmentwhentheyconstructedtheIsraeliteaccountsofcreation.SomeofthesurvivingcreationmaterialincludestheEgyptiancreationtheology,theAtrahasisEpic,andtheEnumaElish.[
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DisobedienceandExpulsionfromEden(3:1-24)1TheserpentwascraftierthananyotherwildcreaturethatYHWHElohimhadmade.Itsaidtothewoman,"DidElohimsay,'Youshallnoteatofanytreeofthegarden'?"2Andthewomansaidtotheserpent,"Wemayeatofthefruitofthetreesofthegarden,3butElohimdidsay,'Youcannoteatofthefruitofthetreewhichisinthemiddleofthegarden,norcanyoutouchit,oryouwilldie.'"4Buttheserpentsaidtothewoman,"Youwouldnotd...[
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CreationofAdamandEve(2:4b-25)4bOnthedayYHWHElohimmadetheearthandtheheavens,5novegetationyetbeingontheearth,noplantyetspringingup(forYHWHElohimhadnotcausedittorainontheearthandtherewasnomantotilltheground;6onlyamistrosefromtheearthandwateredthesurfaceoftheground),7thenYHWHElohimfashionedsomedustofthegroundintoaman(Hebrewadam).Hebreathedthebreathoflifeintohisnostrilsandhebecamealivingbeing.(2:4b-7)Y...[
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2.YahwistCreationStory(2:4b-3:24)AccordingtotheYahwistcreationstory,theLORDGod,YHWHElohiminHebrew,createdtheshapeofamanoutofclayandbreathedlifeintohim.ThismancaredforthegardenofEdenandwasallowedtoeatfromanytreeexceptthetreeofknowledge.Whenthemandidnotfindfitcompanionshipamongtheanimals,Godanaesthetizedhimandfashionedawomanoutofoneofhisribs.Themanandwomanwerethusmadecompanionsmatchedtoeachother.
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TheToledotofHeavenandEarth4Thisiswhatbecameoftheheavensandtheearthaftertheywerecreated.(2:4a)ThishalfverseprovidesthetransitionbetweenthePriestlycreationstoryandtheYahwistcreationstory.ItwasprovidedbythePriestlyeditorofthefinalformofGenesis.ThisversecontainstheHebrewwordtoledot,whichisoftentranslated"generations."Thephrase"thesearethegenerationsof"or,aswetranslateit,"thisiswhatbecameof,"introduces...[
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Day7:Sabbath(2:1-3)1Theheavensandtheearthandalltheirhostwerecomplete.2Elohimfinishedtheworkhehaddoneontheseventhday,andheceasedontheseventhdayfromalltheworkhehaddone.3Elohimblessedtheseventhdayandmadeitholy,becauseonitheceasedfromallhisworkofcreatinghehaddone.(2:1-3)Theselastversescompletetheweekofcreation.Godhadfinishedandhepronouncedthewhole"verygood."Thisimpliesthatcreationwasperfect,nomorework...[
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