The Origin of Biblical Traditions

by Albert T Clay

Overview

Many scholars during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries argued that ancient Israel simply borrowed most of its culture and religion from Babylonia. In this volume Clay counters that West Semitic cultures (the Amorites) were already a developed civilization before Israel came under Babylonian influence. Writing a decade before the discoveries of Ugarit and Mari, Clay noted that there were numerous clues to West Semitic cultures. While some of his arguments and conclusion are no longer tenable, this work retains its interest for its place in the discussion. Without directly referring to Clay, George Mendenhall affirms Clays fundamental point in this volume: from the MB Age on there was no region of the Levant that had not been influenced by the Amorite language and culture in various ways and various degrees. Their cultural and linguistic influence was a lasting one that is gradually coming to light, especially in the areas of religion and law (The Amorites, in 'Anchor Bible Dictionary'). Albert T. Clay (1866-1925) was the William M. Laffan Professor of Assyriology and Babylonian Literature at Yale University. Among his other publications are 'Babylonian Epics, Hymns, Omens, and Other Texts'; 'The Empire of the Amorites'; Neo-Babylonian Letters from Erech'; and 'LIght on the Old Testament from Babel.'

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781597527187
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	05/01/2007
Series:	Ancient Near East: Classic Studies
Pages:	234
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 8.91(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Albert T. Clay (1866-1925) was the William M. Laffan Professor of Assyriology and Babylonian Literature at Yale University. Among his other publications are 'Babylonian Epics, Hymns, Omens, and Other Texts'; 'The Empire of the Amorites'; Neo-Babylonian Letters from Erech'; and 'LIght on the Old Testament from Babel.'

Table of Contents

Series Foreword     ix
Foreword   K. C. Hanson     xiii
Select Bibliography   K. C. Hanson     xvii
Preface     xxiii
Introductory Remarks     19
The Fourfold Argument     33
The Creation Story     66
Adam, the Garden of Eden, and the Fall of Man     111
The Sabbath     117
The Antediluvian Patriarchs     124
The Deluge Story     146
The Tower of Babel     189
Translation of Creation Stories
The Amorite Story of Creation (Enuma elish)     191
The Bilingual Babylonian Story of Creation     213
The Phoenician Cosmogony ascribed to Sanchuniathon     215
Story of Creation ascribed to Oannes by Berossus     216
Damascius on the Theogony of the Babylonians     217
Index     219
Addenda     223