What is the difference between The story of Utnapishtim and the biblical flood?

Answer 1

The story of Utnapishtim is found in the Epic of Gilgamesh. It talks of a flood story that is remarkably similar to the biblical story of Noah, although in some ways it is more primitive in concept. Which is the older account is the subject of much debate between Christian and other scholars.

A useful comparison of the two accounts is found in the AnswersinGenesis website:

Genesis .......................Gilgamesh

Extent of flood .................Global ...........................Global

Cause .............................Man's wickedness .........Man's sins

Intended for whom? ........All mankind ...................One city & all mankind

Sender ............................Yahweh ........................Assembly of gods

Name of hero ..................Noah .............................Utnapishtim

Hero's character ..............Righteous .....................Righteous

Means of announcement .Direct from God .............In a dream

Ordered to build boat? .....Yes ................................Yes

Did hero complain? ..........No .................................Yes

Height of boat .................Three storeys ................Seven storeys

Compartments inside? ....Many .............................Many

Doors .............................One ...............................One

Windows ........................At least one ..................At least one

Outside coating ..............Pitch ..............................Pitch

Shape of boat ................Oblong box ....................Cube

Human passengers .......Family members only .....Family & few others

Other passengers ..........All kinds of land .............All kinds of land animals

.....................................animals (vertebrates)

Means of flood ...............Underground water .......Heavy rain

......................................& heavy rain

Duration of flood ............40 days & nights (plus) ..6 days & nights

Test to find land .............Release of birds .............Release of birds

Types of birds ................Raven & three doves ......Dove, swallow, raven

Ark landing spot ............Mountains-of Ararat ........Mountains-Mt Nisir

Sacrificed after flood? ....Yes, by Noah ...................Yes, by Utnapishtim

Blessed after flood? .......Yes ..................................Yes

Another answer:

All scholars of Mesopotamia literature and most biblical scholars acknowledge that the flood story found in Atrahasis and Gilgamesh was written long before the biblical one. The story of Noah uses almost exactly the same framework as the older story with minor differences in detail. Both stories condemn indiscriminate violence, but in the Gilgamesh Epic it is the genocide created by the flood that is condemned rather than human wickedness. Humanity is innocent in the Mesopotamian story and we are not told that the flood hero is singled out because of righteousness.

One possible explanation of the similarities between the two stories is that the Genesis story may have been deliberately created from the Mesopotamian one when the Jews were exiled in Babylon. It's condemnation of a corrupt and violent civilization echoes the messages of Israel's prophets who foretold a similar judgement on Babylon for her sins against the nation. Similarly, the rescue of a small band of righteous believers who are returned to their land provides an apt metaphor for the eventual return of the Judean exiles. In other words, this is highly figurative, underground resistance literature - not a scientific description of an ancient geological event.

Answer 2

A:The biblical flood story is a rip-off of the sumerian utnapistim flood story. B:The biblical flood story, in Genesis, is a combination of two separate flood stories, which tell the same story but with slightly different details. They, in turn, are based on two other flood stories. The first of these is the Sumerian Atrakhasis myth; the second is from the Gilgamesh epic, which tells the story of Utnapishtim.

When the Genesis flood stories are compared with the Mesopotamian myths of the flood, the similarity is quite compelling. On this basis, the accounts of the flood in Genesis should be understood as being created by the Israelites to aid them in constructing their own view of the world in contradistinction to that presented by other nations.

Whereas the Atrakhasis myth depicts the gods acting in an arbitrary and self-serving manner, in the flood narratives in Genesis it is man who is in error, and not God. So we can see that the Genesis account was designed to replace, and in some way to refute, the myths presented elsewhere. That these accounts are useful for instruction is quite apparent. When retelling these stories it would be useful if this context could be explained as a story intended to show that we are responsible to God for our actions.

The people of Mesopotamia appear to have had a collective memory of a devastating flood. This is not surprising, since uncontrollable floods would have been a normal part of the physical world of these people. Probably there were a number of devastating floods over time, and these had merged in society's remembrance as one great flood that happened sometime in the past. Such a collective memory would demand some kind of explanation. It was the normal function of myth to provide this kind of explanation, both as a way of understanding such phenomena, and to suggest a means of managing it.

For the Israelites, who were in the process of developing a different view of God and his relationship with mankind, it would have been inappropriate to allow the older view of God, as presented in the myths of these nations, to remain unchallenged. On this basis, the creation of a new mythical explanation of the remembered devastating flood was quite appropriate.

Answer 3

Utnapishtim's search for immortality is not reflected in the biblical story of Noah, but the Flood stories are remarkably similar.

In both cases a god sought to destroy all humaniity, but in one case Utnapishtim was to be spared, while in the other case Noah, each being instructed to build a boat. Utnapishtim was told to take on board the seed of all living things, while Noah (in two slightly different accounts) was told to take two of each animal, or two of each unclean animal and seven of each clean animal.

As the floods subsided, Utnapishtim's ship came to a halt on Mount Nisir. After another seven days Utnapishtim set free a dove, but it came back. Then he set free a swallow, which also came back. Next he set free a raven. The raven went forth and, seeing that the waters had diminished, he did not come back. Afterwards, Utnapishtim made a sacrifice and the gods smelt the sweet savour and agreed not to send another great flood.

As the floods subsided, Noah's ship came to a halt on Mount Ararat. Noah sent forth a raven, who went forth to and fro until the land was dry and apparently did not come back. He then sent a dove which returned, so after another seven days he sent the dove once again. Afterwards, Noah made a sacrifice and Gods smelt the sweet savour and promised not to send another great flood.