Noah: Genesis Chapter 6: v. 9-Chapter 11: v. 32
LA JOLLA, California — This is the famous Biblical flood story. Scholars think that a deluge of such cataclysmic proportions was unlikely in the setting of the Land of Israel, given its topography. It is believed that relatively nearby Mesopotamia was a natural locale for the story. In fact, cuneiform documents and archaeology provide testimony for periodic inundation of the valley between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Torrential rains, tornadoes, and the melting of snows in the mountains of Anatolia, in combination, have periodically flooded the valley and turned it into a huge lake. This area produced a number of flood stories in ancient times, including the Gilgamesh Epic.
Though there are variations among these stories, their common literary structures and details suggest they are interdependent. There was in fact a devastating deluge about 2900 BCE in the valley. The mythical hero Gilgamesh was an actual historical figure, a king, in that area.
To be sure, the biblical version is contained in its larger version of the world’s and mankind’s history. It is directed by our merciful God whose intention was to wipe out prevalent evil and save the relatively good Noah and his family. Some of the other stories have gods, but with different motives. For example, In one of these (Arrahasis story), the flood is the gods’ response to humans’ tumult, which disturbs their rest. Also, biblical Noah is an ordinary person, whereas in Mesopotamian versions the heroes were of royal blood. In addition, the biblical story involves the saving of a single family, while in the pagan stories numerous other passengers are saved.
This story can also seen to be a form of disassembling the creation story from Bereshit the week before, with a number of the same Hebrew words now in reverse, almost like its mirror image. Ultimately, Noah serves the role of a second Adam, i.e. a second father of humanity, again notably also with three sons, one of whom, Ham, becomes tainted like Cain. [1]
Native flood stories actually can be documented in almost every region on earth. Missionaries constantly reported amazement at finding remote tribes that possessed legends with striking similarities to
the Bible’s accounts. H.S. Bellamy in Moons, Myths, and Men estimates that altogether there are over 500 flood legends worldwide. China, Babylonia, Wales, Russia, India, Hawaii, Scandinavia, Sumatra, Peru, and Polynesia all have versions of a giant flood. Common elements include: warning of a coming flood, construction of a boat in advance, the storage of animals, the inclusion of family, and the release of birds to determine the water had subsided. A published table of 35 flood traditions from around the world indicated the following:
1) All 35 contained destruction by water
2) 18 indicated a divine cause (god, gods)
3) 17 indicated a warning given at the outset
4) 35 indicated that humans were spared
5) 24 indicated that animals were spared
6) 32 indicated that the survivals were via being in a vessel
An example from Africa goes: The rivers began to flood. The god told two people to get into a ship, take lots of seed and lots of animals. The flood eventually covered the mountains, before subsiding. One of the men turned loose a dove, which returned. Later he turned loose a hawk, which did not return. The men then departed the boat.
From India, an example: A man named Manu, while washing himself, saved a small fish from the jaws of a large fish. The fish told him, “If you care for me until I am full grown, I will save you from terrible things to come.” He went on to say that a great flood would come and destroy everything. The fish grew and each time he outgrew his clay jar container, Manu placed him in one larger. The fish finally became one of the largest fish in the world. The fish then instructed Manu to build a large ship in preparation for a coming flood. Manu tied a rope from the fish to his boat. The fish guided the ship as the waters rose, to eventually cover the whole earth. When the waters subsided, the fish led Manu’s ship to a mountain top.
From Australia: There was a large flood called the Dreamtime flood. Riding on the flood was the Ark Gumana, which contained Noah, Aborigines, and various animals. The ark ultimately came to rest in the plain of Djilinbadu, where it remains to this day. Scholars think this story is the result of merging of an aboriginal legend with the input of visiting missionaries, which became cause for hostility of the aborigines toward the missionaries.
From Peru: At a certain time, the people became evil, which resulted in neglect of the gods. Only people in the high Andes remained uncorrupted. Two brothers in the highlands noticed their llamas acting strangely. The llamas explained that the stars told them that a great flood was to come, which would destroy all life on earth. The brothers took their families and flocks into a cave on the high mountains. Rain came and lasted four months. As the water rose, the mountain grew, keeping its top above the water. Later when the water receded, the mountains returned to their original height. Those saved repopulated the earth. The llamas recall the flood and that is why they prefer to live in highland areas. [2]
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[1} The JPS Torah Commentary/Genesis, Nahum M. Sarna, Jewish Publication Society, 1989, pp. 47-50
[2] Flood Legends From Around The World, http://www.nwcreation.net/noahlegends.html
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Irv Jacobs is a retired medical doctor who delights in Torah analysis. He often delivers a drosh at Congregation Beth El in La Jolla, and at his chavurah.