Chapter 1.Introduction
1.1.Statement of the Project 1
1.2.Justification for the Present Study 4
1.3.Justification for the Use of Comparative Material Generally and for the Choice of the Particular Comparative Materials Used in This Study 5
1.4.Introduction of Comparative Material 10
1.5.Review of Previous Scholarship on Genesis 1–3 and the Egyptian Creation Accounts 13
1.6.Review of Previous Scholarship on the Mesopotamian mi¯s pi^ pi¯t pi^ and the Bible 15
1.7.Summation and Outline 20
Chapter 2.The Eden Story: Genesis 2:5–3:24
2.1.Introduction 22
2.2.Text and Translation 22
2.3.Where Does the Eden Story Begin? 26
2.4.The Structure of Genesis 2:5–3:25 35
2.5.Conclusion 41
Chapter 3.The Creation of a Divine Statue in the Ancient Near East: The Mesopotamian mi¯s pi^ pi¯t pi^ and the Egyptian wpt-r43
3.1.Introduction 43
3.2.The Mouth Washing and Opening Ritual
in Mesopotamia 43
3.3.A Re-analysis of the Birthing Imagery
in the mi¯s pi^ pi¯t pi^ 69
3.4.The Opening of the Mouth (wpt-r) Ritual
in Ancient Egypt 85
3.5.Comparison of the Nineveh and Babylon Versions of the mi¯s pi^ pi¯t pi^ and
the Egyptian wpt-r from the Tomb of Rekhmire 109
3.6.Conclusion 115
Chapter 4.The Meaning of s?elem and d?mu^t in Genesis 1:26–27 and the “Image” Concept in Genesis 2:5–3:24117
4.2.Genesis 1:26–27: Text and Translation 117
4.3.?elem and d?mu^t in the Hebrew Bible 118
4.4.Brief and Selective History of Interpretation
of s?elem and d?mu^t in Gen 1:26–27 126
4.5.Humans as God’s “Son”? 131
4.6.The Concepts of ?elem and D?mu^t in Genesis 2:5–3:24? 138
4.7.The Eden Story in Light of the
Washing of the Mouth and Opening of the Mouth
Rituals 142
4.8.Comparison of Nineveh and Babylon Versions of the mi¯s pi^
pi¯t pi^, the Egyptian wpt-r from
the Tomb of Rekhmire, and Genesis 2:5–3:24 171
4.9.Summary and Conclusion 175
Chapter 5.The Relationship between Genesis 1:1–2:3
and Genesis 2:5–3:24
5.1.Introduction 178
5.2.Sources for Genesis 1:1–2:3 178
5.3.Date and Authorship of Genesis 1:1–2:3 182
5.4.Source-Critical History and Unity of Genesis 2:5–3:24 186
5.5.Date and Authorship of Genesis 2:5–3:24 189
5.6.Conclusion 200
Chapter 6.Summary, Conclusions, and Implications
6.1.Summary of Findings and Implications for Our Understanding of Genesis 1:26–27 and Genesis 2:5–3:24 203
6.2.Methodological Implications: the Relationship among Gen 2:5–3:24, the mi¯s pî pit pî and the wpt-r 209
6.3.Areas for Further Inquiry 210
Bibliography
Index of Authors
Index of Scripture