Question 1

The creation stories in Genesis show remarkable similarities to myths from other cultures, especially Babylon. What themes are most similar? Where are the stories in Genesis most different from the others? What can these similarities and differences tell us about the message of the Genesis accounts?

Accepted Answer

The Enuma Elish and Genesis begin in a similar manner, with the world formless and void. The beginnings of these stories also share remarkable similarities in vocabulary and concept, suggesting that the first Genesis account (written after the Enuma Elish) drew upon the Enuma Elish. Parts of the Gilgamesh Epic and the Atrahasis tale also share many details in common with the Genesis flood story, suggesting further influence. Unlike the pagan stories, however, the Genesis stories feature one God rather than a multiplicity of gods and do not include a cosmogony or battle between the gods. The biblical stories thereby emphasize that the God of Israel is in fact the creator of the world and superior to all potential rivals.

Question 2

Looking at the four major sources in the Documentary Hypothesis we have identified themes that are particular to each. Describe the themes and vocabulary that are common to each. Why are specific sources hard to identify at times?

Accepted Answer

The J source prefers the name YHWH, tends to have an anthropomorphic image of the deity, and tends to have stories taking place in southern locations. E prefers the name Elohim for the deity, God communicates with people through prophets or visions, and features locations and persons important to the northern region. The D source underlies the entire book of Deuteronomy; one especially important theme is the centralization of the cultus in Jerusalem. The P source also prefers Elohim and is primarily concerned with cultic laws and the observance of festivals, kosher foods, circumcision, genealogies, and so on. Specific sources are often difficult to detect because material from different sources is often tightly interwoven (especially in J and E) and the fact that E and P both prefer the name Elohim.

Question 3

What are some of the indications of multiple sources in the Genesis Flood narrative? Which sources are represented, and what are the particular emphases for each source in the narrative? (The instructor might provide the Flood passage to the students for analysis.)

Accepted Answer

Students should point out doublets in the story (e.g., Noah enters the ark twice, receives instruction from the deity twice) and differences that present themselves, such as Noah taking a pair of each type of animal onto the ark (6:19) or two of each kind but seven pairs of each clean animal and a pair of every other (7:2). Students should note that the doublets and discrepancies use different names for the divinity and that concerns such as clean and unclean animals use Elohim while the more anthropomorphic descriptions of the interactions between the divinity and Noah use YHWH.

Question 4

After reading the biblical Flood stories and pertinent sections of other Near Eastern flood myths, what similarities do you identify? In what ways are these related sources valuable for the study of the biblical Flood narratives?

Accepted Answer

The answer of After reading the biblical Flood stories and...

Question 5

Ancient Babylonian myths may have influenced Genesis 1-3.

Accepted Answer

There are several similarities between the Babylonian creation myth Enuma Elish and the account of creation in Genesis 1-3, leading some scholars to suggest that the Babylonian myth may have influenced the biblical text. For example, both stories describe a primeval chaos, a separation of waters, and the creation of humans as servants for the gods. However, the biblical account also diverges significantly from the Babylonian myth, emphasizing the monotheistic nature of the God of Israel and the special relationship between God and humanity.

Question 6

In the first (P) creation story, God creates animals before humans.

Accepted Answer

In Genesis 1, God creates animals before humans.

Question 7

The Documentary Hypothesis argues that the firsive books of the Bible were developed out of three separate sources.

Accepted Answer

The Documentary Hypothesis, also known as the JEDP theory, suggests that the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) were created from a combination of four separate sources: the Jahwist (J), Elohist (E), Deuteronomist (D), and Priestly (P) sources.

Question 8

Some Jewish and Christian scholars in the Middle Ages saw problems with Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch.

Accepted Answer

Some Jewish and Christian scholars in the Middle Ages, such as Abraham Ibn Ezra and Thomas Aquinas, questioned the idea that Moses wrote the entire Pentateuch. They pointed to differences in style and language throughout the text and suggested that multiple authors may have been involved.

Question 9

The D source usually appears as genealogies.

Accepted Answer

The D source, often associated with the Deuteronomist tradition in biblical scholarship, primarily focuses on law and moral instruction rather than genealogies. Genealogies are more commonly found in other parts of the Hebrew Bible, such as the Priestly source (P) and the book of Chronicles.

Question 10

Moses wrote large portions of the Pentateuch.

Accepted Answer

The traditional belief is that Moses wrote the Pentateuch, but modern scholarship often attributes it to multiple authors over time.

Question 11

Most scholars today no longer hold to the JEDP version of the Documentary Hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

Many scholars today reject the JEDP version of the Documentary Hypothesis, which suggested that the first five books of the Bible were written by four different authors (J - Jahwist, E - Elohist, D - Deuteronomist, and P - Priestly). However, there are still debates and alternative theories regarding the authorship and origins of these books.

Question 12

Which is not a difference between the first and second creation stories?

Accepted Answer

The first and second creation stories differ in their depiction of the deity, the order of creation regarding humans, plants, and animals, and the manner in which creation is initiated. However, they do not differ in the number of gods involved in creation as both stories describe a single deity responsible for creation.

Question 13

The J creation account includes all of the following except

Accepted Answer

The J creation account includes the garden of Eden, creation of humans, and a snake, but it does not mention God resting.

Question 14

The primary impetus for the Documentary Hypothesis was

Accepted Answer

The Documentary Hypothesis, which suggests that the Pentateuch was derived from multiple sources, was primarily motivated by inconsistencies in the text, including the use of different names for God.

Question 15

The source most concerned with dietary laws is

Accepted Answer

The source most concerned with dietary laws is the Priestly source (P). This source includes many of the ritual, cultic, and legal texts in the Torah, particularly in Leviticus, where dietary laws are extensively detailed.

Question 16

The two creation accounts in Genesis come from these two sources

Accepted Answer

The two creation accounts in Genesis come from the sources J and P, also known as the Yahwist and Priestly sources. The Yahwist source, or J source, is characterized by its use of the name Yahweh for God and its anthropomorphic depiction of God, while the Priestly source, or P source, emphasizes the importance of rituals and the role of the priesthood. Together, these two sources provide complementary perspectives on the origins of the world and humanity.

Question 17

The source found almost entirely in Deuteronomy is

Accepted Answer

Deuteronomy is named after the Hebrew word “devarim,” which means “words” or “things.” It primarily consists of Moses’ speeches to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. The majority of its content is attributed to the Deuteronomist (D), although there are also sections that likely come from earlier sources such as the Yahwist (J) and Elohist (E). However, since the majority of the content is attributed to D, the answer is D.

Question 18

Which of the following is not a part of the scholarly consensus about the authorship of the Pentateuch?

Accepted Answer

The scholarly consensus is that the Pentateuch was not written by Moses, it is based on many earlier sources, both oral and written, and it was compiled over a long period of time. However, it is also widely believed that the Pentateuch provides valuable information about the period of its composition.

Question 19

This story is so similar to the creation story from Genesis 1 that one scholar has called it "The Babylonian Genesis."

Accepted Answer

The Enuma Elish is a Babylonian creation story that shares similarities to the creation story in Genesis 1. It includes a similar structure of the world being created in six stages, with a divine rest on the seventh day. The story also features a divine separation of the waters and the creation of humans.

Question 20

This figure survives a massive flood in the Gilgamesh Epic.

Accepted Answer

In the Gilgamesh Epic, Utnapishtim is the figure who survives a massive flood. Noah is from the story of Noah's Ark in the Bible and Atrahasis is the hero of a Babylonian flood story. Gilgamesh is the main character of the epic but he does not survive the flood.

Quiz 4: Who Wrote the Pentateuch