The Sumerian Hypothesis: The Influence Of Sumer On The Primeval History

Ancient Origins IRAQ Tour

Print
    
Abraham leaves Haran for Egypt by Francesco Bassano the Younger (1560 – 1592) 	 Rijksmuseum (Public Domain)

The Sumerian Hypothesis: The Influence Of Sumer On The Primeval History

The use of Mesopotamian material in the motifs and stories found in Genesis 1–11 (also called the Primeval History) has been of great interest to biblical scholars for many years. Although the Mesopotamian influence on this part of the Genesis narrative is generally acknowledged, it is by no means clear how this material became part of Hebrew tradition. Currently, the general consensus can be described as the ‘Babylonian Hypothesis’, namely that the material was borrowed from Babylonian sources, either during the monarchical period (12 century BC) or later, during or after the Babylonian exile (sixth century BC) of the Israelites.

The Flight of the Prisoners; the exile of the Jews from Canaan to Babylon by James Tissot (1896) (Public Domain)

The Flight of the Prisoners; the exile of the Jews from Canaan to Babylon by James Tissot (1896) (Public Domain)

Scholars have long recognized the fact that the formation of biblical Israel as a people should not only be studied in the context of their Canaanite setting, but that the profound influence early Sumer had on aspects of Israel’s tradition, as indeed it had on many aspects of later Mesopotamian tradition, should be acknowledged. As the scholar Richard Averbeck rightfully writes, “As for the relationship between Sumer and the Bible, Sumer for all practical purposes lies within and, in fact, chronologically and literarily, at the beginning of the historical stream of biblical Israel”. The ‘Sumerian Hypothesis’ takes Averbeck’s premise as point of departure and makes detailed proposals with regards as to how this tradition was handed down during Israel’s formative years.


Become a member to read more OR login here

Ancient Origins Quotations