the earth of this corrupt age and begin anew. Both versions then have a god choosing to save one man. The Babylonian version tells us of Utnapishtim. He is warned of Enlil’s plan by Ea, through a dream, and is instructed to build a great boat. Noah was the only man on earth still in Yahweh’s favor. So he came to Noah and told him to also build a boat. The men are then instructed to take with them certain people, animals and possessions. Ea tells Utnapishtim to bring with him family and kin, gold, beasts, both wild and tame, and craftsmen. Noah is advised to take only his family and a pair of each of the earth’s animals onto his boat. The items each man is directed to take says a great deal about the culture associated with each story. The Christian world is focused on piety and stresses the importance of denying oneself material wealth. Noah is not told to bring with him any worldly possessions unlike Utnapishtim who is told to take gold. Utnapishtim is also told to bring craftsmen, which emphasizes the important role they played in Babylonian culture. As the flood begins each man is warned that it will soon be time to board his boat. However, the amount of time each man is given to prepare varies considerably between the two stories. Noah is given seven days to load all of the animals onto the ark, while Shamash comes to Utnapishtim and tells him that the Rider of the Storm will be coming that same night to begin the flood. The duration of the flood is also very different. In the Christian description of the flood, it was said that it lasted forty days and forty nights, not the single week as was stated in the Babylonian account. The Babylonian story also states that the assistance of the gods of the Underworld was procured to help release the waters of the flood. Yahweh is able to create the flood entirely on his own. This emphasizes his place as the one true Christian god. Christianity emphasizes the supremacy of Y...
