2. Compare and Contrast Flood Stories

3. Comparisons  Mankind is unbearable to God/gods  God/gods send a flood  One righteous man chosen to survive  Order the man to build an ark  Ark is loaded with samples of species  Both heroes send out birds  Both ritually kill an animal  God/gods smell sacrifice and are pleased  God/gods regret actions and vow never to repeat

4. Contrasts  Utnapishtim invited additional people  Landing place (both in Middle East) Noah on Mt. Ararat Noah on Mt. Ararat Utnapishtim on Mt. Nasir Utnapishtim on Mt. Nasir  Time of flood Genesis lasted 40 days and 40 nights Genesis lasted 40 days and 40 nights Babylonian lasted 6 days and 6 nights Babylonian lasted 6 days and 6 nights

5. Contrasts continued  Noah released a raven and a dove twice to check for end of flood  Utnapishtim released a raven, dove, and a swallow  gods in babylonian flood have an illogical reason for starting the flood  God in Genesis flood feels mankind is evil.

6. Flood Sheet questions  1. Floods and the desire to survive are dramatic events that human beings can remember and continue to relate to (definition of an archetype…a theme that hold significance through time and across cultures.

7.  2. Humanity has become corrupt.

8.  3. God pledges to never again destroy the whole earth or all of humanity at once.

9.  4. The fact that all of humanity will now descend from Noah, who is holy and virtuous, prompts God to make the covenant.

10.  5. Noah is a just and righteous man who obeys God.

11.  6. God wants humanity to begin anew from the virtuous line of Noah and his family.

12.  7. It is important to obey God based on the rewards that Noah receives for his piety while the rest of humanity is destroyed for its sinfulness and disobedience.