The story of the flood in bo the the Epic of Gilgamesh and in Genesis follows a common outline of narratives, however, each of these similarities are addressed and carried out in separate ways. THe way in which a particular similarity is handled serves to reflect on the nature of the divinity in these stories… IN each story the flood is brought on as a result of the divinities dissatisfaction with mankind behavior. In Genesis, God is concerned with mans lawlessness. All mortals led depraved lives on earth, (Gen. 6.
12) IN contrast to Gods offense of mortal life in the Bible, the gods in The Epic of Gilgamesh, simply become irritated with man. The uproar of mankind is intolerable and sep is no longer possible by reason of the babel. So the Gods agreed to exterminate mankind. (The Epic of Gilgamesh. pg 108) IN this case, man seems to cause a disruption in the lives of the gods, and therefor their forthcoming extermination is based upon a disruption of comfort. In Genesis, Gods di state with mortality comes from its corruption.
This difference begins to characterize the dual groups of divi ites and how they relate with the world they govern. IN Genesis, the notion that God appears mor disciplined and paternal in his relation to his subjects is formed. fg For his decision to bring on the flood s decided ater surveying mans lawlessness and depravity. In the Epic of gilgamesh, the great god, Evil, was arouse by the clamour. This suggests that the gods were suddenly distracted by their subjects and leaves room to infer that their mongering of man was not as constant nor as detailed as that of the God in Genesis. Thesecpntrasts are further portrayed when observing the differing manner with which the preparation for the flood takes place in the separate stories.
IN each story a mortal i approached and told to construct a boat or ark in which to insure some life prevails through the flood. However, in Genesis it is stressed that God selects.