Sunday, March 7, 2010

[OT] Hebrew Priestly Tradition

Hebrew, Priestly tradition 550-400 BCE (Genesis 1) -- closely related to the Sumerian and Babylonian myths
  • Yaweh's ruah (breath or wind, how "spirit" was defined at the time) moves over the primordial waters
  • Day and night are created (before the sun)
  • A firmament is created to separate the waters, and earth is created
  • Vegetation is created, followed by the sun, Moon and stars.
  • The 1st three creations are motionless, the 2nd three have motion (compare to the Canaanite egg Mot)
  • Other life is created, followed by man & woman, who are told to multiply.
  • They are given dominion over the earth (rather than being slaves to the gods as in other traditions)
  • References to gods (plural)

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