[OT] Man / Ground / Deep

• Man/Ground/Deep relationship (Genesis 2:5-7).  Each of the three have a relationship with the other, being created from, being protected from, caring for, etc...
  
• v.5 man (Hebrew "Adam") to till the ground (Hebrew "Adamah")
  
• v.6 waters of the deep water the ground ("Adamah")
  
• v.7 man ("Adam") formed from dust of ground ("Adamah")

• Waters of the deep ("edh" [ 'd"]) similar to Mesopotamian Id - a god who is a guardian of the Deep

• Dust (apher) & Clay (homer), often used together.  Ashes (epher) is also used with clay.
  
• Assyrian goddess Aruru "washed her hands, nipped off clay , cast it up the ground, the hero Enkidu she built."
• Job 4:19 "those who dwell in houses of clay (human beings)"
• "Thou has made me of [literally, 'as'] clay" (Job 10:8 & 9)
• "shall the potter be regarded as the clay" (Isa. 29:16)
• "Woe to him who strives his maker!  a potsherd among the potsherds of the earth! shall the clay say to him who fashions it, what are you making" (Isa 45:9)
• "We are the clay, and thou art our potter; we are all the work of thy hand" (Isa 64:8)
• See also Jer 18:1-14