Babylonian and Assyrian Literature Part 46

[Footnote 1: Doubtful and faulty in text.]

[Footnote 2: Chisleu.]

THE REVOLT IN HEAVEN

TRANSLATED BY H. FOX TALBOT, F.R.S.

This curious narrative is found on a cuneiform tablet in the British Museum. The original text is published in Plate 42 of Delitzsch's work, "_a.s.syrische Lesestucke_." I gave a translation of it in the "Transactions of the Society of Biblical Archaeology," Vol. IV, pp. 349-362.

This tablet describes the revolt of the G.o.ds or angels against their Creator. It seems to have been preceded by an account of the perfect harmony which existed in heaven previously. And here I would call to mind a n.o.ble pa.s.sage in Job, chap, x.x.xviii, which deserves particular attention, since it is not derived from the Mosaic narrative but from some independent source, namely, that when G.o.d laid the foundations of the world, "the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of G.o.d shouted for joy." By "the sons of G.o.d" in this pa.s.sage are to be understood the angels. In the beginning, therefore, according to this sacred author, all was joy and harmony and loyalty to G.o.d. But this state of union and happiness was not to last. At some unknown time, but before the creation of man, some of the angels ceased to wors.h.i.+p their Creator: thoughts of pride and ingrat.i.tude arose in their hearts, they revolted from G.o.d, and were by his just decree expelled from heaven. These were the angels of whom it is said in the book of Jude that "they kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation." [Footnote: Jude 6.] The opinions of the fathers and of other religious writers on this mysterious subject it were useless to examine, since they admit that nothing can be certainly known about it. The opinion that one-third of the heavenly host revolted from their Creator is founded on Rev. xii. 3, where it is said: "And there appeared a dragon in heaven, having seven heads ... and his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven and did cast them to the earth. And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels. And prevailed not: neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out--he was cast out into the earth and his angels were cast out with him,"

The Revelation of St. John was written in the first century, but some of the imagery employed may have been far more ancient, and for that reason more impressive to the religious mind of the age.

The war between Michael and the dragon bears much resemblance to the combat of Bel and the dragon recounted on a Chaldean tablet. [Footnote: See G. Smith, p. 100 of his Chaldean Genesis.] And it is not unworthy of remark that the Chaldean dragon had seven heads, like that spoken of in the Revelation. [Footnote: See 2 R 19, col. ii. 14, and my a.s.syrian Glossary, No. 108.]

At the creation harmony had prevailed in heaven. All the sons of G.o.d, says Job, shouted for joy. What caused the termination of this blissful state?

We are not informed, and it would be in vain to conjecture. But the Babylonians have preserved to us a remarkable tradition, which is found in the tablet of page 42, and has not, I believe, been hitherto understood.

It is unlike anything in the Bible or in the sacred histories of other countries. While the host of heaven were a.s.sembled and were all engaged in singing hymns of praise to the Creator, suddenly some evil spirit gave the signal of revolt. The hymns ceased in one part of the a.s.sembly, which burst forth into loud curses and imprecations on their Creator. In his wrath he sounded a loud blast of the trumpet and drove them from his presence never to return.

THE REVOLT IN HEAVEN

(The first four lines are broken. They related, no doubt, that a festival of praise and thanksgiving was being held in heaven, when this rebellion took place.)

5 The Divine Being spoke three times, the commencement of a psalm.

6 The G.o.d of holy songs, Lord of religion and wors.h.i.+p 7 seated a thousand singers and musicians: and established a choral band 8 who to his hymn were to respond in mult.i.tudes ...

9 With a loud cry of contempt they broke up his holy song 10 spoiling, confusing, confounding, his hymn of praise.

11 The G.o.d of the bright crown [1] with a wish to summon his adherents 12 sounded a trumpet blast which would wake the dead, 13 which to those rebel angels prohibited return, 14 he stopped their service, and sent them to the G.o.ds who were his enemies.[2]

15 In their room he created mankind.[3]

16 The first who received life dwelt along with him.

17 May he give them strength, never to neglect his word, 18 following the serpent's voice, whom his hands had made.

19 And may the G.o.d of divine speech [4] expel from his five thousand [5] that wicked thousand 20 who in the midst of his heavenly son, had shouted evil blasphemies!

21 The G.o.d Ashur, who had seen the malice of those G.o.ds who deserted their allegiance 22 to raise a rebellion, refused to go forth with them.

(The remainder of the tablet, nine or ten lines more, is too much broken for translation.)

[Footnote 1: The a.s.syrian scribe annotates in the margin that the same G.o.d is meant throughout, under all these different epithets.]

[Footnote 2: They were in future to serve the powers of evil.]

[Footnote 3: It will be observed that line 15 says that mankind were created to fill up the void in creation which the ungrateful rebellion of the angels had caused. A friend has supplied me with some striking evidence that the mediaeval church also held that opinion, though it was never elevated to the rank of an authorized doctrine.]

[Footnote 4: See note 4. This is another epithet.]

[Footnote 5: The total number of the G.o.ds is, I believe, elsewhere given as 5,000.]

THE LEGEND OF THE TOWER OF BABEL

TRANSLATED BY W. ST. CHAD BOSCAWEN

This legend is found on a tablet marked K, 3,657, in the British Museum.

The story which the tablet contains appears to be the building of some great temple tower, apparently by command of a king. The G.o.ds are angry at the work, and so to put an end to it they confuse the speech of the builders. The tablet is in a very broken condition, only a few lines being in any way complete.

The late Mr. George Smith has given a translation of the legend in his work on Chaldean Genesis, and I have published the text and translation in the fifth volume of "Transactions of the Society of Biblical Archaeology."

LEGEND OF THE TOWER OF BABEL

COLUMN I

1 ...[1] them the father.

2 (The thoughts) of his heart were evil 3 ...[1] the father of all the G.o.ds[2] he turned from.

4 (The thoughts) of his heart were evil[3]

5 ...[1] Babylon corruptly to sin went and 6 small and great mingled on the mound.[4]

7 ...[1] Babylon corruptly to sin went and 8 small and great mingled on the mound.

[Footnote 1: Lacunae.]

[Footnote 2: A t.i.tle of Anu.]

[Footnote 3: Refers to the king who caused the people to sin.]

[Footnote 4: The verb used here is the same as in Gen. xi. 7, [Hebrew: bll].]

COLUMN II

1 The King of the holy mound[1] ...[2]

2 In front and Anu lifted up ...[2]

3 to the good G.o.d his father..,[2]

4 Then his heart also ...[2]

5 which carried a command ...[2]

6 At that time also ...[2]

7 he lifted it up ...[3]