NEWLY-DISCOVERED VERSION OF THE STORY OF THE FLOOD. 149 



rendering of the two words hum mini remaining in the twelfth 

 line, I am inclined, on reflection, to regard the phrase of which 

 they formed part as differing somewhat from his conception of 

 it. His rendering is " two of everything instead of a number," 

 and here again, with the instinct which has carried him through 

 many a difficult passage, he may be right. Nevertheless, it 

 is best to be cautious, and complete the phrase as though it 

 referred to a change in the intention of the deity — the preser- 

 vation of every living thing instead of a selection only. 



I see traces of ^fj^f, hct, as the fifth character of the last 

 line, making " thy family," instead of " the family." 



In conclusion, I give the comparisons with the version in 

 Genesis which, with one exception, Professor Hilprecht has 

 suggested : — 



Nippur Version. Gen. vi. 13-20; vii. 11. 



3. . . . "It shall sweep (or vi. 13. . . . "behold, I will 



4. . . . "life(?) before the 18. . . . "but with thee I 



I will loosen.' 



vii. 11. "all the fountains of 

 the great deep were broken 

 up, and the windows of 

 heaven were opened." 



'take') away all men to- 

 gether." 



destroy them with the 

 earth." 



deluge Cometh forth." 



will establish my covenant." 



17. "and behold I do bring 

 the deluge upon the earth, 

 to destroy all flesh, wherein 

 is the breath of life, from 

 under heaven ; everything 

 that is on earth shall 

 perish." 



5. . . . over] " as many as 

 there are, I will bring over- 

 throw, annihilation, de- 

 struction." 



6. . . . " build a great boat. 



14. " make thee an ark." 



and " 



7. . . . "its structure shall be 

 all divisions." 



14. " rooms (Heb. nests) shalt 

 thou make in the ark." 



8. . . . " let it be a houseboat 

 carrying what has been 

 saved of life." 



16. "A roof shalt thou make 

 in the ark, in its entire 

 length thou shalt 



9. . . . " cover it with a strong 



cover it; and the door of 

 the ark thou shalt set in 

 the side thereof ; with 

 lower, second and third 

 stories shalt thou make it." 



deck." 



