Timeline

Divine Smelling

In Ancient Near Eastern literature, divine communication was often mediated through sensory imagery, especially smell. Texts such as the Epic of Gilgamesh and ritual inscriptions from Mesopotamia describe gods as perceiving burnt offerings through the language of scent. This terminology reflects a broader cultural assumption that deities, though transcendent, interacted with the world through sensory experiences not unlike those of humans. The Hebrew Bible adopts similar language, especially in priestly and sacrificial texts, where offerings produce a “pleasing aroma”.

Timeline

Epic of Gilgamesh XI 157 / Genesis 8:21
1. 2100 BCE
  
  Epic of Gilgamesh XI 157
  
  Ancient Near East, Babylonian
  
  147 When the seventh day arrived — 148 I brought out a dove, setting it free: 149 Off went the dove, … 150 No perch was available for it, so it came back to [me]. 151 I brought out a swallow, setting it free: 152 Off went the swallow, … 153 No perch was available for [it], so it came back to me. 154 I brought out a raven, setting it free: 155 Off went the raven and it saw the waters receding. 156 So it could eat, scratch, peck (food), and did not come back to me. 157 I brought out an offering and sacrificed to the four corners of the earth, 158 I scattered incense on the peak of the mountain. 159 Seven flasks and seven I set in position, 160 below them I heaped up (sweet) reed, cedar and myrtle. 161 The gods smelled the aroma, 162 the gods smelled the sweet aroma, 163 the gods gathered like flies round the sacrificer. 164 As soon as Bēlet-ilī arrived, 165 she lifted aloft the great flies that Anu had made when he wooed (her): 166 “O gods, let these be lapis lazuli (beads) around my neck, 167 so that I remember these days and never forget them! 168 Let the gods come to the incense, 169 (but) may Enlil not come to the incense,
2. 750–400 BCE
  
  Genesis 8:21
  
  Hebrew Bible
  
  19 Every living creature, every creeping thing, every bird, and everything that moves on the earth went out of the ark in their groups. 20 Noah built an altar to the Lord. He then took some of every kind of clean animal and clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And the Lord smelled the soothing aroma and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, even though the inclination of their minds is evil from childhood on. I will never again destroy everything that lives, as I have just done. 22 “While the earth continues to exist, planting time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”
Atrahasis / Genesis 8:21
1. 1800–1701 BCE
  
  Atrahasis
  
  Ancient Near East, Babylonian
  
  The gods wept with her for the country. She was sated with grief, she longed for beer (in vain). Where she sat weeping, (there the great gods) sat too, But, like sheep, could only fill their windpipes (with bleating). Thirsty as they were, their lips Discharged only the rime of famine. For seven days and seven nights The torrent, storm and flood came on. He put down Provided food The gods smelt the fragrance, Gathered like flies over the offering. When they had eaten the offering, Nintu got up and blamed them all, Whatever came over Anu who makes the decisions? Did Ellil (dare to) come for the smoke offering? (Those two) who did not deliberate, but sent the Flood Gathered the people to catastrophe- You agreed the destruction.
2. 750–400 BCE
  
  Genesis 8:21
  
  Hebrew Bible
  
  20 Noah built an altar to the Lord. He then took some of every kind of clean animal and clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And the Lord smelled the soothing aroma and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, even though the inclination of their minds is evil from childhood on. I will never again destroy everything that lives, as I have just done. 22 “While the earth continues to exist, planting time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”
Genesis 8:21 / Amos 5:21
1. 750–400 BCE
  
  Genesis 8:21
  
  Hebrew Bible
  
  19 Every living creature, every creeping thing, every bird, and everything that moves on the earth went out of the ark in their groups. 20 Noah built an altar to the Lord. He then took some of every kind of clean animal and clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And the Lord smelled the soothing aroma and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, even though the inclination of their minds is evil from childhood on. I will never again destroy everything that lives, as I have just done. 22 “While the earth continues to exist, planting time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”
2. 600–501 BCE
  
  Amos 5:21
  
  Hebrew Bible
  
  19 Disaster will be inescapable, as if a man ran from a lion only to meet a bear, then escaped into a house, leaned his hand against the wall, and was bitten by a poisonous snake. 20 Don’t you realize the Lord’s day of judgment will bring darkness, not light—gloomy blackness, not bright light? 21 “I absolutely despise your festivals! I will not smell⁵⁸ your religious assemblies. 22 Even if you offer me burnt and grain offerings, I will not be satisfied; I will not look with favor on your peace offerings of fattened calves. 23 Take away from me your noisy songs; I don’t want to hear the music of your stringed instruments.
Genesis 8:21 / Isaiah 11:3
1. 750–400 BCE
  
  Genesis 8:21
  
  Hebrew Bible
  
  19 Every living creature, every creeping thing, every bird, and everything that moves on the earth went out of the ark in their groups. 20 Noah built an altar to the Lord. He then took some of every kind of clean animal and clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And the Lord smelled the soothing aroma and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, even though the inclination of their minds is evil from childhood on. I will never again destroy everything that lives, as I have just done. 22 “While the earth continues to exist, planting time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”
2. 740–450 BCE
  
  Isaiah 11:3
  
  Hebrew Bible
  
  1 A shoot will grow out of Jesse’s root stock, a bud will sprout from his roots. 2 The Lord’s Spirit will rest on him—a Spirit that gives extraordinary wisdom, a Spirit that provides the ability to execute plans, a Spirit that produces absolute loyalty to the Lord. 3 His smelling is in the fear of the Lord⁷. He will not judge by mere appearances or make decisions on the basis of hearsay. 4 He will treat the poor fairly and make right decisions for the downtrodden of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth and order the wicked to be executed. 5 Justice will be like a belt around his waist, integrity will be like a belt around his hips.
Genesis 8:21 / Numbers 28:2
1. 750–400 BCE
  
  Genesis 8:21
  
  Hebrew Bible
  
  19 Every living creature, every creeping thing, every bird, and everything that moves on the earth went out of the ark in their groups. 20 Noah built an altar to the Lord. He then took some of every kind of clean animal and clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And the Lord smelled the soothing aroma and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, even though the inclination of their minds is evil from childhood on. I will never again destroy everything that lives, as I have just done. 22 “While the earth continues to exist, planting time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”
2. 750–400 BCE
  
  Numbers 28:2
  
  Hebrew Bible
  
  1 The Lord spoke to Moses: 2 “Command the Israelites: ‘With regard to my offering, be sure to offer my food for my offering made by fire, as a pleasing aroma to me at its appointed time.’ 3 You will say to them, ‘This is the offering made by fire that you must offer to the Lord: two unblemished lambs one year old each day for a continual burnt offering. 4 The first lamb you must offer in the morning, and the second lamb you must offer in the late afternoon,
Genesis 8:21 / Genesis 27:27
1. 750–400 BCE
  
  Genesis 8:21
  
  Hebrew Bible
  
  20 Noah built an altar to the Lord. He then took some of every kind of clean animal and clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And the Lord smelled the soothing aroma and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, even though the inclination of their minds is evil from childhood on. I will never again destroy everything that lives, as I have just done. 22 “While the earth continues to exist, planting time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”
2. 750–400 BCE
  
  Genesis 27:27
  
  Hebrew Bible
  
  25 Isaac said, “Bring some of the wild game for me to eat, my son. Then I will bless you.” So Jacob brought it to him, and he ate it. He also brought him wine, and Isaac drank. 26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come here and kiss me, my son.” 27 So Jacob went over and kissed him. When Isaac caught the scent of his clothing, he blessed him, saying, “Yes, my son smells like the scent of an open field which the Lord has blessed. 28 May God give you the dew of the sky and the richness of the earth, and plenty of grain and new wine.
Genesis 8:21 / 1 Samuel 26:19
1. 750–400 BCE
  
  Genesis 8:21
  
  Hebrew Bible
  
  20 Noah built an altar to the Lord. He then took some of every kind of clean animal and clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And the Lord smelled the soothing aroma and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, even though the inclination of their minds is evil from childhood on. I will never again destroy everything that lives, as I have just done. 22 “While the earth continues to exist, planting time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”
2. 600–501 BCE
  
  1 Samuel 26:19
  
  Hebrew Bible
  
  18 He went on to say, “Why is my lord chasing his servant? What have I done? What wrong have I done? 19 So let my lord the king now listen to the words of his servant. If the Lord has incited you against me, may he enjoy the smell of an offering¹⁰. But if men have instigated this, may they be cursed before the Lord! For they have driven me away this day from being united with the Lord’s inheritance, saying, ‘Go on, serve other gods!’ 20 Now don’t let my blood fall to the ground away from the Lord’s presence, for the king of Israel has gone out to look for a flea the way one looks for a partridge in the hill country.”
Genesis 8:21 / Leviticus 26:31
1. 750–400 BCE
  
  Genesis 8:21
  
  Hebrew Bible
  
  20 Noah built an altar to the Lord. He then took some of every kind of clean animal and clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And the Lord smelled the soothing aroma and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, even though the inclination of their minds is evil from childhood on. I will never again destroy everything that lives, as I have just done. 22 “While the earth continues to exist, planting time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”
2. 750–400 BCE
  
  Leviticus 26:31
  
  Hebrew Bible
  
  30 I will destroy your high places and cut down your incense altars, and I will stack your dead bodies on top of the lifeless bodies of your idols. I will abhor you. 31 I will lay your cities waste and make your sanctuaries desolate, and I will refuse to smell your soothing aromas. 32 I myself will make the land desolate, and your enemies who live in it will be appalled. 33 I will scatter you among the nations and unsheathe the sword after you, so your land will become desolate and your cities will become a waste.