Texts in Conversation
Exodus 32 refers to a heavenly book that records the judgment of individuals, following ancient Near Eastern traditions such as in Enuma Elish where the gods use the heavenly Tablet of Destiny to control the destiny of people, gods, and the cosmos.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Enuma Elish I
The Seven Tablets of Creation
Ancient Near East, Babylonian
To march before the forces, to lead [the host], To give the battle-signal, to advance to the attack, To direct the battle, to control the fight, To him she entrusted; in [costly clothing] she made him sit, (saying): “I have uttered your spell, in the assembly of the gods I have raised you to power. The dominion over all the gods [I have entrusted to you]. Be exalted, you my chosen spouse, Let your commands prevail over all the Anunnaki.” She gave him the Tablets of Destiny, on [his] breast she laid them, (saying): “Your command shall not be without avail, and [the word of your mouth shall be established].” Now Qingu, (thus) exalted, having received [the power of Anu], [Decreed] the fate among the gods his sons, (saying): “Let the opening of your mouth [quench] the Fire-god; Whoever is exalted in the battle, let him [display (his) might]!”
Exodus 32:32
Hebrew Bible
31 So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Alas, this people has committed a very serious sin, and they have made for themselves gods of gold. 32 But now, if you will forgive their sin…, but if not, wipe me out from your book that you have written.” 33 The Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me—that person I will wipe out of my book. 34 So now go, lead the people to the place I have spoken to you about. See, my angel will go before you. But on the day that I punish, I will indeed punish them for their sin.”
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Notes and References
"... Two Babylonian epics do center on fighting among the gods : the Zu Myth, in which the demon god Zu steals the Tablet of Destiny (a literal cuneiform tablet laying down the status quo), and the Epic of Creation, in which the old generation of gods, angry with the younger for its noise, try to destroy them, but are themselves destroyed by Marduk. In both of these epics the main body of gods are assumed to be in the right. Zu, the irresponsible demon, has robbed them of a thing the loss of which could bring chaos on the universe. In the Epic of Creation a primeval monster is threatening extinction on the gods and has to be faced. The responsible gods sit in committee like a group of civil servants, until a junior member is prevailed upon to take up the cause ..."
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