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Psalm 139 refers to a heavenly scroll that is said to describe the destiny of individuals, an idea based on ancient Near Eastern traditions, such as a prayer to the god Nabu, who recorded the destinies of individuals on a heavenly tablet.
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A Prayer to Nabu
Ancient Near East
O Nabu, true heir, exalted vizier, foremost among the great ones, beloved of Marduk, look upon me with favor and delight. Regard my deeds kindly, and grant me as your gift enduring life, the fullness of great old age, the stability of my throne, the length of my reign, the downfall of my enemies, and dominion over hostile lands. On your faithful tablet, which sets the boundaries of heaven and the netherworld, decree the length of my days; record for me a life of many years. Before Marduk, king of heaven and the netherworld, the father who brought you forth, make my deeds acceptable and establish my well-being. Place these words upon your lips: “Nebuchadnezzar is truly king, the one who provides.”
Date: 600 B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Psalm 139:16
Hebrew Bible
14 I will give you thanks because your deeds are awesome and amazing. You knew me thoroughly; 15 my frame* was not hidden from you, when I was made in secret and sewed together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb. All the days ordained for me were recorded in your scroll before one of them came into existence. 17 How difficult it is for me to fathom your thoughts about me, O God! How vast is their sum total.
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Notes and References
"... The gods in Mesopotamia were considered the determiners of destiny, and they wrote their decisions on “tablets of destiny” (ṭuppi šīmāti). Nabu, the divine scribe, was in possession of these records, and kings frequently offered their prayers to him. Thus, Ashurbanipal addresses the deity ... the existence of other heavenly ledgers which record man’s deeds are also well attested, “the tablet of his misdeeds, errors, crimes, oaths,” and ṭuppu damiqti “the tablet of his good deeds.” Such records of divine scribal activity are also alluded to several times in the Bible ..."
Paul, Shalom M.
Heavenly Tablets and the Book of LIfe
(pp. 345-354) Journal of the Ancient Near Eastern Society, Vol. 5, Issue 1, 1973
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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