I self-published two books on Eden in 2010. No. 1) Eden's Serpent: Its Mesopotamian Origins. 172 pages. and No. 2) The Garden of Eden Myth: Its Pre-biblical Origin in Mesopotamian Myths. 167 pages. They are available on the internet via Amazon.com and other Booksellers.
My books investigate the biblical Eden account as being a polemic, in response to, and in refutation of, earlier Mesopotamian accounts of the World's origins, and how mankind came to be made, his purpose in life, why he has wisdom like a god but not immortality.
Much of this has been investigated by earlier Secular Scholars in books and Journals, circa the 1850s to 2010. I quote what earlier scholars have to say.
I agree with those who have advocated the Eden account was composed in the Babylonian Exile, by 560 BC, to explain why Israel and Judah are both in Exile for offending God.
I see the Primary History as a Ring Composition, whereby the beginning foreshadows the ending, Adam and Eve in exile from Eden for offending God, and Israel and Judah in exile for offending God.
I find behind the notion of a stream arising in Eden and becoming four rivers, arises from Mesopotamian notions that a single source lies behind the origin of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, according to myths.
The single source is the Babylonian god E-A, meaning "House of Water." He has the gods of Eridu dig with hoes the beds of the Tigris and Euphrates at Eridu. Then he appears, ejaculates, and fills the empty beds with life-giving waters. Cylinder seals show two rivers erupting from his body with fish, showing he is the one source of the Tigris and Euphrates. Other seals show him enthroned in the depths of the ABZU/APSU, a subterranean spring, with a pot against his belly, with two streams flowing, showing it is at Eridu, that the headwaters of the Tigris and Euphrates begin, not the melting snows of the mountains of Armenia.
At Eridu E-A warns a man called Adapa, not to eat the "bread of death" to be later offered him by the gods, or he will die. When offered this bread he obeys the warning and refuses to eat, losing at a chance to obtain immortality, for it is the food conferring immortality, his god, E-A has lied to him, not wanting man to have immortality.
My two books go into all the details.
Who is behind Eden's God? E-A of Eridu (Sumerian En-Ki)
Who is behind Adam? Adapa of Eridu
Who else is behind Adam? Enkidu of the Epic of Gilgamesh
Who is behind Eve? Shamhat, who seduced Enkidu into leaving EDIN with her, clothing his nakedness before leaving for Uruk.
Who is behind Eden's Serpent? Ningishzida and Dumuzid, gate guards at An's heavenly residence, who attempt to persuade Adapa to eat the Bread of life, conferring immortality, but which he thinks is the bread of Death.
I self-published two books on Eden in 2010. No. 1) Eden's Serpent: Its Mesopotamian Origins. 172 pages. and No. 2) The Garden of Eden Myth: Its Pre-biblical Origin in Mesopotamian Myths. 167 pages. They are available on the internet via Amazon.com and other Booksellers.
My books investigate the biblical Eden account as being a polemic, in response to, and in refutation of, earlier Mesopotamian accounts of the World's origins, and how mankind came to be made, his purpose in life, why he has wisdom like a god but not immortality.
Much of this has been investigated by earlier Secular Scholars in books and Journals, circa the 1850s to 2010. I quote what earlier scholars have to say.
I agree with those who have advocated the Eden account was composed in the Babylonian Exile, by 560 BC, to explain why Israel and Judah are both in Exile for offending God.
I see the Primary History as a Ring Composition, whereby the beginning foreshadows the ending, Adam and Eve in exile from Eden for offending God, and Israel and Judah in exile for offending God.
I find behind the notion of a stream arising in Eden and becoming four rivers, arises from Mesopotamian notions that a single source lies behind the origin of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, according to myths.
The single source is the Babylonian god E-A, meaning "House of Water." He has the gods of Eridu dig with hoes the beds of the Tigris and Euphrates at Eridu. Then he appears, ejaculates, and fills the empty beds with life-giving waters. Cylinder seals show two rivers erupting from his body with fish, showing he is the one source of the Tigris and Euphrates. Other seals show him enthroned in the depths of the ABZU/APSU, a subterranean spring, with a pot against his belly, with two streams flowing, showing it is at Eridu, that the headwaters of the Tigris and Euphrates begin, not the melting snows of the mountains of Armenia.
At Eridu E-A warns a man called Adapa, not to eat the "bread of death" to be later offered him by the gods, or he will die. When offered this bread he obeys the warning and refuses to eat, losing at a chance to obtain immortality, for it is the food conferring immortality, his god, E-A has lied to him, not wanting man to have immortality.
My two books go into all the details.
Who is behind Eden's God? E-A of Eridu (Sumerian En-Ki)
Who is behind Adam? Adapa of Eridu
Who else is behind Adam? Enkidu of the Epic of Gilgamesh
Who is behind Eve? Shamhat, who seduced Enkidu into leaving EDIN with her, clothing his nakedness before leaving for Uruk.
Who is behind Eden's Serpent? Ningishzida and Dumuzid, gate guards at An's heavenly residence, who attempt to persuade Adapa to eat the Bread of life, conferring immortality, but which he thinks is the bread of Death.