The thesis begins with an overview of views concerning the dating of Isa 24–27 and its place within the genres of apocalyptic and eschatology, before stating its aim as showing how Canaanite myths were used by the author to give future hope rooted in cultic ideals. The second chapter looks at the image of the divine warrior, with particular emphasis on the chaos enemy as the dragon/serpent/sea, and the remarkable similarities between Isa 27:1 and the Ugaritic KTU 1.5.i.1–5. A possible cultic setting of the combat myth is examined, together with the question of why the myth appears here in an eschatological manner. The following chapter discusses the Israelite and Canaanite traditions concerning the holy mountain and divine banquet. Zion motifs are compared with those of Mt. Zaphon, and the nature of cultic feasts considered in Israelite and Canaanite literature, as well as later traditions. Chapter Four argues that the verses concerning death and resurrection represented exile/oppression and restoration, at a time when ideas of resurrection and judgment after death were emerging. The Israelite imagery of Mot/Death and Sheol are examined in relation to the nature of Ugaritic Mot, showing how Canaanite traditions were used to demonstrate Yahweh’s might and the possibility of individual and universal restoration. The following chapter places Israelite religion within the context of Canaanite fertility cults and popular practices. That myth and cult are connected is the basis for the view that the themes in Isa 24–27 were passed down to the post-exilic era via cultic activities and the reuse of myths to promote Yahweh, whether the author was aware that he was using ancient, mythological ideas or not. The sixth chapter gives a short overview of hope in the Hebrew Bible, before demonstrating how the universalism of Isa 24–27 combines with the ancient mythic themes to provide an eschatological hope in an all-encompassing deity. The paper concludes that the author of these chapters deliberately used Canaanite mythology to show how the final victory, rule, and celebration of Yahweh would bring about a personal and moral victory for all nations.

I detta examensarbete undersöker jag hur de två första skapelseberättelserna i Bibeln samt skapelseberättelserna i den babyloniska och kanaáneiska mytologin skildras i läromedel på 1960-, 1990- och 2000-talet. Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur skapelseskildringarna i första Mosebok skildras i läromedlen samt om de jämförs med tidigare skapelseberättelser i Främre Orienten. Studien syftade även till att se huruvida det skett förändringar i skildringen under årtiondena. I min bakgrund kommer jag först att presentera en överblick över den samhälleliga och religiösa kontexten som de människor i den dåtida främre orienten verkade i. Då detta är tillkomstområde för skapelseberättelserna i Enuma Elish, den kanaáneiska mytologin och Genesis syftar min presentation till att lättare kunna förstå hur de kan ha påverkat varandra. Metoden jag valde att använda är en komparativ kvalitativ analys av tre läromedel från 1960-talet, tre från 1990-talet och tre från 2000-talet. Resultatet har därefter presenterats i enlighet med den systematiserande undersökningsmetod jag har använt mig av. Syftet med den systematiserande undersökningen var att få en tydlig översikt över möjliga förändringar men även för att på ett enkelt sätt kunna behandla resultatet. Studiens resultat visade att läromedel på 1960-talet hade tydligare skildring och mer historiskt innehåll, medan på 1990-talet skildras den bibliska skapelsen mer som en saga med få texter om den historiska bakgrunden. Fokus i läromedel på 2000-talet låg på att skildra syftet med skapelseberättelserna mer än dess innehåll. / In this essay, I examine how the first two creation stories in the Bible and creation stories of the Babylonian and Canaanean mythology are portrayed in the teaching materials in the 1960s, 1990s and 2000s. The purpose of the study was to investigate if the creation stories in Genesis are mentioned in the school textbooks and if they are compared with earlier creation stories in the Near East. The study also aimed to see whether there have been changes in the portrayal over the decades. In my background, I will first present an overview of the social and religious context in which the people of the contemporary Near East lived in. As this is the geographical area of origin for the creation stories in the Enuma Elish, the Canaanean mythology and Genesis, the purpose of my background presentation is to make it easier to understand how they may have influenced each other. The method I chose is a comparative qualitative analysis of three teaching materials from the 1960s, three from the 1990s and three from the 2000s. The result is then presented in accordance with the systematizing research method I have used. The purpose of systematizing the survey was to get a clear overview of possible changes, but also as an easy way to process the results. The study results showed that the study materials in the 1960s had clearer depiction and more historical content, while in the 1990s the biblical creation are more described like a fairy tale, with few texts about the historical content. The focus of the study materials in the 2000s was on portraying the purpose of the creation stories over the content.

The full text of this thesis/dissertation is not available online. Please <a href="mailto:upetd@up.ac.za">contact us</a> if you need access. Read the abstract in the section 00front of this document. / Dissertation (MA (Semitic Languages))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Ancient Languages / unrestricted