Several intriguing similarities between two ancient literary texts are addressed in Esther Hamori’s “Echoes of Gilgamesh in the Jacob Story.” Though fundamentally different, these texts have a series of elements that are quite unusual to other literature of the time which Hamori indicates throughout the article. She discusses a group of seemingly unique features that appear in both The Epic of Gilgamesh and in the scene of the wrestling match between Jacob and God in Genesis 32:22-32. Her argument is that the author of Genesis knew some form of Gilgamesh and used it as a framework while writing the wrestling scene in Genesis. Some of the arguments Hamori makes are solid and defend her initial statements. However, there are several small …show more content…
There are some problems within these few paragraphs, however. One of Hamori’s main points is that the outcome is the same. But because the fights had to end that way for the story’s sake, is it really such a wonder that they are the same? She has already discussed the fact that neither of the scenes could have ended another way (628-9). If this is true, then the argument that this circumstance is proof that the author of Genesis knew Gilgamesh is weakened. The fight had to end that way for the sake of the story, not for the sake of following in Gilgamesh’s footsteps. It could also be argued that the blessings are not quite as identical as Hamori might like. The form is indeed the same, but the content is not. In Gilgamesh, he is blessed by his opponent, “As one unique your mother bore you…Your head is extolled above men; kingship of the people Enlil [a god] has decreed for you” (632). Jacob is blessed with similar form in Genesis, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with human beings, and have prevailed” (631). The form and delivery of these blessings are similar, but there is one significant difference: Jacob has an identity change. Both are exalted among men, but Gilgamesh does not receive a name or identity change. Jacob additionally receives higher praise; Gilgamesh is given kingship by the gods, but Jacob has prevailed over men and