dimmer Mer (see on [line 2]). ri (see [Hymn to Bêl, line 19]).
û um-me-ši-si-si û um-me-ši-lá-lá (see on [line 16]).
[18.] û iminna-bi-meš ba-gan-tal-lá û um-me-ši-lá-lá
During those seven days thou didst blow a full blast, when thou didst look.
û (see [Hymn to Sin, line 17]).
iminna-bi-meš: iminna is the Sumerian word for “seven”. The sign in our text consists of seven uprights, four above and three below. The Assyrian form consists of three above, three in the middle and one at the bottom. bi is the demonstrative pronoun = “those” (Br. 5134 and [Hymn to Sin, line 27]). meš is the Sumerian sign of the plural number (Br. 10470). The sign is composed of ME and EŠ and means “many”.
ba-gan-tal-lá: ba (see on [line 14]); ba = prefix. gan is an infix here of adverbial and corroborative character (see [Hymn to Bêl, line 9]). tal is a value of RI equal to zâḳu, “blow” (Br. 2581). We assume tal to be the correct value because of the following LALLU = lá (see on [line 16]).
û um-me-ši-lá-lá (see [line 16]). This interesting statement on the flood agrees entirely with the story of the flood in the Eleventh Tablet of the Babylonian Epic of Gilgameš. The difference between the length of the Hebrew and that of the Babylonian deluge is significant. The narrative of Pirnapištim, the Babylonian Noah, is quite graphic. He represents the gods as seated weeping, their lips covered in fear. Six days and nights the wind blew. When the seventh day appeared, the storm subsided, the sea began to dry and the flood was ended. He looked upon the sea, mankind was turned to clay, corpses floated like reeds. He opened the window. He sent forth a dove which returned. He sent forth a raven, which saw the carrion on the water, ate, and wandered away, but did not return. He built an altar on the peak of the mountain and set forth vessels by sevens. The gods smelled the savour and gathered to the sacrifice, and the great goddess lifted up the rainbow which Anu had created. Those days he thought upon and forgot not.
[19.] û ì di-zu-ka ḥàr-ḥa-ra ab-ba û um-me-ši-lá-lá
It was the day of the word of thy judgment, O bull-god of the abyss, the day thou didst look.