A comparative analysis of the literary structure of Genesis 1-11 to ancient Near Eastern patterns

The purpose of this dissertation had a threefold purpose: (1) to point out the weakness and unreasonableness of the documentary analysis by comparing Genesis 1-11 with the ancient Near Eastern literature, (2) to defend the unity of the literary structure of Genesis 1-11 by showing its literary patterns, and (3) to reveal the theological genius of Genesis 1-11.;The criteria of the documentary theory were based on the wrong hypotheses. Scholars have gone astray and fallen into error because they did not grasp the significance of the unique structure inherent to the Hebrew text as illuminated by other Near Eastern literary studies.;Any attempt to apply the criteria of the documentary hypotheses to the ancient Near Eastern compositions which exhibit the same literary phenomena resulted in manifest absurdities. Analysis of the structures and literary patterns of ancient Near Eastern literature which was parallel to the biblical text did not provide any external evidence to support the results or the methodology of higher criticism.;In order to accomplish the first purpose of this dissertation, internal evidence and external evidence contrary to the documentary theory as revealed by a comparative analysis of literary and linguistic features were discussed. The weakness and unreasonableness of the documentary analysis was examined from the view of the literary structures of both texts.;The primary sources to be used in this research were the Hebrew Scriptures and the ancient Near Eastern texts. The method of study was a comparative analysis of Genesis 1-11 and ancient Near Eastern Literature. The analysis of the literary structure is based upon both literary structuralism and rhetorical structuralism.;The second purpose of this dissertation was to assess the unity of the literary structure of Genesis 1-11 by a comparison of it with that of the ancient Near Eastern texts. Essentially, the literary unity was reexamined and revealed through a new understanding of textual and language structures.;The third purpose of this dissertation set about to advocate the unique theological genius of Genesis 1-11 by a comparison of its theology with that of other ancient Near Eastern literature.;The view of the higher critics did not fit in with what was revealed in the texts of Genesis 1-11 and the ancient Near East. Particularly, the attempt to apply the theory of higher criticism to the ancient Near Eastern literary structures resulted in manifest absurdities.