How did ancient Mesopotamian, Canaanite, and Egyptian cultures influence biblical literature?

Biblical literature was significantly shaped by the broader cultural and literary traditions of the ancient Near East. Rather than direct borrowing, the Hebrew Bible often adapted, transformed, or responded to motifs and genres prevalent in Mesopotamian, Canaanite, and Egyptian cultures.1

Mesopotamian Influence

Mesopotamian literature provided foundational parallels for biblical narratives. The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Atrahasis epic contain accounts of a primeval Deluge that share striking structural similarities with the story of Noah. Similarly, the Enuma elish creation myth, which depicts a struggle between order and chaos, parallels the biblical creation account in Genesis, though the Bible reinterprets these themes to emphasize monotheistic sovereignty over the pagan polytheism of the original tales.2345

Canaanite Influence

As the Israelites settled in Canaan, they encountered a sophisticated agricultural society whose religion centered on fertility motifs and the worship of Baal. Biblical texts reflect this contact through both the adoption of certain poetic "conceits"—such as the combat between a deity and a sea monster (e.g., Leviathan)—and through prophetic polemics against the syncretistic practices and fertility rituals that threatened the exclusivity of the Yahwistic faith.62

Egyptian Influence

Egyptian literature, particularly its wisdom literature, shows close parallels to biblical writings. The Wisdom of Amenemope, for instance, mirrors the structure and content of the Book of Proverbs so closely that it serves as a primary example of comparative literary study. Additionally, the Aten-hymn of the pharaoh Akhenaten bears a notable resemblance to the 104th Psalm.71