Lecture Notes: Abraham, the Sumerians, Anunnaki, and Ancient New Year's Festivals

Overview

• Discussion on Abraham's connections to the region of Sumer.
• Exploration of the Sumerians, Semitic peoples, and cultural influences on literature and spirituality.
• Examination of ancient New Year festivals and their significance in various cultures.

Key Points

Abraham and the Sumerians

• Abraham is historically connected to the region of Sumer.
• Sumer was inhabited by Semitic-speaking people, known as Proto-Sumerians or Proto-Euphratean people.
• The Semitic presence influenced Acadian, Sumerian, Assyrian, and Babylonian literature.
• Sumer was ethnically diverse; the term "Sumerian" does not refer to a single ethnicity.

Cultural and Spiritual Connections

• Stories in Babylonian epics share commonalities with those in the Torah.
• Semitic-speaking tribes, descendants of Abraham, contributed to these narratives.

Ancient New Year Festivals

• Babylonian New Year known as "akitu" celebrated in "nisanu" and "tashritu".
• Hebrew calendar months Nissan (referred to as "abiv" in the Bible) and Tishri have origins and parallels in ancient Sumerian culture.
• Both spring and fall New Year ceremonies contained elements of combat, victory, creation, divine enthronement, and judgment.

Multiple New Years

• Israelites had multiple New Years similar to various New Years in modern contexts.
• Four distinct New Years traditionally observed: Nissan/Abiv, Tishri, and others for different purposes like temple tithing.

Historical and Biblical Integration

• Discussion on Exodus 12:1 - introduction of a new calendar beginning with Nissan.
• Earlier calendars and historical references to the original order of months.
• Examination of Genesis 7:11 and the flood occurring in "Keshvan", originally the second month.
• Ezekiel 40:1 and the mention of "Rosh Hashanah" during a Jubilee year.

Significance of Tishri

• Originally the first month, linked to the creation story and agricultural practices.
• Represented a turning or new beginning, marking the agricultural New Year.
• "Rosh Hashanah" linked with Jubilee proclamations and the Feast of Ingathering (Sukkot).

Conclusion

• Historical, cultural, and spiritual insights into the origin and significance of New Year festivals across Semitic and Sumerian histories.
• Encouragement to deepen scholarship and understanding of these connections.
• Emphasis on the importance of accurate historical and theological study.