The Deluge story,the fire of Sodom and the fall of Jerusalem in Tanakh are three typical destruction narratives,which are ethical in nature from the perspective of ethical literary criticism.The common structure of"sin-punishment-grace"of these narratives conveys a clear theological ethicals theme,and it aims to provide law-based moral teaching and warning to the ancient Israelites.Through a comparison study with the myths of Mesopotamia,the paper shows that the versions of these destruction narratives are ideological recreations of the Mesopotamian versions,in that it dispelled the multi-divine theogony system from the perspective of the Jewish monotheism,and introduced the notion of good and evil.In addition,these narratives have contributed to the establishment of Yahweh's monotheism and the promotion of divine-human relationship.It became important materials for the Jewish people to support and consolidate the view of Deuteronomic history during the period of Babylonian exile.
Tanakhdestruction narrativeethical literary criticismthe myth of the Mesopotamiaview of Deuteronomic history
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