Also known as Instructions of Šuruppak son of Ubara-tutu (the Instructions); is considered a piece of Sumerian wisdom literature. Wisdom literature, in general, is characterized by sayings intended to teach about divinity and about virtue. The key principle of wisdom literature is that while techniques of traditional story-telling are used, books also presume to offer insight and wisdom about nature and reality. This type of literature was common in the Ancient Near East (ANE) with the most notable examples being found in the Bible [Book of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Psalms, Song of Songs, Wisdom (also known as Wisdom of Solomon), Sirach (also known as Ben Sira or Ecclesiasticus)].
Dating back to circa 3000 BCE, the content of the Instructions concern itself with instructions that Shuruppak, the son of Ubara-Tutu gave to his son Zi-ud-sura:
"My son, let me give you instructions: you should pay attention! Zi-ud-sura, let me speak a word to you: you should pay attention! Do not neglect my instructions! Do not transgress the words I speak! The instructions of an old man are precious; you should comply with them!" (Lines 1-13)
By my understanding (of the readings done to prepare this post), the contents were passed on from the last king of Sumeria (Shuruppak) before the great deluge (commonly known as the Epic of Gilgamesh) and written down by his son (Zi-ud-sura), the first king after the deluge. The oldest known copy is the Abu Salabikh Tablet found near the site of ancient Nippur in Central Babylonia (now southern Iraq).
The complete text of the Instructions is said to be approximately 282 lines organized around three lists of instructions consisting of negative commands/prohibitions, positive commands, and conventional proverbs. For example: You should not play around with a married young woman: the slander could be serious. (Lines 32–34) Or a more practical piece of advice: You should not locate a field on a road; ....You should not make a well in your field: people will cause damage on it for you. (Lines 15–18)
There does not appear to be any set organization to the ordering to the passages, just a father instructing his son. Some scholars consider the Instructions to be a forerunner of the 10 Commandments:
3rd Commandment
- Line 50--You should not curse strongly: it rebounds on you.
- Ex 20:7--Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
- Deut 5:11--Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
6th Commandment
- Lines 252/53--You should not kill a ......, he is a child born by ....... You should not kill ...... like ......; you should not bind him.
- Ex 20:13--Thou shalt not kill.
- Deut 5:17--Thou shalt not kill.
7th Commandment
- Lines 33/34--You should not play around with a married young woman: the slander could be serious. My son, you should not sit alone in a chamber with a married woman.
- Ex 20:14--Thou shalt not commit adultery.
- Deut 5:18--Neither shalt thou commit adultery.
8th Commandment
- Lines 28-31--You should not steal anything; you should not ...... yourself. You should not break into a house; you should not wish for the money chest (?). A thief is a lion, but after he has been caught, he will be a slave. My son, you should not commit robbery; you should not cut yourself with an axe.
- Ex 20:15--Thou shalt not steal.
- Deut 5:19--Neither shalt thou steal.
9th Commandment
- Line 35-38--you should not pick a quarrel; you should not disgrace yourself. You should not ...... lies; ....... You should not boast; then your words will be trusted. You should not deliberate for too long (?); you cannot bear ...... glances.
- Ex 20:16--Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
- Deut 5:20 Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.
And some of the Proverbs of the Bible
Notice the similarity of the prefatory statement, many ANE wisdom texts are often addressed as advice to a son from a father. Compare the similarities with the following Proverbs to the first 75 lines of the Instructions:
Proverbs 6:1-5
My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, [2] Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. [3] Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend. [4] Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. [5] Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
Proverbs 7:21-27
[21] With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. [22] He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; [23] Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. [24] Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. [25] Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. [26] For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. [27] Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
Proverbs 22:26-27
[26] Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. [27] If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
Proverbs 23:27-28
[27] For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. [28] She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.
Although I couldn't find as much information as I would have liked concerning the Instructions, there is a wealth of information concerning wisdom literature as a whole. What is written here is an amalgamation of information I have found. By no means is this information original, I take no credit for it. I hope you find this bit of history as intriguing as I have.
Here is a list of sources I used in putting this piece together (plus many more):
THE INSTRUCTIONS OF SHURUPPAK
Instructions of Shuruppak
Sumerian creation myth
Sumerian King List
Ziusudra
MS 2788 INSTRUCTIONS OF SHURUPPAK, PROVERB COLLECTION, Lines 1-48
Wisdom literature in Mesopotamia and Israel By Richard J. Clifford
The instructions of Shuruppag: translation
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Please note that all quotes from the Bible are from the 1611 King James Version.
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