IntroductionDreams and visions convey the inevitable in the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Hebrew Bible because they surpass all efforts to prevent them and are sent by the gods. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, the title character's desperate attempts to alter the dreams and thus the fate of his friend Enkidu are ultimately futile. After Gilgamesh and Enkidu slay the Bull of Heaven in battle, the gods decide that one must die as punishment and decide on Enkidu (122). In a dream, Enkidu sees this decision and tells Gilgamesh, to which the king replies, "Now I will go and pray to the great gods and make your image one of gold beyond measure," (123). In this assurance, Gilgamesh promises to plead for Enkidu's life and detail his many positive attributes to the gods with the intention of changing his fate. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay. Unfortunately, the king's efforts are in vain, as Enkidu falls ill and, after twelve days, dies (126). Gilgamesh's pleas for his friend's life are nothing in the face of Enkidu's immutable fate from his dreams of Joseph in the Hebrew Bible coming true despite his brothers' attempts to stop them. Joseph is Jacob's youngest and most beloved son, his privileged status serving as a source of contention between him and his brothers. As he works, Joseph recounts two of his dreams: that in the field the brothers' sheaves "came up and bowed to [his] sheaf" (174) and that "the sun, the moon, and eleven stars bowed before [him] " (174). Joseph's dreams center on his superiority over his siblings and parents, foretelling his future dominance over them. The dreams outrage Jacob's other sons and they decide to sell Joseph to get rid of him, in the hope that only his absence will prevent the dreams from coming true (175). However, after being sold, Joseph eventually gains a high position in his new home in Egypt, and when God brings a famine upon the land, Pharaoh tasks Joseph with distributing the resources to the people (178). In hopes of receiving food, Joseph's brothers go to Egypt and "[bow] before him, with their faces to the ground," (179), thus fulfilling the prediction of Joseph's dream. Ultimately, the brothers betray themselves and fulfill Joseph's dreams by submitting to his authority, proving that none of their efforts could have inhibited the dreams' destiny. The dreams sent to Gilgamesh by Shamash in Gilgamesh correctly predict the outcome of his battle with Humbaba due to the omniscient nature of the gods. During Enkidu and Gilgamesh's journey to defeat the beast Humbaba, Gilgamesh, seeking divine guidance, climbs a mountain and asks, "'O mountain, bring me an auspicious dream!" (110). His appeal attests to his belief that the gods will not only send him dreams, but will send him dreams that foretell the future. Enkidu serves as an interpreter for the messages the gods send to Gilgamesh, recounting battle scenes in which the bull Humbaba "divided the land" (113) and "raised clouds of dust" (113). Later, in the fight, “the earth split” (115) at the beast's feet and “the white clouds turned black” (115). These close parallels show the prophetic abilities of the gods, confirming their ability to show the future through dreams. Introduction (on dreams that come true because they are sent by God) In Abraham's vision of God, He promises: "I will give this land to your descendants", (162) forming a covenant that gives Israel to Abraham's descendants. Unfortunately, Abraham's children are repeatedly forced to leave their promised homeland, as seen in the flight of.