Final answer:
The Biblical flood story may have been inspired by Mesopotamian flood myths, particularly the Epic of Gilgamesh.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Biblical flood story may have been inspired by Mesopotamian flood myths. Many stories in the Hebrew Bible are taken from earlier Mesopotamian legends, including the flood legend, which is taken directly from the Epic of Gilgamesh. While the motivation of the Mesopotamian gods in the flood story is different from that of Yahweh in the Bible, the parallel between the two suggests a possible inspiration.
Mesopotamians regarded human existence as difficult and unpredictable, largely due to the harsh and erratic flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, the ancient Egyptians, for instance, had a more orderly view of the world as they relied on the regular and beneficial flooding of the Nile, which contributed to their concept of Ma'at representing order and balance.