“tail” could be a euphemism. Herodotus describes the hippopotamus and crocodile as denizens of Egypt (Histories, Book 2.68-71) and they appear together in a ceiling panel of the Ramesseum
(REF) as opponents of the pharaoh. Behemoth and Leviathan may merge literal and mythic interpretations and exist on the edge (“liminal”) somewhere between natural observable reality and supernatural realities. If so, they may represent the undefinable realms of chaos on both land (Behemoth) and sea (Leviathan).
Behemoth is the plural form of behemah, a generic word for living creatures other than humans
(cf. Gen 1:24). It often refers to the more domesticated varieties. Think cows and related benign creatures. The plural may signify the ultimate in sizable …show more content…
Something of the dread and terror of Leviathan was already evident in Job’s temporary venture into that dark realm. The traditions he knew and cited included cosmic battle: “By His power He churned up the sea; by His wisdom He cut Rahab to pieces. By His breath the skies became fair; His hand pierced the gliding serpent” (Job 26:12-13).
Outside the book of Job, Leviathan was an enemy of the LORD and a fierce and terrible one at that. “The Lord will punish with His sword, His fierce, great and powerful sword, Leviathan the gliding serpent, Leviathan the coiling serpent; He will slay the monster [tannin] of the sea” (Isa
27:1). Like Litan who shows up in the Canaanite myth of Ba’al and Anat, this monster serpent had multiple heads: “It was you who split open the sea by your power; you shattered the heads of the monsters (tanninim [plural]) on the waters. It was you who crushed the heads of
Leviathan and gave him as food to the creatures of the desert” (Psa 74:13-14). Job’s reference to Rahav (Job 9:13; 26:12) opened up additional connections. “Was it not You who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced that monster (tannin) of the sea?” (Isa 51:9b). “You crushed Rahab like one of the slain…” (Ps 89:10b [Hebr 89:11]). Done deal – Leviathan represented evil in its …show more content…
Sidebar -Close to Israelite culture, the Canaanite combat myth of Baal and Anat sheds light on the biblical Leviathan. The twisting and coiling serpent (Lotan or Litan, very similar to Leviathan) was done in, presumably by the storm-god Baal. Its description bears quoting:
"Though you smote Litan the fleeing serpent, finished off the twisting serpent, the encircler with seven heads, you burned him up, and thus you brightened the heavens (KTU 1.5.i.1-8; CORRECT REF _
SHORTEN translation Barker, "And Thus," 42). We cannot miss the echoes through Ancient
Near East texts. The seven heads remind us of the multi-headed dragons slain in the battle between Tiamat and Marduk (Enuma Elish). “Brightening the heavens” seems to parallel the
“skies becoming fair” (Job 26:13).
But not so fast. The Psalmist sang: “How numerous are your works, O LORD! All of them with wisdom you have made; the earth is full of your creatures. This is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures without number, living things, the small with the great. There the ships go to and fro; Leviathan, this you formed to frolic in it” (Ps 104:24-26). “Frolic”?
(REF) as opponents of the pharaoh. Behemoth and Leviathan may merge literal and mythic interpretations and exist on the edge (“liminal”) somewhere between natural observable reality and supernatural realities. If so, they may represent the undefinable realms of chaos on both land (Behemoth) and sea (Leviathan).
Behemoth is the plural form of behemah, a generic word for living creatures other than humans
(cf. Gen 1:24). It often refers to the more domesticated varieties. Think cows and related benign creatures. The plural may signify the ultimate in sizable …show more content…
Something of the dread and terror of Leviathan was already evident in Job’s temporary venture into that dark realm. The traditions he knew and cited included cosmic battle: “By His power He churned up the sea; by His wisdom He cut Rahab to pieces. By His breath the skies became fair; His hand pierced the gliding serpent” (Job 26:12-13).
Outside the book of Job, Leviathan was an enemy of the LORD and a fierce and terrible one at that. “The Lord will punish with His sword, His fierce, great and powerful sword, Leviathan the gliding serpent, Leviathan the coiling serpent; He will slay the monster [tannin] of the sea” (Isa
27:1). Like Litan who shows up in the Canaanite myth of Ba’al and Anat, this monster serpent had multiple heads: “It was you who split open the sea by your power; you shattered the heads of the monsters (tanninim [plural]) on the waters. It was you who crushed the heads of
Leviathan and gave him as food to the creatures of the desert” (Psa 74:13-14). Job’s reference to Rahav (Job 9:13; 26:12) opened up additional connections. “Was it not You who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced that monster (tannin) of the sea?” (Isa 51:9b). “You crushed Rahab like one of the slain…” (Ps 89:10b [Hebr 89:11]). Done deal – Leviathan represented evil in its …show more content…
Sidebar -Close to Israelite culture, the Canaanite combat myth of Baal and Anat sheds light on the biblical Leviathan. The twisting and coiling serpent (Lotan or Litan, very similar to Leviathan) was done in, presumably by the storm-god Baal. Its description bears quoting:
"Though you smote Litan the fleeing serpent, finished off the twisting serpent, the encircler with seven heads, you burned him up, and thus you brightened the heavens (KTU 1.5.i.1-8; CORRECT REF _
SHORTEN translation Barker, "And Thus," 42). We cannot miss the echoes through Ancient
Near East texts. The seven heads remind us of the multi-headed dragons slain in the battle between Tiamat and Marduk (Enuma Elish). “Brightening the heavens” seems to parallel the
“skies becoming fair” (Job 26:13).
But not so fast. The Psalmist sang: “How numerous are your works, O LORD! All of them with wisdom you have made; the earth is full of your creatures. This is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures without number, living things, the small with the great. There the ships go to and fro; Leviathan, this you formed to frolic in it” (Ps 104:24-26). “Frolic”?