A study of word parallelism significant to the dragon motif in the Old Testament

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Content A STÏÏDI OF W O RD PARALLELISM SIGNIFICANT TO
THE D RA G O N MOTIF IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
A T h e s is
P re s e n te d to
th e F a c u lty o f th e G rad u ate School
The U n iv e r s ity o f S o u th ern C a lif o r n i a
In P a r t i a l F u lf i llm e n t
o f th e R eq u irem en ts f o r th e D egree
M a ster o f A rts
by
B o n n ieje an McGuire C hoate
A ugust 1953
UMI Number: EP65230
All rights reserved
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DisseftsÈion PuMsMhg
UMI EP65230
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R ‘ SH- Û-5-V5
This thesis} ‘ written by
B onnie .................
under the guidance of hBT....Facuity Committeej
and approved by all its members, has been
presented to and accepted by the Council on
Graduate Study and Research in partial fullfill-
ment of the requirements for the degree of
M a ster o f A rts
Date.
Faculty Committee
Chfirman
TABLE OF GOM TEHTS
CHAPTER
! • THE PROBLEM A N D DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED
The problem ................................. .......................
S ta te m e n t o f th e problem ...................
Im p o rtan ce o f th e stu d y ...................
D e f in iti o n s o f te rm s u se d ....................
P o e try ........................................................ .
P a r a l l e l is m . . . . . . . . . .
M ythology
M o tif
I I .
O rg a n iz a tio n o f th e re m a in d e r o f th e t h e s i s
A GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE D R A G O N MOTIF IN
THE NEAR EAST ..............................................................
«
G en e ra l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f th e m o tif . .
Dragon ....................................................
P rim a l b a t t l e . . . ................... ,
R i tu a l o b se rv a n c e . . ^ . . .
P a r t i c u l a r a p p l i c a t i o n s o f th e m o tif
1
1
1
1
2
2
3
4
4
5
5
5
5
7
Ô
ê
ê
9
9
10
i l l
PAGE
CHAPTER
B ab y lo n ian
H i t t i t e
Hebrew
W ORDS RELATED D R A G O N I I I . A SURVEY
MOTIF
The w ords g e n e r a lly
th e d ragon m o tif
Tehom • • • • •
r e f e r e n c e to
T annin 22
Rahab
L e v ia th a n
w ords o c c a s io n a lly
m o tif to th e
A q a lla to n
Nahash
Tsepha
iv
CHAPTER PAGE
................................................................... 32
Shephiphon............. ........................................................ 33
Akshub ....................................................... 34
IV . CLASSIFICATION OF THE W O R D PARALLELISMS
EMPLOYING THE D RA G O N MOTIF ........................ 40
C osm ogonical a l l u s i o n s ...................................... 41
Tehom ....................................................................... 41
I T annin 45
1
I Rahab . . . . . . . .................................. 45
I
I L e v ia th a n . . . . . . ........................ .. 46
T annin and L e v ia th a n ....................... 46
I Tehom, T an n in , and Rahab ......................... 4^
Rahab and n ah ash ................................................ 48
I
P e te n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 9
' C o sm o lo g ical a l l u s i o n s .................................. 50
i
I Tehom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
I T annin and tehom ............................................ 54
: T annin and p e te n . . . . . .................... 54
L e v ia th a n 55
P o l i t i c a l a l l u s i o n s ................................ 56
T annin ................................................................... 56
Rahab 57
GHAPTEE PAGE
T an n in , L e v ia th a n , n a h a sh , b a r ia h , and
L i t e r a l
P e te n and
P e te n d ts e p h o n i
n d sh ip h ip h o n
CONCLtrSIOMS
60 N ahash
Summary
C o n c lu sio n s
BIBLIOGRAPHY
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE PAGE
I . O ccu rren ce o f Terms in th e Old T estam ent
R e la te d to th e D ragon M o tif .............................. 35
I I . S c r i p t u r a l P a s s a g e s S ig n if ic a n t to th e
D ragon M o tif .................................. 37
GHAPTM I
THE PIOBLIM M l BEFIHITIOHS # TERMS fS E I
The e x is te n c e o f a c r e a tio n myth in v o lv in g a h ig h
god and h i s b a t t l e w ith a p r im o r d ia l d rag o n h a s been
re c o g n iz e d a s a s i g n i f i c a n t m o tif i n th e H ear E a s t .^ How
e v e r, l i t t l e h a s been done to r e l a t e th e g e n e r a l m o tif to
i t s p a r t i c u l a r a p p l ic a tio n i n th e Hebrew s c r i p t u r e s .
I . THE PROBLEM
S ta te m e n t o f th e p ro b lem . I t i s th e p u rp o se o f
t h i s stu d y ( 1 ) t o make a g e n e ra l s ta te m e n t c o n c e rn in g th e
n a tu r e o f th e m o tif b a se d upon th e a v a ila b le H ear E a s te rn
docum ents, (2 } t o p r e s e n t a stu d y o f th e o u ts ta n d in g Hebrew
te rm s and w ord p a r a l l e l i s m s i n th e O ld T estam en t s i g n i f i
c a n t t o th e d rag o n m o tif , and (3 Î t o s u g g e s t th e l i t e r a r y
u s e s and a l l u s i o n s t o w hich th e m o tif w as a p p lie d by th e
w r i t e r s i n th e H ebrew -Jew i sh c u l t u r e .
Im p o rtan ce o f th e s tu d y . The l i t e r a r y v a lu e o f
th e Hebrew s c r i p t u r e s and th e c u l t u r a l l e v e l o f th e Hebrew
1 Salomon R e ln a c h . C u lts . M yths, and R e lig io n s .
T r. by E liz a b e th F r o s t . (London: D avid J .
209 p p .
p e o p le have f r e q u e n tly been o v e rlo o k e d o r d is r e g a rd e d by
s c h o la r s se e k in g o n ly t h e o l o g i c a l s u b s t a n tia tio n from th e
Old T e sta m e n t, and th e m y th o lo g ic a l e le m e n ts o f th e f o lk
l o r e r e f l e c t e d i n th e w r i tin g s h a s been m inim ized by th o s e
h o ld in g to th e n e c e s s ity o f a l i t e r a l and com plete a c
c e p ta n c e o f th e O ld T estam en t a s th e d iv in e ly r e v e a le d
word o f God. W hile t h i s work i s lim ite d to a stu d y o f
word p a r a l l e l i s m s i n th e O ld T estam en t c o n c e rn in g th e
drag o n m o tif , i t i s im p o r ta n t, i n a n arro w s e n s e , a s an
i n d i c a t i o n o f th e in f lu e n c e o f a common myth on a p a r t i c u
l a r c u l t u r e o f th e N ear E a s t, o f th e l i t e r a r y f a c i l i t y and
s k i l l o f th e men who in c o r p o r a te d a l l u s i o n s to th e common
id io m in to t h e i r w r i t i n g s , and o f th e u sag e o f th e r e
i n t e r p r e t e d myth i n th e r e l i g i o u s and s e c u la r w r i t i n g s o f
th e t u s e .
In a b ro a d e r s e n s e , th e work i s im p o rta n t a s an
i n d i c a t i o n o f th e r e c e p t i v i t y and c r e a t i v i t y o f th e
H ebrew -Jew ish c u l t u r e , o f th e h ig h developm ent o f th e
[ l i t e r a r y a r t fo rm s o f th e tim e , and o f th e w e a lth o f
I
Iin te rm in g le d s u p e r s t i t i o n , m yth, and p s y c h o lo g ic a l i n s i g h t
jof f o l k l o r e s t i l l e v id e n t in th e O ld T estam e n t.
I
i I I . DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED
I
, P o e tr y . As th e e a r l i e s t form o f l i t e r a r y e x p r e s s io n
3
among ev e ry p e o p le , p o e tr y i s d i s t i n e t i v e f o r i t s rh y th m ic
m atu re and i t s im p lie d and d i r e c t p a r a l l e l i s m o f th o u g h t
and w o rd s. A f i n e r d i s t i n c t i o n th a n t h i s sh o u ld n o t he
made when su rv e y in g th e work o f a p r i m it i v e p e o p le , th o u g h
i n more s o p h is tic a te d s o c i e t i e s such w ould he co m p u lso ry .
The isqD ortance o f p o e tr y i n a p r im it iv e c u l t u r e i s a s a
means o f e x p re s s in g em o tio n , a s an accomq)an im en t f o r th e
s a c re d d a n c e , and a s an a id to m em orizing th e e s s e n t i a l s
2
o f c u l t u r a l l o r e .
P a r a l l e l i s m . As a f e a t u r e o f Hebrew p o e tr y , r e p e
t i t i o n i s p ro b a b ly th e m ost c o n s ta n t and s t r i k i n g a s p e c t.
V a rio u s ly c a l l e d “p a r a l l e l i s m ,» “ s e n s e -rh y th m ,“ o r
“ th o u g h t-rh y th m ,“ a l l t h r e e te rm s em phasize t h a t th e
rhythm o f Hebrew p o e tr y i s i n th o u g h t-m e a su re r a t h e r th a n
form -m eas u r e . F o u r ty p e s o f p a r a l l e l i s m a r e u s u a lly
d is t in g u is h e d . In synonymous p a r a l l e l i s m , th e second
p a r t o f th e v e r s e may r e p e a t th e th o u g h t o f th e f i r s t i n
d i f f e r e n t w o rd s, v d iile i n a n t i t h e t i c a l p a r a l l e l i s m , i t may
em phasize th e th o u g h t o f th e f i r s t by a c o n t r a s tin g
s ta te m e n t i n th e se co n d . In s y n th e tic p a r a l l e l i a m . th e
2 Edward Ghauncey B aldw in, Types o f L i t e r a t u r e i n
th e O ld T estam en t (New Y ork: R onald Pi
4
second p a r t o f th e v e rs e o r c o u p le t may supplem ent o r
co m p lete th e f i r s t by s t a t i n g a co m p ariso n , a re a s o n , a
m o tiv e , o r a co nsequence o f th e f i r s t . A v a r i a t i o n o f
th e synonymous i s c l im a c tic p a r a l l e l i s m . H ere th e f i r s t
l i n e le a v e s th e se n te n c e and th o u g h t in c o m p le te , and th e
second r e p e a t s c e r t a i n w ords and makes co m p lete th e
m ean in g .^
Myth a s a s to r y form i s an a tte m p t o f
p r im it iv e p e o p le to e x p la in u ltim a te i s s u e s i n non-com plex,
n o n - te c h n ic a l lan g u ag e and on a v e ry lim ite d p h ilo s o p h ic a l
b a s i s .
M ythology. As h e r e u s e d , m ythology r e f e r s to th e
system o f v e r b a l i z a t i o n and r a t i o n a l i z a t i o n w hereby a
p r im itiv e c u l tu r e se e k s to r e s o lv e i t s e x i s t e n t i a l problem
i n te rm s o f th e community* s p s y c h o lo g ic a l n e e d s . I t i s an
a tte m p t to e x p la in th e p ro b lem s o f l i f e and th e m y ste ry o f
d e a th , th e o r i g i n o f th e u n iv e r s e and th e d e s tin y o f man,
i n te rm s o f th e lim ite d e x p e rie n c e o f th e g ro u p .
M ythology i s th e answ er w hich p r im it iv e man
gave to th e q u e s tio n s o f how, w hat and why.
M ythology f o r e a r l y man i s s c ie n c e , p h ilo s o p h y ,
r e l i g i o n and e t h i c s ; i t e x p la in s th e u n iv e r s e ,
i n t e r p r e t s th e s e a s o n s , i t expounds th e r e l a t i o n s
3 I b i d . . p p . 47— 49*
©f g o d s and men, and illu m in e s s o c i a l custom
and r e l i g i o u s p r a c t i c e . 4
M o tif. In i t s l i t e r a r y s e n s e , th e m o tif i s a
dom inant them e i n a c o l l e c t i o n o r s e r i e s o f w r i ti n g s .
D ragon. The te rm h a s r e f e r e n c e to a m y th o lo g ic a l
m o n ster i n p r im it iv e f o l k l o r e in h a b i t i n g e i t h e r th e se a
o r th e w a ste p la c e s o f th e la n d , and re s e m b lin g to v a r io u s
d e g re e s any number o f r e p t i l e s o r a m p h ib ia n s.
In a p a n th e o n o f d iv in e b e in g s , th e
h ig h god i s t h a t b e in g w hich u s u a lly h a s th e f u n c tio n s o f
c r e a t o r and su S ta in e r o f th e u n iv e r s e . F re q u e n tly t h i s
p o s i t io n among th e g o d s i s a ffirm e d to have been a t t a i n e d
by h i s overcom ing th e p r im o r d ia l d ra g o n .
I I I . o m kn itkrim ©f th e m m im m ©f t h e t h e s i s
The re m a in d e r o f th e t h e s i s w i l l be o rg a n iz e d in
te rm s o f (1) a g e n e r a l s ta te m e n t o f t h e m o tif i n th e H ear
E a s t, (2) a s tu d y o f th e Hebrew w ords r e l a t e d to th e
m o tif , (3 ) a su rv ey o f th e u sa g e o f th o s e w ords i n th e ©Id
4 Sam uel J . B. V o lk , “M y th o lo g y ,“ The U n iv e rs a l
Jew ish E n c ÿ c lo n e d ia (Hew Y ork: U n iv e rs a l T ew isE E n cy clo
p e d ia , i n c . , 1 9 4 2 i . V ol. d , p .
6
T e sta m e n t, and (4) a summary o f th e m a te r ia l and a s t a t e
m ent o f p o s s ib le c o n c lu s io n s re g a rd in g th e im p a ct o f th e
m o tif on Hebrew c u l t u r e in te rm s o f th e l i t e r a r y e v id e n c e .
CHAPTER I I
A GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE D RA G O N MOTIF
IN THE NEAR EAST
In th e N ear E a s t, i n th e two th o u sa n d y e a r s b e fo re
th e p r e s e n t e r a , th e f o lk l i t e r a t u r e o f th e v a r io u s
c u l t u r e s w as r i c h i n t a l e s o f a h ig h god*s s la y in g o f th e
p r im o r d ia l d ragon i n h i s e f f o r t to b r in g o r d e r and l i f e
i n to being* I n s e a s o n a l r i t u a l t h i s c r e a t i v e a c t w as r e
i n t e r p r e t e d i n te rm s o f a com bat to a s s u re an im al and
p l a n t p r o d u c tiv i ty to th e community th ro u g h i m i t a t i v e
m agic*^ E vidence o f such a m o tif e x i s t s in th e E g y p tia n
m o rtu a ry t e x t s , ^ th e B a b y lo n ian w r i t i n g s ,^ th e H i t t i t e
t e x t s , ^ and th e Hebrew S c r ip tu r e s * ^
W hile th e m yths a r e v a r ie d i n d é t a i l and even in
5 Theodor H* G a s te r , T h e s p is (New Y ork: H enry
p p . 6 -3 3 .
6 E. A. W a llis Budge, The Book o f th e Dead
Y ork: E . P . D u tto n and Company, l'Ç IJ J , p p . 6 , S , 5 4 ,
6B, 4 4 3 , e t
7 A lex an d er H e id e l, The B ab y lo n ia n Gene s i s
(C h icag o : U n iv e r s ity o f C hicago # r e s s , l $ 5 l ) , p p . lB -6 0 .
ê 0 . R. G urney, The H i t t i t e s (London: P en g u in
B ooks, 1 9 5 2 ) , p p . IBO— 3 .
9 See e s p e c i a l l y P salm s 6 5 , 6 6 , 74* ^ 9 , 93.
a
some m ain ite m s , a s w ould be e x p e c te d , th e m o tif i s r e l a
t i v e l y c o n s ta n t in th e d i f f e r e n t c u l t u r e s . T h is c h a p te r
w i l l c o n ta in a s e c tio n on th e g e n e r a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f
th e m o tif a s i t i s m a n ife s t i n th e H ear E a s t, and th e n a
s e c tio n on th e p a r t i c u l a r a p p l ic a tio n o f th e myth in
I . GENERAL CHARAQTERISTIGS OP THE MOTIF
In g e n e r a l, th e h ig h god i s a r e p r e
s e n ta ti o n o f th e l o c a l , t r i b a l , o r n a t i o n a l god o r g o d d e ss
who h a s a c h ie v e d p re c e d e n c e o v e r th e o th e r d i v i n i t i e s o f
th e e a r l i e r p a n th e o n . T h is b e in g f u n c tio n s a s a c r e a t o r
d e i t y i n d e s tro y in g th e a n ta g o n is t o f th e p a n th e o n , u s u a lly
i n th e form o f a d ragon o r o th e r m y th o lo g ic a l b e a s t, and
i n c r e a tin g th e u n iv e rs e and m ankind o u t o f c h a o s.
D ragon. The d ra g o n , a s th e a n ta g o n is t to th e h ig h
g o d , i s a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f c h a o s, d a rk n e s s , th e p rim e v a l
s e a , o r , a s i n th e B a b y lo n ian m yth, th e s e i n co m b in atio n
w ith th e fem a le p r i n c i p l e i n l i f e . B ecause th e dragon i s
u n c o n t r o ll e d , t h a t i s , b ec au se t h e r e i s no u n iv e r s e , i t i s ,
i n a p s y c h o lo g ic a l s e n s e , e v i l and m ust be subdued by th e
o r d e r in g f o r c e o f a c r e a tin g and s u s ta in in g d e i t y . The
m ain f u n c tio n o f th e d rag o n i s , t h e r e f o r e , to do b a t t l e
w ith th e h ig h g o d , o r th e l a t t e r * s a g e n ts , and to
o f f e r e d a s th e p rim a l s a c r i f i c e to d e i t y .
P rim a l b a t t l e . Through dism em berm ent o f th e
d ra g o n , ch ao s i s d e s tro y e d ; th ro u g h d e s tr u c tio n o f th e
p rim a l u n i t y , e x is te n c e i s made p o s s i b l e . In th e myth
th e p rim a l b a t t l e i s th e p rim a l s a c r i f i c e o f ch ao s to
o r d e r , d a rk n e s s to l i g h t , w i l l f u l n e s s to law , and n o th in g
n e s s to l i f e . From th e r i t u a l s o f th e v a r io u s c u l t u r e s
i t i s e v id e n t t h a t th e s la y in g o f th e d rag o n w as a p r o c e s s
o f ren ew in g th e l i f e - f o r c e i n a l l c r e a t u r e s th ro u g h r e
en a ctm en t o f th e v i c to r y o f th e New Y ear o v e r th e O ld,
summer o v e r w in te r , and f e r t i l i t y o v e r b a rre n n e s s .^ ®
R itu a l o b s e rv a n c e . In com m em oration o f th e m y th i
c a l dism em berm ent o f p r im a l u n i t y and o f th e triu m p h o f
th e h ig h god o v e r c h a o s , and f o r th e a s s u ra n c e o f f e r t i l i t y
and p r o d u c t i v i ty to th e com m unity, r i t u a l d ev e lo p ed i n r e
en actm en t o f t h i s e v e n t I t was som etim es i n th e form
o f a s p r in g f e s t i v a l f e a t u r i n g i m i t a t i v e m agic f o r th e
10 The c lo s e c o n n e c tio n betw een th e d ragon m o tif
and t h e more g e n e ra l form o f r i t u a l com bat a t a n n u a l f e r
t i l i t y ce re m o n ie s i s i n d ic a t e d by G a s te r , o p . c i t . , p p . 6 -
3 3 .
11 See R e in ac h , ©£. c i t . . p p . 2 6 -3 5 , on th e th e o ry
o f s a c r i f i c e .
ren e w a l o f p l a n t and an im al l i f e , som etim es in th e
form o f an e s ta b li s h e d and r e g u l a r s a c r i f i c i a l m eal
u n i ti n g th e god and h i s w o rs h ip p e rs i n a communion m u tu a l
l y b e n e f i c i a l , a n d som etim es i n th e form o f an in c a n
t a t i o n to a s s u re th e w o rs h ip p e r o f d e s ir e d b e n e f i t s in
t h i s w o rld o r th e n e x t.^ ^
I I . PAlTiaULAl APPLICATIONS OF THE MOTIF
D if f e r in g c u l t u r e s and p e o p le s o f c o u rse shaped
th e g e n e r a l m o tif to a p p ly to t h e i r p a r t i c u l a r n e e d s—
econom ic, r e l i g i o u s , and p s y c h o lo g ic a l— a s any common id e a
i s r e i n t e r p r e t e d by th e v a r io u s p e o p le h o ld in g i t .
T here i s h e re p r e s e n te d a b r i e f resum e o f th e
m o tif a s m a n ife s te d i n a few o f th e d ev e lo p ed Near E a s te rn
c u l t u r e s w ith s p e c ia l r e f e r e n c e to th e E g y p tia n and
A k k ad ian -B ab y Io n ian t e x t s , and w ith b r i e f m en tio n o f th e
H i t t i t e te x t- f r a g m e n ts , and o f th e Hebrew a l l u s i o n s .
E g y p tia n . The E g y p tia n e x p re s s io n o f th e m o tif
12 G a s te r , lo g , c i t .
13 W. R o b ert son S m ith , R e lig io n o f th e S em ites
(London: Adam and C h a rle s B la c k , Ï 9 0 7 ) , p p . 39^ - ÿ .
14 Jam es B. P r i t c h a r d , A ncien t N ear E a s te rn T e x ts
( P r in c e to n : P rin c e to n U n iv e r s ity # r e s s , 19$©J* p p . 1 1 -
12 .
11
e o n e e rn s a d ragon c a l l e d Â pophls, th e enemy o f th e stin
god Re. At th e c r e a t i o n Re i s c r e d i te d w ith h av in g k i l l e d
th e d ra g o n , th e n c u rs e d th e d rag o n * s d e s c e n d a n ts , am ex
p l o i t w hich found e x p re s s io n i n th e E g y p tia n b e l i e f t h a t
A pophis lu rk e d i n th e s k ie s below th e e a r t h so t h a t th e
sh ip o f Re, a f t e r c r o s s in g th e s k ie s above th e e a r t h ,
h ad to p a s s th e drag o n by n ig h t and com bat h im .^ ^
An im p o rta n t p a r t o f tem p le r i t u a l w as th e r e
p u ls in g o f t h i s drag o n a s a m a g ic a l a c t f o r r e p u ls in g th e
p e r i l s w hich m ight m enace th e n a tio n o r th e p e o p le .
A nother i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f th e myth in v o lv e d S eth
and h i s n i g h t l y b a t t l e w ith th e drag o n so t h a t th e sun
m ig h t c r o s s th e u n d e rw o rld and be re b o rn i n th e m o rn in g .
T h is was u se d a s am i n d i c a t i o n t h a t i n l i k e m anner man
sh o u ld s u rv iv e th e p e r i l s o f d e a th and be r e b o r n .
T hat th e myth w as o f th e common id io m i s i l l u s
t r a t e d by th e h i s t o r i c a l t e x t i n w hich Ramses I I I i s
com pared w ith S e th , and h i s en em ies, th e Sea P e o p le s , w ith
15 I b i d . . p p . 6 - 7 , c o n ta in s a t r a n s l a t i o n o f such
a t e x t u se d r 1t u a l l y t o r e p u ls e th e d rag o n o f th e c r e
a t i o n , an d , m a g ic a lly to a v e r t d an g er f a c in g th e s t a t e .
The t e x t p r e s e rv e d i n th e B rem ner-R hind P a p y ru s w hich may
have come from T hebes, i s d a te d by th e p r e s e n t m a n u s c rip t
a b o u t 310 B .C . The m a t e r i a l a n te d a te s th e t e x t by p e rh a p s
2 0 #© y e a r s .
16 I b i d . . “The D ragon o f th e W est“ .
th e d ragon “E v il in C h a ra c te r”
12
17
An E g y p tia n v e r s io n o f a myth c u r r e n t i n A sia may
I 1 ^
I be r e p r e s e n te d by th e A s t a r t s P a p y ru s, a badly-dam aged
! fra g m e n t w hich seems to r e l a t e th e t a l e o f how th e
I
I E g y p tia n g o d s w ere f r e e d o f th e o b lig a tio n to pay t r i b u t e
, to th e s e a , f r e q u e n tly p e r s o n if ie d a s a d ra g o n . The
P h o e n ic ia n g o d d e ss A s ta rte h e re a p p e a rs a s th e d a u g h te r o f
: P ta h , th e in s tru m e n t w hereby th e g o d s w ere d e liv e r e d .
T here i s g r e a t s i m i l a r i t y betw een t h i s t a l e and Enuma
e l i s h . th e B ab y lo n ian a c c o u n t o f c r e a t i o n , in w hich th e
enemy o f th e g o d s i s T iam at, th e fem ale p r i n c i p l e and th e
' p r im o r d ia l s e a . The t a l e seem s to d a te from 155© to 1200
B. G. i n i t s E g y p tia n form .
B a b y lo n ia n . Enuma e l i s h . th e e p ic o f th e p r i e s t s
o f th e c i t y o f B abylon, i s th e p r i n c i p a l so u rc e o f
i know ledge f o r th e M esopotam ian cosm ology. The p u rp o se o f
! th e e p ic i s n o t p r im a r ily to p r e s e n t th e s to r y o f th e
c r e a t i o n , b u t to sin g th e p r a i s e s o f Marduk and to j u s t i f y
th e p la c e o f suprem acy o f B ab y lo n , th e c i t y o f M arduk,
17 I b i d . . p p . 2 6 2 f. “ The War A g a in st th e P e o p le s
o f th e S e a .”
IB I b i d . . p p . 1 7 f f . A fra g m en t from th e Am herst
P a p y ri c o l l e c t i o n .
13
o v e r th e o th e r c i t i e s o f th e M esopotam ian a r e a . The e p ic
i s , t h e r e f o r e , n o t o n ly r e l i g i o u s , b u t p o l i t i c a l .
The s to r y o f th e c r e a tio n d e a ls w ith T iam at, th e
p r im o r d ia l m o th e r, th e s e a , and h e r b a t t l e w ith M arduk,
who, a s a r e s u l t o f h i s v i c t o r y , w as made h ig h god o f th e
B a b y lo n ia n p a n th e o n . In th e b e g in n in g , th e r e was T iam at,
th e s a l t s e a , h e r spouse Apsu, th e s w e e t-w a te r o c e a n , and
t h e i r son Mummu, th e m is t from th e two b o d ie s o f w a te r,
p ro b a b ly r e p r e s e n tin g th e c lo u d s . From t h i s p r im it iv e
t r i n i t y came th e g o d s. As th e l a t t e r m u lt ip lie d , th e y
became lo u d and q u a rre ls o m e , and Apsu d eterm in ed to d e s tro y
them so t h a t he and T iam at c o u ld r e s t . E a, th e god o f
wisdom and le a d e r o f th e o th e r d i v i n i t i e s , slew th e f a t h e r
o f a l l th e g o d s and assum ed h i s pow er and s p le n d o r.
T iam at w as, o f c o u rs e , d is tu r b e d by th e s la y in g o f
h e r spouse and moved r e s t l e s s l y a b o u t. She f i n a l l y de
c id e d on w ar a g a in s t th e g o d s r e s p o n s ib le f o r Apsu* s
d e a th , a t th e i n s t i g a t i o n o f some o f th e g o d s le d by
In p r e p a r a tio n f o r th e b a t t l e T iam at gave b i r t h
to e le v e n k in d s o f m o n ste r s e r p e n ts and f e r o c io u s d ra g o n s;
she made Kingu h e r new sp o u se , g iv in g him command o f th e
19 H e id e l, 0£ . c i t . . p . 11
14
b a t tl e * dom inion o v e r a l l th e g o d s, and th e t a b l e t o f
d e s t i n i e s w ith i t s m agic p o w ers.
The g o d s a g a in s t h e r , le d by E a, t r i e d b o th w a rfa re
and n e g o t i a t i o n , n e i t h e r o f w hich was e f f e c t i v e . The g o d s
w ere f i l l e d w ith t e r r o r and d e s p a ir .
F i n a l l y , th e g o d s th o u g h t o f M arduk, who had
a lre a d y p ro v e d h i s v a l o r , and ask ed him to save them from
th e t e r r o r . Marduk a g re e d on th e c o n d itio n t h a t he be
made th e c h i e f among th e g o d s. An assem b ly o f th e g o d s
was c a l le d to make th e d e c is io n , and th e y f i n a l l y a g re e d
t h a t d e liv e r a n c e was w o rth Marduk* s h ig h p r i c e .
The g o d s in v e s te d Marduk a s k in g o f th e g o d s ,
p ay in g him homage and g iv in g him th e r o y a l i n s i g n i a o f h i s
o f f i c e . Marduk th e n s e t o u t to b a t t l e T ia m a t. H is v e ry
ap p e a ra n c e f r ig h te n e d h e r h e lp e r s away, b u t she rem ain ed
u n p e r tu r b e d . In th e v iv i d l y d e s c rib e d b a t t l e w hich
fo llo w e d , Marduk enm eshed h e r i n h i s n e t and d rove th e
w in d s in to h e r body. He th e n sh o t an arro w th ro u g h h e r
mouth i n t o h e r h e a r t , k i l l i n g h e r . The enemy g o d s w ere
c a p tu r e d , and Kingu w as fo rc e d to s u rre n d e r th e t a b l e t o f
d e s t i n i e s t o M arduk. Marduk th e n r e tu r n e d t o T iam at,
s p l i t h e r s k u ll w ith a c lu b , c u t h e r a r t e r i e s , and cau sed
th e n o r th w ind to c a r r y h e r b lo o d to d e s o la te p la c e s .
F in a ll y he d iv id e d h e r body i n t o two p a r t s , u s in g h a l f to
15
form th e sk y , and th e o th e r h a l f to form th e e a r t h . Then
he e s t a b l i s h e d th e go d s i n t h e i r a p p r o p r ia te s t a t i o n s .
Marduk o rg a n iz e d th e c a le n d a r . He c r e a te d th e sun and
moon and c o n s t e l l a t i o n s .
The enemy g o d s w ere made th e s e r v a n ts o f th e
v i c t o r s , a b u rd en to o heavy f o r th em . They a p p e a le d to
M arduk, and he d e te rm in e d to c r e a te man to p ro v id e th e
s e r v ic e fo rm e rly im posed upon th e d e f e a te d g o d s. In th e
assem b ly o f th e g o d s, Kingu w as i n d i c t e d f o r c r e a tin g
s t r i f e and se n te n c e d to d e a th . E a, w ith th e h e lp o f th e
o th e r g o d s, se v e re d Kingu* s a r t e r i e s and c r e a te d m ankind
from h i s b lo o d m ixed w ith c l a y , fo llo w in g M arduk*s i n
g e n io u s p la n .
I n to k e n o f t h e i r g r a t i t u d e th e g o d s b u i l t th e
c i t y o f B abylon and th e te m p le to Marduk lo c a te d t h e r e ,
f u r n is h in g e x c e ll e n t p ro p ag an d a m a te r ia l f o r th e l a t e r
B a b y lo n ia n p r i e s t s and p o l i t i c i a n s .
The b a s ic e le m e n ts o f th e d rag o n m o tif a r e e v id e n t
w ith o u t f u r t h e r comment.
H i t t i t e . Among th e H i t t i t e s , th e r e w ere e v id e n tly
I b i d . . p p . 3 -1 0 . H e id e l* s stu d y i s th e b a s i
f o r t h i s resum ^.
two v e r s io n s o f th e m y th ,^^ n e i t h e r w e ll- d e f in e d n o r
a d e q u a te ly i n t e r p r e t e d . B oth b e g in w ith th e s ta te m e n t
t h a t th e h e r o , th e W eath er-g o d , h a s been b e a te n in h i s
f i r s t e n c o u n te r w ith th e d rag o n I llu y a n k a s .
A ccording to th e f i r s t v e r s io n , th e W eather-god
ask e d a s s is ta n c e from th e o th e r g o d s. The g o d d e ss I n a r a s
had a p la n and r e q u e s te d a man c a l l e d H u p asiy as to a s s i s t
h e r , b u t had f i r s t to s le e p w ith him b e fo re he w ould
com ply. She th e n h e ld a f e a s t f o r th e d ra g o n , who c ra w le d
o u t o f h i s h o le w ith h i s c h i l d r e n , o r s e r v a n ts , to p a r
ta k e o f th e fo o d and d r in k . They a te and d ran k so much
t h a t th e y c o u ld n o t g e t back i n t o t h e i r h o le . H u p asiy as
th e n bound th e d rag o n and th e W eath er-g o d slew him .
Though th e c o n c lu s io n i s l o s t , a p p a re n tly I n a r a s b u i l t a
h o u se o f sto n e f o r H u p asiy as to d w ell i n and i n s t r u c t e d
him n o t to lo o k o u t, f o r he would see h i s w ife and
c h i ld r e n . But he d iso b e y e d , an d , a p p a r e n tly , I n a r a s r e
tu r n e d and d e s tro y e d him f o r h i s d is o b e d ie n c e . G aster^ ^
s u g g e s ts t h a t th e re a s o n f o r h i s co n fin e m en t and su b se
q u e n t d e a th was to p re v e n t th e tr a n s m is s io n o f th e d iv in e
21 G urney, o p . c i t . . p p . lB O -4, and G a s te r, o p .
c i t . . p p . 3 1 7 - 3 6 .
22 G a s te r , o £ . c i t . « p p . 3 2 6 -7 .
17
s tr e n g th a c q u ire d th ro u g h se x u a l i n te r c o u r s e w ith th e
goddess*
In th e second v e r s io n o f th e s to r y , th e d rag o n a t
f i r s t n o t o n ly d e f e a te d th e W e a th e r-g o d , b u t to o k h i s
h e a r t and eyes* Then th e W eath er-g o d had a son by th e
d a u g h te r o f a s la v e , and when th e son grew to manhood, he
to o k th e d a u g h te r o f th e d rag o n a s h i s b rid e * The
W eath er-g o d i n s t r u c t e d th e son to ask f o r th e r e t u r n o f
th e s to le n o rg a n s , w ith w hich th e d rag o n com plied*
When h i s body w as r e s t o r e d t o w h o le n e ss, th e
W eath er-g o d w ent o f f to th e se a to b a t t l e th e d rag o n .
H is so n , p r e s e n t i n I llu y a n k a * s h ouse a t th e tim e , c r i e d
to h i s f a t h e r , ” Sm ite me, to o l Do n o t sp a re met” At
t h a t th e W eath er-g o d k i l l e d th e d ragon and h i s own so n .
The t e x t s t a t e s e x p l i c i t l y t h a t t h i s myth w as
r e c i t e d a t th e p u r u l l i f e s t i v a l , w h ich , a s we
have se e n , w as p ro b a b ly an a n n u a l s p rin g f e s t i v a l .
T here i s t h e r e f o r e e v e ry j u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r com
p a r in g t h i s myth w ith o t h e r s o f th e same ty p e
w hich w ere lik e w is e r e c i t e d a t s e a s o n a l f e s t i v a l s . ^ ^
Hebrew. L i t t l e e l s e w i l l be s a id h e re o f th e
d rag o n m o tif i n th e Old T e sta m e n t. G a ste r^ ^ d e a ls w ith
m o tif i n te rm s o f i t s p o s i t i o n i n th e s e a s o n a l p a t t e r n o f
23 G urney, 0£ . c i t . , p .
2 4 G a s te r, 0£ . c i t . . p p . 73-lO B . e t p a s s im .
l É
2 c
r i t g a l , and s ta n d a rd w orks on th e O ld T estam en t b e a r
w itn e s s to th e p re s e n c e o f rem n a n ts o f th e m yth. Very
g e n e r a l p a s s a g e s from th e p o e tic and p r o p h e tic w r i tin g s
i n d i c a t e th e p re s e n c e o f th e d rag o n m o tif i n th e Hebrew
c m ltn r e . One o f th e P salm s s t a t e s :
e a r t h i s th e L o rd ’ s and i t s f u l l n e s s .
The w o rld and th o s e who d w ell t h e r e i n .
F o r he fomnded i t mpon th e s e a s , .
And e s ta b li s h e d i t upon th e o cean c u r r e n ts * ^
W ith d re a d d eed s d o s t Thou answ er u s r i g h t d u ly .
Thou God o f o u r s a lv a ti o n .
T ru s t o f a l l th e en d s o f th e e a r t h .
And th e f a r - f l u n g s e a .
Who s t a b l i s h e t h th e m o u n ta in s by H is s tr e n g t h .
G ird ed in m ig h t.
Who s t i l l e t h th e ra g in g o f th e s e a s
and th e tu m u lt o f t h e i r w aves.
They t h a t d w ell a t th e en d s o f th e e a r th
a r e a f e a re d a t Thy s ig n s ;
E a s t and W est r in g lo u d
w ith th e p r a i s e / o f Thy name/*
W hile none o f th e te rm s f o r drag o n a p p e a rs in
e i t h e r poem, th e f a c t t h a t th e a l lu s i o n i s to th e p r i
m o rd ia l com bat betw een d e i t y and ch a o s seems e v id e n t.
25 See b ib lio g r a p h y .
P salm 2 4 :1 , t r . by J . M. Pow is Sm ith i n The
Com plete B ib le (C h icag o : U n iv e r s ity o f C hicago P r e s s ,
^ J • ■ ■ . - ■ ■ ■
27 Psalm 6 5 : 6 - 9 , t r . by G a s te r, ©£• c i t . . p. 7 7.
1 9
An i n t e r e s t i n g developm ent a t a l a t e r d a te i s th e
Je w ish f o l k l o r e t h a t c e n te r e d around L e v ia th a n , one o f th e
d ra g o n s o f s c r i p t u r e . In th e a p o c a ly p tic w r i t i n g s .
L e v ia th a n became th e arch-enem y o f God and th e in c a r n a tio n
o f e v i l . In th e l a s t d a y s God was to d escen d to th e s e a s
and do b a t t l e w ith th e m o n s te r, th e n p re p a re th e c o rp s e f o r
2.È
a f e a s t s e t b e fo re th e f a i t h f u l . W hile th e le g e n d s i n
Je w ish f o l k l o r e c o n c e rn in g d rag o n s a re num erous, th e o n ly
o n es o f im p o rta n c e h e r e a re th o s e d e a lin g w ith th e f i n a l
b a t t l e and th e m e s s ia n ic b an q u e t o f th e p io u s .^ ^ H ere i s
a t l e a s t some i n d i c a t i o n t h a t th e myth was common to th e
e a r l y H ebrew s, even th o u g h i t may have b een c e n so re d from
th e s c r i p t u r e s b y , p re su m a b ly , o v e rz e a lo u s p r i e s t l y w r i t e r s
a tte m p tin g to e r a d i c a t e a l l t r a c e s o f ad h e re n ce to a l i e n
and d o m e stic f e r t i l i t y c u l t p r a c t i c e s and b e l i e f s . In
s p i t e o f t h i s , num erous t r a c e s p e r s i s t , and th e work o f
such p e rs o n s a s G a s te r , E e in a c h , and H e id e l i n d i c a t e s t h a t
f u r t h e r r e s e a r c h may be v e ry f r u i t f u l .
2È L o u is G in z b e rg , The L egends o f th e Jew s
( P h ila d e lp h ia : Jew ish P u b lic a tio n SocT ety o f A m erica,
, V o l. I , p p . 26-9*
29 F u r th e r e v id e n c e may be found i n th e c a r r y - o v e r
to th e Jew i sh -G h ri s t i a n r e l i g i o n in th e R e v e la tio n o f Jo h n ,
w here b o th th e r i t u a l b an q u e t f o r th e p io u s (Rev. 1 9 :l& ff)
and th e w ar betw een God and th e d ragon (Rev. 1 2 :7 -9 ) ap p ear.
CHAPTER I I I
A SIEVE! OF THE W ORDS RELATED TO THE D RA G O N MOTIF
A number o f te rm s I n th e O ld T estam en t have r e f e r
ence a lm o st alw ay s t o th e d rag o n ; o t h e r s a re u se d o n ly
o c c a s io n a lly i n t h a t f u n c tio n , b e in g u s u a l l y d e s c r i p t iv e
a d j e c t i v e s o r g e n e r a l w ords f o r s e r p e n t. T h is c h a p te r
w i l l d e a l f i r s t w ith a stu d y o f t h e w ords g e n e r a lly h av in g
r e f e r e n c e to th e d ra g o n , and them w ith a stu d y o f th e w ords
o c c a s io n a lly h av in g r e f e r e n c e to t h a t m o tif .
I . THE W ORDS GENERALLY HAVING REFERENCE TO
THE DRA G O N MOTIF
Tehem. A fe m in in e noun i n Hebrew, tehom )
i s p ro b a b ly from an h y p o th e s iz e d r o o t t-h -m ) i n
view o f th e A ssy ria n tia m tu o r ta m tu ,^ ^ w ith w hich i t i s
c o g n a t e . F r o m th e A ssy ria n comes th e form T iam at. a
D i a c r i t i c a l m ark s, such a s th o s e above each a
i n th e above A s s y ria n w o rd s, w i l l be o m itte d i f th e r e T s
no p o s s i b i l i t y o f c o n fu s in g th e o r ig in a l *
31 F r a n c is Brown, S. E. D riv e r , and C h a rle s A.
B rig g s , e d s ., A Hebrew and E n g lis h L exicon o f th e Old
T estam en t (O x fo rd : è la re n d o n r r e s s 7 f i r s t ^ i t l o n I 9O 7 ,
C o rre c te d im p re s s io n , 1 9 5 2 ), p . 1062.
21
term f o r th e p r im o r d ia l d rag o n and th e m n c o n tro lle d s e a .
I n th e O ld T e sta m e n t, i t s c o g n a te tehom i s u se d alm o st
alw ay s p o e t i c a l l y , in d i c a t i n g i t s g r e a t age and p ro b a b le
m y th o lo g ic a l background#
Tehom i s u se d i n te rm s o f th e deep when i t h a s
r e f e r e n c e to th e s u b te rra n e a n w a te rs b e lie v e d by th e
Hebrews to u n d e r lie th e e a r t h .
W ith th e b l e s s i n g s o f th e h e a v e n s ab o v e,
The b le s s i n g s o f th e a b y s s co u ch in g belo w ,
o f d e e p . o r s e a , when i t a l lu d e s to th e o c e a n s o r
M e d ite rra n e a n S ea,
The w a te rs saw t h e e , 0 God;
The w a te rs saw th e e , th e y s u f f e r e d p a n g s;
The v e ry d e e p s w ere c o n v u lsed # 33
I
o c c a s io n a lly o f d e p th s o f r i v e r s and b u r s t s o f w a te r,
and o f th e p rim e v a l o cean i n th e Hebrew cosm ogony.
When he e s t a b li s h e d th e h ea v en s I w as t h e r e .
When he t r a c e d th e v a u l t o v e r th e f a c e o f th e
When he made f ir m th e s k ie s .
When he f ix e d th e f o u n ta in s o f th e d ee p . 35
• 4 9 :2 5 , t r . , T. J . Meek; Gf# Job 2 8 :1 4 ,
3 8 :1 6 , and Amos 7:4#
33 P s . 7 7 :1 6 , 1 7 , t r . , J . M. P . S m ith ; G f. Job 3 8 :
3G, I s a . 6 3 :1 3 , P s . 1 0 6 :9 .
34 B e u t. 8 :7 , Eze# 31:4#
35 P ro v . 8 :2 7 , t r . , A. E. G ordon; G f. Gen. 1 :2 ,
P s . 1 0 4 :6 .
and, in one ea se, o f the abyss th at i s Sheol.
Do thorn q u ic k en u s a g a in .
And from th e d e p th s o f th e e a r t h b r in g u s
a g a in .36
I t i s e v id e n t t h a t th e p o e tic u s e o f tehom a s sea
and deep may be an e x p re s s io n o f th e m y th o lo g ic a l con
c e p tio n o f ch ao s o r th e o cean a s an an im ated b e in g , a
m o n stro u s d ra g o n . I n i t s p r i m i t i v e s e n s e , tehom un
d o u b te d ly w as re c o g n iz e d by th e Hebrews a s an a p p e l l a t i v e
f o r d rag o n , e s p e c i a l l y i n c o n te x ts w here r a g in g w a te rs
a r e r e f e r r e d to i n a m y th o lo g ic a l s e t t i n g , a s i n th e f i r s t
c h a p te r o f G e n e s is ,
When God began to c r e a t e th e h ea v en s and th e
e a r t h , th e e a r th was a d e s o la te w a s te , w ith
d a rk n e s s c o v e rin g th e a b y s s . ( | and a
te m p e stu o u s w ind r a g in g o v e r th e s u r fa c e o f th e
w a t e r s .37
T an n in . The m a sc u lin e s in g u la r noun ta n n in ( }
i s u s u a lly i n t e r p r e t e d a s m eaning la n d s e r p e n t.
Take y o u r s t a f f and th ro w i t down i n f r o n t o f
P h arao h
and i t w i l l become a r e p t i l e , 3#
o r se a o r r iv e r - m o n s te r .
P s . 7 1 :2 0 , t r . , J . M. P . S m ith.
37 Gen. 1 :1 , t r . , T. J . Meek.
38 Exod. 7 :9 , t r . , T. J . Meek, C f. 7 :1 0 ,
B e u t. 3 2 :3 3 3 ; P s . 9 1 :1 3 ; and J e r . $ 1 :3 ^7
And he w ill slay the dragon th at i s in the sea.^^
I t a ls o a p p e a rs a s a p e r s o n i f i c a t i o n o f a w a te r s p o u t,^ and
o f c h a o s .
The word h a s been c o n fu se d i n some m a n u s c rip ts and
t r a n s l a t i o n s ^ ^ w ith ta n n im th e m a sc u lin e p l u r a l
form o f j a c k a l , so t h a t a d i s t i n c t i o n betw een th e two i s
n o t alw ay s p o s s i b l e .
The d e r iv a tiv e o f th e word i s n o t known, b u t
G esen iu s^5 s u g g e s ts th e o b s o le te r o o t t - n - n ( l l f l ) w ith
th e m eaning s t r e t c h o u t o r e x te n d , th e g r e a t s e rp e n t o r
s e a -m o n s te r th u s d e r iv in g i t s name from i t s extrem e le n g th .
A n o th er p o s s i b i l i t y i s t h a t th e r o o t t - n - n i s r e l a t e d to a
se c o n d a ry m eaning o f t - n - h la m e n t, th e d rag o n b e in g
s o - c a lle d from h i s h o w l i n g , w h i c h may be a r e p r e s e n t a t i o n
I s a . 2 7 :1 , t r . A. E . G ordon, G f. Job 7 :1 2 ;
P s . 8 4 :1 3 ; I s a . 5 1 :9 ; Gen. 1 :2 1 .
P s . 148:7 a s t r . by W. E. S m ith, o p . c i t . .
p . 176. -----
41 I s a . 5 1 :9 , w here t h i s w ord i s p a r a l l e l to r a h a b .
q . V. See a ls o I s a . 2 7 :1 .
I
42 E ze . 2 9 :3 , 3 2 :2 . |
43 W illia m G e se n iu s, t r . Edward E o b in so n , A Hebrew
and E n g lis h L exicon o f th e O ld T estam en t (B o s to n :" h o u g h to n
M if f lin èoffipany, 18977, p . I I 4 G. ( h e r e a f t e r c a l l e d : ”E .
E o b in so n , 0£ . c i t . ” )
44 Brown, D r iv e r , B rig g s , ©£. c i t . . p . 1072.
( H e r e a f te r i d e n t i f i e d by BDB]
o f th e r o a r o f w aves on a ro ck y c o a s t.
T annin i s som etim es u se d to r e p r e s e n t th e c ro c o
d i l e , f o r w hich th e Hebrew and A ram aic have no v e r n a c u la r
n a m e , ^5 and so i s an emblem o f Egypt o r h e r r u l e r .
B eh o ld , I am a g a in s t you, 0 P h a ra o h ,
The g r e a t c r o c o d ile t h a t l i e s ._
In th e m id s t o f th e s t r e a m s . * '
T h is s u g g e s ts t h a t a b a s ic a s s o c i a t i o n w ith w a te r
m o n ste r h a s been a d a p te d to a s p e c i f i c a n im a l.
R ahab. The l i t e r a l m eaning o f Rahab (^ D D ) i s
sto rm , o r p o s s ib ly th e a b s t r a c t id e a o f a r r o g a n c e .^ ^ b u t
th e word i s u se d o n ly a s a name f o r a m y th ic a l se a m o n ste r,
God w i l l n o t tu r n back h i s a n g e r.
Under him th e h e lp e r s o f Rahab bowed.
o r a s an em blem atic d e s ig n a tio n f o r E gypt o r some o th e r
N ear E a s te r n pow er.
45 E. R o b in so n , ©£. c i t . . p . 1139.
46 I b i d .
47 E ze. 2 9 :3 , C f. P s . 7 4 :1 3 ; I s a . 2 7 :1 , 5 1 :9 ;
E ze. 2 9 :3 , 3 2 :2 .
48 BDB, G£. c i t . . p . 9 2 3 .
49 Job 9 :1 3 , t r . J . M. P . S m ith , G f. 2 6 :1 2 , I s a .
5 1 :9 , P s . 8 9 :1 1 . —
I " 2 5 1
' To E g y p t, whose h e lp i s empty and v a in ,
^ W h erefo re I have c a lle d h e r ’R a h a b -S it-
S t i l l . *50 j
B oth o f th e p o s s i b le m eanings h i n t a t a m y th o lo g i- ■
!
I c a l so u rce i n view o f th e s t o r i e s ab o u t th e se a d rag o n .
I
I
L e v ia th a n . As a r a r e and p o e tic word f o r dragon
o r se a m o n ste r, L evi a th a n ( ) i s a p p a r e n tly , l i k e 1
R ahab. a p ro p e r noun s ta n d in g f o r one o f a c l a s s o f d rag o n s ,
s im ila r to o r in c lu d in g T ia m a t.51 I t i s from th e r o o t
1 -v -h ( , m eaning t u r n , t w i s t , o r wind.52
L e v ia th a n i s som etim es t r a n s l a t e d a s a c r o c o d ile ,
Gan you draw up th e c r o c o d ile w ith a f is h - h o o k .
Or can you p r e s s down h i s to n g u e w ith a
cord?53
o r a s e a - m o n s te r.5A
' T here i s th e s e a , g r e a t and b ro a d ,
I Where a re r e p t i l e s in n u m e ra b le .
C re a tu re s sm a ll and g r e a t ;
T here go th e s e a -m o n s te rs .
, 50 Or a s M o ffa tt h a s i t , ”D ra g o n -d o -n o th in g " ,
I s a . 3 0 :7 , G f. P s. 8 7 :4 .
51 R e in ac h , 0£ . c i t . . p . I 6 3 .
52 BDB, o p . c i t . , p . 531.
53 Job 4 1 :1 (4 0 :2 5 ).
54 Som etim es c a l l e d a w h ale , a c r e a tu r e w ith w hich
th e Hebrews w ere p ro b a b ly n o t f a m i l i a r .
The m o n ste r whom thorn d i d s t form to f r o l i c
t h e r e i n . 55
W ith r e g a r d to t h i s l a s t , th e b e l i e f i n a dragon o r f i s h
t h a t sw allow s th e moon i s q u ite p r e v a l e n t among p r im it iv e
p e o p le s . The m y th o lo g ic a l s ig n i f ic a n c e seem s u n d e n ia b le .
I I . THE W01BS OGGASIONALL! HAVING EEFEIENGE TO
THE D RA G O N MOTIF
B a rla b * As an a d j e c t iv e from th e r o o t b - r - h
( B l l ) , b a r ia b ( ) h a s th e se n se o f f l e e i n g . 5? I t i s
u se d v a r io u s ly w ith w ords f o r s e rp e n t and d ra g o n .
On t h a t day w i l l th e L ord p u n is h .
W ith h i s sword w hich i s h a rd and g r e a t and
s tr o n g .
L e v ia th a n ( 1-0’ }? ) th e f l e e i n g s e rp e n t U’??)
L e v ia th a n th e c o i le d s e rp e n t *n]^;
And he w i l l s la y th e d rag o n ( y p f ) t ^ â t f s i n
th e s e a .
and a p p a r e n tly h a s r e f e r e n c e to a l o s t myth c o n c e rn in g th e
e c lip s e - d r a g o n . a s ;
Through h i s pow er th e sea w as q u e lle d .
And by h i s s k i l l h e sm ote th ro u g h Rahab,
By h i s w ord th e s k ie s w ere c le a r e d .
55 P s . 1 0 4 :2 5 -
56 R. C am pbell Thompson, S e m itic M agic. I t s O rig in s
and D evelopm ent (London: Luzac and Company, 19*037, p p . 5 3 f<
57 BDB, p p . c i t . . p . 1 3 6 .
58 I s a . 2 7 :1 .
27
59
H is hand slew th e f le e in g s e r p e n t.
^ A q a lla to n . Used a s an a d j e c t i v e , * a q a lla to n
( h a s th e se n se o f cro o k ed o r winding. I n one
6 l
p a s sa g e i t i s th e e p i t h e t o f a s e r p e n t, and may w e ll
r e p r e s e n t an a l l u s i o n i n p o e t ic form to th e c o n s t e l l a t i o n
D raco .
S e ra p h . The m a sc u lin e s in g u la r noun se ra p h
( a p p a re n tly r e p r e s e n te d a f i e r y , u s u a lly venom ous,
s e rp e n t o r drag o n ^^ a s i n th e p a s s a g e .
/S o n o t f o r g e t th e Lord y o u r G od/ . . .
Who le d you th ro u g h th e g r’ i a t . a n d t e r r i b l e
d e s e r t w ith i t s venomous s e r p e n t ^5
The w ord h a s r e f e r e n c e to a c l a s s o f m y th ic a l f i e r y
s e r p e n ts i n Hebrew t r a d i t i o n , o f w hich th e b ra z e n s e rp e n t
o f M oses, c a s t from th e Temple by H e z ek ia h , may be
59 Job 2 6 :1 2 , 13.
60 BDB, p p . c i t . . p .
61 See ab o v e, n o te 58.
62 BDB, lo c . c i t .
63 I b i d . . p p . 9 7 6- 7 .
6 4 Num. 2 1 :8 ; I s a . 1 4 :2 9 , 3 0 :6 .
65 D eu t. 8 : 1 5 .
28
an e x a m p l e . I t i s q u ite p o s s i b le t h a t th e se ra p h w as a
p e r s o n i f i c a t i o n o f l i g h t n i n g i n p r im it iv e f o l k l o r e .
T h is h a s no d i r e c t b e a rin g on th e s e a -d ra g o n , b u t
th e te rm se ra p h d o es o c c u r i n p a r a l l e l c o n s tr u c tio n w ith
n a b a s h .^^ a te rm u se d w ith w ords m eaning d ra g o n . T h is
m eans t h a t th e te rm s f o r s e rp e n t and d rag o n w ere c o n s id e re d
r a t h e r lo o s e ly by th e H ebrew s and s u b je c t t o v a r io u s i n
t e r p r e t a t i o n s and u s a g e s by t h e i r w r i t e r s .
S eraphim . A p p a re n tly a p l u r a l o f s e ra p h , th e
form serap h im ( probably r e f e r r e d to m y th ic a lly
c o n c e iv e d d e i t i e s w ith s e rp e n ts * b o d ie s o r t o p e r s o n i f i
c a t i o n s o f l i g h t n i n g . A lso , in th e O ld T e sta m e n t,
th e y w ere r e p r e s e n te d a s m a je s tic b e in g s w ith s i x w in g s
and human h an d s and v o ic e s who w ere a tte n d a n t upon
Yahw eh.^^ The o n ly s ig n i f ic a n c e o f th e te rm to t h i s stu d y
66 Jam es A. K e lso , " S e ra p h im ,” H astin g s*
D ic tio n a r y o f th e B ib le (1947, one volum e e d i t i o n ) , p . 83 7 .
67 BDB, p p . c i t . . p p . 9 7 6 -7 .
68 D eu t. 8 :1 5 .
69 I s a . 1 4 :2 9 , 3 0 :6 .
70 I s a . 6 :2 , 6 .
71 BDB, lo c . c i t .
29
i s t h a t i n one passage*^^ i t i s p a r a l l e l to a word w hich
s i g n i f i e s s e rp e n t b u t o c c a s io n a lly h a s r e f e r e n c e to th e
drag o n m o t i f .
P e te n . The m a sc u lin e s in g u la r noun p e te n ( ) ,
o f w hich th e r o o t i s d u b i o u s , p r o b a b l y h a s r e f e r e n c e to
a venomous s e r p e n t, p e rh a p s an a s p , a d d e r , o r c o b r a . ?5
The te rm i s u s e d o n ly p o e t i c a l l y i n th e Old T estam e n t,
and i s som etim es i n p a r a l l e l c o n s tr u c tio n w ith one o f th e
w ords u se d f o r d rag o n .
T h e ir w ine i s th e venom o f d ra g o n s, ,
And th e p i t i l e s s p o is o n o f c o b r a s .
o r f o r s e r p e n t#
T h e ir venom i s l i k e a s e rp e n t* s venom.
L ike a d e a f a d d e r t h a t s to p s i t s e a r , ' '
Though th e r o o t i s d u b io u s, th e r e i s a s im ila r word
72 D eu t. 8 :1 5 .
73 Job 2 6 :1 3 .
74 BDB, p p . c i t . . p . 8 3 7 .
75 G. E. P o s t, " S e r p e n t," H a stin g s* D ic tio n a ry o f
th e B i b l e . V o l. IV , p . 4 5 9 . ( H e r e in a f te r r e f e r r e d to a s
76 D eu t. 3 2 :3 3 , G f. P s . 9 1 :1 3 .
77 P s . 5 8 :4 (Heb. 5 8 :5 ) ; Job 2 0 :1 6 .
30
i n U g a r it,^ ^ b - t - n . h av in g r e f e r e n c e to th e d rag o n . In
th e G a n a a n ite t e x t s i t i s u se d a s an a p p e lla tio n f o r th e
m y th ic a l o pponent k i l l e d by th e h ig h god a t th e c r e a t i o n .
I t i s q u ite p o s s ib le t h a t th e t e c h n i c a l te rm from
th e ï ï g a r i t i c e n te r e d th e Hebrew th ro u g h a sim p le p h o n e tic
a l t e r a t i o n o f th e i n i t i a l l e t t e r , a t th e same tim e coming
to r e p r e s e n t an a c t u a l , r a t h e r th a n m y th ic a l, r e p t i l e .
N abash. The w ord n ah ash ( V U ] ) , from an
a p p a r e n tly o n o m ato p o etic r o o t m eaning h i s s , ^ ^ i s th e m ost
common f o r s e rp e n t i n th e Old T e sta m e n t. I t i s th e word
u se d when Eve w as te m p te d by th e s e r p e n t, when Moses
fa s h io n e d th e b ro n z e im age to end th e p la g u e o f
s e r p e n ts , and when H ezekiah d e s tro y e d th e b ro n ze s e rp e n t
s t i l l w o rsh ip ed by th e I s r a e l i t e s . ^3
The word h a s m y th o lo g ic a l c o n n o ta tio n s i n v a r io u s
p a s s a g e s , th e s e rp e n t b e in g u se d to d e s c r ib e th e e c l i p se
78 C yrus H. G ordon, f g a r i t i c Handbook (Rome :
P o n tific u m I n s titu tu m iib lic u m , p . 220; and W g a ritic
T e x ts , 4 9 :V I:1 9 ; 6 7 :1 :1 ; I A q h t:2 2 3 ; I I A q h t:V I:1 4 .
G a s te r, p p . c i t . . p .
BDB, p p . c i t . . p .
81 Gen. 3*1— 13*
82 Numb. 2 1 :6 -9 *
83 I I K ings 18:4*
31
dragon. Leviathan. and a sea monster.^^
% pheh. H aving an assum ed r o o t p - 'a - h (H VD),
groan. *epheh ( i s , i n i t s t h r e e a p p e a ra n c e s in
th e O ld T e s t a m e n t , u s u a l l y t r a n s l a t e d v i p e r . The A rab ic
e q u iv a le n t, >affa. i s d e f in e d a s a " c e r t a i n s e rp e n t o f a
m a lig n a n t k in d , s p o tte d w h ite and b la c k , s le n d e r i n th e
n e c k , b ro a d i n th e h e a d . I t i s s a id t h a t i t w i l l n o t q u i t
i t s p l a c e . I f th e epheh and th e a f a a re th e same,
t h e r e i s s t i l l n o th in g i n th e a v a ila b le d e s c r i p t io n s to
d e te rm in e even th e g en u s o f th e s e r p e n t. In th e O ld
T e sta m e n t, i t i s fo u n d i n p a r a l l e l w ith p e t e n , seraph^^
OP
and t s e p h o n i. ^ b u t i t s r e l a t i o n to t h i s s u b je c t i s u n
c e r t a i n . I t i s p ro b a b ly a l i t e r a l te rm f o r snake t h a t i s
8lf Job 26:13*
85 I s a . 27:1*
86 Amos 9*3*
87 BDB, p p . c i t . . p . 8 2 1 .
88 Job 2 0 :1 6 , I s a . 3 0 :6 , 59:5*
89 P o s t, l o c . c i t .
91 I s a . 3 0 :6 .
92 I s a . 59:5*
u s e d i n p a r a l l e l w ith o th e r te rm s som etim es u se d l i t e r a l l y ,
som etim es f i g u r a t i v e l y .
T sep h a. T sepha ( W ) i s u n d e rs to o d to be a
p o is o n o u s sn a k e, p ro b a b ly from th e o n o m a to p o etie r o o t
93
t s - p h - 'a ( V p S i ) . T h is fo rm , o c c u rr in g once in p a r a l l e l
94
c o n s tr u c tio n w ith s e ra p h , i s u s u a l l y assum ed to be th e
same w ord a s th e fo llo w in g .
T s ip h o n i. C o n sid ered th e same word a s ts e p h a .
ts i p h o n i ( o c c u rs th r e e tim e s i n a s in g u la r con
s t r u c tio n 9 5 and once i n a p l u r a l . O c c a s i o n a l l y t r a n s
l a t e d a d d e r . b o th fo rm s a re som etim es t r a n s l a t e d a s e i t h e r
c o c k a tr ic e o r b a s i l i s k .^ ^ T hese a re o f c o u rs e f a b u lo u s ,
th e fo rm e r, among e a r l y E n g lis h w r i t e r s , b e in g c r e a tu r e s
w ith a h ead and body o f a cock b u t th e t a i l o f a s e r p e n t,
and th e l a t t e r b e in g th e g o ld e n u r a e u s , th e ornam ent o f
th e r o y a l E g y p tia n h e a d d r e s s . I t s s ig n if ic a n c e i s in
93 BDB, o p . c i t . . p .
94 I s a . 1 4 :2 9 .
I 95 I s a . 1 1 :8 , 5 9 :5 , P ro v . 2 3 :3 2 .
96 J e r . 8 :1 7 .
I 97 P o s t, l o c . c i t .
I 98 E. ¥ . G. M asterm an, " S e r p e n t," H BD (One V o l.
I e d i t i o n ) , p . 837.
i t s p a r a l l e l i s m w ith n a h a sh ^^ in a c o n te x t id iic h may he
m y th o lo g ic a l.
S h ephiphon. O c c u rrin g i n th e Old T estam en t b u t
once,^® ^ shephiphon ( seems to have r e f e r e n c e to
a d e a d ly s n a k e . B y g e n e r a l c o n s e n t t h i s s e r p e n t h a s
b een i d e n t i f i e d w ith C e r a s te s H a s s e l q u i s t i i , S tra n c h , th e
h o rn e d s e r p e n t, a d e s e r t s p e c ie s o f th e m ost venom ous
k in d , w hich h id e s i n d e p r e s s io n s i n th e way, a s th o s e
made by a cam el*s f o o t . T h is w ould e x p la in th e a l l u s i o n
102
t o " b i t i n g th e h o rs e * s h o o f s ." I t i s from a f o o t to
e ig h te e n in c h e s lo n g , o f a sandy c o lo r w ith brown o r
b la c k is h s p o ts . I t h a s a p a i r o f h o r n - li k e p r o t r u s i o n s
above th e e y e s . The A rabs c a l l i t s h e ffu n , w hich seem s
to be a s u r v iv a l o f i t s a n c ie n t name.
I t i s p o s s i b le t h a t th e w ords sh ip h ip h o n . t s i p h o n i .
and ts e p h a a re r e l a t e d , and may even r e f e r to th e same
s e r p e n t. The v a r i a t i o n s i n s p e llin g f o llo w known
J e r . 8 :1 7 .
Gen. 4 9 :1 7 .
), o p . p i p . , p .
. 4 9 :1 7 .
P o s t, p p . c i t . , p .
34
l i n g u i s t i c ch an g es and c o u ld he ac c o u n te d f o r on th e b a s i s
o f such n o rm al change co u p led w ith th e d i a l e c t a l p e
c u l i a r i t i e s o f s p e c i f i c g e o g ra p h ic and c u l t u r a l a r e a s .
Akshub. The m a sc u lin e noun akshub ( l l t / O ÿ ) ,
u s u a ll y t r a n s l a t e d a s p , a d d e r . o r v i p e r , i n i t s one
o e c u r r e n c e ^ ® 5 may be a c o r r u p tio n o f a k a b is h ( ,
m eaning s p i d e r , an d , p e rh a p s more d e f i n i t e l y , t a r a n t u l a .
T h is w ould n o t do v io le n c e to th e p a r a l l e l i s m i n w hich i t
o c c u rs in v o lv in g th e n a tu r e o f w icked men:
They have a to n g u e sh a rp l i k e a v i p e r .
And u n d e r t h e i r l i p s th e venom o f a
t a r a n t u l a . 1^7
IQ3 P o s t, p p . c i t . . p .
104 BDB, o p . c i t . , p p . 7 4 7 -8 .
105 P s . 1 4 0 :3 ( 4 ) . N o te: when th e r e i s a
d if f e r e n c e i n p a s s a g e num bering betw een th e E n g lis h and
th e Hebrew s c r i p t u r e s , th e Hebrew fo llo w s i n p a r e n th e s e s .
I., o p . c i t . , p . 747.
P s . 1 4 0 :3 ( 4 ) .
TABLE I
35
O G G IJRRENGE OF TERMS IN
RELATED TO TIE D R
THE OLD TESTAMENT
A G O N MOTIF
Term s lo o k s V e rse s
Tehom G e n e sis
Exodus
D euteronom y
Job
1 : 2 , 7 :1 1 , 8 : 2 , 49 :2 5
1 5 :5 , a
8 :7 , 3 3 :1 3
2 8 :1 4 , 3 8 :1 6 , 3 0 , 4 1 :3 1
( 24 )
P salm s
P ro v e rb s
I s a i a h
E z e k ie l
Amos
3 3 :7 , 3 6 : 6 (7 ) , 4 2 :7 ( 8 ) ,
6 8 : 2 3 (2 4 ) , 7 1 :2 ©, 7 7 :1 6
(1 7 , 7 8 : 1 5 , 1 0 4 : 6 , 1 0 6 :9 ,
1 0 7 :2 4 , 2 6 , 1 3 5 : 6 , 1 4 8 :7
3 : 2 0 , 8 : 2 4 , 2 7 , 28
5 1 :1 0 , 6 3 :1 3
2 6 :1 9 , 3 1 :4 , 15
7 :4
uonan
Habakkuk
3 :1 0
T annin G e n e sis
Exodus
D euteronom y
Nehemiah
Job
P salm s
I s a i a h
Jere m iah
E z e k ie l
1 :2 1
7 :9 , 1 0 , 12
3 2 :3 3
2 :1 3
7:12
7 4 :1 3 , 9 1 :1 3 , 1 0 4 :2 6 , 148:7
2 7 :1 , 5 1 :9
51:34
39:3
Rahab Job
P salm s
I s a i a h
9 :1 3 , 2 6 :1 2
8 7 :4 , 8 9 :1 0 (1 1 )
3 0 :7 , 5 1 :9
L e v ia th a n Job
P salm s
I s a i a h
3 :8 , 4 1 :1 (4 0 : 2 5 )
7 4 :1 4 , 104:26
2 7 :1
B a ria h Job
I s a i a h
2 6 :1 3
2 7 :1
A q a lla to n I s a i a h
2 7 :1
TABLE I (c o n tin u e d )
36
0GGÜE1ENC1 OF TERMS
RELATED TO T H E
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
: D RA G O N MOTIF
Term s Books V e rse s
S erap h Numbers
D euteronom y
I s a ia h
2 1 :8
8 :1 5
1 4 :2 9 , 3 0 :6
S eraphim Numbers
I s a ia h
2 1 :6
6 :2 , 6
P e te n D euteronom y
Job
P salm s
I s a i a h
32:33
2 0 :1 4 , 16
5 8 :4 ( 5 ) , 6 8 :2 2 (2 3 )
1 1 :8
, 91:13
N ahash G e n e sis
Exodus
Numbers
D euteronom y
I I K ings
Job
P salm s
P ro v e rb s
E c c l e s i a s t e s
I s a i a h
Jere m iah
Amos
M icah
3 :1 , 2 , 4 , 13, 14,
4 :3 , 7:15
2 1 :6 , 7 , 9
8 :1 5
1 8 :4
2 8 :1 3
5 8 :4 ( 5 ) , 1 4 0 :3 (4 )
2 3 :3 2 , 3 0 :1 9
1 0 :8 , 11
1 4 :2 9 , 2 7 :1 , 6 5 :2 5
8 :1 7 , 4 6 :2 2
5 :1 9 , 9 :3
7 :1 7
4 9 :1 7
'Epheh Job
I s a i a h
2 0 :1 6
3 0 : 6 , 59:5
T sepha I s a i a h
1 4 :2 9
T sip h o n i
Shephipho
Akshub
P ro v e rb s
I s a ia h
Je re m iah
n G e n e sis
P salm s
23 :3 2
1 1 :8 , 59:5
8 :1 7
4 9 :1 7
1 4 0 :3 (4 )
1 ' . . . . . .
TA B L E II
SCIIPTBSAL PASSAGES SIGMIFIGAHT TO
THE D RA G O N MOTIF
Books V e rse s Terms
G e n e sis 1 :2
1 :2 1
3 :1 , 2 , 4 , 1 3 , 14
8 :2
* 49:17
*49:25
Tehom
T annin
N abash
S h ip h ip h o n , Nabash
Tehom
Exodms
4 :3
7 :9 , 10, 12
7 :1 5
* 1 5 :5 , 8
N abash
T annin
N abash
Tehom
Numbers 2 1 :6 , 8 S erap h
D euteronom y
8 :7
8 :1 5
*32:33
*33:13
Tehom
S e ra p h , Nabash
P e te n , T annin
Tehom
I I K ings
1 8 :4 N abash
Nehemiah
2 :1 3 T annin
Job * 3 :8
*7:12
*9:13
2 0 :1 4
2 0 :1 6
2 1 :6 , 7 , 9
*26:12
*26:13
* 2 8 :1 4 , * 3 8 :1 6 , 3©
L e v ia th a n
T annin
Rahab
P e te n
P e te n , % )heh
N ahash
Rahab
B a ria b , Nahash
Tehom
*Those p a s s a g e s s t a r r e d w i l l be c o n s id e re d in
C h a p ter IV .
38
T A BLE II (eomtiQued)
SCRIPTURAL PASSAGES SIGNIFICANT TO
THE DRA G O N MOTIF
Books V e rse s Terms
*41 1 (4 0 :2 5 )
L e v ia th a n
*41 3 1 (2 4 )
Tehom
P salm s
*33 7 , *3 6 : 6 (7 ) , 4 2 :7
(8 Tehom
*58
4 (5 ) P e te n , Nabash
*68
2 2 (2 3 )
P e te n
*71 20 Tehom
*74 13
T annin
*74 14
L e v ia th a n
*77 1 6 (1 7 ), *78:15 Tehom
*87 4 , * 8 9 :1 0 (1 1 ) Rahab
91 13
T an n in , P e te n
*101i.:6 Tehom
*1 0 4 :2 6
1 0 6 :9 , 1 0 7 :2 4 , 2 6 ,
T an n in , L e v ia th a n
*1 3 ;>:6 Tehom
1 4 0 :3 ( 4 ) , 24
N abash, Akshub
*148t:7 Tehom, T annin
P ro v e rb s
* 3 :2 0 , * 6 :2 4 , *27,
*28 Tehom
23:
32 N abash, T sephoni
30 :
19 Nabash
E c c l e s i a s t e s 10: 8 , 11 Nabash
I s a i a h 6 :2 S eraph
*11: 8 P e te n , T sephoni
14: 29 S e ra p h , T sepha,
Nabash
*27: 1 L e v ia th a n , T an n in ,
N abash, B a ria b ,
A q a lla to n
3 0 :
6 S e ra p h , *Bpheh
*Th@8e p a s s a g e s s t a r r e d w i l l be c o n s id e re d i n
C h a p te r IV .
TA BLE II (continued)
SCRIPTURAL PASSAGES SIGNIFICANT TO
THE D RA G O N MOTIF
Books V e rse s Terms
*30:7
* 5 1 :9
*5 1 :1 0
59:5
6 3 :1 3
6 5 :2 5
Rahab
T an n in , Rahab
Tehom
T sep h o n i, 'Epheh
Tehom
Nabash
Je re m ia h 8 :1 7
4 6 :2 2
* 51:34
N abash, T sip h o n i
Nahash
T annin
E z e k ie l 2 6 :1 9
*29:3
* 3 1 :4 , 15
Tehom
T annin
Tehom
Amos
5 :1 9 , 9 :3
7 :4
N abash
Tehom
Jonah * 2 :5 (6 ) Tehom
M icah
7 :1 7 Nahash
Habakkuk * 3 :1 0 Tehom
*Those p a s s a g e s s t a r r e d w i l l be c o n s id e re d i n
C h a p te r IV .
CHAPTER IV
CLASSIFICATION OF THE W O R D PARALLELISMS
EMPLOYING THE D RA G O N MOTIF
The e l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f th e dom inant th em es o f th e
word p a r a l l e l i s m s in v o lv in g th e d rag o n m o tif w i l l be b ased
on s im p lic ity and c o n v e n ie n c e . The p a r a l l e l i s m s w i l l be
c l a s s i f i e d a c c o rd in g t o th e m ajo r em phases o f th e v e rs e i n
w hich th e y a p p e a r. Such em phases w i l l be c o n s id e re d a s
G osm ogonical, c o s m o lo g ic a l, p o l i t i c a l and l i t e r a l .
C osm ogonical h a s r e f e r e n c e to th o s e p a s s a g e s w hich
a r e c o n c ern ed p r im a r il y w ith th e o r i g i n o f th e u n iv e r s e ,
e s p e c i a l l y to th o s e p a s s a g e s a llu d in g to th e p rim a l com bat
betw een th e h ig h god and h i s d ra g o n -o p p o n e n t.
C o sm o lo g ical h a s r e f e r e n c e to th o s e p a s s a g e s w hich
d e a l w ith th e p r e s e n t n a tu r e o f th e u n iv e r s e . H ere w ould
be th e p a s s a g e s t r e a t i n g th e drag o n a s a m e ta p h o ric a l
p e r s o n i f i c a t i o n o f th e se a o r th o s e em ploying i n c a n t a t i o n s
a g a in s t th e drag o n a s a g a in s t an e n d u rin g pow er i n th e
u n iv e r s e .
P o l i t i c a l h a s r e f e r e n c e to th o s e p a s s a g e s t h a t ,
w h ile a p p e a lin g to th e m ythology o f th e d rag o n , u s u a lly
41
s a t i r i z e th e n a t io n s o p p o sin g th e Hebrews i n th e c u r r e n t
p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n .
L i t e r a l h a s r e f e r e n c e to th o s e p a s s a g e s w here
p a r a l l e l i s m s seem to r e f e r to a c tu a l r e p t i l e s o r o th e r
c r e a t u r e s . W hile t h i s p a r t i c u l a r c l a s s i f i c a t i o n h a s no
d i r e c t b e a rin g on th e d rag o n m o tif , i t w i l l i n d i c a t e w hich
w o rd s, u se d i n p a r a l l e l c o n s tr u c tio n w ith w ords p r im a r ily
m y th o lo g ic a l, a re n o rm a lly n o n -m y th ic a l i n t h e i r i n t e n t .
W hile t h i s i s n o t an a l l - i n c l u s i v e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n ,
i t s l a t i t u d e p e r m its i n c lu s io n o f a v a r i e t y o f m inor
th e m es; m e ta p h o ric a l and c e re m o n ia l r e f e r e n c e s can be
in c lu d e d u n d e r e i t h e r th e co sm o g o n ical o r c o s m o lo g ic a l
a l l u s i o n s ; e s c h a to lo g ic a l u n d e r p o l i t i c a l , w h ile th o s e
w ith th e m ost s le n d e r o f c o n n e c tio n s w ith m ythology can be
p la c e d u n d e r th e l i t e r a l a l l u s i o n s .
I . GOSM GGOM IGAL ALLUSIONS
The u s u a l te rm s f o r d rag o n , tehom . t a n n i n . R ahab.
L e v ia th a n , and th e more g e n e r a l te rm s f o r s e r p e n t, n ab ash
and p e te n a re found i n r e f e r e n c e to th e c r e a t i o n o f th e
cosm os i n th e O ld T e sta m e n t.
Tehom i s u se d i n th e P salm s o c c a s io n a lly i n
r e f e r e n c e to th e i n i t i a t i o n o f th e c r e a tio n by Yahweh.
42
The P s a lm is t f i r s t p r a i s e s Yahweh f o r c r e a tin g th e p rim a l
s e a .
Thou d i d s t c o v e r / t h e e a r t ^ w ith th e deep
a s w ith a g a rm e n t:
The w a te rs sto o d upon th e m o u n ta in s.
and th e n f o r c o n t r o l l i n g i t s v io le n c e .
He g a t h e r s th e w a te rs o f th e se a a s in a w a te r s k in :
He p u ts th e d ee p s i n sto re h o u se s.1 © 9
In a n o th e r song, th e P s a lm is t r e - i n t e r p r e t s th e c r e a t i o n
to a p p ly to Yahweh*s in t e r v e n t i o n a t th e Reed S ea,
The w a te rs saw t h e e , 0 God;
The w a te rs saw th e e : th e y s u f f e r e d p a n g s ;
The v e ry d eep s w ere c o n v u ls e d .Ü©
T hese v e r s e s i n d i c a t e t h a t th e d e e p , tehom . was
endowed w ith more th a n norm al f u n c tio n s , t h a t i t had l i f e
and p e r s o n a l i t y and pow er o f i t s e l f . They r e f l e c t th e
common b e l i e f in th e p rim a l b a t t l e , a b a t t l e i n t e l l e c t u a l -
iz e d and a b s tr a c te d u n t i l th e im p lie d d u a l i t y o f two s u p e r
b e in g s s tr u g g lin g f o r pow er was subm erged in th e o f f i c i a l
Hebrew p o s i t i o n o f h e n o th e ism .
The P ro v e rb s , in t h e i r s p e c ia l p le a d in g f o r re c o g
n i t i o n o f th e p e r s o n if ie d Wisdom a s an a s p e c t o f d e i t y .
108 P s . 1 0 4 :6 .
109 P s . 3 3 :7 .
110 P s . 7 7 :1 6 (1 7 ).
43
in a d v e r te n tl y le n d su p p o rt to th e m o tif in two d i f f e r e n t
p a ssa g e s*
The f i r s t p a s s a g e i n d i c a t e s t h a t Yahweh c r e a te d
th e u n iv e r s e w ith Wisdom,
The Lord by wisdom founded th e e a r t h .
By re a s o n he e s t a b l i s h e d th e h e a v e n s ;
By h i s know ledge th e d e p th s w ere b ro k en u p .
And th e c lo u d s d ropped down d e w .I ll
The second p a s s a g e , h av in g th e p u rp o se to show
Wisdom*s e x is te n c e b e fo re th e m a te r ia l u n iv e r s e and to
d i s c r e d i t G reek s p e c u l a t i o n , i n d i c a t e s Wisdom*s
p re s e n c e a t th e c r e a t i o n and em ploys th e e le m e n ts o f th e
p rim a l com bat i n th e d e s c r i p t i o n .
When th e r e w ere no d e p th s w as I b ro u g h t f o r t h .
When th e r e w ere no f o u n ta in s brim m ing w ith
w a te r.
B e fo re th e m o u n ta in s w ere sunk.
B e fo re th e h i l l s was I b ro u g h t f o r t h ;
W hile he h ad n o t y e t made th e e a r t h and th e f i e l d s .
Nor th e v e ry f i r s t c lo d s o f th e w o rld .
When he e s t a b l i s h e d th e h ea v en s I w as t h e r e .
When he tr a c e d th e v a u l t o v e r th e f a c e o f th e
When he made firm th e s k ie s ab o v e.
When he f ix e d th e f o u n ta in s o f th e d e e p ;
When he s e t f o r th e se a i t s bound.
111 P ro v . 3 :1 9 f # When s ta n d a rd t r a n s l a t i o n s a re
a d e q u a te , th e y a r e u se d i n t h i s p a p e r; i f n o t a d e q u a te ,
o r i g i n a l t r a n s l a t i o n s w i l l be m ade.
112 H enry P re s e rv e d S m ith , The R e lig io n o f I s r a e l
Y ork: C h a rle s S c rib n e r* s S ons, 1914J , p p . IJÏÏlf.
44
So t h a t th e w a te rs sh o u ld n o t t r a n s g r e s s h i s
command;
When he t r a c e d th e fo u n d a tio n s o f th e e a r t h
I was b e s id e him . . . .113
The o b v io u s e le m e n ts o f th e m o tif a re t h a t Yahweh
c r e a te d th e firm am en t above th e e a r t h and th e e a r t h i t s e l f
from teh o m . e s t a b l i s h i n g th e h e a v e n s and t r a c i n g th e
f o u n d a tio n s o f th e e a r t h , and t h a t he bound th e s e a , th e
d ra g o n , so t h a t o r d e r and p r o d u c ti v i t y w ere p o s s i b l e .
In an e s c h a to lo g ie a l p a s s a g e d e s c r ib in g th e w ar
l i k e e x p l o i t s o f Yahweh, th e w r i t e r r e c a l l s th e p rim a l
com bat.
The m o u n tain s saw t h e e ;
They w rith e d w ith p a in .
The c lo u d s p o u re d down w a te r;
The a b y s s u t t e r e d i t s v o i c e . H 4
and c o n c lu d e s , ” I w i l l w a it f o r th e day o f tr o u b le to
come upon th e p e o p le t h a t o p p re s s u s . ” ^^^
Tehom. th e n , i s m ost o f te n found i n Hebrew p o e tr y
i n p a r a l l e l w ith w ords f o r th e o c e a n , a s se a and w a te r s .
I t f r e q u e n tly h a s r e f e r e n c e to th e p rim a l com bat betw een
Yahweh and th e d ra g o n , a s above e v id e n t in th e l i t e r a t u r e
o f th e P salm s and P ro v e rb s .
113 P ro v . 0 :2 4 -
114 Hab. 3 :1 0
115 Hab. 3 :1 6 .
45
T an n in o c c u rs i n p a r a l l e l c o n s tr u c tio n w ith s e a
i n an i n t e r e s t i n g v e r s e .
A m I s e a o r d ra g o n ,
T h at th o u sh o u ld s e t w atch o v e r me?
w hich i n d i c a t e s t h a t , a s i n one o f th e B ab y lo n ia n v e r s io n s
o f th e m y t h , T i a m a t w as n o t a c t u a l l y s l a i n — o r i f
s l a i n , was s t i l l p o t e n t i a l l y d a n g e ro u s . T h e re fo re , Marduk
had to s e t a w atch o v e r th e v a n q u ish e d d ra g o n . In th e
Hebrew t r a d i t i o n , a l s o , i t w ould seem t h a t th e drag o n
r e t a i n e d pow er f o r e v i l and d e s tr u c t i o n and had to be
k e p t u n d e r o b s e r v a tio n .
Rahab a p p e a rs i n c o n te x ts , i n a d d itio n to th o s e
p r im a r il y p o l i t i c a l , t h a t i n d i c a t e th e p rim a l b a t t l e , a s
Thou r u le S t o v e r th e ra g in g o f th e se a ;
When i t s w aves r i s e th o u s t i l l e s t them .
Thou h a s t c ru s h e d Rahab l i k e one who i s s l a i n ;
W ith th y s tro n g arm th o u h a s s c a t t e r e d th y
f o e s . 11®
o r a s .
God w i l l n o t tu r n back h i s a n g e r;
U nder him th e h e l p e r s o f Rahab b o w e d . H 9
116 Job 7 :1 2 .
117 G a s te r , 0£ . c i t . , p .
118 P s . 8 9 :1 0 (1 1 ).
119 Job 9 :1 3 .
j
46
The f i r s t p a s s a g e c o n firm s th e v a n q u is h in g o f th e
d rag o n by Yahweh, th e second t h a t o f th e d ra g o n * s h e l p e r s .
In th e B ab y lo n ian myth i s th e same o c c u rre n c e , th e h e lp e r s
o f T iam at b e in g c a p tu re d and f o rc e d t o se rv e th e con
q u e rin g g o d s. I t may be t h a t R ahab. a s L e v ia th a n i n th e
l a t e r l i t e r a t u r e , came to be th o u g h t o f a s a m y th ic a l
m o n ste r i n th e s e a , r a t h e r th a n a s th e se a i t s e l f .
L e v ia th a n r e p r e s e n t s th e c r o c o d ile i n C h a p te r 41
o f Jo b , w here Yahweh d e s c r ib e s him , th e m onarch o v e r a l l
p ro u d b e in g s , a s a f e a r l e s s and m ig h ty c r e a tu r e o f th e
Can you p u l l up L e v ia th a n w ith a hook,
Or t i e h i s to n g u e down w ith a s t r i n g
The u s e o f L e v ia th a n f o r c r o c o d ile i n th e Hebrew
s c r i p t u r e s r e s t s upon th e la c k o f a v e r n a c u la r te rm f o r
th e r i v e r - c r e a t u r e . As i t w i l l be seen i n th e fo llo w in g
s e c t i o n . L e v ia th a n may a ls o have r e f e r e n c e to a m y th ic a l
d ra g o n , w hich may be th e p rim a l s i g n i f i c a n c e .
T annin and L e v ia th a n o c c u r i n a p a s s a g e commemo
r a t i n g th e d e s t r u c t i o n o f th e d ra g o n :
Through th y pow er th o u d i d s t d iv id e th e s e a ;
120 Job 4 1 :1 (4 0 :2 5 )
47
Thou d id s t c ru s h th e h e a d s o f th e d ra g o n s
upon th e w a te r s .
Thou d i d s t s h a t t e r th e h e a d s o f L e v ia th a n ;
Thou d i d s t g iv e him a s fo o d to th e d e s e r t
dem ons. 121
T h is p a s s a g e i s s im ila r to th e M esopotam ian s t o r i e s ,
w here th e h e l p e r s o f T iam at a r e in c a p a c i ta t e d and T iam at
i s overcom e.
I t i s to be o b s e rv e d t h a t th e la n g u ag e o f th e
P s a lm is t i s drawn l a r g e l y from th e t r a d i t i o n a l
v o c a b u la ry o f th e s e a s o n a l m yth. When, f o r
exam ple he d e s c r ib e s th e god a s s h a t t e r i n g th e
h e a d s o f th e D ragon, he i s b u t ech o in g th e w ords
o f th e C a n a a n ite Poem o f B aal w here th e m o n ste r i s
p o r tr a y e d a s a k in d o fT iy d ra p o s s e s s in g * s e v e n fo ld
heads* . . . M oreover, i n p e a k in g o f t h a t d i s
c o m fitu re he em ploys a c o m p a ra tiv e ly r a r e Hebrew
w ord, v i z . , p - r - r . * s p l i t * , w hich h a p p e n s, s i g n i f i
c a n tly enough, to be th e c o u n te r p a r t o f t h a t em
p lo y e d i n Enuma E lis h . . . when th e p o e t r e l a t e s
how Marduk * s p l i t . . . th e a r t e r i e s * o f th e
v a n q u ish e d T ia m a t.122
The v a r i a t i o n s among th e v e r s io n s c o n c e rn in g th e
f a t e o f th e h e l p e r s , th e u lt i m a t e d is p o s a l o f T iam at, and
even th e d e s c r i p t i o n s o f T ia m a t, a r e o b v io u s , and can be
e x p la in e d on th e b a s i s o f th e n o rm al ch a n g es t h a t w ould
o c c u r th ro u g h c u l t u r a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n and o r a l t r a n s
m is s io n o f a w id e -s p re a d m yth o f c r e a t i o n , common to many
p e o p le s .
121 P s . 7 4 :1 3 f.
122 G a s te r , 0£ . c i t . .
48
Tehom. T a n n in , and Rahab a r e u se d i n a p a s sa g e
w hich r e i n t e r p r e t s th e common myth t o a p p ly to Yahweh * s
d ry in g up th e Reed Sea f o r th e I s r a e l i t e s to p a s s o v e r
from E g y p t, b u t th e m y th o lo g ic a l r e f e r e n c e i s o b v io u s .
Was i t n o t th o u t h a t d i d s t hew Rahab i n p ie c e s .
T h at d i d s t p ie r c e th e d rag o n ^
Was i t n o t th o u t h a t d i d s t d ry up th e s e a .
The w a te rs o f th e m ig h ty deep?123
The p o e t , i n a llu d in g to th e com bat betw een Yahweh
and th e d rag o n a t th e tim e o f th e E xodus, w h eth e r v i o l a t i n g
th e c h ro n o lo g y o f th e m yth, o r t r e a t i n g th e s u b je c t i n th e
tim e le s s n e s s o f Yahweh*s e t e r n a l s tr u g g le w ith h i s oppo
n e n t s , o r i n d i c a t i n g a p o s s ib le d o u b le e n te n d re i n an
e q u a tio n o f d rag o n w ith E g y p t, i n d i c a t e s th e p re s e n c e o f
th e m o tif i n th e th o u g h t o f th e p ro p h e t and h i s freedom i n
a d a p tin g i t t o h i s d id a c ti c and p o e t ic n e e d s .
Rahab and n ab ash r e f l e c t th e p o e t* s know ledge o f
th e m yth i n a n o th e r p a s s a g e in p r a i s e o f Yahweh:
Through h i s pow er th e s e a w as s t i l l e d .
And by h i s s k i l l he sm ote th ro u g h R ahab.
By h i s w ind th e s k ie s w ere c l e a r e d :
M is hand slew th e f l e e i n g s e r p e n t. 124
123 I s a . 51s
124 Job 2 6 ;1 2 f .
49
The f l e e in g s e r p e n t, n ab ash b a r i a b , a s su g g e ste d
b e f o r e , p r o b a b l y r e p r e s e n t s th e e o l i p se d ra g o n . I t i s
p o s s i b l e t h a t th e Hebrew s a tta c h e d th e m yths o f th e w ar-
god o f Sumer and B a b y lo n ia to t h e i r own Yahweh who, a s
s k y - and th u n d e r-g o d , o r a s th e o ld e r su n -g o d , E l, f i l l s
th e r o l e o f w ar-g o d i n Hebrew m y th o lo g y .
P e t en sh o u ld p e rh a p s be ad d ed , i f i t s a p p e aran c e
u n d e r th e c o r r u p tio n b ash an i s p o s s i b l e , a s s u g g e s te d by
th e U g a r itic b - t - n . w ith w hich i t i s c o g n a te .
G a ste r^ ^ # b e l ie v e s t h a t th e Hebrew b a :^ a n and th e U g a r itic
b - t - n a re th e sam e. P salm 6 8 , i n w hich th e te rm o c c u rs ,
. . . i s a p ae an c e le b r a t in g th e God o f I s r a e l
a s th e Ghampion o f H is p e o p le and p e t i t i o n i n g a
c o n tin u a n c e o f H is f a v o r s . In fo rm , h ow ever, i t
am ounts to a s u s ta in e d * commentary* on th e s e a s o n a l
myth and r i t u a l . For i t i s by c o n s ta n t a l l u s i o n
to th e d ee d s n a r r a te d i n th e fo rm e r t h a t th e p o e t
i l l u s t r a t e s th o s e pow ers o f th e god w hich he w ould
now see r e p e a te d , and i t i s by c o n s ta n t sym bolic
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f th e l a t t e r t h a t h e e x e m p lif ie s
th e d iv in e p ro v id e n c e and b e n e v o le n c e .129
125 See p ag e 26 ab o v e.
126 S tep h en H. Langdon, S e m itic M y th o lo g y . L o u is
H. G rey, e d . , M y th o lo g y o f A ll R a c e s. V o l. 5 (B o sto n ;
M a rs h a ll Jo n e s Company, T53TJ7 p .
127 G ordon, Handbook. p . 220.
G a s te r , o £ . c i t . . p . 9 3 .
I b i d . . p . 8 7 .
The s i g n i f i c a n t v e r s e s , a s t r a n s l a t e d by G a s te r,
V e r ily God s m ite s th e h ead o f h i s foem en,
th e h a i r y s c a lp o f him who w alk s ab ro ad
i n h i s t r a n s g r e s s i o n s !
The LORD h a s d e c la r e d :
I w i l l b r in g ( th e e ) away from th e D ragon,
away from th e d e p th s o f th e s e a ,
t h a t th y f o o t may be crim so n ed w ith ( h is ) b lo o d ,
th e to n g u e o f t h i n e hounds red d en e d th e r e w i th ! 131
Such a p a s s a g e i n d i c a t e s th e p re s e n c e o f th e
m o tif i n a r i t u a l i s t i c s e t t i n g f o r th e p u rp o se o f rem in d
in g Yahweh o f h i s p r e v io u s g r e a t triu m p h s and o f en
c o u ra g in g him to p e rfo rm s im ila r d ee d s f o r th e b e n e f i t o f
h i s p e o p le i n t h e i r p r e s e n t n e e d .
I I . COSMOLOGICAL ALLUSIONS
I n r e f e r e n c e to th e n a tu r e o f th e u n iv e r s e , th e
O ld T estam en t h a s a num ber o f p a s s a g e s in v o lv in g th e
p la c e o f th e d ra g o n , em ploying th e w ords tehom . t a n n i n .
and L e v ia th a n .
Tehom. th e m ost common te rm , a p p e a rs i n s e v e r a l
p a s s a g e s i n synonymous p a r a l l e l i s m w ith th e w ords f o r se a
I b i d . . p . 93.
131 P s . 6 8 :2 1 -2 3 (2 2 - 2 4 ) .
51
and w aters.
The hook o f Job h a s th r e e such r e f e r e n c e s , where
th e s p e a k e rs u s e th e deep o r th e a b y ss a s i l l u s t r a t i o n s
f o r th e u n fa th o m a b le c h a r a c te r o f wisdom .
-8 s a y s , * I t i s n o t i n me*; -
And th e s e a s a y s . * I t i s n o t w ith m e*.^^^
th e in s i g n i f i c a n c e o f man.
Have you gone to th e s o u rc e s o f th e s e a .
Or w alk ed i n th e h o llo w o f th e d eep ?^33
and th e m ig h tin e s s o f L e v ia th a n , who
. . . m akes th e w a te r b o i l and foam .
C hurning th e deep l i k e u n g u e n ts i n a p o t . 134
O th er p a s s a g e s em ploying synonymous p a r a l l e l i s m
in c lu d e a r e f e r e n c e t o th e c a re la v is h e d on th e c e d a r o f
W a ters n o u ris h e d i t ,
The deep made i t grow . ^
th e f a t e o f Jonah i n th e g r e a t f i s h .
The w a te rs c lo s e d i n o v e r my l i f e ;
The deep su rro u n d e d m e.136
132 Job 2 8 :1 4 .
133 Job 3 8 :1 6 .
134 Job 4 1 :3 1 (2 4 ).
135 E zek. 3 1 :4 .
136 Jonah 2 :5 (6).
52
and th e p u n ish m en t o f P h arao h and h i s army in th e Reed
S ea,
The f lo o d s c o v e re d them .
They sank i n t o th e d e p th s l i k e a s t o n e • ‘ ^3/
The synonymous p a r a l l e l i s m s i n d i c a t e t h a t teh o m .
th e p rim a l e le m e n t, i s c o n s id e re d a s sim ply th e se a o r th e
w a te rs i n s e v e r a l Hebrew poem s.
# ic h th e same c o n c lu s io n can be drawn f o r th e
I ex am p les o f a n t i t h e t i c a l p a r a l l e l i s m , w here tehom i s i n
I
: o p p o s itio n to th e h e a v e n s , th e c lo u d s , o r th e m o u n ta in s .
I
I w hich r e p r e s e n t th e o p p o s ite extrem e in Hebrew th o u g h t.
I In th e B le s s in g o f Jaco b ^^^ and th e B le s s in g o f
I Mos e 8^39 Jo sep h was a s s u re d o f th e g o o d -w ill o f Yahweh,
I
who b le s s e d him
W ith th e b l e s s i n g s o f th e h e a v e n s above.
And t h a t o f th e a b y ss co u ch in g below .
and h i s la n d
W ith th e w e a lth o f th e h e a v en s above.
And t h a t o f th e a b y ss co u ch in g b e l o w . ^41
137 Exod. 1 5 :5 .
138 Gen. 4 9 :1 -:
139 D eu t. 3 3 :1 -2 9
140 Gen. 49:25*
141 D eu t. 33:13*
53
Tehom i s c o n tr a s te d w ith th e c lo u d s i n P ro v e rb s
i n a p a s sa g e p r a i s i n g Yahweh* s wisdom .
The L ord by wisdom fo u n d ed th e e a r t h .
By re a s o n he e s t a b li s h e d th e h e a v e n s .
By h i s know ledge th e d e p th s w ere b ro k en u p .
And th e c lo u d s dropped down dew .142
and w ith th e m o u n ta in s i n a P salm p r a i s i n g h i s j u s t i c e ,
Thÿ r ig h te o u s n e s s i s l i k e th e h ig h e s t m o u n ta in s:
Thy ju d g m en ts a r e a g r e a t deep • • .143
The P salm s u s e tehom in v a r io u s p a r a l l e l i s m s ,
com paring i t w ith S h e o l,
Do th o u q u ic k e n u s a g a in .
And from th e d e p th s o f th e e a r t h b r in g u s up
a g a i n .144
w ith th e p rim a l d e p th s b e n e a th th e e a r t h .
He s p l i t th e ro c k s i n th e d e s e r t .
And gave them d rin k a b u n d a n tly a s from th e
g r e a t d e p th s . 145
and w ith th e o th e r im p o rta n t e le m e n ts i n th e Hebrew c o s
m ology.
The L ord d o es w h a tso e v e r he p l e a s e s .
W hether i n th e h ea v e n s or^ pn th e e a r t h .
In th e s e a s and i n a l l
142 P ro v . 3 :
143 P@. 3 6 : 6 .
144 P s . 7 1 :2 0 .
145 P s . 7 8 :1 5 .
146 P s . 1 3 5 :6 .
54
T annin and tehom a p p e a r i n a h a l l e l u j a h , **Hail-to-
Y ah!” , chor*usl47 i n a c o n te x t t h a t i n d i c a t e s th e d ee p s
w ere som etim es c o n s id e re d a n im ated c r e a tu r e s i n th e
u n iv e r s e t h a t re c o g n iz e d th e s o v e re ig n ty o f Yahweh o v e r
th e cosm os a s d id th e d ra g o n s .
P r a is e th e L ord from th e e a r t h ; ^ ^
S e a -m o n ste r3 and a l l d e e p s! -^40
149
T an n in and L e v ia th a n o c c u r i n a n o th e r Psalm
p r a i s i n g th e c r e a t io n t h a t Yahweh w ro u g h t.
T here i s th e s e a , g r e a t and b ro a d .
W ith g lid i n g a n im a ls in n u m e ra b le .
C re a tu re s sm a ll and g r e a t ;
T here p ro w l s e a - m o n s te rs .
And L e v ia th a n whom you form ed
to s p o r t t h e r e i n .1 3 0
T annin and p e te n o c c u r to g e th e r i n th e v e r s e .
T h e ir w ine i s th e venom o f d ra g o n s .
And th e p i t i l e s s p o is o n o f c o b r a s . 1^1
The o n ly s ig n i f ic a n c e to t h i s work i s t h a t th e
word p e t e n . u n d e fin e d a s i t i s i n Hebrew, once a g a in
147 P s . 148.
148 P s . 1 4 8 :7 .
149 P s . 104.
150 P s 1 0 4 :2 6 .
151 D eu t. 3 2 :3 3 .
p a r a l l e l s a w ord s ig n if y in g a m y th o lo g ic a l c r e a t u r e , i n
d ic a ti n g t h a t i t , to o , may r e p r e s e n t a f a b u lo u s an im al
i n th e p r i m it i v e f o l k l o r e .
L e v ia th a n a p p e a rs i n a p a s sa g e o f u n u s u a l c o s
m o lo g ic a l s i g n i f i c a n c e . Jo b , i n c u r s in g th e day o f h i s
b i r t h , c a l l s upon th e m a g ic ia n s .
May th e y c u rs e i t who c u rs e th e d ay .
Who a re s k i l l e d i n a ro u s in g L e v i a t h a n . 1^3
T h is i n d i c a t e s t h a t th e d ra g o n , w h e th e r d e s tro y e d o r
im p riso n e d a t th e c r e a t i o n , rem ain ed a f o r c e i n th e u n i
v e rs e t h a t c o u ld be c o n ju re d up f o r e v i l p u rp o s e s by th o s e
i n i t i a t e d i n t o th e b la c k a r t s .
I t th u s a p p e a rs t h a t th e cosm ology o f th e H ebrew s,
a s t h a t o f o th e r N ear E a s te r n p e o p le s , was p ro v id e d w ith
m y th o lo g ic a l d rag o n s o f th e cosm os and a p p e a rin g a s a n i
m ated c r e a t u r e s i n f o lk - th o u g h t. These d ra g o n s w ere
som etim es th o u g h t to be th e f o u n d a tio n s o f th e w o rld , t h e i r
b o d ie s fo rm in g th e f l a t e a r t h and th e a rc h o f h e a v en .
They w ere som etim es th o u g h t to be an im ate and m a le v o le n t
c r e a t u r e s a c t i v e i n th e u n iv e r s e .
152 Job 3 :2 -2 6
153 Job 3 :^ .
5 6
I I I . POLITICAL ALLUSIONS
The n a t i o n a l en em ies o f th e H ebrew s, th e
E g y p tia n s , A s s y ria n s and B a b y lo n ia n s, w ere o f t e n s a t i r i z e d
by th e p r o p h e ts and p o e ts u n d e r th e symbol o f th e d rag o n .
T h e ir s a t i r i z a t i o n som etim es r e c a l l e d th e i n i t i a l
y
S tru g g le o f Yahweh w ith th e drag o n and assum ed t h a t Yahweh
w ould a g a in d e s tr o y h i s en em ies and th o s e o f h i s p e o p le .
T annin i s u se d to r e p r e s e n t th e d rag o n i n two
p a s s a g e s , once w ith r e f e r e n c e to P h arao h , and once w ith
N eb u c h ad rezz ar.
E z e k ie l r e f e r r e d to P haraoh a s a d rag o n o r c ro c o
d i l e i n a p a s sa g e condem ning E g y p t* s la c k o f good f a i t h
to w ard th e h o u se o f I s r a e l :
Thus sa y s th e L ord God:
I am a g a in s t y ou, P h a ra o h , k in g o f E g y p t,
You m ig h ty m o n ste r ly in g i n y o u r s tre a m s .
T h in k in g th e M l e i s y o u r own, y o u r own
m aking! 154
Je re m iah lik e n e d N eb u ch ad rezzar to a ra v e n o u s
m o n ste r d ev o u rin g th e i n h a b i t a n t s o f J e ru s a le m :
N e b u c h a d re z z a r, k in g o f B ab y lo n , h a s d ev o u red me,
he h a s consum ed me;
He h a s s e t me down a s an em pty v e s s e l .
154 E zek. 2 9 :3 .
he h a s sw allow ed me l i k e a m o n s te r:
He h a s f i l l e d h i s maw w ith my d a i n t i e s ,
he h a s r in s e d me o u t «^55
Rahab i n two p a s s a g e s i n d i c a t e s E g y p t, one p a s s a g e
h a v in g i t a s a p ro p e r nam e,
I may m en tio n Rahab and B abylon ,
on a c c o u n t o f t h e i r fam ous men . •
and th e o th e r u s in g i t to s a t i r i z e th e E g y p tia n s f o r t h e i r
i n a b i l i t y t o a id t h e i r a l l y I s r a e l ,
., w hose h e lp i s em pty and v a in ,
w h e re fo re I have c a l l e d h e r *D ragon Do-
n o th in g * 1157
"D ragon D o -n o th in g " o r "R ahab S i t - s t i l l " m ust have
a p p e a re d a s an e x tre m e ly am using e p i t h e t to a p e o p le who
a s s o c ia te d th e d rag o n w ith c h a o tic and u n c o n tr o lle d
a c t i o n .
T a n n in . L e v ia th a n , and n a h a s h , and th e a d j e c t i v e s
b a r ia h and a c a l l a t o n a l l o c c u r i n an e s c h a to lo g ic a l
p a s a a g .lS o ©f l a t e r e a t f o r i t a p o l i t i c a l and m y th o lo g ic a l
a l l u a l o n a :
155 J r . 5 1 :3 4 .
156 P a . 0 7 :4 .
157 l a a . 3 0 :7 .
158 P ro b a b ly l a a . 2 7 :1 , 1 2 , 13 form a s e q a e a c e .
58
On t h a t day w i l l th e Lord p u n is h .
W ith h i s sword w hich i s h a rd and g r e a t and s tr o n g .
L e v ia th a n th e f l e e i n g s e r p e n t. L e v ia th a n th e
c o ilo d s e r p e n t; ,
And he w i l l s la y th e d ragon t h a t i s i n th e sea.-^^^
The m y th o lo g ic a l a l l u s i o n s a re o b v io u s , th e p o
l i t i c a l can be e x p la in e d a s th e p o et* s u se o f th e le g e n d
a s a symbol o f Yahweh*s p u n ish m en t to be b ro u g h t on
A s s y r ia , B a b y lo n ia , and E g y p t . A n a lm o st i d e n t i c a l
p a s sa g e o c c u rs i n th e U g a r itic l i t e r a t u r e , a n d h a s been
t r a n s l a t e d a s th e f o llo w in g ;
B ecause thorn d i d s t sm ite L o tan ,
th e w r ith in g s e r p e n t.
D id s t d e s tr o y th e cro o k ed s e r p e n t, ,
th e a c c u rs e d one o f seven h e a d s • • .1^2
L otan i s , o f c o u rs e , c o g n a te w ith L e v ia th a n . And
th e s e a r e p a r a l l e l to th e se v en -h ead e d m o n ste r, w ith whom
th e y a re i d e n t i f i e d .^ ^ ^ The a d j e c t i v e s w rith in g o r f l e e
in g and cro o k ed o r c o i le d a re i d e n t i c a l , and th e w ords
159 I s a . 2 7 :1 .
160 Langdon, o p . c i t . . p . 134.
161 G ordon. Handbook, p . 148. U g a r itic t e x t
6 7 :1 :1 .
162 G ordon, L i t e r a t u r e , p . 38.
163 G f. P salm 7 4 :1 4 , w here Yahweh i s c r e d i t e d w ith
s h a t t e r i n g tE e h e a d s o f L e v ia th a n .
59 =
I f o r s e rp e n t a re th e same i n U g a r itic and Hebrew.
The o n ly l o g i c a l c o n c lu s io n s to be re a c h e d a re
t h a t th e m yth was common to b o th p e o p le and t h a t th e
! p h r a s e s in v o lv in g th e p rim a l com bat w ere p a r t o f a s e a s o n a l
I
! r i t u a l common to b o th .
I I
: IV . LITERAL ALLUSIONS
C e rta in w ords f o r s e r p e n t, a s p e te n and n a h a s h ,
I have b o th m y th o lo g ic a l and l i t e r a l u s e s in th e Old
T e sta m e n t. O th e rs , a s *epheh. ts e p h o n i. and s h ip h ip h o n .
seem to be th e nam es o f a c t u a l r e p t i l e s t h a t a re !
o c c a s io n a lly i n p a r a l l e l c o n s tr u c tio n w ith w ords u s e d i n j
r e l a t i o n w ith th e drag o n m o tif . S in ce th e c o n n e c tio n
betw een th e s e w ords and th e m o tif i s so te n u o u s , th e y w i l l
be t r e a t e d v e ry b r i e f l y . '
P e te n and n ab ash a re u s e d to d e s c r ib e th e n a tu r e ^
1
' o f e v i l men.
T h e ir venom i s l i k e a v i p e r * s .
They a re d e a f a s any cobra.1G §
164 The r o o t o f w r ith in g o r f l e e i n g i n e i t h e r
la n g u a g e i s b - r - h : th e word f o r cro o k ed o r c o i le d i s
^ q l t n ; th e r o o t f o r s e rp e n t i n U g a r itic i s b - t - n . and in
Hebrew i t i s th e c o g n a te p - t - n o r p e rh a p s a ls o b - s h - n .
165 P s . 5 8 :4 (5).
60
P e te n and t sephoni a re em ployed i n a d e s c r i p t i o n o f
th e coming G olden A ge,^^^ when
The s u c k lin g w i l l p la y on th e h o le o f th e a s p .
And th e w eaned c h i ld w i l l p u t h i s hand on th e
v ip e r* s d e n .167
Nahash and sh ip h ip h o n a re u se d to d e s c r ib e Dan a s
. . . a s e rp e n t by th e r o a d s id e ,
a v ip e r b e s id e th e p a t h . 168
T hese a re th e m ain o c c u rre n c e s o f te rm s somewhat
r e l a t e d to th e d rag o n m o tif . S e ra p h . i n p a r a l l e l i s m w ith
ts e p h a ^^^ and w ith ^epha.^ ^ ^ a re n o t in c lu d e d f o r th e
re a s o n t h a t s e ra p h , w h ile m y th ic a l, and i t s p a r a l l e l s ,
w h ile n o n -m y th ic a l, a r e co n c ern ed w ith s u b je c ts n o t r e
l a t e d to th e d rag o n m o tif .
I t i s e v id e n t t h a t a sh a rp l i n e w as n o t drawn
betw een m y th ic a l and r e a l c r e a t u r e s a s f a r a s th e a p p l i
c a tio n o f s p e c i f ic te rm s can i n d i c a t e , b u t t h a t t h i s
f i g u r a t i v e u sa g e p e r m itte d r i c h e r a l l u s i o n s and more v iv id
r e f e r e n c e s b ase d upon a common id io m .
I s a . 1 1 :1 - 9 .
167 I s a . 1 1 :8 .
Gen. 4 9 :1 7 .
I s a . 1 4 :2 9 .
170 I s a . 3 0 :6 .
CHAPTER V
SU M M A R Y A N D GGMGLUSICNS
I . SU M M A R Y
The d rag o n m o tif , common to th e c u l t u r e o f th e
N ear E a s t and e v id e n t I n p o e t ic p a s s a g e s o f th e Old
T e sta m e n t, w as u se d by th e Hebrew w r i t e r s i n th r e e m a jo r
ty p e s o f a l l u s i o n s : cosm ogonic a l , c o s m o lo g ic a l, and po
l i t i c a l . The p rim a ry ty p e s , co sm o g o n ical and c o s m o lo g ic a l,
b a se d upon th e myth o f th e d e s t r u c t i o n o f th e p rim a l se a
by a h ig h god and th e c r e a ti o n o f th e u n iv e r s e from t h e
v a n q u is h e d , o f f e r e d an e x p la n a tio n f o r th e o r i g i n and
n a tu r e o f th e u n iv e r s e and a m eans o f w o rsh ip t o in s u r e
p r o s p e r i t y . The se c o n d a ry , p o l i t i c a l , w as th e norm al r e
s u l t o f a p p ly in g th e m o tif t o th e c u r r e n t s o c ia l and po
l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n s .
A s tu d y o f th e p o e t ic word p a r a l l e l i s m s i n d i c a t e s
t h a t tehom , th e deep o r th e a b y s s , i n e i t h e r co sm o g o n ical
o r c o s m o lo g ic a l a l l u s i o n s , appeaurs a s a p e r s o n i f i c a t i o n o f
th e p rim a l s e a . Tehom r e p r e s e n t s an an im ate and p o w e rfu l
a d v e rs a ry o f Yahweh ^ o h a d t o be subdued and tra n s fo rm e d
b e fo re t h e c r e a t i v e p r o c e s s e s c o u ld f u n c tio n i n th e o r i g i
n a l c h a o s . In i t s f r e q u e n t p a r a l l e l i s m w ith se a and
62
w a te r , tehom s u g g e s ts th e f e a r f u l a t t i t u d e o f th e S em ites
to w a rd th e e o s m o lo g ic a l o cean assum ed t o su rro u n d and
s u p p o rt th e e a r t h .
T an n in i n i t s p a r a l l e l i s m i n d i c a t e s t h a t Hebrew
m ythology made a d i s t i n c t i o n b etw een t h e se a a s an an im ate
f o r c e and th e d rag o n a s a c r e a tu r e i n th e s e a . T h is may
be due t o t h e in c r e a s e d , b u t s t i l l r e l a t i v e , s o p h i s t i c a t i o n
o f th e Hebrew p e o p le a s th e y t h r u s t a s id e an im at ism , th u s
rem oving th e a t t r i b u t e o f l i f e from th e s e a , b u t endowing
th e d rag o n w ith th e s e a 's fo rm e r pow er, m a le v o le n c e , i n
t e l l i g e n c e , and w i l l .
The p a r a l l e l i s m s in v o lv in g Rahab s u g g e s t t h a t i t i s
synonymous w ith tehom i n th e l a t t e r * s p r im it iv e i d e n t i f i
c a tio n w ith th e A ss y ria n T ia m a t. Rahab a p p e a rs a s th e
p e r s o n i f i c a t i o n o f th e p rim a l d rag o n o r s e a i n m y th o lo g ic a l
a l l u s i o n s t o th e c r e a t i o n and c o n tin u a n c e o f th e u n iv e r s e ,
and a s th e symbol o f E g y p t, th e d rag o n -p o w er o f t h e s o u th ,
i n c e r t a i n p o l i t i c a l a l l u s i o n s .
L e v ia th a n and i t s p a r a l l e l s su g g e st t h a t i t and
Rahab a r e b o th p e r s o n i f i c a t i o n s o f th e p rim a l s e a in e a r ly
p o e t r y . L e v ia th a n l a t e r b e in g u s e d a s an e p i t h e t o f th e
c r o c o d i le .
The u s e o f p e te n i n p o e t ic p a r a l l e l i s m i s e q u a lly
d iv id e d betw een m y th o lo g ic a l and l i t e r a l a l l u s i o n s . I t i s
63
p o s s i b l e t h a t th e U g a r itic b - t - n e n te r e d th e Hebrew p - t - n
o r b - s h - n . w ith th e form er* s m y th o lo g ic a l s ig n i f ic a n c e
b e in g r e p la c e d g r a d u a lly by i t s l i t e r a l u s a g e .
H ahaab a p p e a rs i n such p a r a l l e l i s m a s to i n d i c a t e
i t i s a common name f o r s e r p e n t, w h ich , w ith th e a d je c
t i v e s b a r ia b and ^ a o a lla to n . i s u s e d t o i n d i c a t e a s e a - o r
s k y -d ra g o n .
The o th e r te rm s f o r s e r p e n t, a c t u a l and m y th ic a l,
a s ^epheh. t s e p h a . ts e p h o n i. sh e p h ip h o n . ak sh u b . and s e ra p h ,
have no d i r e c t b e a rin g on th e d rag o n m o tif so f a r a s can
be d e te rm in e d from a s tu d y o f th e w ord p a r a l l e l i s m s o f th e
O ld T e sta m e n t.
I I . GÔMGLUSIGNS
G e rtâ in b ro a d , c o n c lu s io n s , cah be drawn from such a
s tu d y r e g a r d in g th e i n t e r a c t i o n o f th e d rag o n m o tif and th e
Hebrew c u l t u r e .
The d rag o n m o tif , a p p a re n tly a u n iv e r s a l them e i n
p r im it iv e c u l t u r e s , r e c e iv e d a c c e p ta n c e among th e e a r l y
H ebrews a s an e x p la n a tio n o f th e c r e a t i o n and c o n tin u a n c e
o f th e u n iv e r s e . I t w as u t i l i z e d to r e s o lv e th e c h a o s o f
a p p a re n t p lu r a lis m i n one w o rld and t o e x p la in th e u lti m a t e
dom inance o f one d e i t y . I t w as a ls o u t i l i z e d by th e
H ebrew s, a s by o th e r a g r i c u l t u r a l p e o p le , i n l i t u r g y and
64
r i t u a l to rem in d Yahweh o f h i s p a s t p e rfo rm a n c e s i n a id in g
h i s p e o p le and to su g g e st h i s c o n tin u e d a id f o r th e a s
su ra n c e o f f e r t i l i t y and p r o s p e r i t y , a s th e y moved on i n t o
h e n o th e i am and m onotheism .
Two r e l a t e d f a c t o r s a r e th e S e m itic d re a d o f th e
se a and th e endowment o f th e d rag o n w ith pow er f o r e v i l
i n th e u n iv e r s e . The f i r s t , c o u p le d w ith th e p e r s o n i f i
c a tio n o f th e se a a s a d ra g o n , w ould l o g i c a l l y le a d to th e
second f a c t o r . The m a lev o len ce o f th e d rag o n i s n e v e r
f o r g o tt e n i n th e H ebrew -Jew ish t r a d i t i o n , a s ev id e n c e d
by th e v a r io u s a p o c a ly p tic r e f e r e n c e s , in c lu d in g th e
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f S a ta n w ith th e d rag o n i n th e New
T estam en t R e v e la tio n , and by th e p o s t - B i b l i c a l f o l k - l o r e
o f th e Jew s.
P e rh a p s th e m ost s i g n i f i c a n t o f th e c o n c lu s io n s
i s t h a t th e P ro p h e ts , th e a u th o r s o f th e P sa lm s, and th e
w r i t e r o f th e book o f Job w ere f a m i l i a r w ith a cosmogony
d i f f e r i n g from th e two p r e s e rv e d i n th e book o f G e n e sis.
I t a p p e a rs t h a t t h i s t h i r d com aogony, c o n c e rn in g th e
b a t t l e o f Yahweh a g a in s t th e p r im a l d ee p , w as su p p re ss e d
from o f f i c i a l Ju d aism and c o u ld f i n d v e i l e d e x p re s s io n
o n ly i n c e r t a i n p o e t i c p a s s a g e s . P e rh a p s th e s u p p re s s io n
o f th e c o n f l i c t w as made n e c e s s a ry by th e g ro w th o f e t h i
c a l monism among th e H ebrew s, w hich o f n e c e s s ity
65
t h e l i t e r a t u r e and r i t u a l ©f th e im p lie d d u a lism o f th e
p r im a l com bat.
I n a l i t e r a r y and p s y c h o lo g ic a l s e n s e , th e d rag o n
m o tif i s im p o rta n t a s an i n d i c a t i o n o f th e r e c e p t i v i t y
and c r e a t i v i t y o f th e H ebrew s who, from a common myth
in te r m in g lin g s u p e r s t i t i o n and i n s i g h t , d e v is e d and su s
t a i n e d a c o n c e p t o f Yahweh i n d i c a t i n g i n hymn form h i s s o le
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i n f a s h io n in g and m a in ta in in g a u n iv e r s e
r e f l e c t i n g h i s pow er and c o n t r o l i n th e w o rld .
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Asset Metadata

Creator Choate, Bonniejean McGuire (author)

Core Title A study of word parallelism significant to the dragon motif in the Old Testament

Contributor Digitized by ProQuest (provenance)

Degree Master of Arts

Publisher University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag OAI-PMH Harvest,philosophy, religion and theology

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Language English

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-c39-362466

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Legacy Identifier EP65230.pdf

Dmrecord 362466

Document Type Thesis

Format application/pdf (imt)

Rights Choate, Bonniejean McGuire

Type texts

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