![]() ![]() However, for commentators who reject the mythic interpretation of Behemoth, the unanimously accepted position seems to be the hippopotamus. This massive and powerful description of Behemoth has led many commentators to rightly acknowledge that he must be a real earthly creature. His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron (Job 40:16–18). He makes his tail stiff like a cedar the sinews of his thighs are knit together. The description of Behemoth’s body in verses 16–18 is lengthy and detailed and is significant in helping to identify this massive creature: Behold, his strength in his loins, and his power in the muscles of his belly. Although Behemoth is a real earthly creature, he is not like any other creature alive today in God’s creation. 10 The text makes it clear that Behemoth is a real earthly creature as it is presented as something that people knew about through observing creation. ![]() ![]() Furthermore, the mythical beasts of other ancient Near Eastern accounts were terrible and predatory in nature, but in contrast, Behemoth is described as an herbivore (Job 40:15, 20) that lays down peacefully under the plants of the river (Job 40:20–21). This could hardly be said of a mythical creature. God even draws Job’s attention to the fact that Behemoth “eats grass like an ox” (or cattle, bāqār). Similarly, in his second speech, God uses another real creature, Behemoth, in order to intensify the power of his message to Job. In his first speech, God uses real animals and birds (lion, Job 38:39 mountain goats, Job 39:1 donkey, Job 39:5 wild ox, Job 39:9 ostrich, Job 39:13 horse, Job 39:19 locust, Job 39:20 hawk, Job 39:26 and an eagle, Job 39:27) to come to an important conclusion regarding creation and man’s place in it. The words “which I made as I made you” work “against the view that “behemoth” is a mythical creature.” 8 A real earthly creature is clearly in view, as Konkel rightly recognizes in his commentary on Job: It would destroy the point of the poet to move from the world of the Creator to the mythic world, for the message from God was directed to the world in which Job lived. Scholars recognise that this implies a “super beast” 6 or “the beast par excellence.” 7 What is clear, from v.15, is that Behemoth and Job have one thing in common: they are both creatures of God. 4 In verse 15, the plural form bĕhēmôt 5 refers to a single creature but uses the plural of majesty. The Hebrew word bĕhēmôt (בְּהֵמוֹת) is the plural form of bĕhēmâ (בְּהֵמָה), a generic word used to describe the domesticated “beasts/livestock” of the earth that God created on day six of creation week (Genesis 1:24) and that went onto the ark and then came out of the ark (Genesis 6:20, 9:10). In Job 40:15, God tells Job to “Behold, Behemoth,” calling him to take notice of this creature. In order to correctly identify the creature known as Behemoth, it is necessary not only to pay close attention to all the details in the text about him but to keep in mind our presuppositions about the history of the world as this will impact our interpretation. There is another option that is not argued for by commentators, namely that Behemoth was a real creature that is now extinct. An earthly creature who also represents a spiritual force 3.A real earthly creature (hippopotamus or elephant) 1.So, God challenges Job to exercise some power in the world and demonstrate that he can govern like God (Job 40:9), he does this by asking him to consider whether he can control the great and powerful creature Behemoth: Behold, Behemoth, which I made as I made you he eats grass like an ox (Job 40:15).īut what is this great mysterious creature, Behemoth? The identification of Behemoth is widely disputed amongst biblical scholars as can be seen by their varied interpretations: ![]() God accuses Job of discrediting his justice in trying to justify himself and has crossed the line in some of the things that he has said. God is dealing with the issue of justice since Job has called into question God’s justice (Job 40:8) and has frequently asked to be allowed to have a trial with God (Job 9:16, 13:3). But what is this great mysterious creature, Behemoth? The identification of Behemoth is widely disputed amongst biblical scholars as can be seen by their varied interpretations.Īfter showing Job the wonders of his creation in chapters 38–39, God speaks to him a second time and continues to challenge him by telling him to exercise justice in the world. The book of Job raises many questions (why is Job, a righteous man, allowed to suffer so greatly?), but one that has baffled many scholars is the identity of the mysterious creature known as Behemoth in Job 40:15. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |