Texts in Conversation
Psalm 104:26 depicts Leviathan as a creature made to play in the sea, a mythological image within creation’s order. The Aramaic translation in the Targum reinforces this by connecting Leviathan to an eschatological banquet for the righteous, drawing on traditions of a final contest between Leviathan and Behemoth.
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Psalm 104:26
Hebrew Bible
24 How many living things you have made, O Lord! You have exhibited great skill in making all of them; the earth is full of the living things you have made. 25 Over here is the deep, wide sea, which teems with innumerable swimming creatures, living things both small and large. 26 The ships travel there, and over here swims Leviathan35 you made to play in it. 27 All your creatures wait for you to provide them with food on a regular basis. 28 You give food to them and they receive it; you open your hand and they are filled with food.
Date: 6th-3rd Centuries B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Targum Psalm 104:26
Targum
24 How many are your works, O Lord! You have made all of them in wisdom; the earth is full of your possessions. 25 This sea is great and broad in extent; creeping things are there without number, both tiny creatures and large. 26 There the ships go about, [and] this Leviathan you created for the sport of the righteous at the supper of his dwelling place. 27 All of them rely on you to give their food in its time. 28 You will give it to them, and they gather it; you will open your hand, and they are satisfied with goodness.
Date: 200-600 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... The Targum on Psalms 104:25-26 appears also to be familiar with the theme of the eschatological contest, when it describes how Leviathan was created in order to “sport” at the banquet of the righteous. The midrashim is also familiar with this motif. From Leviticus Rabbah 13:3, one learns ... Pesikta de Rav Kahana (Sup. II.4) also knows about the eschatological fight between the two biblical monsters ..."
Orlov, Andrei
Fight between Leviathan and Behemoth in the Messianic Time
(pp. 1-12) Marquette University, 2022
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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