"... Yhwh’s messenger addresses the gates as “eternal doors,” which hints at their mythic dimension: they participate in the sphere of the eternal gods. The call “Raise your heads!” indicates that the gates have lowered their heads in a gesture of mourning, since the city is threatened by enemies. The divine warrior has left his residency after having fought them off. A close parallel can be found in the Ugaritic Ba‘al epic that narrates the conflict between the storm-god Ba‘al and the sea-god Yamm (KTU/CAT 1.1–1.2). When the assembly of the gods receives messengers of Yamm, requesting to deliver Ba‘al into his power, the horrified gods lower their heads. But the fearless Ba‘al rebukes them—and the rhythm of his first words sounds strikingly similar to the call of Yhwh’s messenger (Psalm 24:7, 9: “Raise, O gates, your heads”): “Raise, O gods, your heads, from the tops of your knees, from your royal thrones!” ... In the ensuing combat, Ba‘al kills Yamm, and the gods acclaim Ba‘al’s kingship. Psalm 24* seems related to a similar tale. ..."