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Psalm 49's picture of Death as a shepherd recalls Mot seizing people like lambs in the Baal Cycle, stressing that wealth cannot free people from Death's power.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
KTU 1.4 VIII:17
Cuneiform Texts from Ugarit
Ancient Near East
Then you shall set off To Mount (TRGZZ) To Mount (THRMG) The two hills at Earth's edge. Lift the mountain in your hands The hill atop your palms. And descend to Hell, the House of Freedom Be counted among those descended to Hell. who go down into the earth. Then you shall set off To Divine Mot At his town, the Pit Low, the throne where he sits Filth, the land of his heritage. But beware, divine servants: Do not get too close to Divine Mot draw near to Divine Do not let him seize you like a lamb in his mouth Like a kid crushed in the chasm of his throat. The Divine Lamp, Shapshu Ignites the sphere of Heaven By the power of Divine Mot. From across a thousand fields, a myriad hectares At the feet of Mot bow.
Psalm 49:14
Hebrew Bible
10 Surely one sees that even wise people die; fools and spiritually insensitive people all pass away and leave their wealth to others. 11 Their grave becomes their permanent residence, their eternal dwelling place. They name their lands after themselves, 12 but, despite their wealth, people do not last. They are like animals that perish. 13 This is the destiny of fools, and of those who approve of their philosophy. (Selah) 14 They will travel to Sheol like sheep, with death as their shepherd. The godly will rule over them when the day of vindication dawns. Sheol will consume their bodies, and they will no longer live in impressive houses. 15 But God will rescue my life from the power of Sheol; certainly he will pull me to safety. (Selah) 16 Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich and his wealth multiplies.
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Notes and References
“... Th ere is some mythology of Death in
the Psalms ( DDD 598–603), but unlike the Baal-Mot confl ict in the Baal Cycle, it is not
represented as a matter of confl ict between Yahweh and Death personifi ed. Still some
imagery for Death in the Psalms (141:7; cf. Isa. 5:14; Hab. 2:5; Prov. 1:12; 27:20; 30:15–16)
echoes the traditional language found in the Baal Cycle: “One lip to the earth, one lip
to the heavens; . . . his tongue to the stars. Baal must enter inside him; he must go down
into his mouth” (KTU 1.5 II 2–5, SAC 141; cf. KTU 1.23.61–63, SAC 165). Th is mythic
image of the cosmic enemy’s ravenous mouth is transferred to descriptions of human
enemies (Ps. 73:9; cf. Isa 9:19). Another image of Death represents him as a shepherd
leading people to the underworld (Ps. 49:15[14]); this metaphor has been read in light of
the warning not to get too close to Death so that he not take “like a lamb in his mouth”
(KTU 1.4 VIII 14–20, SAC 138). ...”
Smith, Mark S.
"Canaanite Backgrounds to the Psalms" in Brown, William P. (ed.) The Oxford Handbook of the Psalms
(p. 52) Oxford University Press, 2014
* 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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