Texts in Conversation
Psalm 106 shares Baal's victory over Sea in the Baal Cycle, making Israel's rescue at the Red Sea proof of God's power to overcome an older divine enemy.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
KTU 1.2 IV:25
Cuneiform Texts from Ugarit
Ancient Near East
You, your name is 'All-Driver' All-Driver, drive Yamm away, drive Yamm from his throne, Nahar from the siege of his dominion! You must leap from the hand of Baal, like a falcon from his fingers. Strike the skull of Prince Yamm (Ocean), the brow of Ruler Nahar (River)! Let Yamm collapse in a heap, and let him fall to the ground!' Then the mace leapt from the hand of Baal, like a falcon from his fingers. It struck the skull of Prince Yamm, the brow of Ruler Nahar. Yamm collapsed in a heap; he fell to the ground. His joints trembled, and his visage was discomposed. Baal gathered Up and drank Prince Yamm to the dregs, he exterminated Ruler Nahar. By name Athtart chided him Dry him Up, O Valiant Baal! Dry him up, O Charioteer of the Clouds! For our captive is Prince [Yamm], [for]
Psalm 106:9
Hebrew Bible
7 Our ancestors in Egypt failed to appreciate your miraculous deeds. They failed to remember your many acts of loyal love, and they rebelled at the sea, by the Red Sea. 8 Yet he delivered them for the sake of his reputation that he might reveal his power. 9 He shouted at the Red Sea and it dried up; he led them through the deep water as if it were a desert. 10 He delivered them from the power of the one who hated them and rescued them from the power of the enemy. 11 The water covered their enemies; not even one of them survived. 12 They believed his promises; they sang praises to him.
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Notes and References
“... Secondary application of the motif, that is, instances in which the con
flict motif is claimed or assumed to have import for humans, occur in
many biblical texts. Examples of the combined conflict and exodus motifs
(Ps 77:14–21; Ps 106:7–12; Ps 114; Isa 51:9–11; and possibly Jer 51:36) are par
ticularly relevant here. This combination of motifs constitutes a significant
development within biblical historiography. Yahweh’s divine combat was
inserted within the foundational story of Israel and Judah, specifically into
the “paradigmatic story” of Yahweh intervening within a human socio-
political circumstance on behalf of the people. ...”
Ballentine, Debra Scoggins
The Conflict Myth and the Biblical Tradition
(p. 124) Oxford University Press, 2015
* 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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