Texts in Conversation
Psalm 22 turns the horn of battle strength known from Anat in the Ugaritic text KTU 1.10 into a picture of threatening enemies, making that power something the endangered person needs God to overcome.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
KTU 1.10 II:22
Cuneiform Texts from Ugarit
Ancient Near East
He has taken his bow in his hand, and his arrows in his right hand. Then he set his face toward Ah-Shamak, full of wild oxen.” The Maiden Anat lifts her wing, she lifts her wing and soars in flight toward Ah-Shamak, full of wild oxen. And Mighty Baal lifts his eyes, he lifts his eyes and sees, he sees the Maiden Anat, the loveliest among the sisters of Baal. Before her he […] and stands, at her feet he bows and falls down. And he lifts his voice and cries: “Live, sister, and long life to us. The horns of your strength, Maiden Anat, the horns of your strength Baal will anoint, Baal will anoint them in flight. We will thrust my enemies into the earth, and into the dust those who rise against your brother.”
Psalm 22:21
Hebrew Bible
18 They are dividing up my clothes among themselves; they are rolling dice for my garments. 19 But you, O Lord, do not remain far away. You are my source of strength. Hurry and help me! 20 Deliver me from the sword. Save my life from the claws of the wild dogs. 21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lion and from the horns of the wild oxen. You have answered me. 22 I will declare your name to my countrymen. In the middle of the assembly I will praise you. 23 You loyal followers of the Lord, praise him. All you descendants of Jacob, honor him. All you descendants of Israel, stand in awe of him. 24 For he did not despise or detest the suffering of the oppressed. He did not ignore him; when he cried out to him, he responded.
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Notes and References
“... To judge from the comparable phrasing in Deut 33:17, the image denotes power
in warfare in Num 23:22 and 24:8, more specifically El’s victory over the Egyp-
tians in warfare. Victory over enemies also seems to be the force of Anat’s
anointed horns (KTU 1.10 II 21–24, in UNP 183) noted above (for oil in con-
nection with horns, see Ps 92:10). Note also that Baal and Mot “gore each
other like wild oxen” (KTU 1.6 VI 17–18, in UNP 162). For horns for victory, see
also 1 Kgs 22:11//2 Chr 18:10; Mic 4:13; Ps 89:17, 24; for the horns of the enemy
in signaling defeat, see Ps 22:21. ...”
Smith, Mark S.
Where the Gods Are: Spatial Dimensions of Anthropomorphism in the Biblical World
(p. 150) Yale University Press, 2016
* 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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