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Psalm 17 uses Ugarit's language for a visible divine body, preserving a view of God as physically recognizable within a prayer for protection.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
KTU 1.2 IV:26
Cuneiform Texts from Ugarit
Ancient Near East
Kothar fashioned two maces, and he pronounced their names. 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!
Psalm 17:15
Hebrew Bible
9 Protect me from the wicked men who attack me, my enemies who crowd around me for the kill. 10 They are calloused; they speak arrogantly. 11 They attack me, now they surround me; they intend to throw me to the ground. 12 He is like a lion that wants to tear its prey to bits, like a young lion crouching in hidden places. 13 Rise up, Lord! Confront him. Knock him down. Use your sword to rescue me from the wicked man. 14 Lord, use your power to deliver me from these murderers, from the murderers of this world. They enjoy prosperity; you overwhelm them with the riches they desire. They have many children, and leave their wealth to their offspring. 15 As for me, because I am innocent I will see your face; when I awake you will reveal yourself to me.
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Notes and References
“... The second stage occurred from the eighth to the sixth centuries. Earlier works
such as the “Yahwist” show, in the words of H. Bloom, “uninhibited anthropo-
morphism,”71 but later works further mute anthropomorphism. Two brief examples
may illustrate the point. First, Yahweh had no “form” according to Deuteronomy
4:12, 15.72 The language of divine “form” is found explicitly in Psalm 17:15, and
it has been traced to the use of the divine“form” in the story of Baal’s battle against
Yamm (CAT 1.2 IV 26).73 Second, the vision of the divine in Ezekiel 1 deliberate
attempts to stress the transcendent character of Yahweh by reducing the anthro-
pomorphic presentation of Yahweh in the heavenly divine council. The second
stage did not hold sway generally in Israelite culture, as many Second Temple and
rabbinic texts, especially apocalyptic literature, indicate the popularity of myth
throughout the history of ancient Israel. ...”
Smith, Mark S.
The Origins of Biblical Monotheism: Israel’s Polytheistic Background and the Ugaritic Texts
(p. 176) Oxford University Press, 2001
* 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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