The Epic of Ba'al and Yam
In ancient times, when gods ruled the earth
There was a mighty lord of sea and storm
His name was Yam, the dragon of the deep
He claimed the throne of heaven for his own
He sent his messengers to El, the king
And asked him to anoint him as the chief
Of all the gods, and give him power and fame
But El had chosen Yam as his own son
And so he granted Yam his wish and said
That he should rule over the gods and men
And that no one should dare to oppose him
Or they would face his wrath and punishment
But Ba'al, the god of thunder and rain
The son of Dagan and the Lady Asherah
He did not bow to Yam or fear his might
He challenged him to battle for the crown
He gathered all his allies for t
he war
His sister Anat, his lover Athtart
His craftsman Kothar-wa-Khasis, who forged
Two magic clubs for Ba'al's use in fight
He also had a secret weapon made
A horned helmet that made him look like a bull
A symbol of his strength and fertility
And of his claim to be the lord of all
He marched upon Mount Zaphon with his host
And faced Yam and his monsters from the sea
The serpents, sharks, and crocodiles galore
And also Yam's own net of destiny
The battle raged for days and nights on end
The earth shook and the sky was filled with clouds
The lightning flashed and thunder roared aloud
The sea rose up and flooded all the land
But Ba'al was not daunted by the storm
He fought with courage, skill, and cunning too
He dodged Yam's net and struck him with his clubs
He broke his horns and pierced him through and through
He also called Yam by another name
A name that mocked his power and his pride
He called him Leviathan, the twisted one
The fugitive serpent who could not hide
He taunted him and said that he was weak
That he was not a worthy king of gods
That he was just a creature of the deep
A beast that lived in darkness and in mud
He said that he, Ba'al, was the true lord
The prince of earth, the master of the sky
The giver of all life and fertility
The one who rides on clouds and makes them weep
He said that he would build a splendid house
A palace on Mount Zaphon's lofty peak
A house that would reflect his glory and his fame
A house that all the gods would come to seek
He said that he would make the earth rejoice
With rain and dew, with crops and fruits galore
With animals and people multiplying fast
With peace and harmony for evermore
And with these words he dealt the final blow
He crushed Yam's skull and threw him to the ground
He raised his arms in triumph and in joy
And all the gods and men cheered all around
He took Yam's net and tore it into shreds
He took his crown and placed it on his head
He took his throne and sat upon it high
And declared himself the king of all instead
Thus Ba'al defeated Yam, the sea god
And won a kingdom without end or bound
Thus Ba'al became the lord of life and death
And made Mount Zaphon holy ground
0 Comments