Daniel’s use of the Ba’al Cycle is one biblical
example of Semitic Adaptation of “Pagan” sources. Here is a useful table
comparing Dan 7:9-13 and the Ba’al Cycle in the Ugaritic Tablets taken from
Daniel
7:9-13 |
Ba’al
Cycle |
7:2a I saw in my vision by night, and
behold |
[Baal], take your clouds, your winds,
your lightnings, your rains (KTU I.5.v:6-9) |
7:3a Four great beasts came up out of
the sea |
Yam sent messengers . . . Yam is described as a seven headed
sea-monster with four names: Dragon, Leviathan (L-t-n), Arsh, and Atick (KTU
I.3.iii.38-44) |
7:9 As I looked, thrones were placed, |
The gods raise their heads from El: The Father of Years (KTU i.3.v:8) |
7:10 A stream of fire issued and came
out from before him; |
She set her fact towards El |
thousand thousands served him, |
|
The court saw in judgement, and |
Set your faces towards the convocation
of the Council; Towards the divine mountain (KTU I.2.i:14) |
7:11a I looked then because of the sound
of b And as I looked, the beast was killed, |
Message of Yam, your master, |
7:12 And for the rest of the beast, their |
You [Ba’al], your name is “Expeller.” |
7:13 I saw in the night visions, and behold, |
O Charioteer of the Clouds |
7:14 And to him was given dominion and
glory |
Take your everlasting kingdom, your eternal
dominion! (KTU I.2.iv.10) |
For more, see:
Kevin
L. Barney, "The
Facsimiles and Semitic Adaptation of Existing Sources”
David
Bokovoy on the Book of Abraham Facsimiles and the Semitic Adaptation of
Existing Sources
Chapter 4: "Yahweh's Appropriation of Baal Imagery" in
John Day, Yahweh and the Gods and Goddesses of Canaan (Journal for the
Study of the Old Testament Supplement Series 265; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic
Press, 2000, 2002), pp. 91-127