The LORD Speaks (Part 3)

Okay, today, we are going to talk about something that is not well understood.

I am not going to pretend that I have the exact answer, but I do think there are things to glean from this section.

There are two creatures we are going to discuss.

Behemoth

Leviathan

There are three main options when reading this section

Actual land animal

Modern (Hippo)

Ancient (Dinosaur)

Mythologized land animal

Mythologized chaos creature

For me, I lean towards a Mythologized Chaos Creature first, and a mythologized land animal second.

I don’t accept the “its only a land animal” approach

I REJECT the idea this was a dinosaur that lived with Job

Here is why

God has spoken of:

How he is the God of gods in the heavens

How he is the God of the animals

Now, he is going to speak of how he is the God of the greatest creature on land

Next he is going to speak of how he is the God of the greatest creature in the sea

Let’s REMEMBER…God has not answered Job’s claim and Job is not going to say anymore. He has said his peace...

Job 40:6–7 ESV

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.

Job 40:8–9 ESV

Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right? Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his?

Job 40:10–12 ESV

“Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendor. Pour out the overflowings of your anger, and look on everyone who is proud and abase him. Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low and tread down the wicked where they stand.

Job 40:13–14 ESV

Hide them all in the dust together; bind their faces in the world below. Then will I also acknowledge to you that your own right hand can save you.

These verses are rich in information

They are the prelude to the introduction of the Behemoth.

The last part closes here with hiding the wicked in the dust (Genesis), returning to the dust, faces in the world below, death.

And no human can save himself.

Job 40:15–17 ESV

“Behold, Behemoth, which I made as I made you; he eats grass like an ox. Behold, his strength in his loins, and his power in the muscles of his belly. He makes his tail stiff like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are knit together.

Behemoth: It is a transliteration of a Hebrew word. Behemah is a feminine noun that means animal, beast, cattle. We hear beast and we might think monster of sorts. But that is not the meaning. Think livestock, large bull like animals.

There are some that have read the “tail” and “thighs” are a metaphor for reproductive parts. And they could be read that way

Job 40:18–20 ESV

His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron. “He is the first of the works of God; let him who made him bring near his sword! For the mountains yield food for him where all the wild beasts play.

Now, some things are going to change a bit.

This “animal” is different. In the first section, it would seem like we are talking about a large animal of the field.

Bronze and Iron (Bronze is Nechoshah, like Nachash)

It sounds a bit like the beast/animal in Daniel.

Notice, this is the FIRST of the ways of God Reshit (like Gen 1)

So, we have...

Metal bones, limbs like iron

He is the first of the ways (works) of God

A sword is what tames him

And the MOUNTAINS…another allusion to the location the gods dwell.

And the wild BEASTS play...

Job 40:21–22 ESV

Under the lotus plants he lies, in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh. For his shade the lotus trees cover him; the willows of the brook surround him.

This sounds like a garden...

Job 40:23–24 ESV

Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened; he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth. Can one take him by his eyes, or pierce his nose with a snare?

Now, what is this creature doing near the Jordan?

Many try to explain how a Hippo can migrate all the way up to Israel, and MAYBE that is true.

But I don’t think so.

When we have the Jordan come up, a river that was PARTED by God so Israel could cross, then it makes me wonder what we are talking about!

Regardless, here is the key:

No human can overcome Behemoth

It is a representative of the Chaos of the land.

The gods, and the primary bull god of the Canaanites.

That is why we see all these conflicting references.

Does the beast live in the hills, the fields, the river, the marshes.

This FIRST of God’s creation.

A few chapters prior God indicated that the Sons of God where shouting at the creation, so were they created first?

This is a reminder that there is a chaos beast that interacts on the same land we live.