Behemoth: From the Bible to the Terrible Greek Monster

25/04/2022

     Behemoth is a terrifying Monster from both the Bible and Greek Mythology. According to the Old Testament, he will rival Leviathan at the end of time. Learn more about this terrestrial monster below.

Behemoth in the biblical book:

     Behemoth, is a beast from the biblical book of Job, and is a form of the primitive chaos-monster created by God at the beginning of creation; he is paired with the other monster of chaos, Leviathan, and according to later Jewish tradition, both would become food for the righteous at the end of time. Metaphorically, the name came to be used for any extremely large or powerful entity.

It is mentioned in many games, including Tibia and Age of Mythology.


Description in the Bible:

     Behemoth is mentioned in a speech from the mouth of God in chapter 40 of the Book of Job, a primitive creature created by God and so powerful that only God can overcome him:

  • Behold, Behemoth, I have done as I have done you; he eats grass like an ox.
  • Behold his strength in his loins, and his power in the muscles of his belly.
  • He stiffens his tail like a cedar; the tendons of his thighs are intertwined.
  • His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like iron bars.
  • He is the first of God's works; let the one who made it draw near his sword!
  • For the mountains give him food, where all the wild beasts play.
  • Under the lotus plants he lies, in the shelter of the reeds and in the swamp.
  • For his shade the lotus trees cover him; the brook willows surround it.
  • Behold, if the river be turbulent, he is not afraid; he's confident, though Jordan runs into his mouth.
  • Can you catch him by the eyes or pierce his nose with a noose?
  • The passage pairs Behemoth with the sea monster Leviathan, both mythical creatures composed with enormous strength that humans like Job could not hope to control, but both reduced to the status of divine pets.

Later...

     In Jewish apocrypha and pseudepigraphs, such as the 2nd century BC Book of Enoch, Behemoth is the unconquerable male land monster, living in an invisible desert east of the Garden of Eden, as Leviathan is the primeval female. sea monster, dwelling in the "Abyss", and Ziz the primordial sky monster.

     Likewise, in the oldest section of the Second Book of Ezra, written around A.D. 100, the two are described as inhabiting the mountains and the seas, respectively, after having been separated from each other due to the sea's insufficiency to contain both.

     Likewise, in the contemporary Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch, it is stated that Behemoth will come out of his seclusion on land, and Leviathan out of the sea, and the two gigantic monsters, created on the fifth day, will serve as food for the elect, who will survive the days of the Messiah.


But what about Greek Mythology?

     See below how Behemoth is mentioned in Oaths of the Oracles, the ballad of Ioleta:

     "The titans languished in Tartarus. The Olympians who held them there wished to punish us, the titan-worshippers. They hunted us, but we hid in the shadow of Behemoth that was as high as the mountains and twice as long.

     He shielded them and let out a howl as Zeus's lightning struck his thick armor. Caladria blessed the Behemoth and healed it after each strike of Zeus' lightning. The Olympians could not with the tireless Behemoth and returned to Olympus. We were safe."

     Did you notice how interesting the story is? Behemoth, in Late Greek Mythology, defended the worshipers of the Titans, his bravery was remarkable and caused the Olympian Gods to abandon the fight.

     At that time, it is worth remembering that not everyone agreed with the reign of Zeus, this caused many people to worship the old gods. This civilization was called "Atlanteans".

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