The Conflict Myth and the Biblical Tradition

Acknowledgements I. Theorizing Myth in Ancient West Asian Studies Myth Theory Biblical Scholarship and the Category of Myth Terminology The Ancient West Asian Milieu and the Comparative Enterprise II. The Conflict Topos in Extant Narratives Anzu Enuma Elish Assur version of Enuma Elish Ba'lu Cycle Comparisons and Narrative Taxonomy Conclusion III. The Conflict Motif Victorious Warrior Deities: 'Anatu, Ba'lu, and Yahweh Yahweh's Combat against the Sea/Dragon and Its Relevance for Humans Divine Combat within Historiography: Combined Conflict and Exodus Motifs Yahweh vs. Human Enemies: Combat with Contemporary "Dragons" The Temple The Conflict Motif and Royal Figures Conclusion IV. Continued Adaptation, The Conflict Motif and the Eschaton Hebrew Bible Eschatological Battles Revelation Jesus/Christos as the Divine Warrior Leviathan and Behemoth in the Eschaton and More Eschatological Battles The "Holy One" vs. the Prince of the Sea Conclusion V. The Motif of Yahweh's Authority over the Sea and the Legitimacy of Individuals: Claiming vs. Having Power over the Sea Jesus Antiochus IV Epiphanes Gamaliel Conclusion VI. Conclusion Leave "Chaos" Out of It The Conflict Topos, Distinctions and Comparisons Notes Bibliography Index