Papers Behemoth and leviathan in the book of Job1 Mart-Jan Paul Behemoth and leviathan, the two enigmatic animals mentioned in the book of Job, are commonly equated with a hippopotamus and a crocodile, respectively. Exegesis of Job 40 and 41 indicates that a hippopotamus and a crocodile are not likely candidates for these enormous creatures described by Job. Neither should behemoth and leviathan be taken as mythological animals. After establishing their identities, I also consider to what degree they symbolize the power of evil, and whether they are connected with Satan (who is mentioned in the first two chapters of the book). Were behemoth and leviathan real animals? c. God does not describe past cosmic events in relation to behemoth and leviathan, but rather the appearance and he book of Job, presumably written in the second habits of animals that were present. Therefore he is Tmillennium BC , details the events of the patriarchal Job in the land of Uz.2 At the end of the book, in God’s speech referring to animals that Job observed personally. Both to Job, two large animals are described. The first animal animals are extraordinarily powerful and evoke awe. is described in ten verses (40:15–24) and the second in no d. It is possible that some poetic licence was employed in less than 34 verses (41:1–34). Several English translations the description of the animals, but this does not mean give the Hebrew names rather than a translation: behemoth that Job and his friends did not observe real animals. and leviathan. In the course of history, people have often It is therefore plausible that the two animals indeed questioned whether these passages describe actual animals. were real. Various interpretations have moved between the extremes of mythical and realistic explanations. Apocalyptic and Behemoth (Job 40:15–24) early rabbinic Judaism typically represented them from a In chapter 40, God describes an impressive animal. It is mythical point of view, where the animals are to play a role the first or most prominent among God’s works. Behemoth in the future.3 In Christian circles a symbolic explanation apparently is a masterpiece (v. 19). This description is or application has been present for a long time. Thomas about twice as long as that for the animals in chapter 39. Aquinas, on the other hand, equated behemoth with Job is asked to consider behemoth4 that eats grass like an elephant, and leviathan with a whale. Since Samuel an ox and is therefore some kind of herbivore (v. 15). Bochartus, in his Hierozoicon (1663), identified behemoth Job is urged to pay attention to the power of its loins and the with the hippopotamus and leviathan with the crocodile, strength of its belly muscles (v. 16). A problem with the idea this has become the current consensus. that this description refers to a hippopotamus is that in this The word ‘behemoth’ is the plural for ‘livestock’ animal the loins are not individually visible and neither are (see Gen. 2:20). This plural form is often used for beasts the muscles. The hippopotamus is a very thickset animal. of the field or woods. Leviathan is mentioned once as Behemoth can stretch its tail like a cedar.5 This tree is denoting a normal sea creature (Psa. 104:26) and three known for its size and its hard wood, which is very well times in a symbolic manner (Job 3:8; Isa. 27:1 and suited for building. The tail thus should be strong and long. Psa. 74:14). While both words can be used in a variety The tail of the hippopotamus has no resemblance to a mighty of ways, several contextual factors in Job 40–41 favour cedar or cedar branch at all. The short and thick tail is only interpreting behemoth and leviathan as two real animals 35 to 50 cm long; it is broad at its base and has a pointed that Job could have witnessed: end. Furthermore, the hippopotamus does not stretch its tail, a. The first time the Lord speaks in Job 39 He describes but lets it hang down and wiggles it. For this reason, the real animals (from which we can glean important truths translation ‘to slacken’ has been proposed, but this does not about the nature of the world and the special place of fit with the comparison of the tail to a cedar. The cedar has mankind). In the following verses two more living very long branches of some 10 to 20 m, so restricting the animals are mentioned, which strengthens the argument comparison to a cedar branch does not provide a solution. that the Lord is referring to real creatures. Although the hippopotamus is impressive, the elephant b. Behemoth is not described as a horrible and rapacious and the rhinoceros are nevertheless larger. These animals are, animal, as in several creation myths. On the contrary, together with the hippopotamus, depicted and mentioned on it is described as a grass-eating animal (Job 40:15). the so-called Black Obelisk.6 It seems that the hippopotamus It lies peacefully in the shadow of the river plants is brought forward as a tribute (payment of a vassal), which (vv. 21–22). would seem an unlikely fate for behemoth according to its 94 JOURNAL OF CREATION 24(3) 2010 Papers depiction here. The remainder of verse 19 can be interpreted in two ways: the creature has been given a sword by God, or it is a creature against whom only God can draw His sword. The word ‘sword’ is often taken to indicate the teeth of a hippopotamus because they can grow to lengths of ca. 50 cm and are similar in form to a scimitar (compare Prov. 30:14, and figure 1). If this is the right explanation, it seems strange that the word is used in the singular form. The possibility that the Maker approaches this animal with his sword, because people do not dare to do this, is more in line with verse 24 and with the impossibility for attacking Figure 1. Hippopotamuses and Egyptian hunters (from Keel, ref. 10). this animal. The trees it lies down under and provide it with shade an animal living in Egypt to describe this animal accurately, (vv. 21–22) are usually identified as the Ziziphus lotus, a and that confusion with other animals arose from this thorny tree that is 2–5 m tall. However, this tree grows in a situation. However, this is an ad hoc solution. Remains of dry climate and therefore cannot be meant here. In ancient hippopotamuses have been found in Tel Dor in Israel and Egypt, there were two famous water plants, the blue and it is likely that they were present in large parts of Israel the white lotus. These are plants though, and not trees, through to the Iron Age.11 Therefore we can assume people and therefore the translation “lotus trees” is incorrect.7 living in Israel when Job was written were familiar with this The hippopotamus can lie in the water, with only its eyes, animal. If we were to start from this knowledge and try to ears and nose just above the water. But do the plants really describe the hippopotamus, the description would focus on give the animal shade? Also, in view of the verse 22, the its squat appearance, its large mouth and deadly incisors, the translation “trees that give shadow” is preferable. Marshes strong legs that can crush and the gigantic strength of the occur in the Near East in many places, not just in Egypt. The animal.12 In Job, however, different things are mentioned. trees by the stream or wadi are willows or poplars. Willow, It is therefore likely that another animal is described. in particular Salix babylonica, originally did not occur in the What, then, was behemoth? Near East and came to this area from China during Medieval times. The trees that bring shadow probably represent a If we take extinct animals into consideration, a species of poplar (Populus euphratica Olivier) or several herbivorous dinosaur seems a more likely candidate. The kinds of reed that can be several metres tall. apatosaur had a large tail, lived on green plants and weighed Even if the current in the water is very strong, this does about 30 tonnes. The ultrasaur could reach a height of 18 m not hold it back. It is secure, even though the Jordan should and a length of 30 m, with a weight of 136 tonnes. It also surge against its mouth (v. 23). The mention of the Jordan was a herbivore with an enormous tail. The brachiosaur was indicates that we are biased if we only look to Egypt for the 12 m tall, 23 m long and 60 to 70 tonnes in weight. Its tail identification of behemoth.8 After this description follows could reach a length of nearly 6 m and a breadth of nearly a question: does anyone dare to grasp this animal from the 1.5 m. In the sauropods, large bundles of muscles are visible front, to pierce its nose? (v. 24). The animal is here seen on the outside of the body of the animal. Behemoth is not as invincible (v. 19), while in Egypt the hippopotamus was only a herbivore, but more specifically it is a grass-eater. An hunted. A favourite tactic was to pierce the nose, forcing animal that does fit this aspect is the 15 m long nigersaur, 13 the animal to breathe through its opened mouth (figure found in the Republic of Niger in Africa.