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l
LE5-IER DEITIES
1. 5. fir iii I""" "Circle'" of he " 'en" Th. «rm occur> p... II.Jed with othe r dffign"'ion. 01 the divine .... .. mbly; hn ii, rI!' Hbm (KTU l.lO i l _S)". It indic",,,, the f.undy
memb.14ip of the « lesti.1 b.ing •. 1.6. pl}r ilm and 'iii ilm uA..embly of god,"
Th. t.... o colhtiv. de, ign",io n. ri." ilm ~ . nd 'd, ilm" (the •...... mbly of gcxh- or the ·..,~mbly 01 EVi" exp r"" the plurOllity.,.,d COOp''''' tion 01 the d.iti ... Th" I'!!' ilm c.n b. d.fi ned.., the ·group of god • .., . unity·~. It ocru" in the r«.ptio n 01 . ",m . , . n offe ring", KTU 1.1-18.~, .II ot h.. individual gcxh who rK"iv, their o ... n offerin g. in KTU l.l-1S
~ ~ ~
0" "~''''''t;",,(,)", Wy>lt (J9"980' 44; 1001 , ISS) . P ... /Ime, 795). U'- plyr, "",.. I " uon;"',. ~mbly ", G . R. Dri,-« /1956, 1(1), DUL 609_70 (I). ef Akk. pa¥r"(m). ".~r~, AH.., 810_11 , 876-7, C..AD 11[P j lJ_ll; ~gs_93 . CI. Akk. pu~~r liJ"i, erOS! (19Sl17~ n. I). Thi, UII>'"~ic ph,.... c>n be roonp.>",d wi,h ,he Ph""n;";'n ",fe",nee m"hr< '1 ~bI qillm. ,he "= ",bl~ of ,he holy gC>
""r
""'t...
",,,,I,,,ed .. "
,h.
""=.
c,,,
"'1"'"
MEMBERSIlJPOF LESSER DEmES
m.y be r
Apparently B.. I h.. hi. own ••", mbly; perh.p. gi"en . ft .. hi, . n· th ro nement in the divine .,,,,mbly (KTU Li i,' <1_4), . nd in reference to the uoage of the fi ..t . Iement in the ph ~ plJr 1>'/ (d. KTU l.J9.7, LR [ 161 and ] S7. 18)" . Yet there i. no other indication in the Ug>ritic text> to prove th .. B.... I h" >O"ereignty 0"" hi, own .... mhly. Pope rem"h th .. the u<>ge of Ug. p~r i. app lied fr«ly to .n y plu",1 conception of the god> "'ther th :m n"" ..... rily al ....y> to ", plenary >=lion or perfect .. ten· d...nce· of the god>Y. Thm, it i. ~t!« n th .. Ug' l~r i> u=l here to indic. te the >ge nt "group' which serve> B....!, >c. "group of B....!.". It h.. h<en . ugge>ted th .. it m.y dr.ign,t< the "" .. n Bub of KTU H7's_1I (pooralleled with KTU 1.11 8.... 10.rnd RS 10.14..... 10)" . Yet it indic .."" more prob. bly the ill'lfr, "Ihlper-god>' of B.ul ~. who m.y be ide ntifi. d .. "",ven Ud" eight Bo. ",· in KTU 1.5 ,. 8· 9.
~
'«'ym (199 80: 4S). w '«'ym (19980: 4S). ~ '«'yan (199 80: is) . M Thu" "'" P.,.k
LE5-IER DEITIES
1.8.
p/lr kkbm "As..,mbly of S,.,."
'>r""",''',
Th. dj"ine .,,,,mbly i. de.cribM .. compri,ing , h. of t he ,mmes; the ,un (Sh"l" h "), the moon (Y.rih~), etc. Among them t he eountle" eele"i.1 'ph..", . re pon"'y«l mrded .. divine being> in t he .neient Semit i, world " ,
" U,. l pl. -, un. Sun (... DN)" , DUL 836-S. Ci. ,h. :::::, HALDT 151/9_ 91; Ph., Pun .• ""d A,,,,,. ,,,,I, DNWSlII6S If., ""d Akk. :10m!".' AH", 1138_ 9; CAD 17111SJ33S-8. ~ U,-moon . .\\oon (DN), mon,h' , del Qlmo-Sanm."in (!()().I, 9~_ go). Cf. H,b. r,", HALOT ~37 _ 8; Ph .. Pun .. A,,,,,,- ",,~ , DNWSI ~69 _7 1; Akx. (~·)<,,&u, AH", 1 ~66-7; CAD 1/.1[A1 159-63. H. i, ",,,,nl
.w"
M EMBERSIlJPOF LESSER DEmES
pit, Ubm
"
Th, .... mbly 01 Su,," (KTU 1.10i4' );
Th. p~, kkbm occurs h. ", in • p>r.oll
(I
2 ~ .31) ,
.' F{rI)'1 dblt lim
A " d he (oe . 1),,,,,1) o lf,,..d~ • ""rif"", (10') th, gods, he olf,o'
H.." "l y On", in"n« 01 Hmo> "
to
,h, Su r< .
In the ""« ription, the ilm , th e fmJm , and the kbkbm or. por.II. I
Ug. kbJ.b, "",,", If[' i I9.118'1, WVS no. Iln, DUL 427_8. Cf. Akle "'~ , AH", 4)1 ; GlD SlK I 45-9; H,b. ::~ , HALOT 4/J. UK. 'bJ.bm <>c. cu" " .dos;gn>t ion 10" " I,,,;,] 'l'h'''', KTU 1.1 ;;i 14; 1.3 iii 15; iv 17, 44; 1.S ii }, 1.U1, 1.19 ,; l, 1, 1.19 iv }S, 10<. i<w,I, KTU LIM . IS, lu"h<, lor t h, de;,,,, ;n "')'thole'g,,,,,1 KTU U i; 41 ; 1.10; 4; 1. 13.13, 17, 1.19 iv 14_5,31 ; 1.13.54; 1.43 .3 (.. t h;, pi .. " 'S""'gO",,"; [)j,,,i
,<x,"
(P""'"
LE5-IER DEITIES
• p.r..!l
Thi, plron."ic oxp, ... ion
u n. ,Ii "Couocil" Th. term occur> •• ·, h.pa legomonon in the Ug.ritic "'xu (KTU 1.1Q i 4), [They will appt",,"",h ~ l when ,h, d"",.. n .. '~.
c
Ug. uJ m.y indic... tho ""',",mbly" of the gods in the t<xt of tho TI'"m, who,", m.>ning i, v.riomly ,ugge". d".
'pp<=
" It "",,,Iy in KTU l.l, ,hu •. n. !I« J>rob«n (194J, «p., 167_71): H . W. Robin",n (1944), C""'. (19S3); Muli,n (1980); P"x"r (Im.),;nJ Wy.lt (1m, J38-41) . ~ Th< ,wl\>g
,h.
"
M EMBERSIlJPOF LESSER DEmES
1.1l, 'mY"''' " H e. ,-enly O ne,"
Thi, te rm i, p",sent in • p.",lIeli.m wit h t he ilm and khkhm in KTU 1.1 9 iv 11_5 . nd 29_3\ , .. di!oCusoed .bove, It m.y be .n -ep ithet>.! fo rm of smm, 'h.. ven(.j '"".
1.12. 1pJJ 4p" "OIT.pringof,M Wi,e O ne
H
(I
The tex' of KTU 1.1 6 ii H _~ 1.1 6 i 11_13) men,iom ~ p iur>.! i, y o f 'he god. of ' he divi ne .. ~mbiy, ~ i/", ImlO Or 00 ,h, godi di, ~ ? 'pI:! I ."~ ",.;lIthe off'l'rin~ of ,h, Wi« 0,,," Mt li,·, " /
'II'''
The
'ex'
ip~
I!pn" i. eomt ruewj he", in !=,>.!lel with ' he ilm. Hene<
' he d=:rih<> h ere the nature of t he I.. ~r dei, ie> • • -,u p<m >tur. 1 heinS'", It m. y he rugge>tM fro m ,h. to" that the immort . li,y of ' he goo. w., • , heological p
~
CI. K11) Ll9; v 24.u>J 30. MWy"" (199 8o , 46). " Ti-.e 3. tlL pl . for", (Tropp
U" /ml , 10 "die- (UT
519 .1443; WVS 1703; DUL 595_6j. 0 . Heb . ,,"', HALOT562 _3, Anon ", ,,'C DNWSI 605_7; Am", .• Pun. mt: m..'WS1 605, and Akk. m
"f"
LE5-IER DEITIES
I.Il. Mi sceU.neo u. Ug.ri.ic T id".
V.,-iou, ot h.. term• • re employ..!.o indicate a group of doi.ie" 11m ar~, .he "gods of the ""M>- I.nd"", 11m rbm, .h. "gre •• ~ods"'''; .nd i/_ "J"', the "divine on.,· ·.. .. c~, Mor< ""idonee fo r .h. plur..!ity of di· ,-ine beings m.y be .ugge.ted in d i ,""r~ DN . ... In .h. Ug.n.ic p.m. thoon I"", there .P!"'H di" ingu"h.bly th e princip. 1 god,.rnd the pe. nph.ral god," , Hence i. i, obviou, th .. . he ."ci.n. Ug.ri.i,n" held the religiou, belief•• h.. th ..e.re le""r dei.i", ... ho .. rve their ml>1" gods in the divine .... mbly and .h .. . hey "'" privileged to belong '0 the
.. KTU 1.19 iii 6, [11~ }3. 'The,. .n,i,"" .'" idomif,ed '" "ch, honi .. god<' (Wym. 199810 ~1, 1001, }:J.i), who m.y be ",bted to th. -Jivinis
I
"""'''0' of th. Ug>riti.e dyn.." y; del Ol",o-S.,tm''''n
(!()().I, 183; dildo [ID. De ller
Ii,,,
MEMBERSIlJPOF LESSER DEmES
divine . "" mbly ., membe ... " , .lthough they ",em not to uk< . ny "". ti"e role within it. The pr im.lry fu nC1ion of the divine .... mbly/council in the :tn. cient Ne.. E.,t i. to discm•• nd m,h. deci>ion . bout." i,m.". [n the Ug.ritic ".u, El p .... iO" 0"" the divine council, <>p<"C i:ol[y in the B...[ Cycle, the gods . ppe.. to hAve the f",edom to rai", objeC1ion.". or to m.k< "'I'pe:ol. ~, 0' to m.k. prop",:01. " , con>«Juently the fin.[ deci,ion i> mille in the divine council" . Simi[.r ,itu.ltiom in the divine ..",mb[y occur .100 in th e Heb",w Bib[ e~ . Summ.ry So m e collective Ug.uitic noun, com',,},' conception of the plur.[ity of the deiti"" includi ng the [e"", deiti ... which ",fleeu th e po[ythei"ic and hie"rchi,.[ held. of :tnci. nt Ug.riti.rn,. Thill, th eir di,·in. iden· tity i, cI.uifi.d through th.ir title" ilrn. The memb"r:ship of the [.",.. deiti"" in the Ug>ritic divine ..... mb[y i. >oddr«"'! in oth.. divine ti· tho iI W", 1m ii, dr iI . dr d, Smm, ,!lfr ilm, ',It ilm, plJr k
Mull,n (1980; II!).
" P"X" (1m" lOS). CI. Enkidu', aJdt"", on ,he
LE5-IER DEITIES
ore MoptNi . bo to
de.ign~e
th e divine beinpo ilrn arl , ilm rbm, .nd
il'Hm. 2. P OSITION OF LE.ssllR D mTllls IN TIm D IVINE ASsEM6LYIN TIIIl UGARJTICTlllITS
With the .pplic~ion of the definition, .nd conceptiom of the divine titles of the I~rdeit ies. the p", .. nt "udy hen,ei'onh will "", k to gi,·e on .c
T ex" It i. impon.11lt to ""plo", the dive ... ity .mong he,,·. nly beings through .n .rn.lys;' of how the hie",rchic.! divine .... mhl)· i. fornted in onl.
Th~e
Le,·d .
In US.,iti, mythology it h.. be-.n po"ul~ed t h~ the di,·ine ..",mb ly
[
1Bull" ,
" So. "El". A bull.im",. i. u«<3 ' 0 de«ribe ,h. f,~u ... of El 'hrough ,he , i· tle I' ii, "Bull EI", KTIJ 1.1 iii 26, U Oi; 19. .. ,d L I~ ; 23,
n
MEMBERSIlJPOF LESSER DEmES
[
oIiyjfll>'l
F " "'r~ :1>1 qr .·lps [ )
[ [
,h< Migh'~""'" !WI, ) Pnn"," Yarih. l Ko~h ..... nd.H.si,.,. l ) Rohnu)·". Pnn« R<
~Iher<...
Viroll .. ud unde"', n'" th. l1St t
,h,
LE5-IER DEITIES
th., the d
,,,,,h.
""nj«'u", ;n It"!!",en,,,,!, ,ex,", ~ G, R. Dri" et (19106; 37); th;rd ' h"",I", ~ G,.y ( I %~>; IS) . • G"'1 (1%-1>; SS). ~ G; b",n (1978; 91 n. 2), " Herdnet (197 ~ , S3~; >nd d . n. f}"m ,ttadtt", ~ De Moo,-.spronk (198!b; I ~~); >Iso, de Moo, (1987; !O~) , Cf. de Moo~ Sptook (198h 171), "il;' p"'~ b l< to replx, mull ipl.,>l;,'« by ~onple e>rd;· ouI tlu",bo,," ;" Akk __ H,b" MId At. o, 0. :\100' (1987; lOS" . ~7).
·,h,
M EMBERSIlJPOF LESSER DEmES
knotty re l.. ion.J 51 ructure of th e hegemony of th e Ugarit ic pantheon in some isomorphic graph,". They differentiate bet ... ..,n the compli. <.. ed hierarchical 5lructure of th e Ug" itic I"'nth
m
LE5-IER DEITIES
coni ng e>eh othor in triad,"'" ,ince the 'chief" goo., in adv.nc., .,ri,-e in p,lirs (KTU 1.15 ii 1-6). However, it i. not <e,uin whet h« the 'chief" goo. h ..-e .,ri,-. d in p,lin bec~~", of the f~enu,y n>ture of the US.,iti, ublet •. Apparently, the ph,.,., 'dl ilm 11th might be tr.n. l>ted ."he .... ..,mbly 01 the goo., iu Triple" indi(~ting th", divine gu"" .r< coming from the whole trip. ni .. p.ntheon"' in .. much ....11 i" membe ... .,. probably invohd by Ke .... to ' Pl"'"r .. the m.,-,i"'l\e ["'tini. Ho,,-· ever, it i. bettor unde",ood in the con .. xt ... ~ moving formAtion 01 the "..",mbly of the goo.' by th,<=. A, Marg.!it ""id, the 'ill Um .. thi> pl""e could be identified ~ • • nonymou. "I",,,,," deiti., fo, the high« goo. who h.d ~,ri,-ed in .dv.nce,
'" M''!l;li, (1'f6 l~ ,, 2)_ ~ 'In ,hi, poin,. UI_ -It m.y be under<",od ... p""""i., pronomitul ,ul·
fix_
MEMBERSIlJPOF LESSER DEmES
[. r mgy 'iiI ilm
[Aft"jo.·w'" ,he =mbly 01 ,he goill .,.riv«l'" (KTU 1.15 ii II).
It ",em. prob.bl. th~t their arri,-al nter ~II the higher gods rep"" ""n" the ir "mk .. the lowe" level .ub;":", demonstrating their .ul>. """,ient statu. undo< the ,up",me god. and the I"Condary god. in t he d ivine .,.. mbly. Therefore their march following the higher god. moy '-'gnify t he ir Ie"", , a tus .. divine ..,i,un" Of . . rvito" t o the higher
''''"
Another inter ..ting issue concern. the privilege of the l ....r gods to h ie.. , mort.!. It ~ m. ",·ident t h.. t he right to hi"" 0 mort"! be· long' even to the I.... r deiti... After """'i ng , b""'luet fo r the god., Keret i. blessed by t horn;
KI 10 ,he p"" iou> Jines i,;'
-.ft."",.... "
-.ft,,-,
fo,
,h. f."".
,es,
'" Ug. mt» '0 · ,u"h, oom., "rive ", UTS 19.1 S20, DUL S33. For p<>«ibl. "ogn>' «, d . H.b . ~ .~ (DCH S, 434-12); Ph. '"I' (DNWSI 675), Akk. m
,h.
i'
LE5-IER DEITIES
IbN: ilm li<)' tit)' ilm I ahlhm dr ill m!lltlhJo!
The god< bl<=d'" {h i", ."dj weo, "'; ,he rods ... eo, to ,hei, "OlS'''; ,he (f.",ily) ,;",k of [ Ito 'hei, .bOO«'"
(KTU US.,i Ir_9). M""Jon..Jd "" igIl< a I;,t 01 the god, in KTU !.I5 ii 1-6 (Bull l [l~ B:ul, Prine< Moon, Kothor,.nd.lhri" R.hrruy, .nd Prine< R.,hef) to the -third p.n of t he cong ... ~ion of t he god,- and heli.v., th. y .... the one< who hi. " Kern''', In the Ug.ritic tex", how<\'", th .... i, no "",ntion of the ",con, d",y god, h»"ng <<>operat. d to bl= • mon.l. If fual h.. not panic;, pated in the bl."ing, cth .. "'mndory god, m.y not ruv< Jon, so . i, th .. lor he i. r
form of ,h, UK. ,Ibrk, '0 "bl<.. ", DUL l37 01). Ci.
H,b. T": ' HALOT IS9-60, Ph .. Puo., ,"d A, ,,,,, brt DNWS/ 198_l0l; Akk. t,1robu; AHw 44S-6; CAD Il[K1 19!-8, ~' The}. pI. fom, of Ug. ,I',w, to "ron", go", Tropp<' (l QOC, 658); DUL In. Ci. Heb. ~ "" (0' M""), HALOT 101, A<>",. '1)-, DNWSl O}6. The "rm denot« ,he dep-'"ur< of ,h, gOO, from ,he K" .. ', ho u", toward< ,heir OW" r<, id
n,,,,,,.
,h,
'rg"'"
",,,,,,,,,i<
v""'"
=,
,h,
MEMBERSIlJPOF LESSER DEmES
c.n ble" people with child",n. No other g<>
'" U,. 1M, Ih, p..... pI<. f. fom, of Ih< U,. ,llbI. '" "dr.. ~ ",..>t, pu, on doth",,', DUL 4n. '" It ;, I,..,,,l,,,d ;n. iu";," mood Wym (2002, 171). '" Th. G . 3. rtUS<. pl. form of Ih. Ug. ,I","" \0 """,nl'h.n. bks,-, AI· Y>
>l"'"
LE5-IER DEITIES
m.)" ,I>< ""''''''"g'''' ''' 01 ,I><
h..""" ",oJ (you) 'tr
Th. t<xt h.. ~n r.~ v. riomly, mlal ,mm tm,,:1>1 mil 1mm tlal, "h.,,'. nl)" m.""nge" l.ft, he ..·.nly ro)"'1 princ", .. nt""', or Im,;:hl mil, "pui...",u "'ni, Ie prine<, I. roi"' ~, 0' ,mm tm,:1>1 mil, 1m", ,Ial ~I amT ''', Howev,", it i, more prob. bl. th.. the mJal ,mm/ml<JDl rmm~' are u ken he", ., the .ub j.cr, 01 two ,'erb., 11al: and ImT. 11m, the .uppooed third line al"",., ml<JDl 1m", ,Ial ~I, be<:om", mo", <Xplic.b le when it i, seen a. the p.,..U
Wy.tt (2:lO2, 111). It i, .1", pt<"", Rin (1%8; xl;), de MOO<' (1980b, 3CO), to "lo,,;ly' , de Moor (19gr, 140 .00 n. 1!); Je Moor,';pron k (198r, IS2); d. '0 "dd,nd", Goroon (1949 , S2) . For diff,,,,", ",;dings, ... "'0 dri," "",", P• .-.lee (19rS>; 2Sr ""d n. 52), to "1<>_,", del Olmo (191 L 491, 1984b, 99); d k, lol lo"'in~ ,h, p""'io"" oolon , de Moor (1980b, }::.I); CARTU 58; LIo)·J (1994, 280); ..,d Wy>t, (2002, In). It m.y b< h>pk'!;"p hy. '" Th, fo", ,lem,n, 01 ,he ",," i, d>.m"!;eJ. CTA ,,;d, i, ><'1. "de,," (DUL 889); Y" ;, ""''''' ""be, '0 be 1,>1, fono ... in~ KTU'·'; ,hu~ -Il",n!,h, vigou," (DUL lS9 [ID; d . H,b. c"", ~." . '" Del O lmo (198 L 493, 1984 0' 99); dol Olmo·s.,"rtUt!ln (1004 , 48!). '" Caquot (1989, 26) . A=.-.lin~ '0 him, ,h, ,ub;":' of ,he v.,.b (1 . f. .g.) ;, An .. . Cf. ~uot (1978, 18), - pu........ u bOn;, I, pouv";, du mi". "'CPUr86, lllS. '" Cf. O' ~:::! l" ;n.~ ' 7"~, at G.n !!.II, ",'h,,,, ,h, ,Ie"",", ;n..,. J'
[1»-
MEMBERSIlJPOF LESSER DEmES
"
On th, other lund, Rin ,ugge", th>! US, !I!h at KTU l.lS ii 7 m.y po>.ibly ",fer to "B,.I', co mp. nion, or sw.rd,· , compmnS it> H,b . cognate r=-'::::i, "hi. li""ten.m'" or ' hi, r",inue" ~; th, Heb. =-'::;:;
The >!ruC1ur< of th, divin, .... mbly m.y con .. in th, >O(ia.politic.1 hi, ,,rch y in.. much ", in Ug ..itic religion, the divin, ",,,,mbly reflect,
'" Rin (1% 8, xl~. '" Brown.Dri.,,..Brigg' (BDB 1026) contend , h" ,he ::"c,= inruc..., • king', "1"'rso,u1 "" ••hn," 0< 'mili.. ry oIf"'''"' '" Wy.u, (2002, 190 n. 62; .1"", d . 185 • .lS). The •• ,.,., duriot ..... . ,w,"wh",,)ed I'
d<1,,,,, 1>,,,
LE5-IER DEITIES
a political i""'logy de,-eiop«! within t he hum .n .... Im "·, Handy cI:". , iii .. the divine :membly in four group, on the b",i, of . modem eri ..· rion : "authoritati,-. deiti ..• (EI >lid A,h.r.rn [A t hi "'-t~, · :>eti,-. deitie,· (B. aI, Anat , Mot , and Sheme>h/Sh"!,,hu); · . rti»n Jeiti,,· (Kothar.w •. H.,i" er ~I,): . nd ·m.... nger d. iti ..• (ml<1km} "·. Yet , the position of Athi r.. i, not cI • • rly a"e>t. d ... rueh .n ex· alted o n. in th e Ug_uitie ,"XI>, although ,he appe'" . , the m<>ther godde» of the god., ,uch . , B.. I, M<>t," al, AI"" there seem, to be no great dillerence bet",""n ani .. n deiti .. and m.»< nger de iti ... A, .n altern" i,-., th ey may be . 11 group«! int o ·I..ser deiti..• or ·", ryant deit i.. " in the hi. ",-"hic.1 di" i.ion. Beside,. the rol .. ol l.""r deiti.. apf""r more v.. iowly , 21.3.
Hier~rt:hic"}
SmJCm", oft"" Dj,i " " A "".'mbly in Four Le,-<'ls
A, '. n . Iternativ. , the "ruotu ... 01 the divine "''''mhly can be '....mged. with ",nk. di>tingui.hed .unong the deiti ... into lour level," ': the . u· premo god (EI). core-invol ved "",onWry god. (Bu.1, Y. m, Mot, et ,d.). ot her periphe",1 sec<> nd. ry god. (Koth.Hnd.H .. i" " al.). and other .nonymou, le""r deiti .. ",ho serve the higher god,. Among th. m ,orne .pee ial I.... r deiti ... who .. own epithet. a re gi,'en, m.y be di .. tingui.hed fro m other ordinary I..",r deiti ... Th ... ent iti .. ma)- be ... latM, p"',ihly, to th e arch""gel, in the H.b ...", Bibl., perhap. '" their prototype. ,,. C/. Mull<" (I9"lL 11 ~ ) : H .. ldy (19"1~ : 65} h i, unde,,, .. ,ili", of ,h. 'p,omh"'o ... bu".u,,,",y' p,,,,,uPf'O'<' • hi.",chic.1 ""'''u''' , AI"" d , '«'y'" (19"18b: J l _1) , '" s.. H ... dy (1m, 19"1~) , Cf. wy.tt (1001: 10/; n, lJ.6). '" Th. ""nv.rbal inJic.ton ., w.1I ",h. elo<e""" 01 ,h. dei,i« to ,h. ilivin. ,h,,,,,. in ,he oo>mic <emre m.y be 'ugge"ed h.,.., .. tbe "it
,h.
toOO ,
MEMBERSIlJPOF LESSER DEmES
Summ.ry
The h'.",reh',a! structur. of the Uga"t;, div' ne .,,,,mbl)' h", been proposed by mo" co mmenutor.l commonly to ,om." of th,..,.. 1"".1, 0' by Ihndy four group. (namely, .ut ho,;ut','e d.' t'''' octtve ""'t'''' n tood ., fou r I. vel., ... ith hi ... rehic'] rmks d t.. ingui,hod .mong t he deiti. " >c. t he . upreme god (El), who h.. the <<»JIli, divine ktng.hip; co,.. inmked >«o nd god> (y.m, B..I, Mot, .. a/.), who are rehted d"", r to the di· vine k ing'hip, p
;ut'..
2.2. R.nk< of o.,itie. in ,he Divi .... As .. mbly in ,he Ug>r;lic T exts 2.2.1. Sup,,-'me God
EI app<ar, ., t he divine king of the h.. v.nly court. Smit h "Y' ,h.. nonverb.1 indic1tor>, 'he p,ttern, of "1\,eI by dei,i", .nd thei, prom .. tion before oth., goo" indtc ...... nk .mong 'he goo, in the divine .,.. mbly'~, to thi> point, £1 can be 'egmkd., the supreme god in t he divine ·. ,,,,mbly bec.u", he never ,,,,vel, to :my ot her goo, wh.re ...11 the god, t",vel to hi, .bod<, nor 00., h. p'y hom>ge, or mae. pi.. to othel1l "'. In the Ugaritic "''', EJ i> undemood .. the · u ltim ..... u· '" M. S. Smith (1984). In ,h. H,b"w \"'~ • g<""" 01 "bending 0""· (~"'n:~). ;n ,h, """'n.L.ry >tn .. , dtnot" -'" m ;\uci< of ,,,,,,,,;nx or g;v;n, bon,. '0 o
LE5-IER DEITIES
thority ,n the c",mo"' ~; he rul.. ,n he"'en on the mounu,n of the d,v,ne . ",mbly; h< mai< .. proc!.m"'om to oth .. de 't '" '''' 2.2.2. Core-;nmked Second Gods
Some SKondary god, . r< pm't,oned do.
f.", n, mounu;n,' .'" "",p«" of ,II< 0"" «m ...1 ,,,,m;, ",oom.;n·, S..,hon, In. ,,''''''' of ,h, wodd . Cf. Wym (1'1%, 17.~8). '" l 'H.ur
',i
'" A,.
"PP<""!o
MEMBERSIlJPOF LESSER DEmES
In the .pisod. 01 the b,nquet >t l>lount Saphon'~, lor imunc., the I""'ition olB:u1 m,y indic, ,. hi> .,nk in the divine " .. mbly, (KTU Udl).
Although there i. no direct m. ntion 01 Ug. b, ·ch . ir· , in the n.r· ..tiv., it i, not unu,a.1 to rei.. to the po.ition 01 the hoot ., the b.n.
"' ]" >!,."UI< ,i!l, i. ,'" kr is, 'Moon, Th",,,," (KTU Ll iii 12 ; >!"'. 1 IM .D . 2e; OIl '''' "ymologie.1 .!tg"'" in",<>tingly
>
0'"
LE5-IER DEITIES
GUct.., being ",.,ecl on the ch.ir or the
Hi •• uppo",d .iuing po.ition;' di"ingui.hed from BOlaI'. >tanding po>ition. A ".nding PO"u" ('md, qwm) ""'y indicate one'. I..",r .. nk. Gruber .. gu .. th ... deity' •• unding po"ure exp""" "'lu,] "atu. I>
text '~ .
Thu. it i. more oreept . bl. th .. BuJ .... . ,.. nding up in order to "xpr= hi •• ubord inAte .. nk'''; it would be the cor",'" pi",. fo r him., • prince, n<xt to th" cosmic kin g ,iltmg 0" the tbro,,,, in the cent", of the ... orld"'. It ;, obvious .I"" th" Athun and An .. .. w
";"i",
'" MOf
X."''''
M EMBERSIlJPOF LESSER DEmES
2.2.3. Periphew Sft:ond Gods
Even if the gods in the .. me .. nk do not p. y hom.ge to on. m other"' , in ,.,me '''' ', gods not ·(Qre·involvro· in the divine conflicts for the th ro ne p. y hom. ge to the ·
Le."", Dei fieS II"ho s",w
,he Highe, Deifie,
Th. deit i.. who ~",. th . .. high .. nking gods I>
,<x,
Krug
1""''''''''' ..
"
LE5-IER DEITIES
CoNCLUSIOSTO CHA PTER I, PART I
Th. memb.clJ ip of the I.."" dei,;.. in the divine ..",mbly in the Ug_ ,. ,iti, , <x";' unde",ood in collea;v. Ug.,;.ic noum « .g., i/I!!, dr iI . dr dl 1mm .
Biblic"'! Hobrew ,ef.renc.. info,m u, that the ... ..e some fonru of di· ,- ine being' ot her th:rn y.hweh who ue n:cogni...,J" hi, · 1...., dei· ti.,· "'. l'lenee, >orne collecti,.., Hebrew noun, corrohor>te the plur.1 conception of divi neligun:" : t)~N 'J:: '" (C'~~II 'J:: ', or c' =v"' , . tc , Th ... te,m, denote the "I .."" doiti.," in th e divine .,.. mbly, In th;, p.:trt, the "udy will expl.nn ",me collecti ve Ihbn:w terIm ",·hieh indude '1 .."" deiti.," , nd thei, pl""e with in the hi... rchic.1 divine ... ",mbly, Some ", Iected hiblic,1 Heb ... w de:IC,iptiom which rev ..1 the hier.rch ic"'! structure of the divine »5<mbly will be inve"ig.>wl.
p,,,
", Th, def.ni,ion of -I."", deKY' i" II ..-ill be"..r,o< be ,h. ",m. def.ni,ion "I'phed pt
'''1''''''"'
MEMBERSIlJPOF LESSER DEm ES
1. TIll! HEBREWTITI..ES OF LESSER D EITIES
The n"e~"h will mrvey ",me Heb«w "rm, "eee".ry h.,e to mn· firm the plunlity of divino h
Whilst Ug.ritie I""er doeiti .. . r< identified» "god," (ilm) "', the urn< idoentifie .. ion i. seen po"ibly in the Heb",,.. Bible. The Hebrew noun C ';-;~K ;, employed
Th. text
",...n,
.
"C,._ -- - " ••..-" "•...HH • • .~
.
. , •••• • -- ,.. . -
~. _
--.-~ .. "
" ' ' ' .....
~ ..L . . . . _
-
•• . , . . ..L . . . ... _ -, '"
-~ .".
;,., ~
For Goo ' ~ k""w. ,h.., in ,he d>.y yoo "" from i" ,h,n your ey" ,h.1I b< op<noJ, ..>
U iii 31, 1.15 iii 19, 1. 17 i 1· 3, <<<~ ' P. US, I. e<e . M' ! s..m 4.8 """"rib« """" :" "M~ ~."""~ , ·,h, .. mighty lock"; ,hu., it deno"" 'Y>h "'oh ond his
m"",
LE5-IER DEITIES
Tn th i, p=,,!\e, the .. rm : ·.rN m.y ref., to plur..l "god. oth., th.n the , up",me god It occu" twic. h.",. th e fim o ne indiw .. Y.hweh, au"'te·il. Hence, th.y . r< .bl. to m.ke • d . .. di"inc
..• - ................ " ,," . ~ .. -~"' I~ "
'" . ~
0'"
. ,.
l'- .. . -'- • .• - --,-" ~ .". " ". ~- -
",.," plu,ol' , Kau"t.>
MEMBERSIlJPOF LESSER DEmES
For like ,h< """""ng" o/Goo, '" i, my lord ,h. king to he,.'" ,h. good ""d ,h«vil
(2 S.m I f.Pb); Bu, my Io,d i, wi«, like ,he .,.i.oo", 0/ ,he kno ... >II'" ,h" j, i" ,h. "nh
""'''''"g<' 0/ God. ' 0 (2
s""
l UOb) ,
King D.vid i, r
-god.-. In the me:rntime. Ug.ritic 1<»<, goo, "I'p. rtntiy = m to br ",. "ri<1od in their knowledg •. Thei, di",.rnment on ",me matte" 'ppe." in the broken w""
'" The ~.,,: m.y h< """.b,ed >I", ei,h<, .. "to cii"",,"" (NASB, NRSV, NIV; ASV, KJV) 0' ,,"to u,>d
"""i<m,
'" Ne"",,,, (1991; 249) ,
LE5-IER DEITIES
[ [ [ [ [
)hII' '" hI hl", '" Ji!iJlyi'I!nU
(oomethin& '''J ·,h.. Son. of EI do no< '"
kno ... • (,h ..) ,he ,,,,,,,mbly of SUr> (do nO!
Jo!ir tihm
11' iii , ..'"
k"o... ~ (du,) ,I>< oi,d. of ,ho", of ,I>< h""-",,, (do JlO( know] (KTU U Q i 1_5) ,
Parker in'"'Pret' th" , h. "m. n"on of An" .nd B..I in 'h" im· mMia," [broken ] con,"xt suggest< th.. th • .., ' wo m.y .h". th" knowl· «lge deni«l to the hn i/o,,,. The b" ii, 1",,11.1«1 wi,h two other col> in the folio",ing lin"" ,uPP"'" the id .. th.. they .", m" mb
,h"
I",,,,,
,h"
(1987, .6) ,...,0'" th" dU"'g
,,. P"k" (19'/'k; 795) , ,,, It i ~ ho..,,,,",,. di {fi,uit to ,"oon","", hQW ,h" ' ...0 higl><' .l
MEMBERSIlJPOF LESSER DEmES
,...
co,dingly, the me:rning of the «xt ;, tum N neg.>tiv
Th u" the I."", deiti« in the H.b,ow Bible ... exp",ssed ., being omni«i.nt m d . bl. to diKun good md .vil, •• they . .. "god.' them· ",h'''' ... hil" the Ug.ritic I"", deiti", . '" ",,,,icwl in th. i, c'p""ity of knowlNge. Th ... "",iou. desc'iptio", evid.ntly ,uppon the f= th., the 5
The text .. ~k
y ~ you h.. «
lo ~' , r<J '"
him li"l, th.>n god,.
r. 8, r,., lET S.s.J"' . 1", .uppon. the view t h.. the «,m C':1':oN (:1) ,ef." to "divine being" h)' it..lf, !>c. "the membe" of the h..venly court of Yohweh .. ~. H.b , 1:';+;11::: un be "'~ her. . . "from god,'"' rnher th"" " "from COO" " '; h. nc. it m.k .. much d .."" the m.. ning 01 the text . wh ich t:ok .. Cod '" t he . ubject of the verb ''', LXX unde"unru t he I"t term of the ph..... In thi, "e",.. ion" ps. lm ,. it "PP'"''
"n<J.oot; "'.
H
~
" ' Wri", (I%l, 1~4) . ,.. Cf. Gibson (1998, l ~ l ) . '" A. A. Anderson (19r20 (1 1 lOll . Thu._ 'huv,,,]y beinp' (NI\!); '>n. !
LE5-IER DEITIES
. vid.nt th .. the .!Mu. of t he I"",r deiti .. i. h igher th~ n th .. of mor_ 101., ~Ithough glory . nd ho nour .re given to t he m (8.6b) '~. 1.I.J. P,aJ", 82 1 Th. opening v..... of p, 8! impli., t he ..,me >ett ing; God ,,>till"';n mbly of goJ~ ,' . _ .,..L . . • ",'" ;n ,h. mid$! 01 god, '" he iudV'_ . " • • ~ '" - y -
,h. ",..
Th. =;or i!y of comm< nt.ton ",fer t o the fim C';-:~K in v. b {>.!"" in v , 8) '" y . hweh " ' to di>t ingui,h it from th e ..cond on. in v. l b (. I"" in v , 6), who"" identity h.. been interpret«l Hriou>ly; suc h .. l.~lite judg.. "' , or king, of Ju.w.!I,~I"·; or ruler> of ot her notiom'''; o r "god'- other t h= Y. hweh'" (
,.. !~C=:." .,.,~, "':: ' . "and (w;,h) ~Iory."d hooour you Iu." cro ... ""d h ;m ' _ ,,, Th. N. 1"<- 'C. fo,m ol,h< ,1;:.".. !o "."",," (d_ HA LOT 71~_5, ::>J), ind;c"., ~' ''''M u«d . , • ';ngull'
,n", ,h.
,h,
;,
,h.
!h. =·~",, _
'" Thu" Morgen""n (1939 , 1'/ n_ 1; oi,;n~ "'".. <,;,ie" Ch,yn" s...,h· K'n!, Benhokt, K;ml, Gun k,l.>nJ KOn;g); Gonlll .. (1%3; 1'/3), T«v>l (1%9; 116); A. A. Ande""n (1972; (11593); H<>I lod.>y (1993 , ~8); Parker (1995; 533 n. ~); and WY'!l (19%; 35!, 3,9) _It;. «pl:oin«lrogently ,h.., ,h, :.~"" i, u«
MEMBERSIlJPOF LESSER DEmES
But the ph=logy _m, to m,h . xplicit u... ge of the =ond C';-;~I< as "goo." .ince C';-;~I< : y : i, p."II
Mor"",'er, it m>y be "id that I:~Iccording to Morson"ern, the ph,..,., ;, ",lated to the NR5V, NJB,.oo NJPS ; ,he 'divine bei"p". Ci. G. E. W,ilh, (195Ct )1 _1), ,he ·p.uron .ngel, of ,he ""io ..", K"u< (1988_9; [1) 151-6). ,,, N iehr (1987) . ,.. M. S. Smi,h (1001, lU). ,.. 0" • .... mbly·. ~' Seybold (1m 136). Morgen"e
.
LE5-IER DEITIES
' No nn Semitic' (Ug. ritic) np,..,,,ion of El'. council. in ", hi." hi> .ux_ ili..;='Ii
r<;..cr the interpr
"gods", Con"'1uently
C~N ~K n"'t~\ the "divine .... mhly·; the -.".,mbly of EI'; or t he ....
..,mbly of goo." (v. I), C'''~K , "gods" (vv. Ib, 6), .od 11'''~ .:~. "iOn> of Elyon" (v. 6) >r • •11 regml
(1939 , 39 n.ll). Mo,!,nmm (ilmL 19_1 26) .1<0 '"WO"" ,h ot , h< '''' 01 p, 82 i, originot
MEMBERSIlJPOF LESSER DEmES
lienco Y>hweh i, >landing in t he ..... mbly (w hich i> unu,u. 1 in the generu C.He' of judg"', who ,it when th. y judge) ""d thm it c. n h< s..lid th,,, y . hweh i, not pr"'iding over the divine coumil; he i, origi. n. ll y > moordin,,. deity in EI', ,m . mbly "'. Howe",r. thi, i, denied by Wy ... t for two re.HOn" 1) y . hweh i,. "sout hern p.I."ini.n form of EI''''; and 2) "the pi.. th ... y.hweh , hould .ri.. (~' :l7N '"'":1j', v. 8) impli .. th ... h. i. not .Ire.>
'" P.,k" (19'6 536-1)
i,
i,.
==
"
LE5-IER DEITIES
coune,] . 1", mH<>pond, to the Ug.n"c god Er. p' e>iding OV
They .n not koow, M ' ".~. " ", >nd lh
,~-r
,=,,,,,.
~ :=r'"
In d..o,kn= ,hoy ",>Ik " ",k and fo"h~'; >ll lou"do,ion. of lh, .. n" . '" Gu;kin&.
It inform. m th ... t he >ccusM deiti .. . r< running .bout in confu_ .ion"'. Th. r
'" C", .. (1973, 186_'IO) I"'i"" ou' ,h., ,he Cou,,
,u.," ...
"
,h,
T>
MEMBERSIlJPOF LESSER DEm ES
the ordor of the wh ole world"' ; the .."h, in f<>ct, i, fo unded upon ju.. tice(kl 28. 16j. At . n y CIte. the p.. lm m.y .Ilow m in"rp .... tion in « rm. of .n Ug.ri.ic polythoi"ic'" setting. Th. h ior.rchy of .ngelic powor in t he "x, m..y ,how. tr.n, ition'!
re~,,,
:.~""
, : " ,.".,::;, p,."" r>."'" you....I... to hin,. >11god<'
Th. "rm ~';'~II 'Pl""" .g>in here in • context of :odo""ion of Y..hw.h. The term ev idently denOl .. plu,,1 beings fo r it uke • • plur.1 "orb (Vln r,::;,)"'. It may indic . .. the f.!", "god. who h,ve been judged ,umeJ . rou"d [," ,he eJn.h 01 (KTU U vi 3_5)_
,h, «')o1,h1.
(to) ,he «!ge 01 , he "",.do","
,->!
'" T .. (1%9, 1!8.oJ n. 15)_ '" CI, ,he oom men< 01 Ro ... ley (1%7 , 151) 0"' . 1 01 ,he J">lm , Ylh.,eh is · Oo\e 01 m>JlY gods ."d i, i, uoJoubteJ , ... , ""hind , he "'lip"" 01 1,....,1 Ii«
poly,h'ism "_ ,,. Mo'ge"mm (1939, II~); ..-.d W)'", (1m, 11), "The wo rld envi»g
LE5-IER DEITIES
.. , ~~~ , "idol"''', or >< " 7N, "im ufficiency, won hl= nes,· "'. in v. 7,"'; thus. it h.. ""en reg.rnl.ed .., "" ·ironic.:l ch:tllenge> to the f.:l", goo.m. Howeyer, LXX interpret, it >< "me""nge,,", mil'I<, 0; oin'- J.o< ",,-:ou. "All hi, m=nge,,>m. which m,y pre,upl'<"" r ;-;' K ' : . ThUl the phr= m. y "" be" unde",ood >< the int erpretnion th .. the ps, lm. i" urge, le.",r deitie, to ~ore the divi ne sovereignty of th e true god Y>hweh, , fter judging the wo"h ippe" of idol.; hence it m,y be in· ten&'! to connote th e rm k of other :·.rN (~TI"J.o<) .ubordin .. e to the . bsolute C';-;'K. In , ny c .... , th e :';-;~N he", "" idend y denot .. the plu,..] "god.> other th.n th e ,upreme ' god" Y>hw
Th. doxologi ,.:I text ",. ds,
.... .. ... ~
,~' ~
..:. ~
~' '' ~
,~
Sefo", goo. I pui .. you ,
In the .. tting of.n exolt.. ion of Y, h",eh, it to more unJe",,,,,d· , hie to "'" the C';-;' K os I..,.r "gods" of Yohweh ,.thor tn"" .. other
". BDB 82D; HALOT9.~ . lbe -~"veo ;m>g< of," ;00 1' , GHCLOTSI.S • . "' HALOTSS..,. H' =.r,.~K: : '''''''rI>~ 7:0 ';:~ ~: '::~'. 'AlI ",'ho.re """';"' !v.ven) ;m>g«') be ..1u,n<J; tho« "'ho.,,, .,..>ding wotth!." ;dol,". D' Sc' ogg;" (1978, 286). m Cf. "d;vin< b<;"p" (NJI'S) ; other [o.o