THE UGARITIC BAAL MYTH CAT 1.

4 VII TRANSLATION, TRANSLITERATION

AND ANALYSIS

Presented to Dr. Richard Averbeck

of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Deerfield, IL

In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for
OT 7630
Ugaritic

By
Talmadge Lee Gerald III

May 11, 2015

 Translation Layout

[Line number]:

[Line in Ugaritic Characters]

[Transliteration of line into English Characters] – [Transliteration with Vocalization]

[Final Translation of Line]

Notes: [Notes on the line including: parsing of words, Semitic cognates, and comparison
of translations]

  1
 CAT 1.4 VII

Notes on lines 1-6: the lines are following the great banquet Baal gave for the children of
Athirat. Lines 1-6 are however badly damaged. The text makes references to Baal
and Yamm. Smith argues that the important conclusion that can be drawn from
the narrative is that “we can say with assurance that Baal’s concern about
Yamm’s threat to his well-being, voiced in his explanation for the refusal to allow
Kothar to install a window in the palace is resolved in this passage.”1

1:

]iqni[m…]

]ˀiqnˀi[m…] -- […ˀi]qniˀī[ma]- the first “i” is only identifiable by context

“…]lapis lazu[li]…

Notes: The word for lapis lazuli is the only word preserved in the first line. In the
previous column it is one of the materials for Baal’s new palace. >ˀiqnˀu n. m.
“lapis lazuli” (Akk uqnû) (Grk κιανος “kyanos”)

2:

aliyn.b[l

]ˀalˀiyn.bˀl – ˀalˀiyānv baˤlv

…mightiest Baal

Notes: A common epithet of Baal. From the root “’al’iyanu” meaning “all conquering,”
or “victorious.”

3-4:

k.mddil.ym

[ ]k.mddil/y[m] -- …mêdadv ˀili yammv…

…the Beloved of EL, Ya[mm]…

Notes: Common epithet of Yamm. But this epithet may be reffering to Baal still seening
the context of the next line. >mdd D-stem passive participal “maddadu” (BH
medad).

                                                                                                               
1
Smith/Pitard 658.
 
2
Smith/Pitard 658.
 
  3
“he goes from town to town” Pardee 262. 2
4:

lZr.qdqdh

[ ]lżr.qdqdh/ -- …lê-żari qadqadi-hu…

… on top of his head.

Notes: Some scholars argue that line 2-4 are describing the finale of Baal’s fight with
Yamm in which he deals the final blow.2 It is reminiscent of 1.2 IV 24-25 “it (the
weapon) struck the head of Prince Yamm.” >qdqd (BH ‫ קדק‬Akk. Qaqqadum.)
>zaru plus ti prep. /li-za/ “on top of” (BH ‫)סהר‬.

5:

il rxq.bGr

ˀil[ ]rḥq.bġr/ – ˀilv….raḥāqv bi-ġāri…

El/the god[s}… departed from the mountain…

Notes: >rhq G-stem “to be distant” (BH rahaq) After the l in “il[ ]” is broken so it is
assumed that the plural [m] is there referring to the gods depending on the context
of the second verse. >ġar “mountain” (BH ‫)הר‬

6:

km.y ilm.bzpn

km.y[ ]ˀilm.bṣpn – kama […]ˀilvma bi- ṣapāni

When the gods [x-ed] on Sapan.

Notes: the “km” is ambiguous. It could be the preposition for “when” or it could be the
emphatic k partial with the enclitic m. Smith and other go with the temporal
function of km. The verb for the line is not preserved.

Baal’s Victory Tour

7-8:

[b(!)r.l[r].[rm
Db.lpd[r.p]drm

                                                                                                               
2
Smith/Pitard 658.
 

  3
 ˤb(!)r.l[ˤr].ˤrm/ --ˤabara lê-[ˤîri] ˤarīma
ṯb.lpd[r.p]drm/ --ṯāba lê-pad[ri pa]darīma

He crossed to [the chief] city,

He turned to the [chie]f town.3

Notes: “It is theoretically possible that the verb is active and not passive, especially in
view of the following bicolon.”4 >’br G-stem “to cross, travel, pass” (BH ‘br Chr
30:10). >t[w]b G-stem “to return, go/come back” (BH swb). >’r (BH ‘ir “city”)
>pdr is unknown but assumed to be “town/village” considering the similar use in
the Khirta Epic and also considering the poetic parallel structure.

9-10:

DD.lttm.axd.r
Sb[m.Sb[.pdr

ṯṯ.lttm.aḫd.ˀr/ -- ṯiṯṯi lê-ṯiṯṯima ˀaḫada ˤîra

šbˤm.šbˤ.pdr/ -- šibˤīma šabˤi padarīma

Sixty-six (surrounding) cities he seized,

Seventy-seventy towns

Notes: >ˀr (BH ‘ir “city”) >pdr is unknown again. >’hd G-Stem (BH ‘ahaz) ‘to grasp,
seize, take hold. >šbˤ “seven” (BH ‫)שבע‬

11-14:

Dmnym.b[l
Ts[m.bl.mr
[b ]bb[l.bqrb]/
bt

ṯmnym.bˤl[ ]/ -- ṯamāniyīma baˤlu…

tsˤm.bˤl.mr[ ]/ -- tašˤsīma baˤlu…
ˤb[ ]bbˤl.bqr[b]/bt – [ˤara(?)]ba baˤlu bi-qiri bêti

Eighty Baal (lords?)…

Ninety Baal (lords?)…
Baal [ent]ers (?) in the house.

Notes: >mrr G-stem ‘to drive out’ ‘to pass through’ (BH ‫ )?מרר‬this is under the
assumption that the m in the poetic text are not enclitic. If they are not enclitic,
then the verbs depict how Baal is going through each city. He may not just be
                                                                                                               
3
“he goes from town to town” Pardee 262.
4
Smith/Pitard 649.

  4
 going through on a victory procession, but he may be conquering the surrounding
cities by force. Smith’s finished translation has additions to it:
(With) eighty lords of tr[oops?],
Ninety lords of cha[ri]otry,
Baal [ente]rs into the house.5
>ˤrb G-stem ‘to enter’ (BH ‫> )ערב‬bt “house” (BH ‫)בת‬

Baal Reverses His Decision

14-15:

wyn.aliyn
bl.

wyˤn.aliyn/bˤl[.] – wa-yaˤnî ˀaliˀyānu baˤlu

And Mighties baal spoke:

Notes: >ˤana G-stem ‘to answer, respond, say’ (BH ‫)ענה‬

15-16:

aStm.kDrbn
ym.kDr.bnm.[dt

ˀaštm.kṯrbn/ym. -- ˀašîṯu-mi kôṯari bini yammi

Kṯr.bnm.ˤdt – kôṯari bini-ma ˤidati

“I will install, O Kothar, Son of Sea,

Kothar, Son of Confluence:

Notes: >šyt 1cs prefix conjugation G-stem ‘to put, place, to deposit’ (BH ‫> )שית‬ˤdt
“denoting a meeting-point or confluence of the ‘Double-Deeps’ or Cosmic
Oceans.6 >ymm “Yam/Sea” (BH ‫)ימ‬

17-19:

yptx.xln.bbhtm
urbt.bqrb.hkl
m
yptḥ.ḥln.bbhtm/ -- yuptaḥ ḥillānu bi-bahatīma
ˀurbt.bqrb.[h]kl/m – ˀurubatu bi-qirbi hêkalīma

Let an aperture be opened in the house

                                                                                                               
5
Smith/Pitard 664.
6
Smith/Pitard 667.

  5
A window inside the palace.

Notes: >ptḥ prefix passive G “to open” (akk /pitû/) Context gives its passive nature since
Baal is the subject speaking to Kothar >ḥln “window, opening” >ubrt par- ḥln n.
“window, opening” >hkl temple (BH ‫)היכל‬

19-20:

wypth.bdqt.[rpt
[lhwt.Dr.wxss

wy[p]tḥ.bdqt.ˤrpt/ -- wa-[y/ˀip/tup]taḥ bidqata/u ˤurpāti

ˤlh[wt].kṯr.wḫss – ˤal ha[wati] kôṯari was ḫasīsi

So let a break in the clouds be [op]ened,7

According to the wo[rd of] Kothar wa-Hasis.”

Notes: >ptḥ prefix G “to open” >ˤrpt f n “clouds” (Akk erpetu, urpatu) (BH Ps 68:5
‫> )רכב ב ערפת‬bdqt “fissure, opening” (BH ‫‘ בדק‬a breach’ 2 Kings 12:6-9 and also
the verb meaning ‘to repair’) (Akk butuqtu)

21-22:

zxq.kDr.wxss
ySu.gh.wyzx

ṣḥq.kṯr.wḥss/ -- ṣaḥaqa kôṯaru wa-ḥasīsu

yšu[.]gh[.]wyṣḥ – yiššaˀu gā-hu wa-yaṣûḥu

Kothar wa-Hasis laughed,

*He raised his voice and exhorts (declares):

Notes: >shq G-stem 3ms ‘to laugh’ (BH ‫‘ יִסַק‬to laugh’) >nšˀ prefix G “to lift up” (Akk
na-aš-sa-a) (BH ‫> )?נשא‬nṣḥ prefix G “to exhort” (BH Lam 3:18 niṣḥî)

23-25:

lrgmt.lk.laliyn.b[l
DDbn.b[;
lhwty

lrgmt.lk.lˀalˀi/yn.bˤl.-- la-ragamtu lê-ka la-ˀalˀiyāni baˤli

tṯbn.bˀl/lhwty[.] – taṯubuna baˀli lê-hawati-ya
                                                                                                               
7
“As indicated by the vocalization, the third person active is possible, with bdqt as the direct
object. Another plausible reconstruction here is w[ip]th the 1st s active. In this case the line would read:
“And let me open a break in the clouds.”” – Smith/Pitard 649.

  6
“I truly told you, O mightiest Baal:
‘You will reconsider my word, O Baal.”

Notes: The jussive yqtl form is used followed by the prefix indicative yqtl. Smith writes
that this is a piece of delightful character composition where the Kothar says
something along the lines of “I told you so!”8 >rgm G 1cs “to tell, announce,
communicate” (Arm trgm) >ṯb G prefix 2ms “to return” perhaps used in this case
as “to reconsider” “think again” (See lines 7-8) >hwt n. f. “word, statement” (Akk
awātu) (BH ‫)הוה‬

The Window Is Installed

25-27:

yptx.x
ln.bbhtm
urbt
bqrb.hklm

yptḥ.ḥ/ln.bbhtm. – yuptaḥu ḥillānu bi-bahatīma

ˀurbt/bqrb.hk[lm.] -- ˀurubatu bi-qirbi hêkal[īma]

An aperture was opened in the house,

A window inside the palace.

  Notes: A repeat of 17-19 >ptḥ prefeix G “to open” (akk /pitû/) >ḥln “window, opening”
>ubrt par- ḥln n. “window, opening”

27-29:

yptx
b[l.bdqt.[rpt
qlh.qdS.b[l.ytn

[yp]tḥ/bˤl.bdqt[.ˤrp]t/ -- yiptaḥu baˤlu bidqata ˤurpāti

qlh.qdš[.]b[ˤl.y]tn – qāla-hu qudši baˤ[lu] yatinu

Baal opened a break in the clouds,

Baa[l] gave forth his holy voice.

Notes: >ptḥ prefix G “opened” >ˤrpt fn “clouds” (Akk erpetu, urpatu) (BH Ps 68:5
‫> )רכב ב ערפת‬bdqt “fissure, opening” (BH ‫ )בדק‬Akk butuqtu)
>ql “voice” (BH ‫> )קל‬qdš “holy, righteous” (BH ‫)קדש‬

                                                                                                               
8
Smith/Pitard 671

  7
30-31:

ytny.b[lzat .S pth
qlh.qdS .t r.arz

yṯny.bˤl.ṣ[at (?).š(?)]pth/ -- yaṯanniya baˤlu ṣi[ˀata ši]ptê-hu

qlh.q[dš(?).t(?)]r.arṣ – qālu-hu qu[dši] kapara ˀarṣa

Baal repeated the is[sue of (?)] his [li(?)]ps,9

His ho[ly (?)] voice covered (?) the earth,

Notes: >ṯny prefix G “to repeat” (BH ‫( )שנה‬Akk šanū) >ṣˀat “issue” (BH ‫> )צעת‬špth
“lips” (BH ‫( )צפה‬Akk šaptu) >Smith adds “kpr” even though there is no
representation of this verb in the text. (BH ‫ כפר‬Gen 6:14) >“his holy voice” is
understood to be his thunder.10

32-33:

qlhaGrm.txSn
rtqz Grm

ql[h ]v ġrm[.]tḫšn – qalv[hu ]ġārūma taḫuûšūna

rtq[ṣ? ġrm?] – rtq[ṣ? ġārūma (?)]

[At his] voice… the mountains trembled.

(The ancient [mountains?]…) (shook with fear),11

Notes: >ql See line 27-29 >ḫš prefix G “to tremble” (BH ‫( )חוש‬Akk ḫâšu) >rtq12

34-35:

qdmym
bmt.arztTTn

[…]/qdmym -- qadmiyyūma
bmt.a[rṣ]tṭṭn. – bamātū ˀa[rṣi] taṭṭiṭūna

the ancient ones13

the high places of the ear[th] tottered.
                                                                                                               
9
Pardee’s translation: “Baal makes the thunder roll over and over again.” Pardee 262.
10
Smith/Pitard 674.
11
Pardee’s translation: “[at his thunder] the mountains shake with fear”. His translation is
uncertain but there is not much represented, so this line is speculative. 262.
12
See Smith’s note on 675 having to do with his interpretation of this line based on the parallel
structure of the text.
 
13
Referring to the mountains.

  8
Notes: >qdmy adj. m. “ancient” (Akk qudmû) (BH ‫> )קדמני‬bmt n. f. “high hill” (BH ‫)במה‬
(Akk bāmtu) in construct with ˀarṣi >nṭṭ prefix 3fp G “jump, shake” (BH ‫)נוט‬

35-36

ib.b[ltixd
y[rmSnu.hdgpt
Gr

ib.bˤltiḫd/yˤrm – ˀibū baˤli tuˀḫadū yaˤarīma

šnu.hd.gpt/ġr – šaniˀū haddi guppāti ġāri

The enemies of Baal took to the woods.

The haters of Hadd to the mountainsides.

Notes: >ib n. m. “enemy” (BH ‫( )עיב‬Akk ay(y)ābu) >ˀḫd prefix G 3mp “to take refuge in”
(BH ‫> )אהז‬yˤr n. m. plural “woods” (BH ‫> )יער‬šnˀu G stem active participial “to
hate, loathe” (BH ‫> )שנא‬gp n. m. “boundary, slope, hillside” (BH ‫)גופה‬

37-39:

wy[n.aliyn
ba[l
ib.hdt.lm.ths
lm.txS.ntq.dmrn

wyˤn.aliyn/baˤl -- wa-yaˤnî ˀaliyānu baˤlu

ib.hd{t}.lm.ths/ – ˀibî haddi lama taḫûšū
lm.tḫš.nṯq.dmrn – lama taḫûšū nāṯiqî damirāni

“And Mightiest Baal spoke:

“O Enemies of Hadd, why do you tremble?
Why tremble, you who wield a weapon (projectile) against the Warrior?

Notes: >lm interr. Pron. “why, what for?” (BH ‫> )למה‬nṯq n. m. “missle, projectile” >dmrn
title: “The Powerful One, the Valiant One” dmr “strong, brave”

40-41:

[m.b[l.qdm
ydh
ktGd
arz.bymnh

ˤn.bˤl.qdm – ˤâna baˤlu qadama

  9
ydh/ktġd. – yadu-hu kī-taġdû
Arz.bymnh – ˀarzu bi yamīni-hu

Baal looked forward;

His hand will indeed shoot to,14
The cedar in his right hand.

Notes: >ˤn n. f. “eye” (BH ‫> )עינ‬qdm prep “in front of, before.” (Akk qudumu) >yd n.
“hand” (BH ‫> )יד‬ġdy prefix G 3ms “to move, leap” >ˀarz n. m. “cedar, cedar
staff” (BH ‫> )ארז‬ymn n. m. “right hand” (BH ‫)ימנ‬

42:

bkm.yDb.b[l.lbhth

bkm.yṯb.bˤ.lbhth – bi-kama yaṯibu baˤlu lê-bahatī-hu

So Baal was returned to his house.

Notes: >km adv “thus, likewise” >ṯb See lines 7-8

43-44:

umlk.ublmlk
arz.drktyStkn

umlk.ublmlk/ -- ˀû(ô?)-malku ˀû(ô?)-bal-malku

arṣ.drktyštkn – ˀarṣa darkata yištakinu

“Will either a king or a non-king

establish dominion on the earth?

Notes: >mlk “king” (BH ‫> )מלך‬drkt n. f. “rule, power, dominion” (BH ‫> )דרך‬št prefix G
3ms “to place, put, establish” (BH ‫)שית‬

45-47:

dll.al.ilak.lbn
ilm.mt.
[ddlydd
il.gzr.

dll.al.ilak.lbn/ilm.mt. – dallala ˀal ˀilˀak lê-bini ˀili-ma môti

                                                                                                               
14
Smith says his hand shook. I decided to use the force of the verb in my translation saying that his
hand leapt to his mace or lance. Pardee’s translation: “Baal looks ahead of (where) his hand (will strike)
when the cedar (shaft) dances in his right hand.” 263.

  10
ˤddlydd/il.gzr. – ˤādida lê-yadīdi ˀili ġāziri

A messenger I will indeed send to Divine Mot,

to declare to El’s Beloved, the Hero

Notes: >dll n.m. “courier, messenger, mediator” (Akk dalālu “to proclaim, glorify) >al
pos. functor “surely, yes” >bn ˀilm mt “to Divine Mot” personal name. >ˤdd tD/tL
“to declare, respond” >ydd adj. m. (BH ‫“ )ידיד‬to love, beloved” >ġzr n. m. “noble,
hero, warrior, champion” (BH ‫)עזר‬

47-49:

yqra.mt
bnpSh.
Ystrnydd
bgngnh

yqra.mt/bnpšh. – yiqraˀa môta bi-napši-hu

Ystrnydd/bgngnh – yistarrana yadīda bi-gangani-hu

That he may proclaim to Mot into his throat,

Instruct the Beloved to his insides:15

Notes: >qrˀa prefix G 3ms volitive “to proclaim, call out” (BH ‫> )קרא‬npš n. f. “throat,
neck, breath, soul” (BH ‫( )נפש‬Akk napišu) >wsr D stem prefix “to teach, instruct”
(BH ‫)יסר‬16 >ydd See lines 45-47 >gngn n. m. “insides, heart”

49-52:

axdy.dym
lk[l.ilm.
lymru
ilm.wnSm.
dySb
[.hmlt.arz

aḫdy.dym/lkˤl.ilm. – ˀaḫdu-ya dū-yamluku ˤalê ˀilīma

lymru/ilm.wnšm. – la-yimraˀu ˀilīma wa-našīma
dyšb/[ˤ].hmlt.arṣ. – dū-yišba[ˤu] hamulāti ˀarṣi

(that) It is I alone who reign over the gods,

Indeed (I) fatten gods and men,
Who satis[fy] the earth’s multitudes.”
                                                                                                               
15
Probably could be read “instruct him so that he knows in his hear that…”
16
There is a lot of debate about this word and its root. Smith says it is from wsr. Other scholars
think it may be from str meaning “to hide.” Smith/Pitard 691.    

  11
Notes: >ˀaḫd adj. num. “one, only, oneself” (BH ‫( )אחד‬Akk (w)ēdu) >mlk G prefix 1cs
“to rule, reign” >ˤl prep. “over, upon” (BH ‫> )על‬mrˀa/u prefix G “to fatten” >nšm
n. m. “men, people” (BH ‫( )נשימ‬Akk nišu) >yšb[ˤ] The only word that fits is the
word for “satiate” (to make salty). There is some difficulty with this word. Smith
say it is the word for “satisfy” which functions well with the poetic structure. The
missing final letter is unknown.17 >hmlt n. m. “multitude” (BH ‫)המלה‬

52-53:

gm.lGlmh.b[l.kyzx

gm.lġ/[l]mh.bˤl.kyṣḥ. – gā-ma lê-ġa[la]mī-hu baˤlu kī-yaṣûḥu

Aloud to his l[a]ds Baal declared:

Notes: >ga n. m. “loud voice, shout” (BH possibily related to ‫> )גמ‬ġlm “boy, youth, lad”
(BH ‫( )עלמ‬Akk šalmu) >yṣḥ G 3ms “to declare”

53-56:

[n
gpn.wugr
bnGlmt
[mm.ym
bn.zlmt.r
mt.pr[t.

ˤn/[gpn].wugr. – ˤinā [gapni] wa-ˀugari

b<n.>ġlmt/[ˤmm.]ym. -- banî ġlmt/ˤammêmi ym
Bn.zlmt.r/[mt.prˤ]t[.] – banî żlmt/ramti parˤati

“See, [O Gapm] and Ugar,

so<ns> of the Lass (?), kinsmen of Day/Sea(?)18,
sons of Darkness, the exalted…(?)19

Notes: >ˤn imperative “see!” > ġlmt femine form of ġlm see lines 52-53 >ˤm n. m.
“ancestor, lineage” >zlm n. f. “darkness” (BH ‫( )ותצלמ‬Akk ṣalāmu) >rm adj. m. “exalted,
high” (BH ‫> )רמה‬prˤt

56-57:

                                                                                                               
17
Smith/ Pitard 693.
18
could be “yam” (Sea).
19
Smith/Pitard 138 says “Sons of… Exalted First Born (?)

  12
ibrmnt
sxrrm.
hbl.[rpt

ibrmnt/[ṣḥrrm.]
[ḥbl.]ˤrpt

…wings… are burned

flock… clouds.

Notes: >ˀibr n. m. “pinions, wings” (BH ‫> )עבר‬ṣḥrr G stem “to be burnt, roast” >ˤrpt See
lines 19-20 >ḥbl n. m. “flock, cord, rope” (BH ‫)הבל‬

58:

txt.m[zrm.xt

[tḥt.mˤṣrm.]ḥt

beneath…birds…

59:

[ ]m

Notes: N/A

60:

[ ]h

Notes: N/A

  13
 BBbibligraphy
Bibliography

Pardee, Dennis. "The Ba'lu Myth" in The Context of Scripture: Canonical Compositions from the
Biblical World. Edited by William M. Hallo and K. Lawson Younger Jr. 2nd edition.
Leiden    ; New York: Brill Academic Pub, 1997.

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