Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Walter R. Mattfeld" <mattfeld12 AT charter.net>]

On a related note in regards to Nepesh, in the Ugaritic myth of Aqhat and
his "Wonderous Bow," he is told by a goddess, Anat, that if he will give her
his bow, she will talk her brother Ba`al into giving Aqhat IMMORTALITY, that
is, Aqhat, IN HIS PHYSICAL FLESHLY BODY WILL NOT DIE.

Aqhat spurns her offer. Accusing her of LYING, stating that the Gods NEVER
intended that Man should possess immortal life, ALL men MUST DIE, that is,
their PHYSICAL FLESHLY BODIES will die and be buried.

She had told him that he would enjoy eternity feasting in Ba`al's house and
enjoying wine and song forever. Sort of reminds one of Christian notions
that "the saved" have a house prepared for them to enjoy a God's company
(Christ), and good food and drink for eternity- doesn't it ?

I have always "wondered" why a GOD in heaven NEEDS to be fed or nourished
with sacrifices at the Temple in Jerusalem by priests, slaughtering bulls,
rams, sheep and pouring out drink offerings. I NOW understand where the
Hebrews are getting their notions- from Mesopotamian concepts that the Gods
MUST eat physical food grown on the earth, food presented by man, who was
made in these myths, to grow, harvest and feed this food for the Gods, to
sustain these Gods' PHYSICAL BODIES (cf. the Utnapishtim Flood myth, where
the gods HUNGRILY gather to his sacrifice after the Flood).

Regards, Walter
Walter Reinhold Warttig Mattfeld, M.A. Ed.
Millbury, Massachusetts
www.bibleorigins.net