Yam (god) - in The Epic of Ba'al

In The Epic of Ba'al

In the Epic of Ba'al El king of the Gods appoints Yam to fight Hadad, Baal of heaven. KTU 1.2 iv reads:

"I, myself, Kindly `El the Beneficent, have taken you upon my hands.

I proclaim your name.

Yam is your name,

Your name is Beloved of `El, Yam."

" the hand of the Mighty Baal Most High —

Because he spoke ill to me —

drive him from the throne of his kingship,

From the resting place,

the cushion on the seat of his dominion.

But if then you do not drive him from his throne of kingship,

from the seat of his dominion,

He will beat you like...

He slaughters oxen and sheep.

He fells bulls and fatted rams, yearling calves,

sheep by the flock, he sacrifices kids."

Now Mighty Baal, son of Dagon, desired the kingship of the Gods. He contended with Prince Yam-Nahar, the Son of El. But Kindly El, Father Shunem, decided the case in favour of His son; He gave the kingship to Prince Yam. He gave the power to Judge Nahar.

Fearsome Yam came to rule the Gods with an iron fist. He caused Them to labor and toil under His reign. They cried unto Their mother, Asherah, Lady of the Sea. They convinced Her to confront Yam, to interceed in Their behalf.

Asherah went into the presence of Prince Yam. She came before Judge Nahar. She begged that He release His grip upon the Gods Her sons. But Mighty Yam declined Her request. She offered favours to the Tyrant. But Powerful Nahar softened not His heart.

Finally, Kindly Asherah, who loves Her children, offered Herself to the God of the Sea. She offered Her own body to the Lord of Rivers.

Yam-Nahar agreed to this, and Asherah returned to the Source of the Two Rivers. She went home to the court of El. She came before the Divine Council, and spoke of Her plan to the Gods Her children.

Baal was infuriated by Her speech. He was angered at the Gods who would allow such a plot. He would not consent to surrendering Great Asherah to the Tyrant Yam-Nahar. He swore to the Gods that He would destroy Prince Yam.

He would lay to rest the tyranny of Judge Nahar.

Ba'al Hadad warns Yam that the gods will not allow him to usurp the throne of heaven. In KTU 1.2 iii, he warns:

"From your throne of kingship you shall be driven,

from the seat of your dominion cast out!

On your head be Ayamari (Driver) O Yam,

Between your shoulders Yagarish (Chaser), O Judge Nahar

May Horon split open, O Yam,

may Horon smash your head,

´Athtart-Name-of-the-Lord thy skull!

After a great war in heaven involving many of the gods, Yam is roundly defeated:

And the weapon springs from the hand of Baal,

Like a raptor from between his fingers.

It strikes the skull of Prince Yam,

between the eyes of Judge Nahar.

Yahm collapses, he falls to the earth;

His joints quiver, and his spine shakes.

Thereupon Baal drags out Yam and would rend him to pieces;

he would make an end of Judge Nahar.

However, Athtart pleads for Yam, who acknowledges the Lord as king of heaven:

Then up speaks Yam: "Lo, I am as good as dead! Surely, Baal now reigns as king!"

Hadad holds a great feast, but not long afterwards he battles Mot (death) and through his mouth he descends to his realm below the earth. Yet like Yam, Death too is defeated and in h. I AB iii the Lord arises from the dead:

For alive is Mighty Baal,

Revived is the Prince, Master of Earth."

'El calls to the Virgin Anat:

"Hearken, O maiden Anat!"