What are Leviathan and Behemoth? I’ve heard many people say they were large African animals like an elephant or a hippo, or that they could have been dinosaurs. Although valiant in their determination to know the truth, I reason Leviathan and Behemoth are neither of the two but are unique to the rest of creation. As with all my teachings, we will dive into the scriptures and see what they have to say about these two legendary creatures. I will be using three sources not found in your regular canon of scripture but are regarded as canon in some Biblical texts, one of which I have covered in (Ripped from the Bible, 1 Enoch).
How the Bible Defines Both Creatures
We’ll start with the passages found in Job, which provide the most detailed description of both creatures.
“See now, Behĕmoth, which I made along with you – he eats grass like an ox. See now, his strength is in his loins, and his power is in his stomach muscles. He bends his tail like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are knit together. His bones are like tubes of bronze, his ribs like bars of iron. He is the beginning of the ways of Ěl. His Maker brings near His sword. For the mountains yield food for him, and all the beasts of the field play there. He lies under the slender trees, under cover of reed and swamp. The slender trees cover him with their shade; the willows by the stream surround him. See, if a river rages, he is not alarmed; he feels safe, even if the Yardĕn (Jordan) gushes into his mouth, Before his eyes, shall he be caught, with snares? Or his nose pierced?” (Job 40:15-24)
Most, in general, will say this is a description of a hippopotamus, but how many hippos do you know of that have tails like a cedar tree? There is one thing in this passage that I do not understand, which is Behemoth being first in the ways of YHWH, maybe he was the first creature created? If you have any thoughts on what this could mean feel free to leave a comment down below.
“Would you draw out Liwiathan (Leviathan) with a hook, or snare his tongue with a line which you lower? Would you put a cord through his nose, or pierce his jaw with a hook? Would he keep on pleading with you? Would he speak softly to you? Would he make a covenant with you to be taken as a servant forever? Would you play with him as with a bird? Or leash him for your young girls? Would trading partners bargain over him? Would they divide him among the merchants? Fill his skin with harpoons? Or his head with fishing spears? Put your hand on him – think of the struggle! Do not do it again! See, any expectation of him is disappointed – he is laid low even at the sight of him! No one is so foolhardy to wake him up. Who then is able to stand against Me? Who has given to Me first, that I should repay him – under all the heavens that is Mine? I would not keep silent concerning his limbs, or his mighty power, or his fair frame. Who shall take off the surface of his skin? Who approaches him with a double bridle? Who shall open the doors of his face, with his frightening teeth all around? Rows of scales are his pride – closed up, a binding seal. One to the other they fit closely, not even a breath enters between them. They are joined one to another, they stick together and are not separated. His sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. Out of his mouth go firebrands – sparks of fire shoot out. Out of his nostrils comes smoke, like a boiling pot or kettle. His breath sets coals on fire, and a flame goes out of his mouth. Strength dwells in his neck, and fear leaps before him. The folds of his flesh cleave together. They are firm on him, immovable. His heart is as hard as stone, even as hard as the lower millstone. When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid. Because of his crashings they are bewildered. No sword that reaches him does prevail, neither spear, dart, or lance. He reckons iron as straw, bronze as rotten wood. The arrow does not make him flee, sling-stones become like stubble to him. Clubs are reckoned as straw, he laughs at the rattle of a lance. His undersides are like sharp potsherds. He sprawls on the mud like a threshing-sledge. He makes the deep boil like a pot, he makes the sea like a pot of ointment. He leaves a shining path behind him. One would think the deep to be grey-haired. No one on earth is like him – one made without fear. He sees all that is haughty. He is sovereign over all the sons of pride.” (Job 41: 1-34)
“here is the sea, great and wide, In which are innumerable swarms, Living creatures, small with great. There do ships go; That Liwiathan (Leviathan) which You made, to play there.” (Psalm 104:25-26)
The only thing I’m not sure of is the last sentence where it says he is the king of all the sons of pride, what could this mean? Interesting and worth further research. Again, many will try to rationalize that the Leviathan is a crocodile or something of the like, but I ask, how many crocodiles do you know of that have impenetrable scales, breaths fire, have eyes like the sun, when they sneeze a flash of light comes forth, and when they move the sea becomes choppy? If Leviathan sounds to you like a giant sea dragon, well, you’re right and Elohim is going to slay the mighty beast.
“You divided the sea by Your might; You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the waters. You broke the heads of Liwiathan (Leviathan) in pieces, You made him food for the people Living in the wilderness.” (Psalm 74:13-14)
It also seems to have multiple heads, as if this dragon wasn’t intimidating enough already.
Separating the Two Beast
In the book of Enoch, we get a little more information on these two impressive creatures.
“And on that day two monsters will be separated from one another, a female monster whose name is Leviathan, to dwell in the depths of the sea, above the springs of the waters. And the name of the male is Behemoth who occupies with his breast an immense desert named Dendayn on the east of the Garden where the chosen and the righteous dwell. Where my great-grandfather was received, who was seventh from Adam, the first man whom the Lord of Spirits made. And I asked that other Angel to show me the power of those monsters, how they were separated on one day, and thrown, one into the depths of the sea and the other on to the dry ground of the desert. And he said to me: “Son of man, you here wish to know what is secret.” (Enoch 60:7-10)
Why is Leviathan depicted as female here and in other texts as a male? Where is this desert called Dendayn (features of this desert in the next passage)? I’m not sure but maybe we’re not meant to know, just like the angel said it’s a secret.
The Stature of Leviathan and Behemoth
To get a better idea of how massive these creatures are we’ll have to look in 2 Esdras.
“On the fifth day you commanded the seventh part, where the water had been gathered together, to bring forth living creatures, birds, and fishes; and so it was done. The dumb and lifeless water produced living creatures, as it was commanded, so that therefore the nations might declare your wondrous works. “Then you kept in existence two living creatures; the one you called Behemoth and the name of the other Leviathan. And you separated one from the other, for the seventh part where the water had been gathered together could not hold them both. And you gave Behemoth one of the parts that had been dried up on the third day, to live in it, where there are a thousand mountains; but to Leviathan you gave the seventh part, the watery part; and you have kept them to be eaten by whom you wish, and when you wish.” (2 Esdras 6:47-52)
Both monsters were created on the 5th day of creation and they are so ginormous that the oceans cannot contain them both! Imagine that if you can. Where is the place of a thousand mountains, that now holds the Behemoth? Perhaps another secret that we will have to wait to find out.
Food for the Masses?
What’s more shocking, however, is that these beasts have a part to play in the last of days. King David referenced this in Psalms 74:13-14 when he said Leviathan will be made food.
“And He answered and said unto me: 'Whatever will then befall (will befall) the whole earth; therefore, all who live will experience (them). For at that time I will protect only those who are found in those self-same days in this land. And it shall come to pass when all is accomplished that was to come to pass in those parts, that the Messiah shall then begin to be revealed. And Behemoth shall be revealed from his place and Leviathan shall ascend from the sea, those two great monsters which I created on the fifth day of creation, and shall have kept until that time; and then they shall be for food for all that are left.” (2 Burch 29:1-4)
“And the angel of peace who was with me said to me, “These two monsters are prepared for the great day of YHWH when they shall turn into food.” (1 Enoch 60:24)
On the great day of YHWH, both Leviathan and Behemoth will be brought forth from their hiding places and become food for those who are left. Yes, both animals are clean. If you remember in the scriptures from Job, the Behemoth chews the cud like an ox and the Leviathan has scales.
“Whatever has a split hoof completely divided, chewing the cud, among the beasts, that you do eat.” (Leviticus 11:3)
“These you do eat of all that are in the waters: any one that has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas or in the rivers, that you do eat.” (Leviticus 11:9)
I firmly believe that scripture makes it very clear that Leviathan and Behemoth are not African animals and are not dinosaurs (which may be a hoax), but are special singular creatures. I know this may sound too fantastical and unbelievable but given Biblical Cosmology and Nephilim, is it really that hard to believe?
As always, test all things including this teaching. I pray the Holy Spirit guides you into truth.
P.S.
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