III. Leviathan And Behemoth

The third day of creation sees the primordeal oceans recede and dry land appear. "The deep" is personified by a seven-headed chaos dragon called Leviathan, and the dry land by a lumbering ox-like creature named Behemoth. Yahweh defeats Leviathan, and brings forth Behemoth, who lies down for a long sleep and plants grow out of his back. See: * Job 40:15-24 * Job 41:1-34 * Gen 1:9-13 In two parts: Leviathan, then Behemoth. * Leviathan is the sea. Chaos. Leviathan rises from the sea, horror. Leviathan's theme: Descending diminished fifths, in unsettled 7/4 time. * The choir, that is, the Sons of God, sing the battle between God and Leviathan, the Chaos monster in the sea. * Text: Latin Vulgate Job 41:5a; 40:27 — "Portas vultus ejus quis aperiet? Pone super eum manum tuam; memento belli, nec ultra addas loqui." * English version: 41:14a; 41:8 English - Who can open the vault of his jaw? Put your hand upon him, remember the battle and speak of it no more! * Leviathan slinks away, into the depths, beaten back. He is mastered. * The sea retreats and the dry land rises. Whole tone ascending figures. * Behemoth is the land, and the forerunner of all land beasts to come. His theme is ponderous and strong. Brass choir. Gigantic. * Behemoth lies down to rest, in the shadows. Choir of angels sings him a lullaby: "ipse principium est viarum Dei" (he is the greatest of God's creatures) and "sub umbra dormit in secreto calami" (Under the shadows he sleeps, under the cover of reeds) from Job 40:14a and 16a (Vulgate). * In the end, Leviathan is vanquished, and Behemoth lies down for an aeons-long nap so green plants can grow out of his back.