A Prayer to Ba’al (KTU 1.119.26'-36')
This Ugaritic hymn to Ba’al, embedded within a ritual of animal sacrifice, resembles other ANE wartime prayers for divine favor, whether in the Bible or in Mesopotamian ritual. Note the tidy poetic structure: it begins and ends by framing the situation, with two stanzas of promised gratitude as its center.
I’ve hesitated about posting this for a while, for two reasons. First, I have a gut feeling that there might be something more encoded in it (cf. my footnotes). Second, I spent time trying to make it singable to modern melodies; although I did end up writing a different version, set to “Let It Be” (”O Ba’al”), I worry that the result is silly rather than inspiring. So this is the unmusical translation; let me know if anyone actually wants to see the song version!
When the mighty one attacks your gate,
the warrior, your walls,
you shall lift up your eyes to Ba’al.
O Ba’al:
If you drive the mighty one from our gate,
the warrior from our walls:
A bull, O Ba’al, we will consecrate;
a vow, Ba’al, we will fulfill;
a firstborn [1], Ba’al, we will consecrate;
a flesh sacrifice, Ba’al, we will fulfill.
A feast, Ba’al, we will prepare;
the sanctuary, Ba’al, we will ascend;
the path of Ba’al(’s temple), we will walk.
Then Ba’al will listen to your prayer.
He will drive the mighty one from your gate,
the warrior from your walls.
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