Is there a violent creation story in the Psalms, involving LEVIATHAN!?

We all know about the famous creation story in Genesis 1. But the Psalms are full of creation stories as well...and not only the peaceful kind! Psalm 74, parallel English and Hebrew: https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16295/jewish/Chapter-74.htm Enuma Elish (Babylonian creation story) online at: https://sacred-texts.com/ane/enuma.htm Debra Scoggins Balentine on the "conflict myth" in the Hebrew Bible, with reference to the Psalms: https://books.google.com/books?id=Y1pMCAAAQBAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&lpg=PA85&dq=psalm%20104%20psalm%2074&pg=PA85#v=onepage&q=psalm%20104%20psalm%2074&f=false Christoph Uehlinger, new publication on the seven-headed monster seal (Near Eastern Archaeology, 2024): https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/258353/1/NEA_UehlingerB_Mastering_the_seven_headed_serpent_FINAL.pdf OTHER TEXTS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT ATTESTING TO THE "CREATION BATTLE" MOTIF AGAINST THE SEA AND/OR SEA MONSTERS: Isaiah 27.1 On that day the LORD with his cruel and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent (nahash bariach), Leviathan the twisting serpent (nahash aqallaton), and he will kill the dragon (tannin) that is in the sea (yam). Isaiah 51.9–11 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD! Awake, as in days of old, the generations of long ago! Was it not you who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the dragon (tannin)? Was it not you who dried up the sea (yam), the waters of the great deep (tehom); who made the depths of the sea (yam) a way for the redeemed to cross over? Job 26.5–14 The shades below tremble, the waters and their inhabitants. Sheol is naked before God, and Abaddon has no covering. He stretches out Zaphon over the void (‘al tohu), and hangs the earth upon nothing. He binds up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not torn open by them. He covers the face of the full moon, and spreads over it his cloud. He has described a circle on the face of the waters, at the boundary between light and darkness. The pillars of heaven tremble, and are astounded at his rebuke. By his power he stilled the Sea (yam); by his understanding he struck down Rahab. By his wind the heavens were made fair; his hand pierced the fleeing serpent (nahash bariach). These are indeed but the outskirts of his ways; and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?” Habakkuk 3.3–15 God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. The brightness was like the sun; rays came forth from his hand, where his power lay hidden. Before him went pestilence, and plague followed close behind. He stopped and shook the earth; he looked and made the nations tremble. The eternal mountains were shattered; along his ancient pathways the everlasting hills sank low. I saw the tents of Cushan under affliction; the tent-curtains of the land of Midian trembled. Was your wrath against the rivers (neharim), O LORD? Or your anger against the rivers (neharim), or your rage against the sea (yam), when you drove your horses, your chariots to victory? You brandished your naked bow, sated were the arrows at your command. Selah You split the earth with rivers. The mountains saw you, and writhed; a torrent of water swept by; the deep (tehom) gave forth its voice. The sun raised high its hands; the moon stood still in its exalted place, at the light of your arrows speeding by, at the gleam of your flashing spear. In fury you trod the earth, in anger you trampled nations. You came forth to save your people, to save your anointed. You crushed the head of the wicked house, laying it bare from foundation to roof. Selah You pierced with his own arrows the head of his warriors, who came like a whirlwind to scatter us, gloating as if ready to devour the poor who were in hiding. You trampled the sea with your horses, churning the mighty waters (mayim rabim). Nahum 1.3–4 The LORD is slow to anger but great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebukes the sea (yam) and makes it dry, and he dries up all the rivers (neharoth); Bashan and Carmel wither, and the bloom of Lebanon fades. Zechariah 10.11 They shall pass through the sea (yam) of distress, and the waves of the sea (yam) shall be struck down, and all the depths of the Nile (ye’or) dried up. The pride of Assyria shall be laid low, and the scepter of Egypt shall depart. ______________________________ Originally created for SBIS 510 Introduction to the Old Testament at Portland Seminary Link to our course playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJV8MXgz_ORLnzf-CuvlG6zoIWuQ3JqnB My faculty bio: https://www.georgefox.edu/academics/undergrad/departments/religion/faculty/doak.html My personal site: https://briandoak.com