Discussion on the Biblical Character One Like The Son Of Man, and Correlation With Caananite Mythology

Symbolic Background

In the beginning I want to look at the Canaanite Mythology which is often considered as background for the Vision in Daniel 7.

The four Beasts coming from the Sea, seem to have been well known in ancient Near East. In several creation sagas, the creating god slays the evil and dangerous monsters of the sea. Even the creation of the world in the Job 26 and the Exodus described in Isaiah 51 uses related images. In the Canaanite Mythology states that the god Baal has slain the great monster of the sea, the god Yam, who questioned Baals power.

The one like the son of man is an image not uncommon to the Bible. Often Christians interpret those occurrences as being Jesus, looking to old Hebrew and old Biblical Traditions this is not the case. Seen from a Jewish standpoint the rider of the clouds is usually understood to be Yahweh. John J. Collins states in his book the origins of this picture:

“However, the Hebrew depiction of Yahweh as rider of the clouds is itself adapted from the older Canaanite storm imagery of the theophanies of Baal.”

To understand the connection between the vision in Daniel 7 and the Ugaritic Myth,I will show a summary of the myth by Philip Wilkinson:

“In the Baal cycle, Ba'al Hadad is challenged by and defeats Yam, using two magical weapons (called "Driver" and "Chaser") made for Him by Kothar-wa-Khasis. Afterward, with the help of Athirat and Anat, Ba'al persuades El to allow him a palace. El approves, and the palace is built by Kothar-wa-Khasis. After the palace is constructed, Ba'al gives forth a thunderous roar out of the palace window and challenges Mot. Mot enters through the window and swallows Ba'al, sending him to the Underworld. With no one to give rain, there is a terrible drought in Ba'al's absence. The other deities, especially El and Anat, are distraught that Ba'al has been taken to the Underworld. Anat goes to the Underworld, attacks Mot with a knife, grinds him up into pieces, and scatters him far and wide. With Mot defeated, Ba'al is able to return and refresh the Earth with rain.”

There are several possible backgrounds, but for this argument I only will consider the Canaanite Mythology. The reason for doing so is that the other possibilities will not have much to say about the man on the clouds and the Ancient of Day which is the focus of my paper.