From the Deep - Waking Leviathan - Job 3

Job 3:7-8

7] May that night be barren; may no shout of joy be heard in it.

8] Let the cursers of day curse it, who are prepared to rouse up Leviathan.
 

ז הִנֵּה הַלַּיְלָה הַהוּא יְהִי גַלְמוּד אַל-תָּבוֹא רְנָנָה בוֹ
ח יִקְּבֻהוּ אֹרְרֵי-יוֹם הָעֲתִידִים עֹרֵר לִוְיָתָן 

I could write a whole book on mythical themes in the book of Job (and perhaps one day I will) but for the sake of this blog I will restrict myself to 5 posts - one each on Job 3, 7, 26 and 40-41, followed by a big picture look at the book as a whole.

By the third chapter, Job has lost everything he has - his money, his children, his wife, his health - and after seven days of sitting in silence with his three friends, he now opens his mouth to curse the day on which he was born: "Let that day be darkness;" he declares (Job 3:4) "let not God inquire after it from above, neither let the light shine upon it."

It's in this context that Job first mentions the primordial monster the Leviathan, mentioning an unspecified group who in the future are ready to wake the creature from its rest (more on this next week).

But what do we learn from the idea that some seek to wake Leviathan?

Rewriting Radiance - The floods raise up a roar

Few major changes this week than in the past, but in the 'villain' scene at the end of Tiferet/Splendour (you can read the original here) I wanted to add some clarity to Ashmedai's objectives, and make him a little more understandable, so that his actions in the final scene make a little more sense.

Originally, he merely says the following:

    “Where is my payment?” demanded Ashmedai as Samael stepped away from the captives and walked back down the tunnel towards him. Ashmedai took on the angel’s face as he spoke, twisting the features of fire and stone into the shadows that surrounded him.

But this didn't seem expressive enough of the King of Demons' desire for the sensations of the flesh. The updated version is after the jump:

Radiance 19 - The floods raise up a roar

    Stripped of all armour, without the sword that cuts and the shield that saves, Ostar and Mercury seemed quite tiny, suspended by the wrists from tall wooden staves, their bodies pale, bruised and lacerated. Ostar’s silvery hair lay about his neck in a dirty bedraggled mass, caked in dried blood. Mercury seemed no better, with a jagged wound across her scalp. If consciousness hovered behind their eyes it was well-concealed.
    They had put up a decent fight, Ashmedai mused as he looked at them, thinking back to the cellar in Netanya, especially considering their lowly position in the Seven. It had been most diverting.
    But this whole business was beginning to try his patience - the Unborn Prince had dared to invade the Lower Temple, desecrating the sabbath and causing trouble among the demons. Then he and Virgo had fled before they received the brunt of Ashmedai’s wrath. If the Seven were desperate enough to enter his sanctum on the holy sabbath, who could tell what else they might do? Better to receive the promised reward and be done with the whole business.
    “Where is my payment?” demanded Ashmedai as Samael stepped away from the captives and walked back down the tunnel towards him. Ashmedai took on the angel’s face as he spoke, twisting the features of fire and stone into the shadows that surrounded him.
    “The task is far from over, Ashmedai,” said Samael, burning coldly. “Until Leviathan, the twisting serpent, rises once more you are still needed - your payment will wait.”
    “It can, can it?” Ashmedai whispered, in a tone that would have sent any of his demons cowering.
    “Yes, the plan continues.”
    “Be careful Samael. I am not one of your Sitra Achra that you can order me around so easily, no fallen angel or little ghost. I am not one of your lackeys but the king of demons. Have a care how you address me.”
    “We both serve the Boss now, Ashmedai, the plan continues, as does your role. The powers of Netzach and Hod, even combined has not been sufficient. These two,” he gestured towards the prone figures of Ostar and Mercury behind him, “are weak. We need the Unborn Prince.”

Radiance 5 - They smote me, they wounded me

  This is the final (and rather short) chapter of the first section of the novel, the section of Malchut - Kingship. Next week begins the second section, Yesod - Foundation.

    Samael was furious. Rage blistered across his blackened skin, escaping in hisses of steam and sulphur. How could this have happened?
    With a molten fist he thundered open the door, melting the metal frame.
    “Samael, so good of you to join us,” whispered the woman at the head of the table, her eyes, as always, hidden beneath her midnight hood.
    “How could this happen? Why does the unborn prince still live? He has met with the seven, even now he is with Virgo, beginning his induction.”
    “Calm yourself, my love,” Lillith rose from her place and came to Samael’s side, stroking his cheek with her pale talons.
    “Calm myself Lillith? Calm myself? Did we not summon Ashmedai himself to destroy him? Why does he still live?”
    “I told you we should never have called a demon to do a woman’s job,” whispered the cloaked woman.