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<\/a>Scholars early on associated these colossi \u2013 known to them only from reports \u2013 with the biblical description of the Behemoth (Job 40:15\u201324). The first written evidence of this identification is found in the work Hierozoicon<\/em> (1663) by Samuel Bochartus. In Russian and Ukrainian, the term \u00abBehemot\u00bb (\u0411\u0435\u0433\u0435\u043c\u043e\u0442) even became the common word for the hippopotamus. However, there is no extrabiblical evidence that this word was ever used for the hippopotamus in Hebrew or Aramaic. The corresponding Arabic expression \u00abBah\u012bm\u016bth\u00bb or \u00abBaham\u016bt\u00bb does refer to a (fish-like) monster, but by no means to the hippopotamus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since that time, when little was known about exotic animals, many translators adopted the identification of the hippopotamus with the Behemoth of Job 40:15. In some translations it can still be found in current editions: for example in the Gute Nachricht Bibel<\/em> (GN, 2018), Einheits\u00fcbersetzung<\/em> (Einh, 2016), and Neues Leben Bibel<\/em> (NLB, 2017). In most cases, however, it was corrected in later revisions. Thus, the hippopotamus appears in Hermann Menge\u2019s text version of 1946, but no longer in the \u00abMenge 2020\u00bb; in Schlachter\u2019s 1851 text, but no longer in the \u00abSchlachter 2000\u00bb; and in the Zurich Bible up to 1931, but not in the 2007 edition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many translators, however, assumed from the outset that the described animal could not be identified with any species living today and therefore chose to leave the Hebrew term \u00abBehemot(h)\u00bb untranslated (as in the Luther Bible, Elberfelder Bible, Neue evangelistische \u00dcbersetzung<\/em>, and Hoffnung f\u00fcr alle<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The round, chubby animals with their good-natured, grinning faces and the cute nickname \u00abHippo\u00bb are endearing to most people. When they surface from the water snorting and shake the water from their protruding ears with quick twisting motions, or lie flat on their bellies, all four legs stretched out, reddish and gleaming as they doze in the sun, one cannot help but smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet one must not forget that they are aware of their ability to defend themselves and \u2013 at least the dominant bulls \u2013 \u00abthink territorially\u00bb. Their stretch of river is their territory, and every intruder is driven away. Hair-raising stories circulate about the dangerousness of hippopotamuses. It is sometimes claimed that more people fall victim to their tusks than to the fangs of lions. However, no worldwide statistics are kept for \u00abwildlife accidents\u00bb, and most figures are based on estimates. There are, however, individual studies in which exact data were collected, as shown in the illustration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While Zambia, a country with extensive lake and swamp regions, hosts the largest hippopotamus population in the world, neighboring Mozambique \u2013 also situated along the Zambezi River but predominantly savanna \u2013 has proportionally more other species of dangerous wild animals. Since hippopotamuses occur only in a few water-rich regions of Africa and most of the continent is covered by dry savannas and deserts, the data from Mozambique more clearly represent the overall situation. Even if their dangerousness may sometimes be somewhat exaggerated, both rankings show clearly that caution is required around them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Much has been written over the centuries about the question of the identity of the Behemoth. Two studies listed in the bibliography provide a good overview. Particularly recommended is the book \u00abThe Mystery of the Leviathan\u00bb. Since among the many proposed solutions only the hippopotamus identification found its way into German-language Bible translations, we confine ourselves to it here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The hippopotamus is a peacefully grazing herbivore that can turn into a deadly threat in the blink of an eye \u2013 at first glance, this characterization fits the Behemoth in Job 40:15 exceedingly well. It was probably still widespread in the Near East in Job\u2019s time. How do the other characteristics compare?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00abWhat strength it has in its loins, what power in the muscles of its belly! Its bones are tubes of bronze, its limbs like rods of iron.\u00bb (Job 40:16,18) \u2013 Hippopotamuses are indeed remarkably strong and fast. Their massive skeletal structure results in an unusually high specific weight and the notable fact that, although they spend most of their time in water, they cannot swim and will sink even with filled lungs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00abHe makes his tail stiff like a cedar\u00bb (Job 40:17a) \u2013 The verb translated here as \u00abmakes stiff\u00bb occurs only at this single location and is also rendered as \u00abcarry, move, stretch out, let hang\u00bb. It cannot be determined more precisely. But apart from that, no one has yet found a meaningful point of comparison between the cedar \u2013 a mighty conifer \u2013 and the stubby brush-like tail of the hippopotamus. It sometimes spins it like a small propeller and distributes its excrement to mark its territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00abThe sinews of his thighs are knit together\u00bb (Job 40:17b) \u2013 In this respect, no anatomical peculiarities have been observed in the hippopotamus. In terms of musculature and tendon structure, they correspond to other large herbivores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00abIt ranks first among the works of God\u00bb (Job 40:19a) \u2013 This sounds like a superlative. One would expect God to describe the Behemoth as the most impressive animal (among herbivores) known to Job, followed by Leviathan as the strongest and most dangerous predator. Depending on the chronological and geographical placement of the book of Job and on assumptions about earth history, these could indeed have been the hippopotamus and the crocodile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00abHe only that made him giveth him his sword\u00bb (Job 40:19b) \u2013 The large tusks are a striking feature and must not be missing from a description of the hippopotamus. In a poetic text, they could possibly be referred to as a \u00absword\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00abThe hills bring it their produce, and all the wild animals play nearby. Under the lotus plants it lies, hidden among the reeds in the marsh. The lotuses conceal it in their shadow; the poplars by the stream surround it. A raging river does not alarm it; it is secure, though the Jordan should surge against its mouth\u00bb (Job 40:20\u201323) \u2013 Modern hippopotamuses generally graze in plains and river valleys and avoid steep inclines. In that respect, \u00abthe mountains\u00bb seem somewhat out of place here, but otherwise the description fits excellently. The white lotus blossoms are even depicted on the ancient \u00abNile Mosaic of Palestrina\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00abCan anyone capture it by the eyes, or trap it and pierce its nose?\u00bb (Job 40:24) \u2013 This is another major weakness. In his speech (Job 38\u201341), God poses more than seventy rhetorical questions to Job; this is one of them. The statement is: you are not able to \u00abput the Behemoth on a leash\u00bb. The fact is, however, that hippopotamuses (like crocodiles) have been successfully hunted since earliest times (and almost everywhere exterminated). Despite their strength and aggressiveness, they are not invincible. They cannot follow their hunter into deep water and are not particularly clever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although the comparison yields mixed results, among animals living today the description fits the hippopotamus best. The picture changes when extinct species are included. The \u00abSchlachter 2000\u00bb adds a helpful note to Behemoth: \u00abThe description points to a plant-eating saurian, not, as previously assumed, to the hippopotamus.\u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sources<\/strong>:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ahuis, F: Behemoth, Leviathan and the Human Being in Job 38\u201342. Zeitschrift f\u00fcr die Alttestamentliche Wissenschaft<\/em> (ZAW 123) 2011; pp. 72\u201391; doi: 10.1515\/ZAW.2011.006<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bochartus, S: Hierozoicon, Sive Bipertitum Opus De Animalibus S. Scripturae<\/em> (Vol. 1, p. 77). Leiden, NL (Boutesteyn & Luchtmans) 1692; https:\/\/transkribus.eu\/r\/noscemus\/#\/documents\/725075\/pages\/77<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Chomba, C; Senzota, R; Chabwela, H: Patterns of human\u2013wildlife conflicts in Zambia, causes, consequences and management responses. Journal of Ecology and the Natural Environment<\/em> 2012; 4(12):303\u2013313; doi: 10.5897\/JENE12.029<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dunham, KM; Ghiurghi, A; Cumbi, R: Human\u2013wildlife conflict in Mozambique: a national perspective, with emphasis on wildlife attacks on humans. Oryx \u2013 The International Journal of Conservation<\/em> 2010; 44(2):185\u2013193; doi: 10.1017\/S003060530999086X<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>