I have A question for bible scholars,?

--Not a scholar, just a researcher!

_Here is some outstanding commentary:

*** it-1 p. 280 Behemoth ***

The designation “Behemoth,” appearing at Job 40:15, has been variously viewed as (1) a derivative of an Egyptian word for “water ox,” (2) a word possibly of Assyrian origin meaning “monster,” and (3) an intensified plural of the Hebrew word behe‧mah′ (beast; domestic animal) that is understood to denote “great beast” or “huge beast.” In the Greek Septuagint the word the‧ri′a (wild beasts) translates the Hebrew behe‧mohth′. Evidently, though, a single animal is meant, as is indicated by the fact that the description given of Behemoth is not that of several creatures but of only one, generally considered to be the hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius). In fact, a number of Bible translations (AT, La, Ro, NW, JB, RS) use the word “hippopotamus” in the main text or in footnotes to identify the creature referred to by God.

The hippopotamus is a huge, thick-skinned, almost hairless mammal that frequents rivers, lakes, and swamps. It is noted for its short legs, huge jaws, and large head, which is said to weigh up to a ton. So great is the power in its jaw and teeth that one bite can pierce the armor of a crocodile. Full grown it may be 4 to 5 m (12 to 15 ft) long and may weigh up to 3,600 kg (8,000 lb). An amphibious creature, the hippopotamus, in spite of its prodigious size, can move relatively fast both in and out of water. It feeds on soft water plants, grass, reeds, and bushes, each day taking more than 90 kg (200 lb) of greenery into its 150- to 190-L (40 to 50 gal) stomach.

The skin of the hide, especially that of the belly, is extremely tough, hence able to withstand bumping and scraping as the hippopotamus drags its low body over sticks and stones of riverbeds. The nostrils are strategically located at the tip of the snout, and the eyes are high up on the front of the head, enabling the hippopotamus both to breathe and to see while it is almost completely submerged. The ears and valvelike nostrils close when it submerges. Even while sleeping, when the carbon dioxide in the blood reaches a certain level, the animal automatically surfaces for fresh air and then submerges again.

*** it-2 pp. 240-241 Leviathan ***

[Heb., liw‧ya‧than′].

This Hebrew word occurs six times in the Bible. It is believed to come from a root word meaning “wreath”; hence the name indicates something that is “wreathed,” or “gathered into folds.” The word is transliterated in most Bible translations.

Since, with the exception of Job 3:8, the references mention water in connection with it, Leviathan appears to signify some form of aquatic creature of great proportions and strength, although not necessarily of one specific kind. Psalm 104:25, 26 describes it as cavorting in the sea where ships travel, and for this reason many suggest that the term here applies to some type of whale. Though whales are rare in the Mediterranean, they are not unknown there, and parts of two whale skeletons can be found in a museum at Beirut in Lebanon. An American Translation here says “crocodile” instead of Leviathan. Additionally, the word “sea” (yam) by itself is not determinative inasmuch as in Hebrew it can refer to a large inland body of water such as the Sea of Galilee (Sea of Chinnereth) (Nu 34:11; Jos 12:3), or even to the river Nile (Isa 19:5) or the Euphrates.—Jer 51:36.

The description of “Leviathan” at Job 41:1-34 aptly fits the crocodile, and the “sea” of verse 31 may refer to a river such as the Nile or another body of fresh water. It should be noted, however, that some crocodiles, as the Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus), are found along the seacoast and at times go out into the sea some distance from land.

Psalm 74 describes God’s record of salvation for his people, and verses 13 and 14 refer symbolically to his deliverance of Israel from Egypt. Here the term “sea monsters [Heb., than‧ni‧nim′, plural of tan‧nin′]” is used as a parallel expression to “Leviathan,” and the crushing of the heads of Leviathan may well refer to the crushing defeat administered to Pharaoh and his army at the time of the Exodus. The Aramaic Targums here give “the strong ones of Pharaoh” in place of “the heads of Leviathan.” (Compare Eze 29:3-5, where Pharaoh is likened to a “great sea monster” in the midst of the Nile canals; also Eze 32:2.) Isaiah 27:1 apparently employs Leviathan (LXX, “the dragon”) as a symbol of an empire, an organization that is international in scope and that is dominated by one who himself is referred to as “serpent” and “dragon.” (Re 12:9) The prophecy is one of restoration for Israel, and therefore Jehovah’s ‘turning attention’ to Leviathan must include Babylon. However, verses 12 and 13 consider Assyria and Egypt as well. So, Leviathan here evidently refers to an international organization or empire that is in opposition to Jehovah and his worshipers.

Ha. I was just talking about this yesterday. There are actually two creatures being discussed. In 40 it is the Behemoth. And 41 is the leviathan.

If you read the descriptions of the animals to me it seems to point to ordinary animals. The behemoth is the hippo. (or possibly the elephant). He eats grass and plants. He hides under the lotus plants and among the reeds. Tail SWAYS like a cedar. (had one kid tell me that means his tail is as big as a cedar. It only describes the way it sways.)

And the leviathan would be an alligator or crocodile. Doors of his mouth lined with teeth. Back with rows of shields. Leaves trails in the mud. Turns up water.

People see talk in the text that doesnt make sense. Fire from its mouth. Smoke from nostrils. And assume it is something extinct or something like a dragon. But fail to understand simile and metaphor. It also says his chest is like a millstone. Eyes like dawn. Etc.

It to me seems to clearly describe a hippo in the first section and alligator in the second.

Given a careful reading, I think it is absurd to suppose they are the hippopotamus or crocodile, unless you are talking about a crocodile like the recently found fossil of a 45 foot monster.

If you accept these were real creatures living in the time of Job, and I do; then I think the only creatures that fit the description which we know anything about are what we would call dinosaurs; and Leviathan in particular may have been bigger than anything we have yet discovered.

Most likely a Nile River [ goes into the Great Sea ], croc and what we call an alligator.

There is not enough info about them to determine from the bible what they are. Leviathan in sea where ship are can be meat for the people. Behemoth

eats grass as an ox.

Isa.27:1 In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.

Psm.74:14 Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.

Psm.104:26 There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.

Job 41:1 Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?

Job 40:15 Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.

The bible says that behemoth has a tail like an oak tree. Elephants will not make it . Their tails are small. But brontasaurus's tail would fit the picture.Just something to think about. Perhaps those dead animal bones in layers of sediment were put in those layers because of the receding waters of a massive worldwide flood,

Behemoth = T Rex because of the strength, tail and bone structure

Leviathan, because it shoots out fire, could be a fire breathing dragon. It's probably not a coincidence that the oldest cultures around have dragons in their art and ceremonies.

finished-time, expert bible scholars? very few. learn of the bible as a occupation has a tendency to charm to believers contained in the bible, no longer people who rationally settle for what it quite is, a e book of historical superstitious myths with a tiny little bit of historic previous sprinkled it. i've got under no circumstances considered any atheist declare to "recognize the bible conceal to cover." So your premise is fake to start with. in my opinion, i've got examine it conceal to cover a minimum of seven cases, yet i did no longer memorize the completed situation. and that i will coach you passable info that I "recognize it" better than many (maximum?) christians do. You look attempting to make some form of unsuitable charm to authority -- than purely a "bible pupil" can say something with reference to the bible. it quite is totally stupid. It would not take a "pupil" to evaluate the mythical memories in Genesis, working example, to scientific info and end that it quite is a marginally stupid, shown-fake fantasy. All it takes is a tiny little bit of rational questioning. Peace.

These were types of dinosaurs, possibly dragons. The term "dinosaur" was not coined until I think the 1800s.

If you look at the context they are actually talking about an alligator and hippo, respectively, comparing these creatures' great strength to that of God.

Crocodiles