The Assyrian and Hebrew Hymns of Praise

by Charles Gordon Cumming

I would soon subdue their enemies

And turn my hand against their adversaries.

—Psalm 81:15.

In the hymns a good deal of attention is paid to the weapon of the god. It may be a “bow”:

Before his terrible bow the heavens stand fast.

—Hymn to Marduk No. 4.

And this may mean that on the production of his terrible weapon, the enemy surrenders and the storm ceases, just as when Yahwe hangs up his bow after the conflict of the thunderstorm, one knows that the rain is over, and that there will be no flood. Or the weapon may be a lance:

Lance unresting which destroys all enemies

—Hymn to Ninib No. 2.

or more terrible still a dragon: