Danel's Need for a Son

Then Danel, the Healer's man,
the Hero, the man of the god of Harnam,

made an offering for the gods to eat,
made an offering for the holy ones to drink.

Then he climbed onto his mat and lay down,
onto his pallet, where he spent the night.

One day had ended, and on the second

Danel made an offering to the gods,
an offering for the gods to eat,
an offering for the holy ones to drink.

Three days had ended, and on the fourth

Danel made an offering to the gods,
an offering for the gods to eat,
an offering for the holy ones to drink.

Five days had ended, and on the sixth

Danel made an offering to the gods,
an offering for the gods to eat,
an offering for the holy ones to drink.

Danel climbed onto his mat,
he climbed onto his mat and lay down,
onto his pallet, where he spent the night.

Then, on the seventh day,

Baal approached the Assembly with his plea:

"Danel, the Healer's man, is unhappy;
the Hero, the man of the god of Harnam, sighs:

he has no son, but his brothers do,
no heir, like his cousins;

unlike his brothers, he has no son,
nor an heir, like his cousins.

Yet he has made an offering for the gods to eat,
an offering for the holy ones to drink.

So, my father, El the Bull, won't you bless him?
Creator of All, won't you show him your favor?

Let him have a son in his house,
a descendant inside his palace,

to set up a stele for his divine ancestor,
a family shrine in the sanctuary;

to free his spirit from the earth,
guard his footsteps from the Slime;

to crush those who rebel against him,
drive off his oppressors;

to hold his hand when he is drunk,
support him when he is full of wine;

to eat his offering in the temple of Baal,
his portion in the temple of El;

to patch his roof when it leaks,
wash his clothes when they are dirty."

El took care of his servant,
he blessed Danel, the Healer's man,
he showed favor to the Hero, the man of the god of Harnam:

"Let the passion of Danel, the Healer's man, revive,
the desire of the Hero, the man of the god of Harnam.

Let him go up to his bed:

when he kisses his wife she'll become pregnant;
when he embraces her she'll conceive:

she will become pregnant, she will give birth, she will conceive;

there will be a son in his house,
an heir inside his palace,

to set up a stele for his divine ancestor,
a family shrine in the sanctuary;

to free his spirit from the earth,
guard his footsteps from the Slime;

to crush those who rebel against him,
drive off his oppressors. . ."

". . . a family shrine in the sanctuary;

to free your spirit from the earth,
guard your footsteps from the Slime;

to crush those who rebel against you,
drive off your oppressors;

to eat your offering in the temple of Baal,
your portion in the temple of El;

to hold your hand when you are drunk,
support you when you are full of wine;

to patch your roof when it leaks,
wash your clothes when they are dirty."

Danel's face was glad,
and above his brow shone.

He opened his mouth and laughed,
put his feet on a stool,
raised his voice and shouted:

"Now I can sit back and relax;
my heart inside me can relax;

for a son will be born to me, like my brothers,
an heir, like my cousins,

who will set up a stele for my divine ancestor,
a family shrine in the sanctuary;

who will free my spirit from the earth,
guard my footsteps from the Slime;

who will crush those who rebel against me,
drive off my oppressors;

who will hold my hand when I am drunk,
support me when I am full of wine;

who will eat my offering in the temple of Baal,
my portion in the temple of El;

who will patch my roof when it leaks,
wash my clothes when they are dirty."

Danel arrived at his house,
Danel reached his palace.

T'he Wise Women entered his house,
the Singers, the Swallows.

Then Danel, the Healer's man,
the Hero, the man of the god of Harnam,

slaughtered an ox for the Wise Women,
he gave food to the Wise Women,
drink to the Singers, the Swallows.

One day had ended, and on the second

he gave food to the Wise Women,
drink to the Singers, the Swallows.

Three days had ended, and on the fourth

he gave food to the Wise Women,
drink to the Singers, the Swallows.

Five days had ended, and on the sixth

he gave food to the Wise Women,
drink to the Singers, the Swallows.

Then, on the seventh day,

the Wise Women left his house,
the Singers, the Swallows . . .

. . . the pleasures of bed,
. . . the delights of bed . . .

Danel sat and counted the months.

Excerpted from M. D. Coogan, Stories from Ancient Canaan (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1978), pp. 32-35.

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