Symbolic backgroundAt the beginning I want to consider the Canaanite mythology which is often considered as the background for the vision in Daniel 7. The four beasts that come from the sea, seem to be well known in the ancient Near East. In several creation sagas, the creator god slays evil and dangerous sea monsters. The creation of the world in Job 26 and the Exodus described in Isaiah 51 also use related imagery. In Canaanite mythology it is stated that the god Baal killed the great sea monster, the god Yam, who questioned Baal's power. That as the son of man is a not uncommon image in the Bible. Christians often interpret those events as Jesus, but looking at ancient Jewish and biblical traditions this is not the case. Viewed from a Jewish point of view, the cloud rider is usually considered Yahweh. John J. Collins states in his book the origins of this image: "However, the Jewish depiction of Yahweh as a cloud-rider is itself adapted from the older Canaanite storm images of the theophanies of Baal." To understand the connection between the vision in Daniel 7 and the Ugaritic myth, I will show a summary of the myth by Philip Wilkinson: “In the Baal cycle, Ba'al Hadad is challenged and defeats Yam, using two magical weapons (called "Driver" and "Chaser") made for Him by Kothar-wa-Khasis. Later, with the help of Athirat and Anat, Ba'al convinces El to grant him a palace. El approves and the palace is built by Kothar-wa-Khasis. After the palace is built, Ba'al lets out a thunderous roar from the palace window and challenges Mot. Mot enters through the window and swallows Ba'al, sending him to the Underworld. With no one to provide rain, in the absence of Ba'al there is a terrible drought. The other deities, especially El and Anat, are shocked that Ba'al has been taken to the Underworld. Anat goes to the Underworld, attacks Mot with a knife, cuts him to pieces and scatters him far and wide. With Mot defeated, Ba'al is able to return and refresh the Earth with rain." There are several possible contexts, but for this topic I will only consider Canaanite mythology. The reason for doing this is that the other possibilities will not have much to say about the man in the clouds and the Ancient of Day who is the focus of my article.