Polytheism in the Hebrew Bible

[jellybean99]

The children of Israel probably wondered the same thing. (Elohim - "God" is a word that is expressed in plural form. "im" is like an "s" in English - it implies more than one).

You must realize that the God we worship is greater than we are, so we cannot completely fathom the concept that though God is known as 3 separate entities, they are 1 God.

The closest our limited understanding can come to realizing this mystery in our lifetimes on earth is to examine the properties of water. Though on a molecular level water is one single compound, it regularly takes the form of ice and steam as well as water. Though physically they are 3 distinct forms that react very differently in our environment, they are all, nonetheless, H2O.

The Hebrew understanding of the word "good" also sheds light on the subject. "Good" comes from the Hebrew TOVE (rhymes with grove) and refers to the quality and desirability of someone or some deed. This can refer to morals, character, strength, purity, etc. Only God is good, meaning perfect and complete in every way.

This is as close as humans will ever come to explaining the oneness of the Trinity in this lifetime--it's bigger than all of us!

 

[Chesterton]

The point in this thread is not whether Israel worshipped these other gods (obviously believed to be real), but how the very apparent acknowledgement of their existence contradicts Judeo-Christian notions of God revealing himself to the Hebrews as the only god that exists. That is a monotheistic view, but one which clearly cannot be supported by the bible.

Thanks for bringing that out. I was beginning to think myself guilty of unfounded cynicism for suspecting that all questions here must contain some anti-Christian point.

Now that we know your point, why don't you lay your cards on the table and tell (tell me at least - I'm a bit slow), exactly how your assertions contradict Christian notions of God? I don't see it.

(I'll limit it to "Christian notions", since I think we'd agree that the ones [Judeo's] who invent something should know what it is they're inventing.)

 

[NotAGentile18]

How do Christians explain the blatant references to polytheism (or more properly monolatry, a subcategory of polytheism) in the theology of the Israelite religion?

These references include, but are not limited to the following:

Genesis i.26; xxxv.7
Exodus xii.12; xv.11; xviii.11
Deuteronomy ix.26 <LXX>; xxxii.8 <4QDeutj>, 43 <4QDeutq>
Psalm lxxxii

The latter is especially noteworthy.


Thanks,
E.L.B.

Hmmm I'm not sure. Let me ask my wives, perhaps they would know.
Seriously, Grow up.

Literal interpretation of scripture could cause a whole mess of problems which is why a majority of Jews don't do it.

 

[heron]

Eric, you have certainly done your homework, and it is refreshing to see someone asking questions after searching for themselves.

The contemporary word "god" is tossed around loosely to include bodybuilders, Hollywood icons, attractive men and women (goddess), and video game enemies. Imagine how an early language with limited words might extend word usage similarly. Usage doesn't create truth. It communicates meaning and understanding from one person to another.

God and the Hebrews were familiar with people's practices, so they would use the same words the idol-owners use to refer to their objects of worship. What else would they call them?

An example of usage -- people collected idol statues in their homes and considered them highly valuable.

Ge 31:30 Now you have indeed gone away because you longed greatly for your father's house; but why did you steal my gods?(Obviously a superpower could not be stolen.)

Ge 35:4 Hebrew So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which they had and the rings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the oak which was near Shechem.

Ex 20:23 Hebrew `You shall not make other gods besides Me; gods of silver or gods of gold, you shall not make for yourselves.

Ex 34:17 Hebrew You shall make for yourself no molten gods. Enough examples.

God gives reasons for not spending time and effort on objects of worship.

De 12:31 Hebrew You shall not behave thus toward the LORD your God, for every abominable act which the LORD hates they have done for their gods; for they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.

Jud 3:6 Hebrew They took their daughters for themselves as wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.

Da 5:23 Hebrew Your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which do not see, hear or understand.

Isaiah 44
9 Those who form a carved image are all of them vanity. And their delights do not profit; and they are their own witnesses. They do not see, nor know, that they may be ashamed. http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=isa+44:10&t=lit&sr=1&l=en
http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=isa+44:10&t=lit&sr=1&l=en
10 Who has formed a god, or poured out an image to no profit? http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=isa+44:11&t=lit&sr=1&l=en
http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=isa+44:11&t=lit&sr=1&l=en
11 Behold, all his companions shall be ashamed; and the craftsmen, they are from men. They shall assemble, all of them shall stand; they shall dread; they shall be shamed together. http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=isa+44:12&t=lit&sr=1&l=en
http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=isa+44:12&t=lit&sr=1&l=en
12 He carves iron with a tool; he works in the coals and forms it with hammers, and works it with his powerful arm; then he is hungry, and has no strength; he drinks no water and is weary. http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=isa+44:13&t=lit&sr=1&l=en
http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=isa+44:13&t=lit&sr=1&l=en
13 He fashions wood, and stretches a line; he marks it with a stylus; he shapes it with a carving tool, and he marks it with a compass. And he makes it according to the figure of a man, as the beauty of a man, to sit in the house.

http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=isa+44:14&t=lit&sr=1&l=en
14 He cuts down cedars and takes cypress and oak, and he makes the trees of the forest strong for him. He plants a tree, and rain makes it grow. http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=isa+44:15&t=lit&sr=1&l=en
http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=isa+44:15&t=lit&sr=1&l=en
15 And it shall be for a man to burn; yea, he takes of them and is warmed; and he kindles it and bakes bread. Yea, he makes a god and worships; he makes a carved image and bows to it. http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=isa+44:16&t=lit&sr=1&l=en
http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=isa+44:16&t=lit&sr=1&l=en
16 He burns half of it in the fire; he eats flesh on half of it; he roasts roast, and is satisfied. Then he warms himself and says, Ah, I am warm; I have seen the fire.

http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=isa+44:17&t=lit&sr=1&l=en
17 And he makes a god of the rest, his carved image; he bows to it and worships, and prays to it, and says, Deliver me, for you are my god. http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=isa+44:18&t=lit&sr=1&l=en
http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=isa+44:18&t=lit&sr=1&l=en
18 They do not know nor discern; for He has smeared their eyes from seeing, their hearts from understanding. http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=isa+44:19&t=lit&sr=1&l=en
http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=isa+44:19&t=lit&sr=1&l=en
19 And not one turns back to his heart, nor has knowledge nor discernment to say, I have burned half of it in the fire; and I also have baked bread on its coals. I have roasted flesh and have eaten it; and I have made the rest of it into an idol.Shall I bow to a product of a tree?

http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=isa+44:20&t=lit&sr=1&l=en
20 Feeding on ashes, a deceived heart turns him aside, and he does not deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?



The Bible references Ba' al and Ashtoreth, (Phoenician) -- these two were tied to planets and stars. There are people today who still feel comforted and inspired by the blanket of stars so much larger than themselves.

Ba' al was also connected with the Moabites and Midianites. Numbers 22:41.

Eventually Judah. 1 Kings 16:32

2Ki 18:34`Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad?

1Ch 10:10 They put his armor in the house of their gods and fastened his head in the house of Dagon.

There seem to be cycles where God rescues people from despair and oppression, they grow comfortable, and they get religious over something disconnected from the source of their strength.

(The golden calf after the plagues and Red Sea parting, David starting the temple and Solomon building his foreign wives idol-temples.)

Judeo-Christians believe that God created all that exists. The devil, the fallen angels, the universe and anything beyond what we have found to exist.

If there were in fact supernatural beings with power, that would put all beings under subjection to the one creator. Our definition of "god" tends to mean all-powerful, or exclusive, or right, or worthy. But imagine the possibility of created supernatural beings with different strengths than humans have, interacting with humans.

Whether these beings were worthy of fear or respect is subjective. But in the end, all beings have to answer to their Creator.

It is a stretch of the imagination for some to comprehend unseen forces. But throughout history, without lapse (to my knowledge), people have reported getting help, and being terrorized by unseen beings and apparitions.

My saying that does not imply that I worship or fear other beings. It is just a recognition that there may be forces beyond what I understand, that come under the category of creations. Dependence on the creative force larger than them, would protect people from being overcome.

It comes down to defining what a god is. Implications, abilities and limits, credibility, heirarchy of subjection. Scripturally, there is no need to fear other forces.

2Ki 17:38 - Hebrew
The covenant that I have made with you, you shall not forget, nor shall you fear other gods.

 

[heron]

Hmmm I'm not sure. Let me ask my wives, perhaps they would know.

Lol. You must be a good husband, worshiping the ground they walk on.