Yahweh Among the Gods : The Divine in Genesis, Exodus, and the Ancient Near East

In this study, Michael Hundley explores the diverse deities of ancient Near Eastern and biblical literature, from deified doors and diseases to the masters of the universe. Using data from Mesopotamia, Hittite Anatolia, Egypt, the Levant, and non-priestly Genesis and Exodus, Hundley explains their context-specific approach to deity, which produces complex and seemingly contradictory portraits. He suggests that ancient deities gained prominence primarily by co-opting the attributes of other deities, rather than by denying their existence or inventing new powers. He demonstrates that the primary difference between biblical and ancient Near Eastern presentations lies in their rhetorical goals, not their conceptions of gods. While others promote divine supremacy, Genesis and Exodus promote exclusive worship. Hundley argues that this monolatry redefined the biblical divine sphere and paved the way for the later development of monotheism and monotheistic explanations of evil. "The divine is seemingly ubiquitous in Mesopotamian society, yet despite its all-pervasiveness, it remains conceptually elusive. The divine sphere is vast and complex, such that it is hard to delimit and to distinguish between its various parts. In fact, there is no simple answer to even the most basic question: what is a god? The divine world is also characterized by a fluidity not found in modern western religions. For example, Ištar-of-Arbela, Ištar-of-Nineveh, and Ištar, the-Planet-Venus are all Ištar, yet in different contexts are treated as different Ištars. In addition, although the divine is present seemingly everywhere, Mesopotamians themselves make little attempt to systematically unravel its complexities"-- Provided by publisher Cover Half-title page Title page Copyright page Contents Preface List of Abbreviations Introduction Part I The Ancient Near East 1 Mesopotamian Gods 2 Hittite Gods 3 Egyptian Gods 4 Levantine Gods 5 Synthesizing the Ancient Near Eastern Divine Sphere Part II Non-Priestly Genesis and Exodus 6 Yahweh 7 The Divine Cast of Characters 8 Yahweh among the Gods 9 Divine Access and Objects 10 Synthesis of Perspectives Bibliography Index A redefinition in how we view ancient gods, the relationships between them, and the rhetoric used to exalt them. This volume demonstrates that the primary difference between biblical and ancient Near Eastern presentations lies in their rhetorical goals, not their conceptions of gods - exclusive worship (not monotheism) versus divine supremacy.