Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Lloyd Barre <barre AT c-zone.net>]

Dear List Members:

Here is an issue I have been working on.

Question: who is the 'el originally named in the designation yishra'el?

Answers: 

'el is not a monotheisic conception as it originated 13th century Palestine
ad quem.

'el does not refer to Yahweh=yisrayah

Comparative data:

Bull El in Canaanite literature.

Best source of infomation about 'el?

Pre-elohistic cultic etiological and ethnological tales of Jacob at Bethel
and Penuel.

The most instructive?

Penuel.  El appears in person (Jacob sees his face=Penuel) and wrestles
with Jacob, renames him Israel.

Conclusion:  Story indicates that this El is the god of Israel.
El's perogative: to bless his people.

The Bethel episode?

El has a bayit=temple, and it is the temple at Bethel. (So also El berith
at Shechem.)

"Ladder" imagery shows that El religion posited intermediary mala`kim
between earth (the worshippers) and heaven, the celestial abode of El.

"Ladder" imagery seems to be informed by the Mesopotamian concept of the
ziggurat as does the use of intermediate celestial beings (cf. personal
gods) between the community and the high god at the cult center (Bethel).

Connection?

Jacob is tied to ethnic roots in Aram (Syria), i.e. Upper Mesopotamia.

Supposition?

Israel's "Elism" was an expression of a traditional Syrian form of El
worship that probably underwent some modifications when the perishing
Arameans relocated to northern Palestine.

Implication?

Elism and Yahwism were originally the distinct religions of two groups.
Yahwism's local ties are in Judah (esp. Hebron) , the Negev, and especially
Edom/Seir/Paran/Midian/Sinai.

Who worshipped Yahweh?

The Hebrews vis-a-vis the (Aramean descended) Israelites who worshipped El.

Reassement of Israel?

It is sociological and culturally bimorphic, comprised of two separte
peoples who attempted (United Monarchy) and failed (Divided Monarchy) to
unite into one people.

Mechamisms?

Syncretisim, pseudo-kinship, and a fictional itinerary for Abram.

Additional evidence of bimorphic structure?

David ruled seven years from Hebron over Judah alone, the southern tribes
are not mentioned in the Song of Deborah.  Cultural autonomy reaches to an
ad quem date of the late 12th century.

Conclusion if correct?

A fundamental redefinition of the object of investigation--ancient
Israel--and a revision of many previous conclusions regarding many aspects
of our reconstruction of not one but two cultural histories (in dialogue).

For your consideration,


Lloyd Barre