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  • From: "Thomas L. Thompson" <tlt AT teol.ku.dk>
  • To: "'b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu'" <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: SV: Monotheistic?
  • Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1999 15:51:27 +0100


> Yahwistic monotheism as early as the exilic period?
>
This discussion is a bit undisciplined. One doesn't necessarily describe
anything by describing the Hebrew Bible as monotheistic, not because it
isn't but because our understanding of monotheism derives from this
literature. Moreover, monotheism/ henotheism/ polytheism are not things
which exist but they are descriptions scholars give to concepts and belief
systems and they are relative terms.

Moreover, "exilic period" is primarily a literary reference, not a
chronological one (compare Ezra, Nehemiah, Damascus covenant).

Finally, as this is a scholarly forum, one should remember that there is a
considerable literature on this question and it might be referenced with
profit. It might be useful, for example, to open a discussion of monotheism
with reference to H. Niehr's Der hoechste Gott (BZAW 1992).
Thomas

Thomas L. Thompson
Professor
University of Copenhagen




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