Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Ian Hutchesson <mc2499 AT mclink.it>]

Ian:
>>The Hebrews at Elephantine who were in communication with Jerusalem saw
>>nothing wrong with their polytheism. The building at Kuntillat Ajrud in
>>southern Judah from the eighth century BCE was a Yahwistic polytheistic
>>sanctuary. Yahweh in his divine council in the midst of the gods is
>>definitely not monotheistic.

Bill:
>You've brought up Kuntillat Ajrud many times, but given what the texts
>tell us about that time it would be very strange if we never found
>evidence like this. The texts tell us that the exclusive worship of
>YHWH alone was a minority position. Time and time again the texts tell
>us the majority were polytheistic. One only need read Jeremiah to
>realize how firmly entrenched polytheism was in Judah.

What are your eye witnesses to the existence of that minority position,
Bill? (The biblical texts cannot be given eye-witness status, as we can
only get back to the second century BCE with what we have.)

Ian