Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Ian Hutchesson <mc2499 AT mclink.it>]

At 13.24 22/02/00 -0600, Henry Churchyard wrote:
>>> (That's why I used the term "prophets", Ian -- by which I didn't
>>> necessarily mean very much more than "strict religious reformers of
>>> unspecified pre-Hellenistic date".
>
>> I realized that you were setting up an escape route. I don't think
>> it helps much though.  I don't know how you can necessarily say
>> "pre-Hellenistic": I can't see any evidence you can muster. But
>> accepting your assumption for a moment, the problem becomes how
>> pre-Hellenistic, when you consider the same situation of Yahweh and
>> his consort at Elephantine, which was in contact with Jerusalem, in
>> the fifth century.
>
>Why do I need an "escape route", when Hebrew non-monotheistic worship
>is amply and fully attested in the Bible?  

You're right, of course.

>Why is Elephantine in
>contradiction with the Bible, when Jeremiah 44 places defiantly
>non-monotheistic Jews in the same area?  

I have difficulties with your dating of Jeremiah, but I accept your point.

>(I said "pre-Hellenistic"
>because I don't think the Hellenistic period has much relevance to a
>discussion of the _origins_ of Hebrew monotheism; no doubt those who
>say the bible didn't exist until 1000 A.D. will arrive at a different
>conclusion.)

Probably!

>By the way, the Elephantine Jews did write to Jerusalem, but
>apparently Jerusalem didn't bother to write back.
>
>>> When archaeologists turn up shrines to YHWH and his Asherah,
>>> they're actually providing clear support for the factual
>>> historicity of the Bible ;-) .)
> 
>> You have a very wonky idea of historicity here.
>
>Boy, you don't allow a guy to crack even a tiny little smile, do you?

I guess after some of the posts on this list recently, I'm a little
oversensitive!

>You should take into consideration that sometimes people will get
>tired of holding the corners of their mouths down...  ;-)

I've found humour is rather difficult to convey through email.


Cheers,


Ian