Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Banyai AT t-online.de (Michael Banyai)]

Peter,

all your hypotheses make sense only in a context in which the cult of golden 
calves was interdicted. This is obviously not the case for the period of 
Moses till Salomo.

So the whole discussion makes no sense since it is contradicted by the wider 
evidence against the interdiction. There is for you no place for the 
development of a theology, and each single case necessitates numberless 
assumptions and exceptions.

The deuteronomic law interdicting the creation of an iconic image - is a 
taboo to represent Jahweh not other lesser gods. The same makes true for the 
interdiction to pronounce/profanate his name. Names of other Gods are not 
interdicted and appear indeed in the Bible.

Best regards,

Bányai Michael
Stuttgart