Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Bryant J. Williams III" <bjwvmw AT com-pair.net>]

Dear Donald,

It is clear from the context that "leEl-elyon" is referring to the "the Most
High God" or "God Most High" in connection to Melchi-zedek, King of Salem and
Priest of God Most High. Abram had no problem offering tithes to him in 
worship.
So, was Abram paying homage to a "pagan" deity or was he offering homage to 
God
Most High? Did Abram believe that he was paying tithes to God (el) or to a 
pagan
deity named el)? BTW, I am not bringing Hebrews into the discussion since that
would be OFF-LIMITS.

Rev. Bryant J. Williams III

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Donald Vance" <donaldrvance AT mac.com>
To: "George Athas" <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au>
Cc: "B-Hebrew" <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2011 11:40 PM
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] El = God?


> Darn tootin' it's debated. I don't see how Gen 14:18 can be anything but a
reference to the Canaanite deity.
>
> Sent from my iPad
> Donald R. Vance
> dvance AT oru.edu
> donaldrvance AT mac.com
>
> On Aug 9, 2011, at 8:05 AM, George Athas <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au> wrote:
>
> > Karl is correct, that the word אל is a common noun for 'deity'. However, 
> > it
is often used practically as a Proper Name for the president or father of the
gods in the Canaanite pantheon. This is confirmed in Ugaritic, for example.
However, in Hebrew, it is very rarely used that way, if ever (it's 
occasionally
debated, though).
> >
> >
> > GEORGE ATHAS
> > Director of Postgraduate Studies,
> > Moore Theological College (moore.edu.au)
> > Sydney, Australia
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
> > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/b-hebrew
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>


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