Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Chavoux Luyt <chavoux AT gmail.com>]

Hi Donald

On 13 August 2011 18:00,
> From: Donald Vance <donaldrvance AT mac.com>
> The key is in Abraham's response in verse 22 where he repeats what 
> Melchizedek says with the pronounced addition of the
> tetragrammaton. Abraham (or the author) is playing off of the inherit  
> ambiguity in the term El. If Melchizedek is a priest of YHWH,
> El Elyon, there is no need for Abraham's addition. How on earth would 
> Melchizedek be a worshiper of YHWH? What we have here
> is the Old Testament's version of Paul's Mars Hill speech.  Abraham is 
> saying, "Melchizedek, that God Most High you've been
> worshipping is, in reality, YHWH, God Most High." this is consistent with 
> the way the character Abraham is portrayed.
I have to agree with you and maybe it goes further than just Abraham?
What I have been thinking is that the worship of the one God
(El/Elohim) degenerated in the pagan religions to adding other gods
(elohim & ba'alim) in addition to the "original" creator "god".
Abraham and the Tanach overall is proclaiming that that original "El"
that is still remembered simply as the "chief deity" in their
pantheon, is the only true "God" and identified with the Name YHWH
where his Name is almost a denial of the possibility of having a name
(Ex.3:13-14)

Regards
Chavoux Luyt