Biblical Hebrew Forum

[George Athas <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au>]

Karl, I thought you'd point those references out. I think you'll find the 
phrase קנה שׁמים וארץ is a description of a chief deity, not necessarily of a 
universal god. These kinds of titles are still used in polytheistic contexts. 
For example, the Egyptians called their chief deity, Amun/Re, 'creator and 
maker of all things that exist' and the one who made heaven and earth. In 
Karatepe (Sam'al), El is referred to as creator of the earth, and yet listed 
alongside other gods in the same sentence. So, the phrase you point out is in 
no way indicative of a universal god. It's usually just indicative of chief 
god's curriculum vitae, as it were. The way you are taking it is probably 
more indicative of a very late interpretation of the text. If you're positing 
a late Persian or Hellenistic milieu for this narrative, I think I could live 
with your suggestion. However, I suspect you're not arguing that. Correct me 
if I'm wrong, but I think you're arguing for an early date for this text. If 
that's the case, the way you are reading the text would be extraordinarily 
exceptional for its time.


GEORGE ATHAS
Director of Postgraduate Studies,
Moore Theological College (moore.edu.au)
Sydney, Australia



From: K Randolph <kwrandolph AT gmail.com<mailto:kwrandolph AT gmail.com>>
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:48:16 -0700
To: George Athas <george.athas AT moore.edu.au<mailto:george.athas AT moore.edu.au>>
Cc: B-Hebrew <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org<mailto:b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>>
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Genesis 14:18-22

Because he is described not as a deity for a particular place, but as the 
deity that got possession of “heavens and earth”, i.e. the whole universe. 
That phrase is used twice in this passage.

Karl W. Randolph.