Monotheism
Review of the previous post
The previous post, post number 13 of 22, was post number 4 of 4 posts discussing the prophets and their relation to monotheism, and discussed Ezekiel as a third specific example.
Preview of this post
This post, post number 14 of 22, discusses an alternative reason why the authors of the Bible would push and emphasize monotheism.
Another reason for the authors to push monotheism
In addition to the above-discussed interpretation of the reason for the prophets viewing the Hebrew God as being all-powerful and in control of all nations, there might be another reason for this view of the Hebrew God. This other view is one in which the prophets adopted this view as a means for establishing and enhancing their own power and influence and is self-serving. The prophets consulted with and advised the kings in regard to Israel’s relations with other countries[1]. Perhaps the prophets visualized the Hebrew God as being God over all nations as a way of justifying their existence and their consul regarding Israel’s relations with other countries. That is, if the Hebrew God was in control of all nations, even foreign pagan nations, then the direct connection that the Hebrew prophets had with the Hebrew God would be invaluable in guiding Israel’s interaction with those other nations.
It is interesting to observe, at this point, that there may have been a difference between what the people actually practiced and what the authors of the Bible wrote down. The people may have practiced a type of monolatry rather than the pure monotheistic approach advocated by the Bible’s authors. This difference may be the reason that archeological evidence is diverse and, in some cases, actually contradictory[2].
Preview of the next post
The next post, post number 15 of 22, discusses some other influences on the concept of monotheism.
[1] See the essay “Who Were the Prophets?”
[2] See, Stephen A. Geller, The Religion of the Bible” in The Jewish Study Bible, edited by Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler (New York: Oxford University Press, 2004).