Was ancient Israel polytheistic?

There are different portraits of God in the Bible that reflect how people at the time thought of the divine. From one god worshiped alongside many other gods, to a nationalistic or Henotheistic deity, we only arrive at a fully developed monotheism in the Second Temple period. Only then, Israel proclaims that there's only one God and all other gods are idols.

[andrewwelsh]

You are doing the world a great service, can't beat a scholarly approach to religion 👍

[dca]

If only Bible nuts would research the beginnings of their Bible.

[ryanautrey]

We know that the Isrælites were polytheist. The Old Testament is loaded with God's condemnation of the Isrælites for that very sin.

[ienjoyapples]

Many of us in Orthodoxy believe there are many "gods" or spiritual powers, but there is only one God who is to be worshipped, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in triune unity.

[readyfireaim]

In the New Testament sometimes "Christ" is used as a Title but most of the time it's used as a Name.

"Jesus Christ" is Firstname Lastname.

It reminds me of how Elohim from Genesis 1 is a title but Yahweh Elohim from Genesis 2 is a name (in the Old Testament).

Amos 5
Names of God Bible

27 I will send you into exile beyond Damascus, says Yahweh, whose name is Elohe Tsebaoth.

What does Elohe mean?

mighty one; God of Israel, the name which Jacob gave *to the alter* which he erected on the piece of land where he pitched his tent before Shechem, and which he afterwards purchased from the sons of Hamor ( Genesis 33:20 ).

[AndyDPhelps]

I grew up COC and this writing be considered incredibly blasphemous. Keep up the good work

[RunesandReapers]

It was likely earlier than second temple times when they became monotheistic. The drive towards monotheism can be seen at least in the canonized Bible 560b.c.

[thomasjefferson]

Michael heiser lays this out better than any other.

[HearTruth]

yes they sacrificed their offspring to Molech BAAL and the Hebrews worshiped other Canaanite gods El and Ashtur.( Kabaala Zoar apis

[Madmen]

It makes me think Judaism emerged and split from the Canaanites ?

[WayneBraack]

So knowing this, which shows the bible wrong, how can anyone believe. You're glossing over the fact that they were actually considered to be real. And that Yahweh was not even a major God in any way. The hell everything changed over time and if it changed over time than the story we're told now cannot be true

[giuseppesavaglio]

Early organized religion in a nutshell, getting down to the truer figure ever so slowly. 0.

[scottetherton]

Okay, Man. I am so disappointed. I listened to a couple of these shorts and it seemed like we might have an intellectual Christian but this vid killed any hope of this possibility. I see the plain text of Scripture putting your opinion here, to rest. I can't find anyone to have a truly meaningful discussion with. Either they are evangelical brain deads, fundamentalists, basically on track but woefully ignorant, or those who don't really believe in the Bible. You fit into the last category. There are two basic ways of thinking when it comes to analyzing information. Academically and intellectually. You've said some intellectual stuff but this is the opposite. Because God approaches a people who may be polytheistic does not mean that God is presenting himself as other than the one true God. You say that by the second temple period they Bible is monotheistic. Then what do you do with the Davidic period and before this, the period of the Judges? Were there polytheists in Israel? Yeah, of course. This was the problem. The second temple period is at the end of God's harsh punishment for polytheism. The Israelites have finally leaned that, hey, God is the only big dog: he's the Dude and he really does not share his glory. This does not mean that Scripture or that the point of view by faithful Israelites is polytheistic.

[emilymorales]

yes there is only one GOD but there are three persona in a one God; GOD the Father, GOD the Son, and GOD the Holy Spirit; in other words the Holy Trinity in a One God