A Reassessment of Biblical Elohim

Abstract

A Reassessment of Biblical Elohim, by Joel S. Burnett. SUDS 183. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2001. Pp. xv + 172. $39.95. In keeping with the stated purpose of the series, this monograph represents the slightly modified doctoral dissertation of the author. Burnett's thesis was submitted to the Johns Hopkins University in 1999. Burnett begins his study with the surprising fact that the topic of 'el6hfm has not received much scholarly attention. This study (in brief introductory chapter and three main chapters) attempts to address the philological, historical, and literary issues which remain unresolved in association with this term. Burnett does this by examining ancient West Asian comparative material as well as internal biblical material in order to determine the origin and meaning of the term. He also explores the role of elohim in Israelite religion from history-of-religions perspective. Burnett offers an examination of the pentateuchal source E, with critical assessment of the source criticism behind the identification of E material as separate collection. In his first main chapter (ch. 2) Burnett explores the comparative, extrabiblical evidence for 'elohim as grammatical used as singular noun. Burnett cites several Late Bronze Age Akkadian examples of ilanti from Syria-Palestine in which this (gods) functions as singular. Furthermore, he notes, the usages occur in the coastal and valley areas, but not in the mountains and hinterlands of this region. Burnett argues for Canaanite origin for this expression whose meaning (god) is unaffected by singular or form. Noting the imprecision of the phrases of majesty and the like, Burnett makes case for this usage as concretized abstract plural (p. 22). Phoenician inscriptions offer Iron Age parallels in their usage of ilm as singular, and although Aramaic may be used as evidence, no certain examples of this usage have yet been found in that language. If any of the potential examples do confirm this usage, they may be clearly traced to borrowing from Canaanite. Burnett compares the inscription from Deir Alla to this phenomenon before turning to the first-millennium Akkadian examples of written as plural. Royal correspondence, wisdom literature, ritual texts, an inscription of Nabonidus, hymn texts, and personal names all attest the significant usage of the gods with singular meaning of deity or god, with no specific nuance. Burnett then turns attention to 'elohim as common noun in its generic and abstract character. Although lel(5him is used interchangeably with other words for in the Hebrew Bible, its usages are somewhat more flexible than other words. Elohim also stands as the usual word for individual, group, territorial, or national patron deities. This is reflected in the epithets god of the fathers and god of Israel. Burnett ends the chapter by discussing singular and lel,ohim in international and Israelite contexts in the biblical narrative. Burnett handles this material well. He makes coherent case for Canaanite origin for the usage of 'elohim; however, he seems at times to hold to fairly early monotheistic interpretation of Israel's usage of the word. The third chapter focuses on the title 'elohim in Israelite religion. Burnett notes at the outset that texts utilizing 'eldhim, as opposed to the name, tend to be northern in origin. As representative of this northern orientation, Jeroboam's cultic phrase these are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt (p. 80) in 1 Kgs 12:28 is discussed at some length. Comparing this formula with the Philistines' statement in 1 Sam 4:7-8, Burnett suggests that both were based on a longer exodus litany, one in which 'elohim serves repeatedly and exclusively as the designation of the divine (p. 84). This exodus litany included other beings who assisted in the plagues and exodus: the destroyer, the messenger of God, the pillars of cloud and fire, hail, pestilence, death, and plague, God's burning anger, fury, indignation, and distress, according to Exod 12-15 and Ps 78 respectively. …