Gods Doomed to Death. Psalm 82 as a Testimony of the Birth of Monotheism

Janusz Adam Lemański

doi:10.31743/biban.12643

Abstract

The paper examines the beginnings of biblical monotheism. The author indicates the period of the Babylonian exile as the moment of the emergence of this idea in Israel. Psalm 82 is interpreted here as a testimony to the monotheistic transformation. The author advocates a literal understanding of the content of the psalm, as an image of the judgement over pagan gods, which ended in their condemnation to death. The reason for this dethronement of the entire pantheon is the permanent inability of the gods to ensure justice on earth. According to the psalmist, it is a feature of the only true God, which is the God of Israel, called upon to take power over the whole earth.

Highlights

According to the biblical narrative, monotheism appeared in Israel’s religion when YHWH revealed Himself on Mt
The breakthrough which Assmann wrote about was inextricably linked with monotheism, which, in turn, led people to question the existence of gods other than YHWH — the God of Israel
Psalm 82 is a unique testimony to this crucial moment in the history of Israel’s religion

Summary

Mythological Context of Ps 82

Frank-Lothar Hossfeld and Erich Zenger[10] point to at least three references to mythical ideas which are reflected in the structure of the psalm. The main character (judge and accuser) is YHWH—the God of Israel In the psalm, He is referred to as ’Ĕlôhîm They arrived in Jerusalem during the times of Hezekiah or Josiah, and after their exile, they were granted access to service in the temple in Jerusalem During this period, they are presented as temple cantors (1 Chr 6:24; Neh 12:46).[17] according to some scholars,[18] there are no clear arguments for placing the psalm at a specific time or in a specific circumstance, its monotheistic nature linked to the criticism and eradication of other gods, and its connection to the monotheistic spirit of Deutero-Isaiah’s expression and his concept of divinity (cf Isa 41:21-24; 4:8-13; 46:1-2) imply that the most probable date of Psalm 82 is the time of the end of the exile,[19] and taking into account the ideological connection to Dan 7, even the post-exilic period. The stylistically “separate” character of v. 5 and the suspicions about the secondary origin of v. 4:8 may be an argument that the psalm may have had a later history as well and was only refined when used in the post-exilic liturgy.[20]

Verse 5 and the Question of the Structure of Ps 82

The Problem with Defining the Literary Genre of Ps 82

Ps 82 as a Scene of Judgment Over Pagan Gods

Sitz im Leben of Ps 82

Conclusions