El and Yahweh

The merging of two deities in ancient Israel

El

El was the chief deity of the Canaanite pantheon.

  • Head of divine assembly
  • Called "Father of Years" and "Bull El"
  • Creator deity and father of other gods
  • Associated with mountains and wisdom
  • Name means simply "god" in Northwest Semitic languages

Yahweh

Yahweh appears to have originated outside Canaan.

  • Associated with Midian/Edom region (Judges 5:4-5)
  • Described as coming from Seir/Paran (Deut 33:2)
  • Connected to storms and warfare
  • Originally a desert/mountain deity
  • Name appears in Egyptian texts as "Yhw"
  • Name possibly means "He Who Is" or "He Who Creates"

Merging El and Yahweh

The Hebrew Bible shows evidence of merging El and Yahweh.

  • El epithets applied to Yahweh (El Shaddai, El Elyon)
  • El's dwelling on mountains transferred to Yahweh
  • Patriarchal narratives shift from El to Yahweh worship
  • El's divine council becomes Yahweh's heavenly court
  • Exodus 6:3 explains different divine names

Asherah

Evidence suggests early Israelite worship included Asherah, the female companion to El.

Evidence: Names

Many Israelite names incorporate El, suggesting a direct connection.

  • Israel ("Strives with El")
  • Samuel ("Name of El")
  • Daniel ("God is my judge")
  • Michael ("Who is like God?")
  • Gabriel ("God is my strength")

Evidence: Epithets

Biblical texts apply El's titles to Yahweh:

  • El Elyon (God Most High) - Genesis 14:18-22
  • El Shaddai (God Almighty) - Genesis 17:1
  • El Olam (Everlasting God) - Genesis 21:33
  • El Roi (God who sees) - Genesis 16:13
  • El Bethel (God of Bethel) - Genesis 31:13
  • El Elohe Israel (God, the God of Israel) - Genesis 33:20

Evidence: Deuteronomy 32

"When the Most High (Elyon) gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God."

  • Depicts divine council setting

"But YHWH's portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage."

  • YHWH receives Israel as inheritance

"For YHWH's portion is his people... He found him in a desert land... Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that flutters over its young..."

  • Uses El-like imagery

Evidence: Psalm 82

"God stands in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment."

  • Depicts divine council setting

"How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."

  • YHWH judges other deities

"They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk around in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. I say, 'You are gods, children of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, you shall die like mortals, and fall like any prince.'"

  • Declares mortality of other gods

"Rise up, O God, judge the earth; for all the nations belong to you!"

  • Appears to be a bold polemic against Canaanite religion