Again, here you start wondering why the Lord (The YHWH) cares so much about how shepherds take care of the animals.
As I write this, I am reminded of Job 1, where YHWH allows Job to be cruelly tested, raising questions about the nature of suffering and the justice behind it.
YHWH planned a flood but spared Noah.
The text reveals a bitter rivalry between Yahweh and the neighboring Elohim of Ekron.
Indeed, it is Yahweh who refers to himself and his neighbour both as elohim.
For thus says YHWH: Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon the hip, and bounced upon the knees.
Isaiah 54:5-6 (Literal Translation):"For your Maker is your husband; YHWH of hosts is His name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; the God of the whole earth He is called.
For YHWH has called you like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit, like the wife of youth when she is cast off, says your God."
Psalm 122:3-4 (Literal Translation):"Jerusalem, built as a city that is bound firmly together, to which the tribes go up, the tribes of YHWH, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of YHWH."
1 This is what YHWH says:“Heaven is my throne,and the earth is my footstool.Where is the house you will build for me?Where will my resting place be?
1 "Thus says YHWH: The heavens are My throne, and the earth is the footstool of My feet.
2 Has not my hand made all these things,and so they came into being?”declares YHWH.“These are the ones I look on with favor:those who are humble and contrite in spirit,and who tremble at my word.
2 "All of these things my power created, and they came into existence, declares YHWH.
5 Hear the word of YHWH,you who tremble at his word:“Your own people who hate you,and exclude you because of my name, have said,‘Let YHWH be glorified,that we may see your joy!’Yet they will be put to shame.
5 "Hear the word of YHWH, you who tremble at His word: Your brothers who hate you, who cast you out for My name’s sake, said, 'Let YHWH be glorified, that we may see your joy'; but they shall be ashamed."
6 "A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, the voice of YHWH rendering recompense to His enemies."
9 Do I bring to the moment of birthand not give delivery?” says YHWH.“Do I close up the wombwhen I bring to delivery?” says your God.
says YHWH: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb?
12 For this is what YHWH says:“I will extend peace to her like a river,and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream;you will nurse and be carried on her armand dandled on her knees.
12 "For thus says YHWH: Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse, you shall be carried on the side, and be dandled upon the knees."
14 When you see this, your heart will rejoiceand you will flourish like grass;the hand of YHWH will be made known to his servants,but his fury will be shown to his foes.
14 "And you shall see, and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like grass: and the hand of YHWH shall be known toward His servants, and His indignation toward His enemies."
15 See, YHWH is coming with fire,and his chariots are like a whirlwind;he will bring down his anger with fury,and his rebuke with flames of fire.
15 "For behold, YHWH will come with fire, and His chariots like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire."
16 For with fire and with his swordYHWH will execute judgment on all people,and many will be those slain by YHWH.
16 "For by fire and by His sword will YHWH plead with all flesh: and the slain of YHWH shall be many."
17 “Those who consecrate and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one who is among those who eat the flesh of pigs, rats and other unclean things—they will meet their end together with the one they follow,” declares YHWH.
17 "Those who sanctify and purify themselves to go into the gardens, behind one in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, declares YHWH."
20 And they will bring all your people, from all the nations, to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to YHWH—on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels,” says YHWH.
“They will bring them, as the Israelites bring their grain offerings, to the temple of YHWH in ceremonially clean vessels.
20 "And they shall bring all your brothers out of all nations as an offering to YHWH, upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to My holy mountain Jerusalem, says YHWH, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of YHWH."
21 And I will select some of them also to be priests and Levites,” says YHWH.
21 "And I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites, says YHWH."
22 “As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me,” declares YHWH, “so will your name and descendants endure.
22 "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before Me, says YHWH, so shall your seed and your name remain."
23 From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me,” says YHWH.
23 "And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me, says YHWH."
"But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Yahweh.
So he paid the fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of Yahweh."
He quotes the passage where Jonah, trying to flee from Yahweh's command, boards a ship to Tarshish (interpreted as Spain).
The narrative implies that Jonah believed he could escape Yahweh's presence by simply sailing away, which seems naive if Yahweh is indeed omnipotent and omnipresent.
"But Jonah ran away from Yahweh and headed for Tarshish.
Biglino then discusses how the worship of Yahweh extended beyond Israel, even reaching places like Sardinia.
He references his ongoing series of videos exploring the presence of Yahweh's cult in Sardinia and the Greek islands' mystery cults.
Biglino refers to several authoritative sources to demonstrate the varying interpretations of "Elyon." The Catholic Encyclopedia suggests that "Elyon" indicates a monotheistic tendency, while Jewish scholar Professor Emanuel Tov asserts that "Elyon," "El," and "Yahweh" correspond to three different individuals.
He begins to explore Samson's story by reading from chapter 13 of the Book of Judges, where it states, "The Israelites again did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord, that is, Yahweh, and Yahweh delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for 40 years."
Biglino then details how an "angel of Yahweh" appeared to Manoah's wife and informed her that she would conceive a son, despite her barrenness.
He points out that the original Hebrew text does not include the definite article, meaning it was simply "an angel" or "a messenger" of Yahweh.
Manoah prays to Yahweh to send the angel again to instruct them on how to care for the promised child.
Manoah offers to prepare a meal for the angel, but the angel declines, instead instructing Manoah to offer a burnt offering to Yahweh.
Finally, Biglino recounts the birth of Samson, noting that the Bible says Yahweh "blessed" Samson, which in the biblical context always implies the bestowal of specific material tools or powers, not just spiritual blessings.
The Major Judges were directly called by Yahweh in times of danger.
Biglino reiterates that the Judges, especially the Major Judges, were called by Yahweh during times of need, particularly when Israel had to rebel against its enemies.
Biglino points out that Yahweh's commandment was not to marry outside the tribe of Israel, yet Samson, a Nazirite consecrated to Yahweh, violates this commandment.
Biglino finds it notable that Yahweh was seeking a reason for conflict with the Philistines and did not hesitate to have one of his Nazirites break a significant commandment to achieve this.
He questions the power of Yahweh, noting that despite promises made to his people, they had to fight for the land and continue to do so thousands of years later, with arms determining possession, not divine decree.
Biglino describes how the "spirit of Yahweh" came upon Samson, allowing him to tear apart a lion with his bare hands.
The Hebrew verb used here, "irrupe," suggests a deep penetration of Samson's mind by Yahweh, indicating a form of divine intervention that influences human actions.
He suggests that Yahweh, or possibly other Elohim, could enter the minds of chosen individuals, influencing or disturbing them to achieve specific goals.
These archaeologists found sites where worship was reserved for Yahweh and, more generally, for El, by various members of Abraham's family branches.
The interesting aspect, aside from the debates among archaeologists regarding the interpretation of these sites, is that these populations referred to these Els, in this case Yahweh, as gods or as a God who provided rules and teachings.
Biglino then turns his attention to the rules of behavior, the so-called commandments or "mitzvot" that Yahweh allegedly gave to Moses.
Yahweh gave Moses 613 rules, of which 248 are positive commandments ("you shall"), and the remaining 365 are prohibitions.
Biglino examines the first commandment in the Decalogue found in the Book of Exodus, which says: "I am Yahweh, your Elohim." While the catechism translates this as "I am the Lord your God," Biglino prefers to keep the original wording.
Yahweh says, "You shall have no other Elohim before me," meaning "You shall have no other gods before me," not that these gods do not exist.
Despite this, he observes that Catholics worship statues, images, and idols, which he believes is in total disregard of this commandment that Yahweh never revoked.
Yahweh instructs Moses to carve two new tablets, and Yahweh would write on them the words that were on the first tablets.
Biglino concludes by noting that the Decalogue in Exodus 34 forms the basis of the covenant that Yahweh made with Moses and the people of Israel, not with all of humanity.
Ezekiel describes the movements and noises of Yahweh’s "kavod" (glory), which is connected to cherubim.
YHWH (The Lord God) the new order
King Joshiah of Judah undertook significant religious reforms aimed at centralizing worship exclusively around YHWH.
Merging the Gods in the Bible Beni Elohim The Elohim YHWH Elohim
Josiah's reforms, influenced by the Book of the Laws of Yahweh, aimed to centralize religious practices and eliminate other cults, including those of Ashera.
The reforms led to the creation of a monotheistic tradition focused on Yahweh, erasing the earlier polytheistic and extraterrestrial interpretations.
This imagery reflects Psalm 29, which describes the power and majesty of Yahweh, paralleling Canaanite depictions of Baal.
By examining these myths, we can understand how the Israelites reinterpreted and transformed pagan imagery to articulate their understanding of Yahweh, the one true God.
The Hebrew Bible uses these motifs to assert Yahweh's supremacy over the pantheon of gods worshiped by surrounding nations.
It contrasts the beliefs of Israel's neighbors with the worship of Yahweh, highlighting the distinctiveness of Israelite religion and the richness of biblical imagery.
Unlike the capricious Canaanite gods, Yahweh, the God of Israel, is consistent and just.
Moses, in his farewell speech, urges the Israelites to remain faithful to Yahweh, who provides life and prosperity without the need for appeasing multiple deities or engaging in complex rituals.
Deuteronomy 30:8-20: Moses outlines the choice between life and death, urging Israel to follow Yahweh's commands for prosperity.
Unlike Canaanite practices, Yahweh's covenant is accessible, not requiring arduous journeys or secret knowledge.
In the ancient land of Canaan, amidst a pantheon of powerful deities, the sun and war god YHWH rose to prominence, eclipsing the older gods who once reigned supreme.
Yet, hidden in the celestial expanse, another force was growing in power and ambition—YHWH, the fiery god of the sun and war.
Born from the ancient essence of light and justice, YHWH was destined to challenge the old order and bring a new era.
YHWH's ascent began with a mighty conflict against Baal, the god who brought rain and storms.
YHWH, the burning sun, clashed with Baal's dark clouds in a battle that shook the heavens and the earth.
With blinding light and fierce flames, YHWH overcame Baal, asserting his dominance over the skies and the earth.
With Baal defeated, YHWH turned his gaze to the realms of El and Asherah.
Asherah, the mother goddess, wept for her lost children and the changing times, her influence waning as YHWH's power grew.
YHWH's triumph was not complete without facing the stars and the moon, symbolic of the many gods who adorned the night sky.
In a final celestial battle, YHWH's radiant light pierced the darkness, outshining the stars and casting the moon into obscurity.
As the dawn of a new age broke, YHWH stood supreme, the sole god of the Israelites.
No longer just the god of the sun and war, YHWH became the singular, omnipotent deity, guiding his chosen people with a fiery hand and a nurturing heart.
In this new order, the Israelites thrived under YHWH's protection and guidance.
They remembered the ancient gods in their tales and traditions, but their devotion belonged solely to YHWH, the god who had fought and defeated the older deities, establishing himself as the primary force in their lives.
Thus, the narrative of YHWH's ascendancy mirrors the mythic tales of gods rising and supplanting others, a universal theme of power, struggle, and the birth of new orders in the divine realms.
YHWH is seen predominantly as a warrior and judge, reflecting attributes of divine wrath, judgment, and sovereignty.
This aligns with the numerous biblical accounts of YHWH's actions involving war, killing, and destruction.
El retains the role of the supreme, benevolent creator, while Asherah, although not directly paralleled in YHWH's actions, would represent nurturing and fertility aspects in a broader polytheistic context.
YHWH as the powerful, wrathful warrior and judge, reflecting the themes of divine retribution and justice.
YHWH, in the development of Israelite religion, came to replace many roles attributed to various deities in the Canaanite pantheon, including Baal.
However, in the Hebrew Bible, the worship of Baal is frequently condemned, and YHWH is asserted as the one true God who alone holds all power, including those attributed to Baal (rain, fertility, storm).
YHWH Jireh (יהוה יִרְאֶה) - The LORD Will Provide
YHWH Nissi (יהוה נִסִּי) - The LORD Is My Banner
YHWH Sabaoth (יהוה צְבָאוֹת) - The LORD of Hosts
YHWH Raah (יהוה רֹעִי) - The LORD Is My Shepherd
YHWH Tsidkenu (יהוה צִדְקֵנוּ) - The LORD Our Righteousness
YHWH Shammah (יהוה שָׁמָּה) - The LORD Is There
Struggling/Striving with YHWH: The name "Yisra" captures the essence of striving or struggling.
In Genesis 32:28, Jacob is named Israel after wrestling with a divine being, symbolizing his perseverance and struggle with YHWH.
They are seen as a people who struggle and strive with YHWH, empowered by their relationship with the divine.
Genesis 32:28: "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with the messenger of YHWH and with humans and have overcome." This highlights the dual aspect of struggle and divine empowerment encapsulated in "The Powerful Yisra."
The Hebrew word "mal'ak" means "messenger." In the context of the Hebrew Bible, it often refers to a supernatural being sent by YHWH to deliver messages, provide guidance, or execute divine tasks.
"the powerful Yisra" (Jacob/Israel) still obeyed and was subordinate to "the powerful YHWH" (God).
Here's a breakdown of the hierarchy and the relationship between Jacob (Israel) and YHWH:
YHWH (יהוה) - The Powerful One, the destructor:
YHWH is the supreme deity in the Hebrew Bible, the creator and ruler of the universe.
YHWH's authority is absolute, and all creation, including humans and angels, is subject to His will.
YHWH is the source of all power, blessings, and commandments.
Messenger of YHWH (מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה, mal'ak YHWH):
The messenger of YHWH acts as a direct representative of YHWH, carrying out His commands and delivering His messages.
This messenger possesses authority but operates under YHWH's direction.
In the Book of Joshua, YHWH commands the Israelites, led by Joshua, to conquer the land of Canaan.
Jericho: In Joshua 6:2-5, YHWH instructs Joshua on how to capture Jericho, and the city and its inhabitants are destroyed (Joshua 6:17-21).
Ai: Similarly, YHWH commands the Israelites to attack and destroy the city of Ai (Joshua 8:1-29).
The term "herem" refers to the practice of devoting something to YHWH for destruction.
Amalekites: In 1 Samuel 15:2-3, YHWH commands King Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites, including men, women, children, and animals.
In Deuteronomy 7:1-2 and 20:16-18, YHWH commands the Israelites to utterly destroy the nations inhabiting Canaan to prevent them from leading the Israelites astray into idolatry.
The destruction of these nations is presented as necessary to purify the land and establish a holy community dedicated to YHWH.
The commands to kill and destroy are also seen as protective measures to prevent the Israelites from adopting the corrupt practices of the Canaanites, thereby preserving their covenant relationship with YHWH.
Mount Sinai: YHWH directly speaks to Moses and gives him the Ten Commandments and other laws (Exodus 19-20).
Burning Bush: YHWH calls Moses directly from the burning bush and commissions him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 3).
Conquest of Jericho: YHWH directly instructs Joshua on how to conquer Jericho (Joshua 6:2-5).
General Instructions: Throughout the Book of Joshua, YHWH communicates directly with Joshua to provide guidance and commands (Joshua 1:1-9).
Samuel: YHWH speaks directly to the prophet Samuel to guide the Israelites and anoint kings like Saul and David (1 Samuel 3; 1 Samuel 16).
The name Samuel is generally interpreted in a few different ways, but the most common interpretation is "Name of YHWH" or "YHWH has heard."
The Hebrew word for "YHWH" or "mighty one," which can be associated with power.
It suggests a figure who listens with divine authority or power, which fits well with Samuel's role of hearing from YHWH and communicating His messages to the people.
The Messenger of YHWH:
Hagar: The messenger of YHWH appears to Hagar in the wilderness to deliver a message of comfort and promise (Genesis 16:7-12).
Gideon: The messenger of YHWH calls Gideon to deliver Israel from the Midianites (Judges 6:11-24).
Manoah and His Wife: The messenger of YHWH announces the birth of Samson and instructs his parents on how to raise him (Judges 13).
In the context of the Bible, the wilderness is often a place of testing, encounter with YHWH, and transformation.
Pillar of Cloud and Fire: YHWH leads the Israelites through the wilderness with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, signifying His direct presence (Exodus 13:21-22).
Messenger of YHWH: In Exodus 23:20-23, YHWH tells the Israelites that He is sending a messenger to lead them and bring them to the Promised Land.
This messenger acts on YHWH's behalf and conveys His commands.
Through Samuel: In 1 Samuel 15:2-3, YHWH commands Saul, through the "The Powerful Listener", to destroy the Amalekites completely.
Direct to Joshua: YHWH directly commands "The Powerful Listener" to lead the Israelites into battle against the inhabitants of Canaan (Joshua 1:1-9; Joshua 6:2-5).
Messenger of YHWH: The Messenger of YHWH appears as a commander of the YHWH's army to "The Powerful Listener" before the battle of Jericho, giving instructions (Joshua 5:13-15).
Hannah names her son Samuel to commemorate that YHWH has heard her prayer.
Samuel listens to YHWH's voice and conveys His will to the people of Israel.
1 Samuel 3:10: "YHWH came and stood there, calling as at the other times, ‘Samuel!
YHWH (The Lord God) commands the prophet Samuel, "the Powerful Listener," to carry out actions that might be considered morally challenging or controversial from a human perspective.
Command to Saul via Samuel: In 1 Samuel 15, YHWH commands King Saul, through the Samuel, to completely destroy the Amalekites, including men, women, children, infants, and animals.
1 Samuel 15:2-3: "Thus says the YHWH of hosts, ‘I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt.
Saul: Samuel anoints Saul as the first king of Israel under YHWH's direction (1 Samuel 10).
I'm looking for elements that were attributed to the female part of God but eradicated by YHWH over time.
King Josiah of Judah undertook significant religious reforms aimed at centralizing worship exclusively around YHWH and eliminating the worship of other deities, including Asherah.
"The king ordered Hilkiah the high priest, the priests next in rank and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of the YHWH Lord all the articles made for Baal and Asherah and all the starry hosts.
He took the Asherah pole from the temple of YHWH Lord to the Kidron Valley outside Jerusalem and burned it there.
He also tore down the quarters of the male shrine prostitutes that were in the temple of the YHWH Lord, the quarters where women did weaving for Asherah."
The reforms aimed to restore the exclusive worship of YHWH as prescribed in the Deuteronomic code.
King Josiah's actions against the worship of Asherah, as described in the Bible, were part of his broader efforts to centralize and purify the worship of YHWH.
By destroying the objects associated with Asherah and other deities, Josiah aimed to eliminate polytheistic practices and reinforce the exclusive worship of YHWH in Judah.
King Josiah's reforms targeted a range of deities and associated practices, aiming to purify the worship in Judah and centralize it around YHWH.
By eliminating the worship of Baal, Molech, Chemosh, Milcom, and the host of heaven, and destroying the high places and idolatrous artifacts, Josiah reinforced the exclusive worship of YHWH and sought to align Judah's religious practices with the covenantal laws found in the Torah.
King Josiah of Judah was a significant ruler in the history of ancient Israel, known for his religious reforms and efforts to restore the worship of YHWH.
This discovery led to a renewed covenant with YHWH, as Josiah read the book to the people and pledged to follow its commands (2 Kings 23:1-3).
Josiah centralized the worship of YHWH in the Jerusalem Temple, making it the sole legitimate place for sacrifices and religious ceremonies (2 Kings 23:4-9).
Josiah is remembered as one of Judah's most righteous kings, praised for his devotion to YHWH and his efforts to reform and purify the nation's worship practices.
His efforts to eliminate idolatry and restore the worship of YHWH had a profound influence on the religious landscape of Judah and the development of Jewish monotheism.
His reign is chronicled in the books of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles, highlighting his significant contributions and the challenges he faced in his quest to renew the covenant with YHWH.
Asherah may have been considered a consort of Yahweh in early Israelite religion, based on archaeological findings and ancient inscriptions.
Inscriptions from Kuntillet Ajrud and Khirbet el-Qom (8th century BCE) mention "Yahweh and his Asherah," suggesting that she might have been venerated alongside Yahweh.
As monotheism became more firmly established, efforts were made to eradicate these syncretic elements and focus exclusively on the worship of Yahweh.
Prophets such as Jeremiah and Hosea condemned the worship of Asherah and other deities, calling for a return to the exclusive worship of Yahweh.
In this same vein, the redactor of II Kings gives us a clear feeling for what C7th-C6thBCE Jewish believers thought and felt about Yahweh.
The New Jerusalem Bible says, “They spoke slightingly of Yahweh their Powerful One.” They defamed him.
“They rejected his decrees.” To spell it out, the mainstream Jewish memory of Yahweh at this point, in the C8th-6thBCE, was essentially negative.
The regime of Yahweh’s laws had largely been dispensed with.
Yahweh was seen, in essence, as their former ruler, and good riddance.
A summary of what YHWH says a king will do to the people:
YHWH concludes with a warning that when these things happen, the people will cry out for relief from the king they have chosen, but YHWH will not answer them in that day (1 Samuel 8:18).
Despite this warning, the people insist on having a king, and YHWH instructs Samuel to give them what they want (1 Samuel 8:19-22).
And Samuel prayed unto YHWH.
7And the YHWH said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
10And Samuel told all the words of YHWH unto the people that asked of him a king.
18And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and YHWH will not hear you in that day.
21And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the YHWH.
22And the YHWH said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king.
Staying on Yahweh for a moment, you mentioned that it is a sequence of sounds.
What are these sounds invoking when we say the name Yahweh, and what do they mean to our ancestors?
There are early narratives carrying the name of Yahweh that follow this exact structure.
Descriptions of Yahweh in these stories are distinctly draconian, detailing the length of his snout, the strength of his hide, his flight feathers, the length of his tail, and his ability to ignite his breath and incinerate people.
In 1 Samuel 8, Yahweh is depicted as being overthrown by the people who refuse to serve him any longer, mirroring the dragon story arc.
One might wonder about the phonetic connection, as Yahweh doesn't immediately sound like the figures in other dragon stories.
However, the two "h" sounds in Yahweh have not always been silent.
For example, a "b" becomes a "v," a "v" becomes a "w," a "p" becomes an "f," and a "t" becomes a "th." In Proto-Northwest Semitic, the ancestor of Hebrew, the two "h" sounds in Yahweh were pronounced in a manner consistent with the sounds associated with dragon stories globally.
They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.” But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to YHWH.
And YHWH told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.
We gave them the name of deity, be it God, Lord, Jehovah, Allah, Yahweh, Dios, created supreme being or Satan, Shaytan, and devil.
Yahweh-Jehovah was basically a fictional character made by combining aspects of Enki and Enlil, but primary Enki as he was made to be an adversary of Baal, the storm god, who is Enlil.
Elijah prays to Yahweh, who sends fire that consumes the offering, the altar, and even the water around it.
The people acknowledge Yahweh as the true God, and the prophets of Baal are executed.
This event proves Yahweh's control over rain and fire, areas where Baal (a storm and fertility god) was supposed to rule.
In Judges 6, Gideon destroys his father's altar to Baal, showing Yahweh's power over it.
Yahweh's dominance over storm imagery (Judges 5; 1 Samuel 7) In the Song of Deborah (Judges 5:4–5), Yahweh marches as a storm god, bringing rain and earthquakes, attributes claimed by Baal.
In 1 Samuel 7, after Israel removes Baal idols, Yahweh sends thunder to defeat the Philistines, proving He controls storms, not Baal.
This idolatry provokes Yahweh's anger, resulting in a plague that kills 24,000 people.
In the Hebrew Bible, Baal is often mentioned as a rival to Yahweh, the God of Israel.
The worship of Baal was frequently condemned by Hebrew prophets, and the Israelites are often portrayed as turning away from Yahweh to worship Baal, which led to various conflicts and punishments.
In the text, the speaker is Yahweh, and he says he never commanded it.
So in Jeremiah's words someone other than Yahweh was asking for the children, and here the text names Baal.
There an Elohim tells Abraham to burn Isaac, and the angel of YHWH stops the knife.
If child sacrifice never came into Yahweh's mind, I want to know who gave that first order.
Prophetic MissionElijah’s ministry, recorded in 1 Kings and 2 Kings, centers on defending the worship of Yahweh against Baal idolatry.
Elijah confronts 450 Baal prophets on Mount Carmel to prove Yahweh’s supremacy.
Why would it be pleasing to Yahweh to kill something that He had created?
Yahweh
Yahwistic Religion refers to the worship and religious practices centered around Yahweh, the national god of ancient Israel and Judah.
The term "Yahwistic" is derived from "Yahweh," the personal name of the deity as revealed in the Hebrew Bible.
This religious tradition is characterized by its monotheistic or henotheistic worship of Yahweh as the supreme deity, distinct from the polytheistic practices of neighboring cultures.
The Yahwistic religion gradually evolved from a henotheistic system, where Yahweh was considered the most powerful among many gods, to a monotheistic faith, exclusively worshipping Yahweh.
Central to Yahwistic belief is the concept of a covenant between Yahweh and His people, Israel.
This concept of monotheism is similar to the worship of Yahweh introduced by Moses.