YHWH’s claim to be the only Elohim, is it a statement of superiority or actuality?
We see in the Bible numerous attestations that YHWH is the only Elohim.
Deuteronomy 4:35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.
Deuteronomy 4:39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
Deuteronomy 32:39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
Isaiah 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
Isaiah 44:8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
Isaiah 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
These are written first person statements, obviously indicating that God himself has declared what has been written by the biblical writer. (Deuteronomy 4:35 and 39 excluded)
However, it is asserted by those that hold to the belief of a divine council that YHVH is not, in fact, the only Elohim and that the biblical attestations of YHWH being the only Elohim do not refer to an actuality but one of a declaration of superiority, sometimes with the added assertion that YHVH is only the superior Elohim over Israel.
2 verses, Isaiah 47:8 and Zephaniah 2:15, are then used in support of this claim.
Isaiah 47:8 Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:
Zephaniah 2:15 This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.
It is asserted that in these verses, Babylon (Isaiah) and Nineveh (Zephaniah) are attributed as having declared themselves as the only one and none else beside them.
Of course, we should not take this as mean that Babylon or Nineveh were in actuality the only one city and there was no city besides them.
It is evident, by the fact that there were and are other cities, that this is not a statement of actuality but a boastful statement of superiority which the writer applied to the cities. They are declaring themselves as the only city that matters. A greater city than all other cities.
So why are the statements made of and by God, statements of actuality rather than boastful statements like that of the cities Babylon and Ninevah?
Personally, I find it bizarre that anyone would even compare the declarations of God that he is the only Elohim to boastful statements applied by the biblical writer upon these cities. It is evident to me that the writer was highlighting the fact that the cities “proclamations” were simply boastful statements by contrasting them with the actuality statements of YHWH and so demonstrating one being factual and the other not.
We also have the wording said in thine heart. This is applied to both Babylon and Nineveh. The biblical writers demonstrated that this was something that the cities had perceived within themselves. Clearly, this is figurative language used to demonstrate the inward pride of the people, or at least the leaders of Babylon, that they believed themselves to be superior to all other cities.
God does not declare an inward pride, something that he says in his heart. His statement of being the only elohim does not come from his own personal feeling of superiority but from the statement of truth, an asserted fact. These are not just statements being applied to him about what he has said in his own heart, but rather many of these are self declarations of absolutenes.
It is also argued that making such a declaration was a common idiom during the 2nd temple period. However, what we must note is that Isaiah is not a second temple period writing. It is a first temple writing having been compiled by the prophet Isaiah sometime in the 8th century BC. Furthermore, Deuteronomy is at least a 1st temple writing, although, if Moses wrote the book of Deuteronomy, then this would make it a pre temple writing. Therefore, we cannot impute 2nd temple idioms unto the texts of 1st temple/pre temple scriptures and assert that idiomatic meaning back into what the biblical writers meant by their usage. Remember many of these are God’s declarations of himself not only what is being imputed upon him.
The statements of both Babylon and Nineveh are indeed boastful statements made from pride.
They are not factual statements. The cities have said that they are the only cities. On both occasions they are punished for their arrogance.
We must also make note of the Hebrew word אַיִן Ayin. It is a particle of negation.
This is used in Deuteronomy 4:39, 32:39 (twice), Isaiah 43:10 and Isaiah 45:5
The word Ayin is used to negate the existence of other Elohim in these verses.
The negation that is used for YHWH, Ayin, is not applied to either city.
Deuteronomy 4:39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
Here we see that we are told to consider it in OUR hearts that the LORD/ YHWH is God/Elohim in heaven and earth there is none (Ayin) else, not simply in Israel. He is Elohim in heaven and earth to the negation of other elohim in heaven and earth.
Deuteronomy 32:39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
Ayin appears twice in this verse. God states that he is and there is no (ayin) god/elohim with him. It then states that there is neither any that can deliver out of his hand. Here again there is a negation of any other. We must understand that this is a statement of absolute and actuality. There is NONE, as in the negation of anyone that can deliver out of God’s hand. Both of these negations are done through the use of Ayin.
Isaiah 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
Ayin used here that we would know and believe that before YHWH there was no God/Elohim formed neither shall there be after him. That would indicate that no other God was formed.
We should also take note of the following verse.
Isaiah 43:11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
Again Ayin is used here to negate the existence of any other saviour. Must we understand this that there are in fact other saviours in actuality.
Isaiah 44:8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
Ayin used in this verse again to negate the actuality of any God. YHWH knows not any.
Isaiah 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
And finally, again Ayin used to negate the existence of any other God but YHWH. There is none but him.
Now we must also look at the language used.
Isaiah 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
אני יהוה ואין עוד זולתי אין אלהים אאזרך ולא ידעתני׃
Isaiah 47:8 Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:
ועתה שמעי־זאת עדינה היושבת לבטח האמרה בלבבה אני ואפסי עוד לא אשב אלמנה ולא אדע שכול׃
In both verses we have Ani (I) but besides me are two completely different Hebrew words. In the proclamation by Babylon we have the Hebrew אֶפֶס ephes (which means ceasing) while the word that YHWH uses is זוּלָה zulah meaning except/only. None else is also completely different. The words applied to Babylon are עוֹד od and לֹא lo (not besides). The wording that YHWH uses is אַיִן ayin עוֹד od.
Remember that it is Isaiah that wrote both of these verses.
Zephanias also uses אֶפֶס ephes and עוֹד od.
Both cities were judged because of their pride.
These are not non comparable statements.
YHWH’s statement is a statement of actuality. There is no other Elohim than him.
The Bible often records narratives where the onther”gods” are challenged and shown to not have any powers(for they do not in reality exist).
We see this in the story of God redeeming Israel from slavery in the land of Egypt, where God demonstrates through a number of plagues that the Egyptian gods have no power over the elements while he has full control. Note this is not done in the land of Israel, demonstrating that God doesn’t just have power in his own land.
We see where the gods are challenged by Elijah on mount Carmel. This story is found in 1 Kings 18. Elijah challenges the prophets of baal to prove their gods.
The prophets of baal are unable to call upon their gods while Elijah proves his God when the sacrifice is consumed.
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