Karl, I thought you'd point those references out. I think you'll find the phrase קנה שׁמים וארץ is a description of a chief deity, not necessarily of a universal god. These kinds of titles are still used in polytheistic contexts. For example, the Egyptians called their chief deity, Amun/Re, 'creator and maker of all things that exist' and the one who made heaven and earth. In Karatepe (Sam'al), El is referred to as creator of the earth, and yet listed alongside other gods in the same sentence. So, the phrase you point out is in no way indicative of a universal god. It's usually just indicative of chief god's curriculum vitae, as it were. The way you are taking it is probably more indicative of a very late interpretation of the text. If you're positing a late Persian or Hellenistic milieu for this narrative, I think I could live with your suggestion. However, I suspect you're not arguing that. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you're arguing for an early date for this text. If that's the case, the way you are reading the text would be extraordinarily exceptional for its time.
GEORGE ATHAS Director of Postgraduate Studies, Moore Theological College (moore.edu.au) Sydney, Australia From: K Randolph <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:48:16 -0700 To: George Athas <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Cc: B-Hebrew <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Genesis 14:18-22 Because he is described not as a deity for a particular place, but as the deity that got possession of “heavens and earth”, i.e. the whole universe. That phrase is used twice in this passage. Karl W. Randolph. _______________________________________________ b-hebrew mailing list [email protected] http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/b-hebrew
