Understanding Israelite
Monotheism
Old Testament affirmations such as Deut 6:4 (“Hear, O Israel, Yahweh our God is one”) and the prophets’ repeated statements that “there is none besides Yahweh,” can easily lead to the assumption that the OT Israelites did not believe in the existence of other gods. According to this assumption, the definition of monotheism rules out the existence of other gods. In light of many OT passages, these assumptions cannot be sustained. Rather than producing contradictions within the biblical text, these passages that are often set aside demonstrate how godly Israelites thought about Yahweh and provide a more accurate picture of Israelite monotheism.
Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2012. Print.
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