Elohim and Yahweh

In the beginning, the elohim created skies and earth.

Before I continue with plotting God’s story, I want to point out two subplots embedded in God’s character.

In the Jewish Bible, the character whose name is translated as “God,” really has two names.  

One is “Elohim” and the other is “Yahweh.”  The former was the primary name for Israel’s deity, and the latter was the primary name for Judah’s deity. 

Israel and Judah were united under David and Solomon, but they divided after Solomon’s death.  The division, as so often happens, occurred along political and religious lines.

After the Assyrian invasion, Israel never quite recovered to the same extent that Judah did after the Babylonian exile.  

Indeed, Jerusalem, the capital of Judah, became the holy city; Samaria, the capital of Israel, did not.  

Two traditions emerged from both kingdoms.  Both traditions can be found expressed in the Torah.  That is why there are two accounts of the same event in the Bible:  creation, Noah's story, Abraham's promise, etc.

There is also a third source, called the priestly source that is concerned with temple worship.  

However, for my purposes today, I wish to write about the two names of God.

Often, when the word "God" is used in translation the Hebrew word is Elohim, and when the world LORD is used in translation the Hebrew word is Yahweh.  If you read the passages closely with that rule in mind, you find some interesting differences in God.

For example, Elohim often appears directly to people.  Yahweh appears through a medium such as a bush or a storm.  

Eventually, Elohim faded in significance and Yahweh ascends to become Israel's primary deity.  

There are many reasons for Yahweh’s prominence.  Elohim has always carried a plural meaning, while Yahweh is a decisive turn towards monotheism.  Elohim appears in person, while Yahweh, by appearing through a medium, follows the logic of the second commandment which forbids any image of the LORD. 

Of course, Israel has still retained its influence.  Indeed, the country once known as Judah is now called Israel.

Blessings…