num_pages: 352
description: According to the Bible, ancient Israel's neighbors worshipped a wide variety of gods. In recent years, scholars have sought a better understanding of this early polytheistic milieu and its relation to Yahweh, the God of Israel. Drawing on ancient Ugaritic texts and looking closely at Ugaritic deities, Mark Smith examines the meaning of "divinity" in the ancient near East and considers how this concept applies to Yahweh.
language: English
title: The Origins of Biblical Monotheism: Israel's Polytheistic Background and the Ugaritic Texts
titlecomplete: The Origins of Biblical Monotheism: Israel's Polytheistic Background and the Ugaritic Texts
genres: Christianity, Theology, Religion, Mythology, Judaism, Philosophy, History, Reference, Jewish, Nonfiction
ratings_count: 123
publisher: Oxford University Press