I was aware that a recurring theme in the Scriptures is the Israelites going back and forth from remaining set apart to Yah and mixing with the religious traditions of their neighbors. I also knew that their neighbors were influenced by the Yahudim and made some attempt at accomodation possibly to dilute the Israelite people into their own nations. I assume it was for this reason that Yahuweh gave Moshe commandment #1 and the Shema, knowing the people did or would be tempted to revere other elohim (gods) in His presence.
With this in mind I came across a claim from a u-tube video claiming that the Israelites splintered off from a Pagan pantheon that uses names familiar to readers of the Tanahk such as El, Elyon, Elohim, Yahuweh, Baal, Asaroth etc.
Here is video in question:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llCm3gLU6tM A response video was available that challenged the claim of the original, that had the same title except with Re: preceeding this one's title.
I for one, was unaware of the Ugaritic texts and have since done a little digging. In case you were as unfamilar with these as myself, I'll link the the following to get started:
http://www.logos.com/ugaritichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UgaritFor starters, I'm suspicious about the claim of the texts refering to Yahuweh as a son of El date from 2200 BCE. If I recall correctly both Enoch (pre-flood), and Noah and sons (pre and post flood) called upon the specific name of Yahuweh and were montheists among polytheists. I see the same of Abraham and sons, yet Moshe was concerned about in whose name he should tell the Hebrews held in captivity he was sent to deliver them for.
If the 2200 BCE date is true it opens a few possibilities occur to me. While the conclusion of the initial video is that Moses/Israelites must have borrowed the name of Yahuweh from the Pagan Canaanites and used texts like the Ugaritic to base Judaism upon I don't see that this is so even if the video were an accurate report. I suspect that Noah's sons and some of their desendants retained knowledge even if somewhat corrupted of Yahuweh Elohim apart from (and even before?) Abraham was reintroduced to Him and later still Moses.
If the tabelets referencing Yahuweh were from Abraham's day it seems possible to me that Abraham's influence on his neighbors may have taken some root as I'd presume Esau's and possibly Ishmael's extended families that did not leave for Goshen would've retained aspects of Abraham's el, Yahuweh in or around the land of promise. If the earlier date for the Exodus is correct say 1447 BCE, it is possible that the Israelites who failed to obey Yahweh's /Joshua's instructions not to marry or associate with the people of the nations were similarly compromised leaving a blended Canaanite pantheon that used Yahuweh's name before the time that this city was destroyed. It also makes me wonder about blended practices of the northern tribes of Israel that split off after Solomon's death?
I also could see this as a possible reason why the exiled Jews in Babylon would make secret the name of Yahuweh. That is to prevent the same experience from reoccuring with the Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Muslims etc. from writing in Yahuweh's name into their writings and systems and prevent the blending /dilluting of their people set apart to Yahuweh?
I've written a few PMs (and hope to share shortly) about this and received some helpful replies, however, I hope that opening the discussion to the forum will alert people to this arguement and that we can all gain by seeing and sharing our reponses.
