The Divine Council, the Psalter, and the Jewish Study Bible

The following texts from the 1985 JPS Tanakh translation, with commentary from The Jewish Study Bible (2d ed.; New York: Oxford University Press, 2014) on the issue of the “heavenly council” in the Psalter. See this post which reproduces the comments on Deut 32:7-9.

Psa 29:1, “A psalm of David. Ascribe to the Lord, O divine beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.”

Divine beings, lit. “son of God” or “sons of gods,” subordinate deities in the heavenly assembly. In Israelite through these divine beings are part of God’s retinue, His heavenly court (Exod. 15:11; Pss. 82:1; 89:6-8; Jab chs. 1-2) (p. 1298)

Psa 82:1: “A psalm of Asaph. God stands in the divine assembly; among the divine beings He pronounces judgement.”

Divine Assembly. Heb could also be rendered “the assembly of El,” referring to the head of the Ugaritic pantheon. Perhaps originally a separate deity in early Israelite religion, the name “El” became synonymous with YHVH. Divine beings, the celestial council. Cf. Isa. Ch. 6; 1 Kings 22; Job 1:6). Some commentators prefer to interpret this use of “elohim” as human judges, but this is less likely. (p. 1361)