In his
interesting book on the origins of monotheism, A. Keith Thompson (a Latter-day
Saint scholar) wrote the following about the Jerusalem Talmud’s attempt to
explain away some texts that would indicate a theology other than strict
unitary monotheism:
Rebuttal of
the dualism of God in the Jerusalem Talmud
The issue of the possible dualism of God is
introduced in the Jerusalem Talmud by a question put to the Rabbi Samlaï (Jerusalem Talmud, 44) by “some bad men.”
His interlocutor asks – ‘How many Gods created the universe” (Ibid., 150) which
the context confirms is a reference to the use of the plural “us” in the
standard translation of Genesis 1:26 into English as – “Let us make man in our image, after our
likeness” (Ibid., 151), and to Joshua 22:22 where God is referred to as “The
Lord God of gods”.
Rabbi Samlaï responds with references to
Deuteronomy 4:32 and Genesis 1:1 though with clarifications from the
questioners’ references and some others. His answers are avowedly monotheistic.
The references to God in Genesis 1:1 and Deuteronomy 4:32 to God as creator are
both in the singular and the verb used confirms the fact. Similarly, he
explains that in Genesis 1:26 the fact that God is singular is confirmed in the
following verse 27 where the creation of man by God in the singular is
confirmed by the use of the personal pronouns “He” and “his” when the plan or
creation is carried into effect. The same answer is given in relation to Joshua
22:22 – the verb used in the original language text denotes God in the singular
and the Rabbi Samlaï puts the matter to bed by saying the confusion has arisen
because God has multiple names, just as their emperor has three names – “Caesar,
Augustus or Emperor” (Ibid.) The discussion in the Jerusalem Talmud continues
with the Rabbi Isaac explaining that the confusing plural had been used “to
show that several degrees of holiness are meant” (Ibid.) (A. Keith Thompson, Trinity and Monotheism: A historical and
theological review of the origins and substance of the doctrine [Redland
Bay, Australia: Modotti Press, 2019], 40-41)