Eventually, ancient Jews
generated myths domesticating these other superhuman powers as errant angels or
as rather dim political subordinates. Those Jews (and, later, gentile
Christians) of sufficient (pagan) philosophical education might argue for these
powers’ ontological contingency on the One God. In biblical narrative, however,
these other divine forces are often simply there. (Paula Fredriksen, “Philo,
Herod, Paul, and the Many Gods of Ancient Jewish ‘Monotheism’,” Harvard Theological
Review 115, no. 1 [February 2022]: 5)
A small sampling: Exod 12:12 “On
all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments”; 15:11, “Who is like you among
the gods?”; 18:12, “Now I know that the Lord is greater than all [other] gods.”
Ps 97:7, “All the gods bow down to him.” Deut 32:43, “Worship him, all you
gods.” Ps 82:2, “In the midst of the gods he gives judgment.” Mic 4:5, “All the
peoples walk, each in the name of its god; but we will walk in the name of the
Lord our god forever and ever.” Jer 43:12, God captures the gods of Egypt;
46:25, he brings punishments upon these gods; 49:3, he sends the Ammonite god
into exile. Isa 8:19 and 1 Sam 28:19 also refer to the dead as “gods.” (Ibid.,
5 n. 11)
