When gods cry

The title is little more than a way to engage the reader’s attention, and I admit to having co-opted the idea from Pop megastar recording artist Prince’s song “When Doves Cry.” The point that I want to offer in this brief study is that not all gods mentioned in the Bible, especially the Old Testament, are objects made from materials such as a tree, stone slab, or molded metal. It may come as a surprise to some that those idol gods mentioned in the Bible narratives are real persons or beings superior to humans. It must also be kept in mind that persons could be worshipped as a ‘god’ such as the Pharaohs of Egypt or Caesars of imperial Rome. If such were idols the carved images would not necessarily what the petitioner or suppliant believes the deity looks like but rather is an aspect of some characteristic and used as a fetish to channel, attract or draw in the power or energy from that source and is used for protection, healing, and some other benefit; or even for destructive purposes as well. The following examples are offered for consideration.

2 Kings 1: 16

He told the king, “This is what the Lord says: “Is it because there is no God in Israel for you to consult that you have sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron”?

NOTE: Baal-Zebub might be like the oracle of Delphi among the Greeks, giving a glimpse in the future by foretelling of events yet to happen and the eventual outcome. Interestingly, this same name is the corrupted form [or the other way around??] used in the New Testament concerning Jesus in Matthew 12: 24, where it says: But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebub [Baal-Zebub] the prince of demons that this fellow drives out demons. It would seem that this being has the same identity and in all probability is some kind of entity or being, non-human and definitely not a carved or graven (man-made) object.

2 Kings 17: 31

The Sepharavites burned their children in the fire as sacrifices to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

2 Kings 19: 37a

One day he (Sennacherib) was worshipping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer cut him down with the sword.

NOTE: It is very possible that Sennacherib’s son Adrammelech was worshipped as a god by the Sepharvites. Besides, can a thing (idol) kill someone with a sword, or does a person have to do it?

Jeremiah 43: 12

The Lord will set fire to the temples of the gods of Egypt; He will burn down their temples and take their gods captive.

NOTE: What would be the value of taking captive inanimate objects as opposed to teal people? Of course, even if these idols were made of gold, silver, or some precious stones (jade, rubies, topaz, diamonds, etc.) the narrative still wouldn’t make sense.

Jeremiah 46: 25

The Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says, “I am about to bring punishment on Amon the god of Thebes, on Pharaoh, on [the people of] Egypt, and on her gods and her kings, and on those who rely on Pharaoh.

NOTE: You cannot punish lifeless things, hurt them or make them feel pain so the god Amon and some, if not all the other gods worshipped in that part of Egypt, as well as the Pharaoh and other kings must be flesh and blood persons.

Jeremiah 48: 7b

“. . . and Chemosh will go into exile, together with his (not it’s) priests and officials.”

NOTE: Only a person can go into exile, be deported or banished.

Jeremiah 49: 1b

Why then has Molech taken possession of [the territory of] Gad? Why do his people live its towns?

NOTE: Does an inanimate object or idol take possession of some land and have people of its own? Besides, the narrative used “his” and not its people.

Jeremiah 50: 2b

Bel will be put to shame and Marduk will be filled with terror.

NOTE: Can an idol of wood, stone, or metal be shamed or made to feel terror?

Ezekiel 8: 14b

I saw women sitting there mourning for Tammuz.

NOTE: Why would women shed tears for an carved image [Tammuz the slain or crucified fertility god??]

 

Robert Randle
776 Commerce St Apt B11
Tacoma, WA 98402
March 15, 2016
robertrandle51@yahoo.com