Oregon Undergraduate Research Journal: Vol. 9 No. 1 (2015)

Permanent URI for this collection

https://hdl.handle.net/1794/23454
Cover art by Basil Price

Browse

Browsing Oregon Undergraduate Research Journal: Vol. 9 No. 1 (2015) by Subject "God"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    The Question of Divine Omnibenevolence: What does the Hebrew Bible Reveal about Yahweh's Nature
    (University of Oregon, 2015) Faris, Jonathan
    The portrayal of God in the Hebrew Bible as a whole is overwhelmingly positive. However, this perception of the Hebrew Bible God, also known as Israel’s patron deity, Yahweh, changes upon further examination of certain biblical passages that appear to portray a malicious, exceedingly violent Yahweh. These passages have caused significant debate among interpreters, with some defending his behavior while others cast Yahweh in a malevolent light. However, these questionable narratives can be better understood by a rather integral thread woven into the fabric of biblical tradition: Yahweh’s covenantal relationship with his people. This unique relationship between patron god and people sets Israel apart from other ancient Near Eastern civilizations that had moody, passionate gods, such as Egypt and Babylonia. Yahweh made several covenants with the chosen people, and despite the Israelites’ consistent, flagrant violations of the relationship as well as his being devoid of obligation to the group he voluntarily delivered from slavery in Egypt, he maintained his side of the covenant. This faithfulness exemplifies his emotional investment in his people, which manifests itself in divine pathos. Likewise, Yahweh shows care and protection for the Israelites, often in the form of Yahweh voluntarily coming down to earth to act (sometimes violently) on behalf of Israel. When morally ambiguous passages are viewed in light of these biblical contexts, we can attain a more comprehensive view of Yahweh that affirms his omnibenevolence.