Yahweh and the Gods and Goddesses of Canaan

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title Yahweh and the Gods and Goddesses of Canaan
Authors and Contributors      By (author) John Day
SeriesThe Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:290
Dimensions(mm): Height 234,Width 156
Category/GenreJudaism
Theology
ISBN/Barcode 9780826468307
ClassificationsDewey:296.39
Audience
General
Tertiary Education (US: College)

Publishing Details

Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Imprint Sheffield Academic Press
Publication Date 1 March 2001
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

This masterly book is the climax of over twenty-five years of study of the impact of Canaanite religion and mythology on ancient Israel and the Old Testament. It is John Day's magnum opus in which he sets forth all his main arguments and conclusions on the subject. The work considers in detail the relationship between Yahweh and the various gods and goddesses of Canaan, including the leading gods El and Baal, the great goddesses (Asherah, Astarte and Anat), astral deities (Sun, Moon and Lucifer), and underworld deities (Mot, Resheph, Molech and the Rephaim). Day assesses both what Yahwism assimilated from these deities and what it came to reject. More generally he discusses the impact of Canaanite polytheism on ancient Israel and how monotheism was eventually achieved.

Author Biography

John Day is Professor of Old Testament Studies in the University of Oxford, and Fellow & Tutor of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. He has written or edited numerous books and articles, and in 2014 is President of the Society for Old Testament Study.