Changes

96:1.2 The [[progress]] of the [[Hebrews]] from [[polytheism]] through [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henotheism henotheism] to [[monotheism]] was not an unbroken and [[continuous]] [[conceptual]] [[development]]. They [[experienced]] many [[retrogressions]] in the [[evolution]] of their [[Deity]] [[concepts]], while during any one [[epoch]] there existed varying [[ideas]] of [[God]] among [[different]] [[groups]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semites Semite] believers. From time to time numerous terms were applied to their [[concepts]] of [[God]], and in order to prevent [[confusion]] these various [[Deity]] titles will be defined as they pertain to the [[evolution]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_theology Jewish theology]:

96:1.2 The [[progress]] of the [[Hebrews]] from [[polytheism]] through [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henotheism henotheism] to [[monotheism]] was not an unbroken and [[continuous]] [[conceptual]] [[development]]. They [[experienced]] many [[retrogressions]] in the [[evolution]] of their [[Deity]] [[concepts]], while during any one [[epoch]] there existed varying [[ideas]] of [[God]] among [[different]] [[groups]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semites Semite] believers. From time to time numerous terms were applied to their [[concepts]] of [[God]], and in order to prevent [[confusion]] these various [[Deity]] titles will be defined as they pertain to the [[evolution]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_theology Jewish theology]:

*1. 96:1.3 [[Yahweh]] was the god of the southern [[Palestinian]] [[tribes]], who associated this [[concept]] of [[deity]] with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Horeb Mount Horeb], the Sinai volcano. [[Yahweh]] was merely one of the hundreds and thousands of [[nature]] gods which held the [[attention]] and claimed the [[worship]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semitic Semitic] [[tribes]] and peoples.

*1. 96:1.3 ''[[Yahweh]]'' was the god of the southern [[Palestinian]] [[tribes]], who associated this [[concept]] of [[deity]] with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Horeb Mount Horeb], the Sinai volcano. [[Yahweh]] was merely one of the hundreds and thousands of [[nature]] gods which held the [[attention]] and claimed the [[worship]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semitic Semitic] [[tribes]] and peoples.

*2. 96:1.4 [[El Elyon]]. For centuries after [[Melchizedek]]'s [[sojourn]] at [[Salem]] his [[doctrine]] of [[Deity]] [[persisted]] in various versions but was generally connoted by the term [[El Elyon]], the [[Most High]] [[God]] of [[heaven]]. Many [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semites Semites], including the immediate descendants of [[Abraham]], at various times [[worshiped]] both [[Yahweh]] and [[El Elyon]].

*2. 96:1.4 ''[[El Elyon]]''. For centuries after [[Melchizedek]]'s [[sojourn]] at [[Salem]] his [[doctrine]] of [[Deity]] [[persisted]] in various versions but was generally connoted by the term [[El Elyon]], the [[Most High]] [[God]] of [[heaven]]. Many [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semites Semites], including the immediate descendants of [[Abraham]], at various times [[worshiped]] both [[Yahweh]] and [[El Elyon]].

*3. 96:1.5 [[El Shaddai]]. It is difficult to [[explain]] what ''El Shaddai'' stood for. This [[idea]] of God was a [[composite]] derived from the teachings of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenemope_(author) Amenemope]'s [http://www.maat.sofiatopia.org/amen_em_apt.htm Book of Wisdom] [[modified]] by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikhanaton Ikhnaton]'s [[doctrine]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aten Aton] and further [[influenced]] by [[Melchizedek]]'s teachings embodied in the [[concept]] of [[El Elyon]]. But as the [[concept]] of [[El Shaddai]] permeated the [[Hebrew]] [[mind]], it became thoroughly colored with the [[Yahweh]] [[beliefs]] of the [[desert]].

*3. 96:1.5 ''[[El Shaddai]]''. It is difficult to [[explain]] what ''El Shaddai'' stood for. This [[idea]] of God was a [[composite]] derived from the teachings of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenemope_(author) Amenemope]'s [http://www.maat.sofiatopia.org/amen_em_apt.htm Book of Wisdom] [[modified]] by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikhanaton Ikhnaton]'s [[doctrine]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aten Aton] and further [[influenced]] by [[Melchizedek]]'s teachings embodied in the [[concept]] of [[El Elyon]]. But as the [[concept]] of [[El Shaddai]] permeated the [[Hebrew]] [[mind]], it became thoroughly colored with the [[Yahweh]] [[beliefs]] of the [[desert]].

96:1.6 One of the [[dominant]] [[ideas]] of the [[religion]] of this era was the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_reliigon Egyptian] [[concept]] of [[divine]] [[Providence]], the teaching that [[material]] [[prosperity]] was a reward for serving [[El Shaddai]].

96:1.6 One of the [[dominant]] [[ideas]] of the [[religion]] of this era was the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_reliigon Egyptian] [[concept]] of [[divine]] [[Providence]], the teaching that [[material]] [[prosperity]] was a reward for serving [[El Shaddai]].

*4. 96:1.7 [[El]]. Amid all this [[confusion]] of terminology and haziness of [[concept]], many devout believers [[sincerely]] endeavored to [[worship]] all of these evolving [[ideas]] of [[divinity]], and there grew up the [[practice]] of referring to this [[composite]] [[Deity]] as [[El]]. And this term included still other of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedouin Bedouin] nature gods.

*4. 96:1.7 ''[[El]]''. Amid all this [[confusion]] of terminology and haziness of [[concept]], many devout believers [[sincerely]] endeavored to [[worship]] all of these evolving [[ideas]] of [[divinity]], and there grew up the [[practice]] of referring to this [[composite]] [[Deity]] as [[El]]. And this term included still other of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedouin Bedouin] nature gods.

*5. 96:1.8 [[Elohim]]. In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kish Kish] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ur Ur] there long [[persisted]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumer Sumerian-Chaldean] [[groups]] who taught a [[three]]-in-[[one]] [[God]] [[concept]] founded on the [[traditions]] of the days of [[Adam]] and [[Melchizedek]]. This [[doctrine]] was carried to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt Egypt], where this [[Trinity]] was [[worshiped]] under the name of [[Elohim]], or in the singular as ''Eloah''. The [[philosophic]] circles of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_Religion Egypt] and later [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_Alexandria Alexandrian] [[teachers]] of Hebraic extraction taught this [[unity]] of [[pluralistic]] [[Gods]], and many of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses]' advisers at the time of the [[exodus]] believed in this [[Trinity]]. But the concept of the trinitarian [[Elohim]] never became a real part of [[Hebrew]] [[theology]] until after they had come under the [[political]] [[influence]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Babylonia Babylonians].

*5. 96:1.8 ''[[Elohim]]''. In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kish Kish] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ur Ur] there long [[persisted]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumer Sumerian-Chaldean] [[groups]] who taught a [[three]]-in-[[one]] [[God]] [[concept]] founded on the [[traditions]] of the days of [[Adam]] and [[Melchizedek]]. This [[doctrine]] was carried to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt Egypt], where this [[Trinity]] was [[worshiped]] under the name of [[Elohim]], or in the singular as ''Eloah''. The [[philosophic]] circles of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_Religion Egypt] and later [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_Alexandria Alexandrian] [[teachers]] of Hebraic extraction taught this [[unity]] of [[pluralistic]] [[Gods]], and many of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses]' advisers at the time of the [[exodus]] believed in this [[Trinity]]. But the concept of the trinitarian [[Elohim]] never became a real part of [[Hebrew]] [[theology]] until after they had come under the [[political]] [[influence]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Babylonia Babylonians].

*6. 96:1.9 ''Sundry names''. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semites Semites] disliked to speak the name of their [[Deity]], and they therefore resorted to numerous appellations from time to time, such as: The Spirit of God, The Lord, The Angel of the Lord, The Almighty, The Holy One, The [[Most High]], Adonai, The [[Ancient of Days]], The Lord God of Israel, The [[Creator]] of [[Heaven]] and [[Earth]], Kyrios, Jah, The Lord of Hosts, and [[The Father]] in Heaven.

*6. 96:1.9 ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_God_in_Judaism Sundry names]''. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semites Semites] disliked to speak the name of their [[Deity]], and they therefore resorted to numerous appellations from time to time, such as: The Spirit of God, The Lord, The Angel of the Lord, The Almighty, The Holy One, The [[Most High]], Adonai, The [[Ancient of Days]], The Lord God of Israel, The [[Creator]] of [[Heaven]] and [[Earth]], Kyrios, Jah, The Lord of Hosts, and [[The Father]] in Heaven.

96:1.10 [[Jehovah]] is a term which in recent times has been employed to designate the completed [[concept]] of [[Yahweh]] which finally evolved in the long [[Hebrew]] [[experience]]. But the name [[Jehovah]] did not come into use until [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1500_AD fifteen hundred years after the times of Jesus].

96:1.10 [[Jehovah]] is a term which in recent times has been employed to designate the completed [[concept]] of [[Yahweh]] which finally evolved in the long [[Hebrew]] [[experience]]. But the name [[Jehovah]] did not come into use until [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1500_AD fifteen hundred years after the times of Jesus].