Episode 48: Who's Present in Psalm 82 with Shane M Thompson

It Means What It Means

In this conversation, Shane Thompson discusses his article “Local Manifestations of YHWH within El’s divine Council: Psalm 82 in the Context of Israelite Religion.” He explores the concepts of monotheism, monolatry, and henotheism, and proposes that Psalm 82 describes multiple local manifestations of Yahweh. He argues that ancient Israelite religion was not a monolithic monotheistic system, but rather a complex and diverse belief system influenced by neighboring cultures. The conversation also touches on the challenges of interpreting ancient texts and understanding the religious practices of ancient Israel. The conversation explores the development of monotheism in ancient Israel and the role of Psalm 82 in this process. Jared and Shane discuss the biases and historical context of biblical texts, the significance of Yahweh's concern for justice and care for the weak, and the ambiguity surrounding the identity of the singular Elohim in the psalm. They also touch on the unique characteristics of ancient Israelite religion and the importance of understanding the cultural and historical context of biblical texts.