Parallels between Canaanite and Israelite/Judahite beliefs?

[JairCrawford]

Let me start this thread off with a preface; I, as a Christian, have absolutely zero intent to cast any doubt into anyone's minds or to support any line of thinking that would lead to doubt Christ. I understand that atheists and agnostics often bring up this topic in order to further their agenda so I want to make it very adamantly clear that I do NOT agree with nor do I support their conclusions. I feel we as Christians should not always shy away from such discussions. We tend to give fear, doubt, and the enemy too much credit when we are too afraid and stay away from certain topics. Perhaps these topics can be a good exercise to our faith?

Now with that said, to the topic at hand. About a month or so ago, I did some reading. And at first I must admit I was taken aback and it shook me up a bit. I was reading about some archeological findings regarding the ancient lands of Canaan, Israel, and Judah and going into their religious practices. I was initially very disturbed by how similar the Cananaaite deity "El" was to some of the epithets ascribed to YHWH Elohim in the Bible. I was also disturbed that findings have been discovered that show that in some areas in certain time periods Israelites seemed to amalgamate YHWH into the Canaanite belief system and/or adopt it.

After the initial shock, I did some digging into the studies. Unfortunately, most of studies were with skeptical bias and biblical criticism, so it was hard to get any real balanced scholarly look at the topic.

After much head scratching, I remembered how God used the religion of the Magi to lead them to Christ, and it was as if God confirmed to me that I need not worry, for no matter what I find, it will always lead back to Him. I have taken great comfort in this confirmation.

Now, I am looking for a perspective into this topic. A Christian perspective. It is all so fascinating, but let us tread carefully and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit always leading us.

Does anyone have any insight on this topic?

 

[Nehemiah6]

After the initial shock, I did some digging into the studies. Unfortunately, most of studies were with skeptical bias and biblical criticism, so it was hard to get any real balanced scholarly look at the topic.

You have provided yourself with the correct answer. So the best thing to do is ignore what the Higher Critics have said. Their theories were debunked a long time ago.

Here's a good example. Almost everyone in the world believes that there is a "Supreme Being" or God, and the word "God" is common to every religion. But only Bible-believing Christians understand that the Bible reveals God as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. So just because the word "God" is used by Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Jews does not mean mean that they all are referring to the same God.

 

[Snoozy]

yes i got insight. im a very unlearned scholar on this subject

here is what it is: the word El just means God. problem solved. just like in english we say God but dont necessarily mean God of the bible but some other deity.

 

[JairCrawford]

Both very valid points.

There are still some unaddressed issues, however. We should consider certain parallels such as "El" dwelling in a tent on a mountain top, being called epithets such as "most high" and "ancient one", his throne being supported by two cherubs (similar to the ark), the creator of the heavenly hosts, etc. Also that his epithet was the bull, as was "Anu" of Sumer, and that same epithet being applied to YHWH (a mighty Ox) is very fascinating. Also considering that the Aleph letter of old Hebrew is a bull head and the last letter is a cross (that's a direct prophecy to Jesus right there!). I also notice some bull influences in the altar with the four golden/brazen horns.

Now I am finding if I find paralells in Scripture that seem to support some of these findings, it does not discredit or nullify the writings at all. Rather, we can make some theological sense of it. "El" was considered the most high creator deity of the Canaanites. He wasn't typically worshipped directly as he was considered to have taken a more deistic role while his "sons" did most of the work. But we know that Abraham, Issac, and Jacob chose to worship the Most High God. "El Shaddai" (or God of the Mountain) is how Abraham knew Him, and Jacob wrote on the altar he erected "El Elohe Israel", stating that he devoted his worship to the Most High alone. To the rest of Canaan this would have been seen as a revolutionary move. They were worshipping the little known, unattainable, even unnamed (because el simply means god, from the older Akkadian Word, ilu) God. That's very interesting to me because that lends as to why when they did learn His name, YHWH, they were so reverent of His name.

What is clear to me is, I can't look at any of this and NOT see Jesus. It is virtually impossible. I want to make that point clear. And that is truly the most amazing thing of all!

 

[Enoch987]

YHWY detested the practices of worship of the Canaanites. Causing their children to walk through the fire. "It never came to His mind." You will find that in Chronicles. This may have been a perversion of God's son who will die for the sins. Study Isis (the virgin mother) and Osisirus (the son) of Egyptian religion.

 

[OneFaith]

I do not believe the Magi (wise men from the east) were of a different religion. I do believe some have made a religion from them, but I don’t think they themselves started it. For if they had someone or something to worship, they would not come to worship the Christ child.

 

[JairCrawford]

I do not believe the Magi (wise men from the east) were of a different religion. I do believe some have made a religion from them, but I don’t think they themselves started it. For if they had someone or something to worship, they would not come to worship the Christ child.

I was always under the impression that the Magi were some form of astrologists. They studied the stars for spiritual guidance, yet God guided them to Him with the morning star.

Paul did something very similar with his mission work, pointing to a culture's unknown god and explaining how that was the One True God thus converting many. In fact this same method is used by many modern missionaries today.

 

[MarcR]

Two things might be considered:

1) The people living in Canaan at the time of Abraham were the same number of generations removed from Noah as Abraham was. Genesis 20 indicates that Abimelech and the people of Gerar worshiped the same God as Abraham did. There may well have been others.
Not all the residents of the district of Canaan were necessarily descended from Canaan and Ham.

2) Abraham migrated throughout the land and may well have left evidence of his passing.

 

[Nehemiah6]

I was always under the impression that the Magi were some form of astrologists.

When you consider that while the Jews were either closing their eyes to the birth of their King, or like Herod, prepared to destroy Him, these Magi traveled a great distance -- possibly over a thousand miles (if they came from Iran or Arabia) -- to worship the King.

No doubt they had been astrologers (since that was the occupation of Magi) but perhaps they has given it all up for astronomy, because they had been exposed to the Torah, and had put their faith in the God of Israel. It is clear that they knew that this extraordinary star which they had seen was the "Star out of Jacob", thus heralding the birth of the King of Israel. They said "We have seen HIS STAR in the east, and are come to worship Him" (Mt 2:2). The prophecy which they had believed, which caused them to look for this star was in Numbers 24:16,17:

He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

Since a sceptre represents royal authority, they asked for "the King of the Jews". We are not told if God spoke to them because of their faith in His Word, and He caused them to travel with costly gifts for Jesus. We do know that God spoke to them later and instructed them to avoid Herod and go home.

There is generally a lot more to what we read in Scripture, but God's plan was to give us a concise and precise history which would be primarily focused on Christ.

 

[maxwel]

I remembered how God used the religion of the Magi to lead them to Christ, and it was as if God confirmed to me that I need not worry, for no matter what I find, it will always lead back to Him. I have taken great comfort in this confirmation.

I'm pretty ignorant about Canaanite archaeology.
It would be great if someone wanted to post some information with sources.

Regarding the Magi, I think we have reasonable evidence they were probably a priestly class of people from Parthia, very powerful men involved in politics, kind of like nobles.
(As Parthia was an enemy of Rome during the time of Christ, this would explain why the appearance of the Magi in Jerusalem caused such a ruckus, and why Herod treated them with such deferment, as if he was afraid of them.)

But I don't think anyone has conclusive proof regarding the origin of the Magi.
I think we could make some intelligent speculation, but it's still probably just speculation.

 

[prove-all]

not sure if this will help

Abraham is the common patriarch of the three Abrahamic religions
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamic_religions

[Look] unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you:
for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him” (Isaiah 51:1-2).

God labels Abraham and Sarah our father and mother.
the firm foundation of the household of faith.

God called Abraham out of a world caught in crisis. The Paganism-
saturated society, that Abraham’s world was at war with God.
Abraham’s family, even though descended from Shem, worshiped idols.

“Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the
flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor:
and [they] served other gods” (Joshua 24:2).


It is not clear if the scripture includes Abraham as an idolater; the word [they]
could refer only to Terah and Nahor. More than likely, though, idolatry was
a problem that Abraham and Sarah had to overcome and resist.


Rachel and her father Laban’s problem with idolatry is discussed in Genesis 31.
19And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that
were her father's.

Isaiah 51:2 states that God called Abram alone.“Abram, as he was originally
named, was not seeking God. But God chose to call and test, and use Abram.

“And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him
throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac”
(Joshua 24:3). God took Abraham out of his evil world with its customs and culture.

-

The Book of Job states:

21 Blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21).

-
27 If I have observed the sun when it shines, or the moon moving in its brightness,
so that my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand;

28 This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgement,
For I would have denied God who is above (Job 31:28).

practices associated with idolatry. an iniquity deserving of judgement
-

5 It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts (Job 1:5).
10 In all this, Job did not sin with his lips (Job 2:10).
-

21And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech,
neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord.

26Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit
any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that
sojourneth among you:


27For all these abominations have the men of the land done,
which were before you, and the land is defiled; Leviticus 18:21,27

-
28 And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
and to depart from evil is understanding' (Job 28:28).

 

[JairCrawford]

not sure if this will help

Abraham is the common patriarch of the three Abrahamic religions
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamic_religions

[Look] unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you:
for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him” (Isaiah 51:1-2).

God labels Abraham and Sarah our father and mother.
the firm foundation of the household of faith.

God called Abraham out of a world caught in crisis. The Paganism-
saturated society, that Abraham’s world was at war with God.
Abraham’s family, even though descended from Shem, worshiped idols.

“Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the
flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor:
and [they] served other gods” (Joshua 24:2).


It is not clear if the scripture includes Abraham as an idolater; the word [they]
could refer only to Terah and Nahor. More than likely, though, idolatry was
a problem that Abraham and Sarah had to overcome and resist.


Rachel and her father Laban’s problem with idolatry is discussed in Genesis 31.
19And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that
were her father's.

Isaiah 51:2 states that God called Abram alone.“Abram, as he was originally
named, was not seeking God. But God chose to call and test, and use Abram.

“And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him
throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac”
(Joshua 24:3). God took Abraham out of his evil world with its customs and culture.

-

The Book of Job states:

21 Blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21).

-
27 If I have observed the sun when it shines, or the moon moving in its brightness,
so that my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand;

28 This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgement,
For I would have denied God who is above (Job 31:28).

practices associated with idolatry. an iniquity deserving of judgement
-

5 It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts (Job 1:5).
10 In all this, Job did not sin with his lips (Job 2:10).
-

21And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech,
neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord.

26Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit
any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that
sojourneth among you:


27For all these abominations have the men of the land done,
which were before you, and the land is defiled; Leviticus 18:21,27

-
28 And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
and to depart from evil is understanding' (Job 28:28).

It does help, and it's interesting considering Abraham could very well have come from Sumer or Akkad. Their chief god was "Anu/An"which was the equivalent to "El" in Canaan. "Anu" was the golden bull and creator deity.

What if early Sumer was monotheistic?

 

[prove-all]

It does help, and it's interesting considering Abraham could very well have come from Sumer or Akkad. Their chief god was "Anu/An"which was the equivalent to "El" in Canaan. "Anu" was the golden bull and creator deity.

What if early Sumer was monotheistic?

Abraham was born two years after Noah’s death. God’s Word records nothing about
his childhood. In fact, we don’t read any significant details about Abraham’s life in
the Bible until he is 75 years old

Abraham was born in Ur of the Chaldees.
He had two brothers: Nahor and Haran: Gen 11:27

-
Jewish tradition states that Iscah (verse 29), daughter of Abraham’s brother Haran,
is Sarai; if this is true, that would mean Abraham married his niece. This would make
Haran the oldest brother. Verse 26 states that Terah was 70 before the sons were born.
Terah died at 205 years of age (verse 32). Abraham was just 75 at that time (Gen 12:4.


Genesis 11 that Haran died in Ur (verse 28). The Hebrew word for died indicates that
Haran was probably killed. This makes sense since both Abraham and Nahor lived long lives.

some time after Haran’s death, Terah, Abraham, Sarah and Haran’s son Lot
moved from Ur to a city called Haran on the way to the land of Canaan (verse 31).


Terah died there. It was after Terah’s death that Abraham moved further south into Canaan.

Genesis 12 opens, “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country,
and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee
…. So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him …” (verses 1, 4).

“And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto
our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran [Haran],

And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the
land which I shall shew thee. Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt
in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land,
wherein ye now dwell” (Acts 7:2-4).

Abraham was born in Ur. God called Abram when he was in Mesopotamia,
out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran [Haran], where his father died.

 

[JairCrawford]

The ruins of Ur are Sumerian/Akkadian so that all makes sense.

 

[Enoch987]

Abraham was born two years after Noah’s death. God’s Word records nothing about
his childhood. In fact, we don’t read any significant details about Abraham’s life in
the Bible until he is 75 years old

Abraham was born in Ur of the Chaldees.
He had two brothers: Nahor and Haran: Gen 11:27

-
Jewish tradition states that Iscah (verse 29), daughter of Abraham’s brother Haran,
is Sarai; if this is true, that would mean Abraham married his niece. This would make
Haran the oldest brother. Verse 26 states that Terah was 70 before the sons were born.
Terah died at 205 years of age (verse 32). Abraham was just 75 at that time (Gen 12:4.


Genesis 11 that Haran died in Ur (verse 28). The Hebrew word for died indicates that
Haran was probably killed. This makes sense since both Abraham and Nahor lived long lives.

some time after Haran’s death, Terah, Abraham, Sarah and Haran’s son Lot
moved from Ur to a city called Haran on the way to the land of Canaan (verse 31).


Terah died there. It was after Terah’s death that Abraham moved further south into Canaan.

Genesis 12 opens, “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country,
and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee
…. So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him …” (verses 1, 4).

“And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto
our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran [Haran],

And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the
land which I shall shew thee. Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt
in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land,
wherein ye now dwell” (Acts 7:2-4).

Abraham was born in Ur. God called Abram when he was in Mesopotamia,
out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran [Haran], where his father died.

I once calculated that Abram (Abraham) was born 3 years after Noah's death but good for you to see that Abram's father Terah was 130 years older than Abram even though the Bible reads "when Terah was 70, he begat Abram, Nahor and Haran." This shows the firstborn son is chosen not born first (chosen not created when the firstborn son applies to Jesus, Luke 9:35 for chosen). The slight confusion is Noah was in his 601st year at the end of the Flood meaning that Noah was 600 years old plus almost 2 months (he left the Ark in the 2nd month on the 27th day of this 601st year). He lived 350 more years.