The Divine Council
In recent Substack articles, the mention of the Divine Council has sparked curiosity and a need for further exploration of this concept. It is important to recognize that Rabbinic Judaism and Islam have developed into strict forms of monotheism, which starkly contrast the beliefs held within early Judaism. Many Christians find passages such as Psalm 82 and Deuteronomy 32 challenging, since they seemingly refer to multiple gods. To truly understand the context, we must first dispel the notion that early Judaism adhered to a strict monotheistic theology. Rather, early Judaism was henotheistic, meaning they recognized the existence of other gods but worshipped the Living God alone. When God asserts that there are none beside him, it signifies that there are none like God Almighty, not that there are no other divine beings. Far from it.
There is none like thee among the gods, O Lord” (Ps 86:8 RSV; cf. Ps 135:5). “For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the [p. 52] LORD, a God feared in the council of the holy ones, great and terrible above all that are round about him?” (Ps 89:6–7 RSV; cf. Ps 29:1; 97:7; 138:1).
To delve into this realm of Biblical theology, it is crucial to explore the concept of the Divine Assembly during the Ancient Near East (ANE) period. In this era, it was common to have a council of deities that frequently gathered to decide the destiny of individuals or even the cosmos itself. Evidence of these divine meetings can be found in the mythologies of Mesopotamia and Canaan. Egypt also had a divine assembly, although its role was not as active or prominent as those of Mesopotamia. In these assemblies, El Elyon/Yahweh, the highest authority, presided over the divine council, illustrating a hierarchy within the unseen realm. Over time, these gods would later be referred to as angelic beings during the intertestamental period, as the Israelites transitioned towards a more rigid and monotheistic theology.
Let us now explore some of the different assemblies found in the ANE cultures to gain a more in-depth understanding of the Divine Council.
In Ugarit, the divine council depicted in Ugaritic literature had El as its chief deity, sitting on the throne. The other members were referred to as "ilm" (Hebrew: elohim) or "byn" (sons). Among these gods, we can identify figures such as Asherah, Baal, Yarih, Kothar-wa-Hasis, Rahmayyu, and Reshep, who were the major deities in Ugarit. Minor deities also participated in these divine meetings, as evidenced by each major deity being accompanied by an entourage of other deities designated as "the helpers of Baal," for instance. The Ugaritic texts reveal that this divine council convened under El's leadership to make decisions based on the matters discussed. El's abode was situated at the "source of the two rivers" that fed into the Euphrates, serving as the meeting place for the council and where El would issue his divine decrees.
In the Israelite tradition, similar to Ugarit, God would convene his divine council on a mountaintop or in the garden of Eden. A vision shown to Ezekiel in the book of Ezekiel 28 speaks of the fall of the guardian cherub, who would later become the serpent in Genesis 3 that tempts Eve. Psalm 82 portrays God taking his place among the gods, sitting on the throne, and passing judgment because these gods have ruled unjustly. Once again, we witness a similar theme of the divine council meeting and the chief deity issuing decrees. However, the Hebrew version differs from the Ugaritic tradition in that El, the chief deity, can sometimes be undermined by his sons, while Yahweh discusses his ideas with his spiritual sons, ensuring that his will is always fulfilled. The book of Job provides a clear example of the functioning of the divine council as it decides the fate of individuals such as Job or even tackles cosmic matters as seen in Psalm 82 and Ezekiel 28. Job 2:1-6 reads:
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, “Whence have you come?” Satan answered the LORD, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 3 And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you moved me against him, to destroy him without cause.” 4 Then Satan answered the LORD, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. 5 But put forth thy hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.” 6 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your power; only spare his life.”
Catholic Biblical Association (Great Britain), The Holy Bible: Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (New York: National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, 1994), Job 2:1–6.
The ancient Israelites' understanding of the Divine Council, as depicted in texts like Psalm 82 and Ezekiel 28, influenced their theology and beliefs about God's power and authority in several ways. Here are some key influences:
1. Henotheism: The depiction of a Divine Council with multiple gods demonstrates the fact that the Israelites firmly maintained their belief in one supreme God, Yahweh, whilst acknowledging lesser elohim. The Divine Council was seen as a heavenly assembly under the authority of Yahweh, who was recognized as the highest and ultimate authority.
2. God's Sovereignty: The Divine Council concept reinforced the idea of God's sovereignty over all creation. Although other beings were considered divine, they were seen as subordinate to Yahweh. This elevated God's power, authority, and wisdom as He governed and controlled the affairs of both the heavenly and earthly realms.
3. Divine Judgment: Psalm 82 highlights God presiding over a judgment of the gods in the Divine Council, condemning them for their injustice and lack of care for the weak and oppressed. This influenced the Israelites' belief in divine judgment and reinforced the idea that God is a just and righteous judge who holds both heavenly and earthly beings accountable for their actions. The judgment is linked with Deuteronomy 32 and Genesis 11. After the Babel event, God divided up the nations into 70, which were handed over to lesser elohim. They were charged with ensuring God’s justice was maintained after he removed his spirit from the Earth. The Babel event is one of three main rebellions, which brings the world into a dark age before God calls forth Abram out of Ur to set in motion salvation history. God creates his own nation, who will become priests of the Most High and bring the nations back to God.
So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. 9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth (Ge 11:8–9).
8 When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of men, he fixed the bounds of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. 9 For the LORD’s portion is his people (Dt 32:8–9).
God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: 2 “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? [Selah] 3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. 4 Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” 5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. 6 I say, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; 7 nevertheless, you shall die like men, and fall like any prince (Ps 82:1–7).
4. Angelic Beings: Angelic beings in the Divine Council are many, just like in Ugarit, the angels served as messengers for the divine council to enact God’s decrees. This belief in angelic beings influenced the Israelites' understanding of God's power and authority, as angels were seen as agents through which God carried out His will, guarding, guiding, and serving His chosen people.
5. Divine Wisdom: In texts like Proverbs and Job, the Divine Council influenced the Israelites' understanding of divine wisdom. The wisdom literature often depicted Lady Wisdom, which in my opinion is no other than the heavenly mother Asherah, as a character who was present during the creation process, suggesting her association with the Divine Council. This understanding emphasized the divine origin of wisdom and its importance in human life.
The Divine Council played a significant role in the ancient Israelites' perception of God's involvement in human affairs and the distribution of power. In the Hebrew Bible, the Divine Council refers to a divine assembly or council of heavenly beings, often referred to as gods or divine beings.
According to ancient Israelite beliefs, Yahweh, the God of Israel, presided over this council and was seen as the supreme deity. Other divine beings, often referred to as "elohim" in the Hebrew Bible, were thought to be subordinate to Yahweh and served specific roles within the council.
The ancient Israelites believed that God delegated certain responsibilities and tasks to these divine beings, who played a role in carrying out God's will in human affairs. For example, in the book of Job, Yahweh summoned the Divine Council to assess Job's righteousness and to propose tests for him. This suggests that the council had an influential role in determining human fate and the distribution of power.
Furthermore, in some ancient Israelite texts, references to other gods or divine beings worshipped by other nations are often understood within the framework of the Divine Council. The Israelites believed that Yahweh, their God, was superior to these other gods and had ultimate control over them and their actions. However, the existence of these other deities was acknowledged, indicating a belief in a divine hierarchy and the distribution of power among the heavenly beings.
Overall, the Divine Council played a crucial role in the ancient Israelites' understanding of God's involvement in human affairs and the distribution of power. It exemplified the idea that God worked through a council of divine beings, each with specific roles and responsibilities, to carry out his will and influence the course of human events.
Through these examples, it becomes apparent that the Divine Council played a significant role in the religious beliefs of the ANE cultures, including early Judaism. It provided a framework for understanding the hierarchy and decision-making process in the unseen realm. Recognizing this notion allows us to grasp the complexity of early Jewish theology and shed light on passages that refer to gods other than the Almighty God. By exploring and understanding the Divine Assembly within the context of Biblical theology, we gain a deeper appreciation for the multifaceted nature of ancient religious beliefs and their influence on early Judaism.
In summary, the ancient Israelite understanding of the Divine Council impacted their theology and beliefs by reinforcing the concept of monotheism, highlighting God's sovereignty, emphasizing divine judgment, acknowledging the existence and role of angelic beings, and recognizing the importance of divine wisdom in both creation and human life. Later, Christianity draws on this theme of the divine council, the gods have received their judgment, and it is now all who are in Christ who have taken their places in the divine assembly, the imagery of Daniel 7 represents the Son of Man, entering the Divine Assembly, and its fulfilment is revealed in the book of Revelation.
“As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.
A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.
“I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”
(Daniel 7:9-14 ESV)
“At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God,
and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.
And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!””
(Revelation 4:2-8 ESV)
To conclude, it is evident that the Divine Council plays an important part in God’s dealings with his creation. This is evident within the myths of the ANE, and later, gets developed further in Christian Scripture and doctrine. It is important to highlight how this Divine Assembly illustrates the nature of God. God works with spiritual beings and mortals alike. He is a God that wants to include his creations within his Divine plan. He is a God that wishes to build relationships with his created cosmos. Look at Genesis, God says to his spiritual creations how he would like to create humankind in his image, he is constantly referring to his council, even though it is God who ultimately decides the outcome of his will. By giving his creations free will, God knew that there would come a time when some would rebel. However, out of his goodness, he laid down a plan which will restore everything that went wrong;
“Furthermore, in that place I saw the fountain of righteousness, which does not become depleted and is surrounded completely by numerous fountains of wisdom. All the thirsty ones drink (of the water) and become filled with wisdom. (Then) their dwelling places become with the holy, righteous, and elect ones. At that hour, that Son of Man was given a name, in the presence of the Lord of the Spirits, the Before Time; even before the creation of the sun and the moon, before the creation of the stars, he was given a name in the presence of the Lord of the Spirits. He will become a staff for the righteous ones in order that they may lean on him and not fall. He is the light of the gentiles and he will become the hope of those who are sick in their hearts. All those who dwell upon the earth shall fall and worship before him; they shall glorify, bless, and sing the name of the Lord of the Spirits. For this purpose he became the Chosen One; he was concealed in the presence of (the Lord of the Spirits) prior to the creation of the world, and for eternity. And he has revealed the wisdom of the Lord of the Spirits to the righteous and the holy ones, for he has preserved the portion of the righteous because they have hated and despised this world of oppression (together with) all its ways of life and its habits in the name of the Lord of the Spirits; and because they will be saved in his name and it is his good pleasure that they have life.”
(1Enoch 48:1-7 PSEUD-CW)
