Re: Reading Genesis literally

dickfischer@verizon.net writes:
I don’t see “Enlil” in Gen.14:18. Maybe you can show me that?
I was going from memory from what I had read in Don Johnson's book, _Eternity
in their Hearts_. As I recall, Johnson explains that Melchizedek, being a
Canaanite, worshipped God according to a Canaanite name that was derived from
Babylonian origins -- El being related to Ilu, etc. If I am not mistaken, this
is related to Ellil and Enlil, is it not? In any case, Melchizedek called God
by the full name El Elyon, "the lord, the most high lord". This addition of
Elyon onto El may indicate that Melchizedek had recognized that the pantheon
of Babylonian gods was wrong because it failed to recognize one "most high
lord" high above the rabble of mere Anunnaki and Igigi. In fact, Melchizedek also
credits El Elyon with making heaven and earth. So adding Elyon and
attributing the act of creation to the earlier El may indicate a real insight into
monotheism by this Canaanite priest. Abraham replied to Melchizedek by only
partially changing the name that Melchizedek had used, from El Elyon to Yahweh
Elyon. This change implies that Abraham (unlike Melchizedek) had personal
revelation from God and therefore knew God's true name, and yet by keeping
Melchizedek's terminology partially intact it tacitly recognizes that Melchizedek was a
believer in the same God as he. The idea is that Melchizedek may not have had
as clear knowledge about Yahweh as Abraham did, but nevertheless he had a
true faith in the One God who is there.

As I said, I was going from memory and I could have mixed this up. I have
loaned out my copy of Don Johnson's book and never got it back.

Phil Metzger
Received on Sat May 6 14:26:02 2006