Names of God

[Laurence Horn]

At 10:46 AM -0500 10/29/01, James A. Landau wrote:
>In a message dated 10/24/01 6:19:04 PM Eastern Standard Time,
>dcamp911 at JUNO.COM writes:
>
>>  Though interestingly the Hebrew Elohim, used often in the Bible to refer
>>   to G*d, is plural. I have asked for an explanation from Jewish friends,
>>   and you can see the light bulb go on over their head.  It was obvious,
>>   but they had never thought of it.
>
>Yes, "Elohim" is a plural form, but it is always used in contexts in which it
>is clear that a singular is implied...
>...
>Some sources state that "Elohim" is a "plural of majesty."  Not knowing if a
>plural of majesty is a recognized Hebrew custom, I cannot comment.
>
>It is not obvious to me what this "obvious explanation" you cite might be.
>Are you trying to say that "Elohim" implies the Israelites, or perhaps the
>proto-Israelites, had multiple gods who were worshipped collectively until
>the pantheom came to be considered as a single deity rather than plural gods?
>
I read the original posting to be claiming that the plurality of
Elohim was obvious, not the explanation for its use.  The "light
bulb" was for the recognition of the plural morpheme.

larry