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Who Was YEHOVAH Talking To?

There is another fact we should consider -- the scribes used the word "ELOHIM" to replace
the name of YEHOVAH in the Bible. The plain and simple fact is that the Creator was never known as
a "god" in any of the original writings! The PAGAN word "god" comes from the word "El" (singular,
"god") or "Elohim" (plural, gods). The Interpreter's Dictionary tells us what the words "El" and "Elo-
him" really mean --

A. IN THE OT. 1. Daimonism. a. Daimon. The Hebrew equivalent of "demon" (dai-
mon) in the original sense is simply [...] or [...] ('elohim), commonly rendered "god." --
Vol. 1, page 817.

The words El-Elohim (god) -- like the words Baal-Adonai (lord) -- came from the Canaanite
vocabulary and worship. These Canaanite words were accepted into the Hebrew language many years
after the original writings of the Old Testament. The Encyclopedia Judaica explains:

Most of these terms were employed also by the Canaanites, to designate their pagan gods.
This is not surprising; since on settling in the Promised Land the Patriarchs and early Is-
raelites made "the language of Canaan" their own (Isa. 19:18), the Hebrew language
would naturally use the Canaanite vocabulary for terms designating their own Deity. --
Vol. 7, page 674.

Not long after these Canaanite titles were incorporated into the Hebrew language, the people of
YEHOVAH slowly, but surely, forgot the Name of their Creator. In fact, His Name eventually was
NEVER mentioned, except on the Day of Atonement, and then only by the High Priest -- and in such a
low voice that no one could even hear it. The Encyclopedia Judaica tells us that "at least until the de-
struction of the First Temple in 586 B.C.E. this name [YHVH] was regularly pronounced with its
proper vowels, as is clear from the Lachish Letters, written shortly before that date. But at least by the
third century B.C.E. the pronunciation of the name YHWH [YHVH] was avoided, and Adonai, "the
Lord," was substituted for it..." (Vol. 7, page 680).

Eventually this substitute name for YEHOVAH crept into the Scriptures. At the same time the
pagan name "Elohim" was also substituted for YEHOVAH's true Name at many places in the Old Tes-
tament. Notice --

The men who copied the Hebrew Scriptures from the days of Ezra up to the time of Jesus
were called scribes or sopherim. In the course of time these began to TAKE LIBERTIES
in making textual changes. In fact, Jesus himself roundly condemned these would-be cus-
todians of the Law for assuming powers that did not belong to them. -- Matt. 23:2, 13.
(All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial, page 307).

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