ABSTRACT

With the fall of the Neo-Assyrian empire and the quick rise of the Neo-Babylonian empire threatening Judah to the south, YHWHism faced the increasing question of how it could continue if Jerusalem was destroyed. Various texts anticipate the impacts of exile and adjust the expressions of YHWH accordingly as a direct result from both perceived and real threats to urbanized YHWH. Here we see newer expressions, a greater focus on concepts related to YHWH like justice and torah, and the basis for more universalistic expressions. Anticipatory texts like Habakkuk, and its differences from Nahum, the creator focus in Genesis 1, YHWH’s de-association with other deities in the Deuteronomistic texts, or Jeremiah’s conditional divine presence, each with a greater attention to the community and its actions, become distinct features of YHWHism. Thus, a common process continues to emerge as seen in the other chapters. As observed in other time periods, contextually driven changes to past expressions accommodate new expressions to cope with emerging international pressures. The process of cultural translation and subversive reception then develop a cultural identity suitable for the particular context.