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it takes a poor understanding of the bible to assert that this proves the Jews used to be polytheists
While its clear that all semitic poeples were polytheists of some kind of another in the distant past, i agree that this dosent PROVE it. However, its simply pointed out as a possible survival of polytheism, and nothing more.
Remember also that in the past poeples usually acknowledged the Gods worshipped by others, even if they did not follow them; even more interesting, it was a genreral habit in the Mediterranean world to equate other Gods with one's own.
For instance, Herodotus often refers to various semitic gods as analog-hybrids, like Zeus-Bel, etc.
In other words, to simply view the biblical texts in isolation, without regard to ancient religous and cultural practices is a mistake. After all the First Commandment says "thou shalt have no other god before Me", but this doesnt neccessarily deny that other gods may exist.
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