Troublesome Topic: DEUTERONOMY 33:2 and 32:12

Michael Heiser claims that Dt 33:2 says that other gods, which the text simply calls “holy ones”, came with God at the giving of the law.

But Heiser ignores or purposefully overlooks Dt 32:12, which says “YHVH alone lead him; [there was] no foreign god with him.” Or he says that these are not foreign gods because they are God’s children and part of His council, and he has invited them to participate with Him in these things. So in this case, Heiser makes a distinction between gods that were loyal to YHVH and those that were rebellious against Him. But in the early parts of the book, he says that every being that God created is considered His child and all the gods He created are part of the divine council.

Once again I return to the issue of monotheism. The Israelites were taught to believe that the God of creation was the only one, there were no others. Dt 32:12 seems to be reiterating that no other god at all was present.

Actually, the most natural reading of Deut 32:12 is that God was accompanied by angels who celebrated with Him as He gave the law.

Next we will look at SEEKING AN ADVANTAGE BROUGHT THE FLOOD.