lating to a jealous god is seen to
belong wholly to the Jews, or to the Israelites, who were descendants
of Jacob. The older nations, among which was the ancient family of the
Hebrews, knew nothing of a jealous god. Notwithstanding the fact that
the God of the Jews appeared and talked face to face with Moses, that he
exhibited portions of his body to him, and that he thundered his law to
this people from Mt. Sinai, still they were constantly lapsing into the
worship of Baal and Ashtaroth, which fact shows how deeply rooted was
the belief in a dual or triune God. It is plain that this "Lord," the
fierce anger of whom was kindled because of their digressions, was none
other than the jealous male god which had but recently been elevated to
the dignity of a supreme Creator.

Although the angel of the Lord when he came down from Gilgal commanded
his followers to "throw down the altars of the people of Bochim," they
nevertheless continued to do evil in the sight of the Lord, and

"followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about
them, and bound themselves unto them and provoked the Lord to anger.

"And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. And the anger
of the Lord was hot against Israel."(82)

82) Judges ii., 12, 13.

"And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return
unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and
Ashtaroth from among you and prepare your hearts unto the Lord,
and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the
Philistines.

"Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth and
served the Lord only."(83)

83) I Samuel vii., 3,4.

The extreme hatred of the schismatic faction for the opposite worship,
and the punishments which were meted out to those who should dare to
rebel against the chosen faith, are indicated by the language which
throughout the Old Testament is put into the mouth of their Lord--a
Deity which rejoices in the title of a jealous God.

"If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or
the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice
thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast
not known thou nor thy fathers:

"Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto
thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the
other end of the earth;

"Thou s