The Dig In Podcast w/Johnny Ova
Dig In is hosted by Pastor Johnny Ova of Sound of Heaven Church. Each episode features thoughtful conversations with scholars, historians, and thinkers from all backgrounds as they explore the Bible through context, culture, and curiosity. Johnny invites guests to go beyond surface-level beliefs and into the deeper truths of Scripture, history, and the character of God. This is not a podcast for debate or division, but for those who want to grow, wrestle with tough questions, and discover the beauty of God's redemptive story. If you're ready to dig into the Bible with honesty and depth, this show is for you.
The Dig In Podcast w/Johnny Ova
The Shocking Evolution from Many Gods to One: How Ancient Israel Became Monotheistic w/ Dr. John Day
What if ancient Israel didn't start out believing in one God? In this groundbreaking episode, Oxford Professor Emeritus Dr. John Day reveals how archaeological evidence and biblical texts themselves show that early Israelites worshipped multiple deities from the Canaanite pantheon. With over 40 years of scholarship and doctorates from both Cambridge and Oxford, Dr. Day takes us on a fascinating journey through the religious landscape of ancient Canaan, where Yahweh was originally just one god among many, including El, Baal, and even goddesses like Asherah who was worshipped alongside Yahweh in the Jerusalem temple.
Dr. Day traces the revolutionary transformation from polytheism to monotheism, showing how Yahweh absorbed attributes from other gods like El (becoming equated with him) while rejecting others like Baal. We explore how mythological creatures like Leviathan were borrowed from Canaanite sources, why "Israel" contains the name El rather than Yahweh, and how true monotheism didn't emerge until the Babylonian exile with Second Isaiah's radical declaration: "I am Yahweh, and there is no other." This conversation will challenge and deepen your understanding of how the biblical faith developed over centuries.
In this episode you will learn:
- Why Deuteronomy 32:8-9 suggests Yahweh received Israel as his portion among 70 gods
- How El and Yahweh were originally separate deities who later merged into one
- The shocking evidence that some Israelites worshipped Asherah as Yahweh's wife
- Why Baal was rejected while El was embraced in Israelite religion
- How the seven-headed Leviathan from Canaanite mythology became part of Yahweh's identity
- The difference between monolatry ("worship only one god") and monotheism ("only one god exists")
- King Josiah's radical 621 BC reformation that centralized worship in Jerusalem
- Why the Babylonian exile was the catalyst for absolute monotheism
- How these Canaanite connections appear in the New Testament (Beelzebub, Revelation's seven-headed dragon)
- Why understanding this evolution enriches rather than threatens faith
Guest's Work:
Get Dr. Day's groundbreaking book "Yahweh and the Gods and Goddesses of Canaan": https://a.co/d/h6gCyuG
Also check out his extensive work on Genesis: "From Creation to Babel" and "From Creation to Abraham"
Stay Connected with The Dig In Podcast:
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Get Johnny's book "The Revelation Reset": https://a.co/d/hiUkW8H
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