Treue zum rettenden Gott. Erwägungen zu Ursprung und Sinn des Ersten Gebots

The official cult of Yahweh revealed monolatrous tendencies during the time of the Israelite and Judahite monarchies, and the legend of Jehu's combat with the allegedly foreign deity Baal, which was created to legitimize the usurper (2Kgs 10:18-27*), belongs within this context. The motif of Israel's adoption by Yahweh was conceived after the downfall of the Israelite kingdom (Hosea 11*) and the notion of Yahweh's singleness (Deut 6:4*), which stands in the background of the Deuteronomic program of cult centralization, emerged. The first commandment, however, originated only after the downfall of the Judean kingdom in the context of the so-called covenant theology wherein concepts of political loyalty were adapted to Israel's relationship with God. The prohibition of other gods presupposes Joshua 24* and Deut 26:16-19* - key texts of covenant theology - but modifies the basic principle of covenant theology through the divine jealousy motif in order to stress that Israel's savior does not tolerate the worshiping of other gods now that the people has been brought into his presence.