Sunday 26 July 2009

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

6 Av 32/40

I recently heard a message – through an audio CD of a friend who visited me after several years – by a pastor-teacher (I can’t remember exactly what his title is) of a popular charismatic Christian circle. I have to admit, there are certain points for which I deem him to have things right. And there are few on which I think he was off the track. It is one of these vital few I would hereby want to address briefly.


The title above could have suggested that this is all going to be about the Islamic religion. On the contrary it is about a fact, the importance of which has been lost on modern, Hellenistic Christianity. It is about the name Allah. The speaker – mentioned above - was very unfair in his rhetoric about the name. He even misrepresents what he does not know, making a railing accusation regarding it. And I quite understand the premises from which he is coming. That is probably what he has learnt from childhood.


To be sure the name Allah brings a lot of confusion for many Christians of today, since, in the foremost, they lack the basic background required for its understanding. Secondly, Allah cannot be digressed from the Islamic religion. And rightly so. Thirdly, knowing that our Western political landscape is making an enemy of Islam, whether deceitfully or justified, majority of the people have bought into this, Christians included, through the so-called Christian world. But references to Allah in the Hebrew Bible may become very disturbing after all if they would understand language differences. For clarification sake, there are quite some words transliterated as God in the Bible, one of which is Eloah in Hebrew (Elahh in Chaldean). We would dare not go into others, so as not to step beyond our scope.


In Chaldean language Eloah would originally be Elahh as already mentioned.The plural is Elohim (in Hebrew) and Elahhin in the Chaldean. This eastern version of the language, which became Eastern Aramaic and then Arabic, is the reason why Islam says the name of God is Allah'; the double h becoming h' as an aspirant. In the context of Islam, the name Allah, used in the Qur'an, seems to have a linguistic cognate relationship with the Hebrew word "Eloah (אלוה)". If this point is disputable, it could easily be said that nations will always call the Supreme Deity by a name which carries that connotation in their language, and it does not make any difference if the language is English, Hebrew, Chaldean, Aramaic or Arabic. The name of the Supreme Deity is Allah in Arabic. In the verses below you will find original renderings of God in Hebrew and Chaldean for anyone to verify. The Chaldean sounds closest to the Arabic. There are certain books of the Bible which use the name frequently in the form we are hereby discussing. Such books are Ezra-Nehemiah and Daniel, and few instances could be found in Deuteronomy (for the first occurrence), Job, Chronicles, Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah and Habakkuk.


Deut 32:15 When Yeshurun grew stout and kicked (you will be stout, thick and burly), then he abandoned Eloah Who had made him and disgraced the Rock of his salvation.


Deut 32:17 They sacrificed to demons, not Eloah, to elohim--they had not known them before--to new ones that came from nearby; your fathers were not horrified by them.


2Chr 32:15 `And, now, let not Hezekiah lift you up, nor persuade you thus, nor give credence to him, for no elohim of any nation and kingdom is able to deliver his people from my hand, and from the hand of my fathers: also, surely your Eloah does not deliver you from my hand!'


Ezr 4:24 Then the work on the House of Eloah in Jerusalem was halted. And it remained halted until the year two of the reign of Darius king of Persia.


Ezr 5:1 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo, prophesied to the Judeans in Judah and in Jerusalem in the name of Eloah of Israel Who was over them. 2 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Yeshua son of Yozadak arose and began to rebuild the House of Eloah in Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of Eloah, giving them aid.


Ezr 5:5 Yet the eye of their Eloah was over the grey-haired elders of the Judeans; so they did not make them halt while a report went to Darius; then they would reply with a dispatch about this matter.


Ezr 5:8 Let it become known to the king that we departed to the province of Judah to the great House of Eloah. It is being rebuilt of dressed stone and timber placed in the sidewalls. This work is thoroughly done and prospering under their hands.


Ezr 5:11 This is the rescript of what they replied to us saying: We are the servants of Him Who is Eloah of the heavens and the earth. And we are rebuilding the House that had been built a huge number of years before this, when a great king of Israel built it and completed it. 12 Only because our fathers angered Eloah of the heavens, He granted them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, king of Babylon; and he demolished this House and deported the people to Babylon. 13 But in year one of king Cyrus of Babylon, king Cyrus promulgated a decree to rebuild this House of Eloah. 14 And also the vessels of gold and silver of the House of Eloah that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and had transferred them to the temple in Babylon--king Cyrus removed them from the temple in Babylon, and they were granted to Sheshbazzar; this was the name of him whom he had appointed viceroy. 15 And he said to him: Carry these vessels with you; depart and put them down in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the House of Eloah be rebuilt on its site. 16 Then this Sheshbazzar arrived and laid the foundations of the House of Eloah in Jerusalem. From then on until now it is being rebuilt; but it is not yet accomplished. 17 And now, if it seems good to the king, let a quest be made in the house of depositories of the king there in Babylon to see whether a decree was actually promulgated from king Cyrus to rebuild this House of Eloah in Jerusalem. Then let the king send his decision in this matter to us.


Ezr 6:3 In year one of king Cyrus, king Cyrus promulgated a decree concerning the House of Eloah in Jerusalem: Let the House be rebuilt, a place for sacrificing sacrifices, and its foundations should be retained. Let its height be sixty cubits and its breadth be sixty cubits,


Ezr 6:5 Also, the gold and silver vessels of the House of Eloah should be returned that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and had transferred to Babylon. Let each go back to the temple in Jerusalem to its place; you shall put it down in the House of Eloah.


Ezr 6:7 Leave the viceroy of the Judeans and the greyhaired elders of the Judeans alone for the work on this House of Eloah. Let them rebuild this House of Eloah on its site. 8 So a decree is being promulgated from me as to what you shall do for these grey-haired elders of the Judeans in the rebuilding of this House of Eloah. Out of the king's resources, from the tribute of the province Beyond-the-Stream, disbursement shall be fully granted to these masters, so as not to halt the work. 9 And what is needed, such as young bulls, rams and lambs for ascent offerings to Eloah of the heavens, wheat, salt, turbid wine and oil, according to the word of the priests in Jerusalem, let it be granted to them day by day without fail, 10 so that they may be offering fragrant incense to Eloah of the heavens and be praying for the life of the king and his sons.


Ezr 6:12 May Eloah Who made His Name tabernacle there, overturn any king or people that stretches out his hand to disobey this rescript by harming this House of Eloah in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have promulgated the decree. Let it be carried out thoroughly.


Ezr 6:14 So the grey-haired elders of the Judeans and the Levites were rebuilding and prospering because of the prophecy of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo. Thus they rebuilt and completed the work due to the command of Eloah of Israel and due to a decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia.


Ezr 6:16 The sons of Israel, the priests, the Levites and the rest of the sons of the deportation held the dedication of this House of Eloah with exhilaration.


Ne 9:17 yea, they refuse to hearken, and have not remembered Your wonders that You have done with them, and harden their neck and appoint a head, to turn back to their service, in their rebellion; and You [are] a Eloah of pardons, gracious, and merciful, long-suffering, and abundant in kindness, and have not forsaken them.


Job 3:4 That day! may it be darkness; Let not Eloah from above inquire of it, And let not a light beam shine on it.


Ps 18:31 For is there any Eloah apart from Yahweh? And is there any Rock except our Elohim?


Ps 50:22 Now understand this, you who are forgetting Eloah, Lest I should tear you to pieces, and there be no rescuer.


Ps 139:19 O that You would despatch the wicked, O Eloah, And bloodthirsty men would withdraw from me,


Pr 30:5 Every saying of Eloah is refined; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.


Isa 44:8 You must not be afraid! And you must not fear! Have I not hitherto announced it to you, and told it? And you are My witnesses. Forsooth, is there an Eloah apart from Me? And no other Rock is there. I fail to know of any.


Dn 2:18 He is charging them to petition for compassions before the Elahh of the heavens concerning this secret; that Daniel and his partners not perish with the remaining wise men of Babylon. 19 Then to Daniel in a vision that night, the secret of the king is revealed. Then Daniel blesses the Elahh of the heavens. 20 Responding is Daniel and saying, "Blessed be the name of Him Who is the Elahh, from the eon and unto the eon, for the wisdom and the mastery, they are His.


Dn 2:23 To Thee, Elahh of my forefathers, am I acclaiming and lauding, that wisdom and mastery Thou dost grant to me. And now Thou dost make known to me that which we petition of Thee; for the king's matter Thou hast made known to us."


Dn 2:28 Actually, the Elahh in the heavens reveals secrets, and He makes known to king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. O king, live for the eon! Your dream, even the visions of your head on your bed; it is this:


Dn 2:37 "You, O king, are king of kings, seeing that the Elahh of the heavens grants a safeguarded kingdom to you, and might and honor and esteem.


Dn 2:44 "In their days, that is, of these kings, the Elahh of the heavens will set up a kingdom that for the eons shall not come to harm. His kingdom shall not be left to another people. It will pulverize and terminate all these kingdoms, and it shall be confirmed for the eons. 45 "Forasmuch as you perceived that a stone severs itself from a mountain range, that is, not by hands, and it pulverizes the iron, the copper, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great Elahh makes known to the king what shall occur after this. Certain is the dream and faithful its interpretation."


Dn 2:47 Answering is the king to Daniel and saying, "In verity, your Elahh, He is the Elahh of elohim, Lord of kings, and only Revealer of hidden secrets, seeing that you can reveal this secret."


Dn 3:12 Actually, the Jewish masters whom you assigned over the administration of the province of Babylon--Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego--these masters did not act on your decree, O king: Your elahhin they are not serving, the golden image that you set up they are not worshipping."


Dn 3:14 Responding is Nebuchadnezzar and saying to them, "Is it intentional, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, that you are not actually serving my elahhin, the golden image that I set up you are not worshiping? 15 Actually, should you now be ready, then, as soon as you are hearing the sound of the horn, the pipe, the lyre, the sambuke, the psalteries--all sorts of music in concert--you shall fall down and worship the golden image that I made. And should you not be ready, you know that if you are not worshiping, in the same hour shall you be heaved into the midst of the glowing, flaming furnace. And who is the elahh that will deliver you from my hands?"


Dn 3:17 Should it actually happen, our Elahh in the heavens, Whom we are serving, can deliver us from the glowing, flaming furnace; and from your hand, O king, will He deliver us.


Dn 4:2 The signs and the amazing deeds that the Supreme Elahh does with me, it is seemly before me to disclose to you:


Dn 4:8 Further, last of all, Daniel comes in before me, whose name is Belteshazzar, after the name of my elahh. Now, seeing that the spirit of the holy Elohim (Elahhin) is in him, I state the dream before him also:


Dn 5:2 When tasting the turbid wine, Belshazzar says to bring hither the gold and silver vessels of the house of Elahh which his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, that they may drink from them--the king and his grandees, his consorts and his concubines. 3 Then they bring hither the gold and silver vessels which they had taken from the temple, the house of the Elahh in Jerusalem. And they drink from them--the king and his grandees, his consorts and his concubines.


Dn 5:18 "You, O king! The Supreme Elahh granted the kingdom and majesty and esteem and honor to Nebuchadnezzar your grandfather.


Dn 5:21 From the sons of mortals was he shoved, his heart was made equal to an animal's and with the wild donkeys was his abode. Herbage are they feeding to him, as oxen, and by the night mist of the heavens was his frame streaked, till he knew that the Supreme Elahh is in authority in the kingdom of mortals, and whom He is willing is He setting up over it. 22 Yet you, his grandson Belshazzar, you abase not your heart in Eloah's sight, forasmuch as all this you know. 23 Over the Lord, the Eloah of the heavens, you exalt yourself; the vessels of His house they bring hither before you; you and your grandees, your consorts and your concubines are drinking turbid wine from them. Also elohim (elahhin) of silver, gold, copper, iron, wood, and stone who are not perceiving and not hearing and not knowing, these you laud, yet the Elahh in Whose hand is your breath, and for Whom are all your paths, Him you do not honor.


Dn 5:26 and this is the interpretation of the matter: MNA, an accounting has the Elahh made of your kingdom and He balances it;


Dn 6:5 Then these masters are saying, "We will not find any pretext against this Daniel, unless in the edict of his Elahh we find it against him."


Dn 6:7 Counseling are all--the chancellors of the kingdom, the prefects and satraps, the retinue and the viceroys--to set up a royal statute and to issue a mighty interdict that everyone who is petitioning a petition from anyone--whether elahh or mortal--for thirty days, except only from you, O king, shall be heaved into the vault of the lions.


Dn 6:10 When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house. Now the windows were opened for him in his upper chamber toward Jerusalem. Thus at stated times, thrice in the day, is he kneeling on his knees and praying and acclaiming before his Elahh just as formerly--this he is doing. 11 Then these masters foregather and find Daniel petitioning and supplicating before his Elahh.


Dn 6:13 Then they respond and are saying before the king, "Daniel, who is of the sons of the deportation of Judah, does not promulgate for you, O king, the decree, the interdict that you signed: At stated times, thrice in the day, he is petitioning his petitions before his Elahh."


Dn 6:16 Then the king says the word, and they bring hither Daniel and heave him into the vault of the lions. Calling is the king to Daniel and saying, "Your Elahh, Whom you are serving in abidance, He will deliver you!"


Dn 6:18 Then the king departs to his palace and remains in his house, fasting. Diversions are not brought before him, even though his sleep flees from him. Yet Elahh closes the mouths of the lions and they do not harm Daniel.


Dn 6:20 In a fluster he departs to the vault of the lions, and, as he is near the vault, he cries out to Daniel in a staunch voice. Calling is the king to Daniel and saying, "Daniel, servant of the living Elahh, your Elahh Whom you are serving in abidance, He could deliver you from the mouths of the lions?"


Dn 6:22 My Elahh sent His messenger, and he closed the mouths of the lions that they could not harm me; forasmuch as before Him it is found that I am purged; and indeed, also before you, O king, no harm have I done." 23 Then the king feels enormously relieved, and as to Daniel he says to hoist him from the vault. When Daniel is hoisted from the vault, no harm at all is found in him, seeing that he believes in his Elahh.


Dn 6:26 From before me is promulgated this decree: In every authority of my kingdom be they stirred and terrified before Daniel's Elahh: He is the living Elahh and is set up for the eons. His kingdom shall not come to harm and His jurisdiction is till the terminus.


Dn 11:37 Concerning the Elohim (Elahhin) of his forefathers he shall not understand, nor concerning the coveting of wives, nor concerning any eloah shall he understand; for he shall magnify himself over all.


Dn 11:38 Yet the eloah of the strong in his post shall he glorify: An eloah whom his forefathers did not know, he will glorify with gold, silver, precious stones and coveted treasures.


Hab 1:11 Then he will pass on as a wind, and he shall trespass and be guilty. This, his vigor, becomes his eloah.


Hab 1:12 Are You not from aforetime, Yahweh? My Eloah, my Holy One, You shalt not die. Yahweh, for judgment do You place him, and, O Rock, for correction, You do found him.


Hab 3:3 Eloah is coming from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. {interlude} His splendor covers the heavens, and His praise fills the earth.