Fluidity of God in Ancient Israel

In this podcast episode, Dr. Somer discusses the concept of divine fluidity in ancient Israel. He explains that while the Israelites were monotheists, they believed in the possibility of God having local manifestations in different places. He refers to examples such as the presence of Hashem in Zion, Taiman, Shomeron, and Hevron. Dr. Somer suggests that these local manifestations allowed for a more personal and emotional connection with God. He also explores the idea of Malach Hashem, a small-scale earthly manifestation of God. While recognizing that biblical monotheism emphasizes God's radical difference from everything else, Dr. Somer argues that the concept of divine embodiment offers insights into the personal relationship between God and humanity.