Is the Torah Monotheistic?

Question

Below I will provide multiple Pesukim from throughout Tanach which in my mind contradict each other. If you would be able to provide me with a reason behind these flaws I would greatly appreciate that.

Mentions of Other Gods:
Numbers 25:1-3 “While Israel was staying at Shittim, the menfolk profaned themselves by whoring with the Moabite women, who invited the menfolk to the sacrifices for their god. The menfolk partook of them and worshipped that god. Thus Israel attached itself to Baal-peor and Adonai was incensed with Israel.”

Psalms 16:2 “I say to the Lord, “You are my benefactor; there is none above You.”
(yet there is no mention of the fact that there should also be none below him)

Psalms 16:4 “Those who espoused another [god] may have many sorrows! I will have no part of their bloody libations; their names will not pass my lips.”

Mentions of Not Worshipping other Gods:
Psalms, 135:5 “For I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods.”

Exodus 20:1-3 “God spoke all these words, saying: I Adonai am your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, the house of bondage: you shall have no other gods besides Me.”

Exodus 23:13 “Be on guard concerning all that I have told you. Make no mention of the names of other gods; they shall not be heard on your lips.”

Jeremiah 25:6 “Do not follow other gods, to serve them and worship them. Do not vex Me with what your own hands have made, and I will not bring disaster upon you.”

Kings I 11:10 “and had commanded him about this matter, not to follow other gods; he did not obey what God had commanded.”

Exodus 34:14 “for you must not worship any other god, because Adonai, whose name is Impassioned, is an impassioned God.”

Mention against their being any other Gods:
Deuteronomy 4:35 “It has been clearly demonstrated to you that Adonai is God; there is none else.”

Deuteronomy 4:39 “Know therefore this day and keep in mind that Adonai alone is God in heaven above and on earth below; there is no other.”

Deuteronomy 32:39 “See, then, that I, I am the One; There is no god beside Me. I deal death and give life; I wounded and I will heal: None can deliver from My hand.”

Samuel II 7:22 You are great indeed, O Lord God! There is none like You and there is no other God but You, as we have always heard.”

Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear O Israel! Adonai is our God, Adonai alone.”

My concern comes from the fact that the above statements (all taken verbatim from Sefaria.org) contradict each other. In some areas of the Torah, it says not to worship other gods. But it mentions nothing of whether the other gods are legitimate. And then in other areas, it mentions the fact that there is no other god but our god. And further, there are places where it says that you shouldn’t serve the other gods because they aren’t legitimate.
So which is it? As children, we are taught that there are no other gods and that Shema is so holy because it reminds us not to treat anything else like a god and that there are no other gods. But then in other areas of the Torah, it says that there are other gods even if they are under the power of Adonai.

I do not approach this to profane your religion or to try to convince you that it’s illegitimate but I approach you to settle the doubts in my mind that this religion is flawed.

Sincerely, Anon

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Answers

  1. Yes, the Torah is Monotheistic as is Judaism. Actually, the tenet of Monotheism is incumbent upon all mankind as the prohibition against idol worship is one of the Seven Noachide Laws. Why, then, does the Torah mention foreign gods and idol worship so many times? Not because Hashem condones it but, rather, because Hashem understands the human psyche entirely. Worshiping other entities in the place of Hashem has always been a part of humanity. In fact, our Sages define idol worship as being akin to self-worship because worshiping idols allows a person to worship whatever idol represents their desires at any one given moment of time. Therefore, Hashem, understanding the need for humans to remove the yoke of serving Him, repeats over an dover again the absolute prohibitions against worshiping idols.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team