Yahweh's honor at stake: A divine conundrum

The theme of Yahweh acting for the sake of his reputation in the face of cynical adversaries appears in a large variety of biblical texts. This idea appears to derive from a conception that viewed the military successes or failures of a given people as reflecting the power or impotence of its patron god. The issue of Yahweh's need to protect his reputation was most often expressed in the context of a liturgical appeal by the party in distress. However, beginning with Deuteronomy 32 and carrying through to Deutero-Isaiah and Ezekiel, the same issue appears as a concern of Yahweh himself and as part of his rationale for delivering Israel.