In the hebrew manuscripts of the bible available, the word translated in English as "righteousness" is (tsedeq). Tsedeq or sedeq is the actual and literal name of a West Semitic god Zedek. In the Old Testament, righteousness is personified as a deity, seemingly carrying out Yahweh's will.

For example: Psalm 85:10-13:

[ol]
10 "Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.11 Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky (shamayim).12 Yes, the LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.13 Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way."[/ol]
In the passage, Righteousness (tsedeq) is depicted looking down from the sky.

In other passages, Yahweh's throne is in heaven (shamayim). Psalm 11:4 - "The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD's throne is in heaven (shamayim)."

In fact, Yahweh regularly looks down from heaven in the OT.

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Psalm 14:2: "The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God."

Psalm 33:13-14: "The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth."

Psalm 102:19-20: "For he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the LORD looked at the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die."

[/ol]
It appears then, the personification of righteousness in the OT is conflated in some respects with Yahweh.






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The holiness of God is His highest attribute.

TheGreatEscape said:

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The holiness of God is His highest attribute.

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Amen! The Seraphim around the Throne of God in Isaiah 6 and Revelation 4 cry "Holy, Holy, Holy" day and night.

TheGreatEscape said:

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The holiness of God is His highest attribute.

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Well technically the passages says the seraphim stood above the Adonai of Hosts, but whatever.

The english word "Holy" or "holiness" is actually translated to in hebrew which is transliterated as qadosh. The root QDS is used as a divine epithet. THe gods in Ugarit texts are called literally the "sons of holiness (qadosh)". The hero Keret is the offpsring of El, the Benevolent One, and Holiness (qadosh). A number of scholars have noted that objects from the New Kingdom of Egypt bear witness to a deity, qadosh. On stelas and amulets she is represented as a nude goddess associated with sexuality and fertility. Qadosh was associated with El and it is most likely that qadosh associated with yahweh by the biblical authors as a sort of polemic.

It appears most likely though that qadosh became a sort of title. El, being bonded with qadosh inherited all the benefits she provided. Whilst Adonai of Hosts is not in a relationship wtih qadosh, the title is applied to Yahweh or Adonai as a polemic against El.