Columbus

Thereare some an important features of ancient theology that has been left out of this discussion. During the time of Exodus, and for some time after, the Israelites were not monotheists. Monotheistic theology slowly took over from the original henotheism. The relatively modern Bible gives the illusion that all Israelites believed exactly the same thing, but they didn't.
Henotheism is the belief that different territories and peoples are ruled by different gods. The belief that YHWH is our god became YHWH is the strongest god became YHWH is the only god, over the course of centuries. Judaism probably didn't reach it's solid monotheism until the Exile to Babylon. At that point all the Scripture could be redacted to it's current, more or less, harmonious state. But the henotheism still shows through in a few spots.
A couple of centuries previously there were both Judah and Israel, it's larger neighbor to the north which we now call Samaria. Israel still did bull worship and sacrifice and bad stuff like that. That's why YHWH sent the Assyrians to destroy them.

Tom

Loomis

But it looks to me like they are one and the same: to some Israelites the Canaanite fertility god WAS Yahweh.

We are talking about Baal. Right?

Baal was El’s son.

El was a bull, and it follows that Baal was a bull too.

It looks like Yahwists recast Baal epics with Yahweh as the hero. I think Psalm 29 is the poster child. It looks like it began life as a poem about Baal’s struggle with a sea god named Yam. Google [“Psalm 29� Baal Yahweh Yam] and you will see what I mean.

The author of Hosea 2:16 even has his Yahweh declare, “no longer will you call me, `My Baal.'�

At Exodus 32, the Aaron character seems quite confident that the young bull is Yahweh. It may be a bull … but it is also Yahweh.

What is the benefit of distancing the idea of Yahweh worshipped as a bull? (When all evidence points in that direction.)

As far as I see, introducing a 2nd false non-Yahweh god answers nothing.

Am I being too negative here?

Am I making any sense?