Around Exodus: monotheism, difference and violence

The article aims at a revision of the notion of Mosaic distinction. A closer look at the book of Exodus shows not one, but three Mosaic distinctions, which are not about truth and untruth, but about slavery and freedom, the chosen people and the rest, friend and foe. The monotheism of truth comes only later, with Deutero-Isaiah, Jeremiah and other late- and post-exilic prophets. The false religion, i.e. idolatry, is an object of scorn and derision, but not of violent persecution. The other gods are deemed inexistent. This new idea, however, never supersedes the monotheism of faithfulness that remains dominant in the three Abrahamic religions.