But what are the implications of that oneness, especially when we think about life, death, and what comes after?

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating text from the early Middle Ages, grapples with this very question in its 34th chapter. It centers around the verse from Deuteronomy 32:39: "See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no God with me."

The text boldly declares that only the Holy One, blessed be He, can utter those words: "I am" in this world, and "I am" in the world to come. This isn't just about power, it's about singular, continuous existence. The text links this directly to redemption. God is the one who redeemed Israel from Egypt, and will redeem them again at the end of days, after the reign of the "fourth kingdom" – a term often interpreted as referring to Rome and its successors.

But what about those who deny this oneness? What about those who claim there's another God? Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer pulls no punches. It states that those nations will be slain with a "second death," one from which there is no resurrection. Conversely, those who acknowledge God’s singular existence will be granted eternal life. "I kill, and I make alive," the text emphasizes, quoting the very same verse from Deuteronomy. It’s a stark contrast, highlighting the profound consequences of belief and disbelief.

There’s a raw, almost brutal honesty here. It speaks of divine judgment and ultimate justice. But it also speaks of healing. "I have wounded Jerusalem and her people on the day of My anger," it says, "and in great mercy I will heal them." The idea is that even in moments of divine anger and apparent destruction, there's an underlying promise of eventual restoration and healing. This duality—judgment and mercy—is central to the Jewish understanding of God.

And what about intermediaries? Can angels or seraphim intervene to save the wicked from the fiery judgment of Gehinnom, often understood as a sort of purgatory? The answer, according to this chapter, is a resounding no. "And there is none that can deliver out of my hand," the text asserts. This underscores God's absolute sovereignty and the finality of divine judgment.

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer presents a powerful vision of a God who is both judge and redeemer, whose oneness is inextricably linked to the fate of nations and the promise of resurrection. It's a reminder that belief in God's singular existence isn't just an abstract theological concept; it's a matter of life and death, both in this world and the world to come. It asks us to consider the weight of our beliefs, and the ultimate source of our redemption.