If one assumes the originality of the tradition reflected by LXX and the 4Q fragment renderings of Deut. 32:8–9, the chronological sequence of events appears to have run as follows: (1) Originally the heavenly court consisted of Yahweh, the presiding deity, and a host of lesser beings identified variously as bĕnê ʾĕlōhîm, “the sons of God,” princes, or angels. (2) God divided humankind (bĕnê ʾādām) into a series of peoples/nations whose total corresponded to the number of members in the heavenly