What was the heavenly council in the Old Testament?

The Heavenly Council, or Council of the gods, is mentioned in Psalm 82: "God [elohim] stands in the divine council [literally, council of El];

among the gods [elohim] he pronounces judgement.

How long will you [plural] judge unjustly,

showing favour to the wicked? Selah.

Judge the wretched and the orphan,

vindicate the lowly and the poor,

rescue the wretched and the needy;

save them from the hand of the wicked.

They neither know nor understand,

they go about in darkness;

all the foundations of the earth totter.

I said, "you [plural] gods [elohim],

sons of the Most High, all of you [plural];

but you [plural] shall die as men do,

fall like any prince.

Arise [the command is singular], O God [elohim],

judge [the command is singular] the earth,

for you [singular] shall inherit all the nations. "

Note: Strictly speaking, elohim is plural, but when used (as in the first line) with a singular verb, it refers to God - this is something like a royal plural. When used with a plural verb or other part of speech, it simply means 'gods'. Genesis tells us that all the nations had their patron god.

This heavenly council was presided over by God, who told the gods that they judged unjustly and favoured the wicked. He condemned them to die like men and thus he would inherit all the nations of the earth.