What is the significance of the use of the different names of God in Genesis 1 and 2?

A:The significance of the use of different names of God in Genesis is that this led biblical scholars to the realisation that the Book of Genesis actually had more than one author. They began to realise that a particular writing style was associated with a particular geopolitical focus and a particular name for God.

The Yahwist (J) source always used YHWH (or YHVH) as the name for an anthropomorphic God with human characteristics. The Yahwist's God made promises and covenants with his chosen people. The source's main interests were the southern kingdom, Judah, and the Aaronid priesthood. Yahweh, sometimes translated as Jehovah, is the ancient name now most commonly associated with God.

The Elohist (E) source always used 'Elohim as the name for a more transcendent God who required obedience and was feared by his people. People could never look at the Elohist's God, so he typically came in dreams or visions, but sometimes in the form of a cloud or a flame. This source came from the northern kingdom of Israel, and was generally more concerned with general stories than individuals. He had a moderately eloquent style.

The Priestly source (P) also used the name 'Elohim, but often El Shaddai ('God Almighty'), to describe a remote and unmerciful God. This source drew on the earlier works of J and E, changing details to suit the priestly point of view. He had a low level of literary style and used a later form of the Hebrew language than the earlier two sources. The Priestly source focussed on the formal relations between God and society.

Thousands of religious artefacts have been found throughout Israel and Judah, showing that the two kingdoms had somewhat different religious beliefs. Worship of El, the Canaanite father of the gods, was more pronounced in the northern kingdom than in the south (Elohim is the plural of El, used in The Bible somewhat like a royal plural). Eventually, Eland Yahweh were syncretised and worshipped as a unified God, Yahweh, who was the national God of both kingdoms.