68 Jerome H. Neyrey (15.7). The deities are often called “blessed” (mavkar, makavrio") which distinguishes their blissful lot from the turmoil of mortals (24). The epithets of the deities are easily grouped into two categories: those using negative predicates to distinguish gods from mortals and those using some form of pa'n. Examples of the former include: “un- conquerable” (ajdavmaste, 4.7; 12.2; 65.2), “in-effable” (a[rrhto", 12.4; 19.11); “un-tiring” (ajkavma", 8.4); “un-conquerable” (a[fqito", 15.1); “un-breakable” (a[rrhkto", 65.1) and “in-vincible” (ajnivkhton, 19.9). These distinguish the deities from mortals who are subject to the very things from which the gods are immune. Thus the gods belong to an exclusive group of persons, “one of a few”. Epithets employing some form of pa'n include: “all-seeing” (panderkev", 4.8; 9.7); “all-conquering” (pandamavtwr, 11.3); and “all-mighty” (panto- krateira, 10.4). Hephaistos at one point is called “highest of all, all- v eating and all-hunting” (66.5). Therefore, while labels such as “first”, “only” and “one of a few” occur, the hymns declare the uniqueness of the gods in terms of role (king, queen), status (mistress of all), domain under their unique control (earth, sea, sky) and benefactions tied exclusively to them. Negative predication immediately distinguishes the gods from mortals. Thus each god has his or her exclusive niche in the cosmos, with unique territory and function. 3. Uniqueness in the Hebrew Bible In 1966 a classic study on the incomparability of Israel’s God appeared (25), which identified diverse ways of praising God’s uniqueness. The most common expression of incomparability is embodied in declarative statements such as “There is none like X”. For example, Hannah prays: “There is none like the Lord, there is none beside thee, there is no rock like our God” (1 Sam 2,2; see also Exod 8,6; Ps 86,6). Biblical authors used this same formula to praise mortals as well as God, i.e., Solomon (1 Kgs 3,12.13; Neh 13,26); Hezekiah (2 Kgs 18,5); Josiah (2 Kgs 23,25); and Job (Job 1,8; 2,3). Incomparability, moreover, was also expressed by rhetorical questions: “Who is like X? No One!” For example, (24) For example, Orphic Hymns 4.4, 8; 6.3, 10; 8.1; 9.11; 12.14; 13.1; 16.2; 22.10; 28.6; 32.3; 33.9; 34.1; 45.1; 52.1. (25) C.J. LABUSCHAGNE, The Incomparability of Yahweh in the Old Testament (Leiden 1966).