Chapter Four considers the worship of El, the deity who appears in the name of the eponymous ancestor Israel. Sociologically, the concepts here are those of ancestral traditions, the so-called “God of the Fathers,” and family religion—standing apart from the religion of a centralized state and a hierarchical priestly cult. Each of the various “El” traditions are discussed in detail: El Berith, El Elyon, El Roi, El Olam, El Bethel, and the most famous, El Shadday. Key functions of El traditions are highlighted: El as father, divine kinsman, and benevolent protector as well as El’s role as the head of a mythological divine council. The chapter explores whether El was the original god of Israel, including associations with exodus traditions.