Moreover, the great problem of the _Existence of Evil_ never led the Jews, as it did some other nations, into Dualism, or the belief in an independent Evil Power. Difficult as the problem was, the Jews never hesitated in their belief that there was but One Supreme God, and that everything that existed, whether good or evil, existed by His permission, and was in a certain sense His doing.[164] And they gave to Him the very highest attributes. [Footnote 164: Isa. 45. 7; Prov. 16. 4; Amos 3. 6.] They described Him as _Omnipotent_; the Creator, Preserver, and Possessor of all things, the Cause of all nature, the Sustainer of all life, Almighty in power, and for Whom nothing is too hard.[165] [Footnote 165: Gen. 1. 1; Neh. 9. 6; Gen. 14. 22; Amos 5. 8; Job 12. 10; 1 Chron. 29. 11; Jer. 32. 17.] They described Him as _Omniscient_; infinite in understanding, wonderful in counsel, perfect in knowledge, declaring the end from the beginning, knowing and foreknowing even the thoughts of men.[166] [Footnote 166: Ps. 147. 5; Isa. 28. 29; Job 37. 16; Isa. 46. 10; Ezek. 11. 5. Ps. 139. 2.] They described Him as _Omnipresent_; filling Heaven and earth, though contained by neither, existing everywhere, and from Whom escape is impossible.[167] [Footnote 167: Jer. 23. 24; 1 Kings 8. 27; Prov. 15. 3; Ps. 139. 7.] They described Him as _Eternal_; the Eternal God, the Everlasting God, God from everlasting to everlasting, Whose years are unsearchable, the First and the Last.[168] [Footnote 168: Deut. 33. 27; Gen. 21. 33; Ps. 90. 2; Job 36. 26; Isa. 48. 12.] They described Him as _Unchangeable_; the same at all times, ruling nature by fixed laws, and with Whom a change of purpose is impossible.[169] [Footnote 169: Mal. 3. 6; Ps. 148. 6; Num. 23. 19.] And lastly, they described Him as in His true nature _Unknowable_; a hidden God, far above human understanding.[170] This will be enough to show the lofty _mental_ conception which the Jews formed of the Deity. [Footnote 170: Isa. 45. 15; Job 11. 7.] Now for their _moral_ conception. They believed their God to be not only infinite in power and wisdom, but, what is more remarkable, they ascribed to Him the highest moral character. He was not only a _beneficent_ God, Whose blessings were unnumbered, but He was also a _righteous_ God. His very Name was Holy, and His hatred of evil is emphasised all through to such an extent that at times it forms a difficulty, as in the case of the Canaanites. Thus the _goodness_ they ascribed to God was a combination of beneficence and righteousness very similar to what we discussed in Chapter V.