Judges 6:26 describes the destruction of an Asherah pole by using it to fuel the fire of a sacrificial offering to the Lord: Then build an altar to the LORD your God here on this hilltop sanctuary, laying the stones carefully. Both Israel and Judah disregarded Gods express command not to set up sacred pillars and sacred poles; they placed them upon every high hill and under every luxuriant tree alongside the altars used for sacrifice. Asherah of the Sea, as she is called there, was the consort of the old god El, the head of the pantheon, and she was the creator of the gods, their mother (Did God Really Have a Wife? by Shmuel Ahituv, BAR, Sept./Oct. They must be replaced. It has been suggested that the poles represented the female principle, whereas the pillars represented the male principle. Archaeologists speculate that it is an image of an Asherah pole. The 4.What Is an Asherah Pole and Does it Have Biblical Significance? rim) is thought to refer to (1) a sacred pole representing Asherah, a Canaanite goddess of fertility (Jg 6:25,26), and (2) the goddess Asherah herself. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. This fact suggests that Jehu perceived the sacred pole as appropriate in the worship of YHWH. I've have been recently studying Cast Out Bible Books like for example Enoch an in Enoch 1 The Book of Watchers (200 Evil-Angel), Enoch was given a grand tour of Heaven accompanied by some good Angels He made it all the way to the throne room of God and made known The Holy Trinity I AM Yahweh, The Holy One and The Elect One Who is Christ the Reedemer in fact Enoch bears witness in Heaven watching The Ancient of Days going by an The Son of Man Christ follows close behind with 10000 Angels accompanying them both. The relation of the literary references to an asherah and archaeological finds of Judaean pillar-figurines has engendered a literature of debate. Furthermore, this objection is no longer valid if one accepts that 'asherah', like Babylonian istaru might also mean a synonym or title for a goddess, in particular, the divine spouse. Meinhardt Dukstra El, the God of Israel Israel the people of YHWH: On the Origins of Ancient Israelite Yahwism in Only One God? In a break with previous rulers, Sargon didnt appropriate the highest religious office but instead appointed his daughter as high priestess of the moon god. One of these Pagan Phoenicians was "Jezebel" (Izebel), who married Ahab, king of Israel (Samaritan king). Asherah is represented many times in various forms scattered throughout the region. Canaanite goddess Asherah, 13th century BCE. ( Looklex Encyclopaedia ), Top Image: Veiled Mother of the World (Deriv.) The Ras Shamra texts identify this goddess as the wife of the god El, the Creator of Creatures, and refer to her as Lady Asherah of the Sea and Progenitress of the Gods, this also making her the mother of Baal. None the less, they were and have been instructed not to do this by the WORD of . The "asherahs" were usually upright wooden objects, often standing beside altars, and in at least eight instances they are described as carved. So it seems they were not merely wooden poles, but probably quite large carved images. Evidence suggests that Asherah was observed in ancient Israel and Judah as early as the 12th century BC, to a few decades before the fall of the southern kingdom of Judah (587-588 BC), a time known as the pre-exilic period. In the Kabbalah it is the attribute referred to as Binah, means understanding; God founded the earth with wisdom and established the heavens with understanding (Binah) (Proverbs 3:19); In a possible reference to the goddess; Say to Wisdom, You are my sister, and proclaim Understanding (Binah) a kinswoman (Proverbs 7:4). This is always the remedy for idolatry. That usage reflects a chain of associations. Asherah, along with Astarte and Anath, was one of the three great goddesses of the Canaanite pantheon. Does it make any difference? First Person: Did the Kingdoms of Saul, David and Solomon Actually Exist? (Jg 6:25) Jezebel, the Sidonian wife of Ahab the king of Israel, entertained at her table 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the sacred pole, or Asherah.1Ki 18:19. When Asa reigned in Judah, He banished the male and female shrine prostitutes from the land and got rid of all the idols his ancestors had made. By what? [The goddess Asherah (Astarte) is the name of the wife of the God of Israel? Under However, there apparently was considerable overlapping in the roles of the three prominent goddesses of Baalism (Anath, Asherah, and Ashtoreth), as may be observed in extra-Biblical sources as well as in the Scriptural record. The Hittites also had a pair of bull gods named Hurri and Surri and Hurri is obviously connected to the Hurrians, or mountain folk, while the name Surri is derived from the word Sar which means lord, king, perhaps referring to a ruling class. In some translations, Asherah is taken to refer to a tree or grove. Put simply, an Asherah pole is a wooden idol (likely in the shape of a tree) used to worship the goddess Asherah. AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. [8] This role gave her a similarly high rank in the Ugaritic pantheon. Who is Asherah? By way of contrast, the intellectual community in the metropolis produced a text, which was written entirely from the perspective of the upper or ruling classes. WebSummary: An Asherah pole is a sacred tree or pole that stood near Canaanite religious locations to honor the Ugaritic mother goddess Asherah, consort of El. At this point it is important to make a distinction between the book religion of the ruling classes in the metropolis and folk or popular religion as it was practiced in rural communities for which most Israelites were a part. Asherah veneration was explicitly forbidden in the Jewish law: You must never set up a wooden Asherah pole beside the altar you build for the LORD your God (Deuteronomy 16:21, NLT). That's all I have for now this was a very exciting Article to read thanks for Posting it much appreciated. Ackerman, Susan. Manasseh, King of Judah, followed the despicable practices of the pagan nations. One of the primary reasons Israel fell to the Assyrians was because of Gods anger over their worship of Asherah and Baal (2 Kings 17:523). But there is more than removal of idols (more than keeping yourself from temptation) that must take place if real holiness and dedication are to be the result. Source: northernway.org, By Mary Naples, Contributing Writer, Classical Wisdom Weekly, Anya Leonard is the co-founder and Director of Classical Wisdom Weekly. Our rescue isnt found in sticks. The main reason Israel was exiled was because of her sins of idolatry: 2 Kings 17:16They rejected all the commands of the LORD their God and made two calves from metal. Help us elevate the voices of Jewish women. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. John W. Ritenbaugh (2022, November 28). In Judges 6, Gideon was called to tear down the altar to Baal and to cut down the Asherah that is beside it. Again, we see Asherah almost as a sidekick to the prominent male deity. The full hymn reads: YHWH came from Sinai and shone forth. at his right hand his own Asherah.. All rights reserved. These appendages of idolatry, likely phallic symbols, were associated with grossly immoral sex orgies, as is indicated by the reference to male prostitutes being in the land as early as Rehoboams reign. And nowhow much close can be Yahweh to Baal ? WebAsherah is identified as the consort of the Sumerian god Anu, and Ugaritic El, [7] the oldest deities of their respective pantheons. Cut them down. [9] Deuteronomy 12 has Yahweh commanding the destruction of her shrines so as to maintain purity of his worship. Archaeologists argue that these statues depict the goddess Asherah. Put simply, an Asherah pole is a wooden idol (likely in the shape of a tree) used to worship the goddess Asherah. This name brings to mind the founder of the Akkadian Empire, Sargon, or Sarukin (legitamate king) and his descendant on the throne who was the last functioning emperor, Sharkalisharri (king of all kings). At times, to appease Baal and Asherah, human sacrifices were made. One possibility is that in royal circles, especially in the southern capital city of Jerusalem, the cult of Asherah was particularly attractive to the kings mother. This does not necessarily denote a church steeple wherein its purpose was to set the building apart from others as a place of worship and not an item to be worshiped. Most significant, though, in demonstrating Israels association of Asherah with sacred trees are biblical materials that describe the asherah (singular) or asherim (plural), the cult object(s) that are associated with the goddess Asherah more than thirty times in the Hebrew Bible. Have an update or correction? In 2 Kings 17, we see how prominent the worship of Asherah and Baal had become throughout the land as they set up for themselves pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree. At this point, they were all-in on the worship of these false gods. Tim Keller says it well: idols cannot simply be removed. (1930) by Russian esoteric Christian Nicholas Roerich. Of all the people on earth, the LORD your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure. (NLT). Happy Womens History Month! Very much like the lyrics of the famous She may be ancient Egypts most famous face, but the quest to find the eternal resting place of Queen Nefertiti has never been hotter. It could be that all of the middleeastern goddesses of love, were very similiar in nature, together with Ishtar and Inanna. Ahab introduced his wife Jezebels pagan gods into Jewish worship by importing 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah (1 Kings 18:146). Your email address will not be published. A Meanwhile Adam arose in his image, saw Abraham, and smiled, so Abraham knew he was destined to be buried there (The Zohar by Daniel Matt, vol.2, p.221). WebFor instance the carved Asherah, also a pagan monument, represented female properties because it was carved to resemble the pagan goddess Ashtaroth (Astarte). Asherah cannot provide what she promises. She was occasionally called Elath (Elat), the Goddess, and may have also been called Qudshu, Holiness.. Subscribe to the CompellingTruth.org Newsletter: Asherah (also Ashtoreth or Astarte, though there may have been a distinction) was the primary goddess worshiped by the ancient Canaanites and neighboring peoples, including the Philistines (1 Samuel 31:10). These cult objects are generally described as being in the shape of a pole or stylized tree. Who was the Beelzebub/Beelzebul that the Pharisees attributed Christ's work to? In Exodus 34:12-14 the Asherim are specifically mentioned as needing to be cut down once the Israelites enter the land, so as not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land and begin worshipping their gods. Though we have only 3 archaeological references that are indicative of a priestly blessing in the name of Yahweh and His Asherah, the prevalence of this goddess in ancient Israel was downplayed by the author of Deuteronomy, which recieved its final composition in the second temple period after the Jews eradicated all traces of this goddess. 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Asherah was one of the chief deities of the ancient world. Instead, rural communities had their own religious beliefs using statuary and other artifacts. 10 Reasons Why the Trial of Jesus Was Illegal. These sacred poles were situated in various locations. Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. Why Do We Need to Be Crucified with Christ? He thus divided the administration of government between this Czars militaristic empire-building sphere and the cultic-religious sphere with his daughter in her capacity as patroness of the arts. Generally speaking, biblical scholars assume that full-blown, radical, or philosophical monotheism came to Israel fairly late in its history, during the time of the exile in the sixth century b.c.e. How then did they worship? An Asherah pole was a sacred tree or pole that stood near Canaanite religious locations to honor the pagan goddess Asherah, also known as Astarte. The Sacred Poles. What we see with the new covenant is that God changes our hearts. Learn Religions, Nov. 28, 2022, learnreligions.com/asherah-in-the-bible-6824125. Even while idolatry is reviled in the Hebrew Bible, ample archaeological evidence suggests that those living outside the metropolis idolized statuary and cult objects as part of their religion, leading one scholar to opine: Folk religion can be defined as everything that those who wrote the Bible condemned.. Asherah worship was deeply sensual, involving illicit sex and ritual prostitution. However Asherah (as wikipedia said) was wife of sumerian god Anu, whileAstarte is known from the mythic Baal Cycle, which is a story of Baal fighting with Yam, god of the sea in cannanite mythology. If nobody could see them doing it, they thought, "Hey, I'm getting away with the perfect crime. Judah was punished for the sin of idol worship: Jeremiah 17:14The sin of Judah is inscribed with an iron chiselengraved with a diamond point on their stony hearts and on the corners of their altars. I am sure you are familiar with his legend which states that he was born in a manger surrounded by shepherds, about 7,500-year-old Juniper Stump Is Believed Oldest Goddess Asherah Idol, about Tracing The Footprints Of The Philistines To Minoan Knossos On Crete, about The Resurrection of Asherah, Mother-Goddess of Humankind, about Goddess NinkharsagAncient Powerful Mother who Faded into The Holy Ghost, about Unravelling the Roots of Hera, the Wrathful Goddess of Marriage, Dizzying Inca Rope Bridges Were Grass-Made Marvels of Engineering. How do we know? Another translation of carved Asherah pole is graven image of the grove (KJV). ( Public Domain ), Whereas Asherahs influence was restrained in the official religion, her presence loomed large in the rural communities, most often in the form of figurines which are prolific in the region. Your email address will not be published. What we need is a living encounter with God. (Keller, Counterfeit Gods, 155). WebAn Asherah pole is a sacred tree or pole that stood near Canaanite religious locations to honor the Ugaritic mother goddess Asherah, consort of El. The sacred pole of Samaria, moreover, which was erected during the reign of King Ahab (reigned 873852 B.C.E. 10 Reasons God Might Not Be Blessing Your Life, Inspiring Mother Breaks Down after Earning Golden Buzzer with Celine Dion Hit, 7 Things that Will Keep Me from Coming Back to Your Church, 6 Truths about Jesus Coming into the World, 9 Christians You Don't Want to Sit Beside on Sunday Morning, 10 Things You Should Know about the Intermediate State of Death, 'You Raise Me Up' Duet Earns A Standing Ovation From The Judges, 7 Things I Would Do Differently if I Were Raising My Children Again. Sacrifice the bull as a burnt offering on the altar, using as fuel the wood of the Asherah pole you cut down. (NLT). He even deposed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made an obscene Asherah pole. In fact, the very notion of polytheism is inherent in the quest for Asherah. It was closely associated with the worship of Baal: The Israelites did evil in the LORDs sight. It was closely associated with the worship of Baal: The Israelites did evil in the LORDs sight. By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. The relation of the literary references to an asherah and archaeological finds of Judaean pillar-figurines has engendered a literature of debate. Like a pole or tree, they can be said to be planted, stood up, or erected. The prophets, like Isaiah, would look to a day when the worship of Gods people would be pure and there would be no Asherim to remain standing. Micah 5:14 spoke of the work of God in rooting out your Asherah images from among you. Which, according to Jeremiah, would have been a mighty task as there was Asherim beside every green tree and on the high hills (Jeremiah 17:2). Were the pre-exilic Israelites and Judeans polytheistic ? The north pole is not a country, so it doesn't have a flag. That's essentially all I'm aware of The Holy Spirit the wife of God. And Ahab made an Asherah. When I read that verse my first instinct is to say, I sure hope he had a tissue. Is an Asherah a good thing, or a bad thing? 1992. (1Ki 14:22-24; 2Ki 17:10) Only seldom did kings such as Hezekiah (and Josiah) come along, who removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars to pieces and cut down the sacred pole.2Ki 18:4; 2Ch 34:7. As much as the ruling elite tried to inhibit Asherah and Yahwehs marriage, their union appears solidified in an ancient blessing seen with some regularity at a number of excavation sites in the region. In the Bible, Asherah is both the Hebrew name of a pagan fertility goddess and the wooden cult object dedicated to her. We want to believe that what we do can move the heavens. Even their children go to worship at their pagan altars and Asherah poles, beneath every green tree and on every high hill.