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The Asherah pole was often mentioned in the Old Testament as one of the ways the Israelites sinned against the Lord and worshiped other gods. Asherah poles were erected at sacred sites and alongside altars throughout the land of Canaan on every high hill and under every green tree (1 Kings 14:23, ESV). Is the Bible Trustworthy? He cut down her obscene pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley (1 Kings 15:1213, NLT; see also 2 Chronicles 15:16). Asherah worship was deeply sensual, involving illicit sex and ritual prostitution. 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). 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. Was Asherah Yahwehs wife, as many scholars now contend? 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. Both of these phrases are stereotypically used by the biblical writers to describe sites of idolatrous worship, implying, as does Judges 6, that the worship of Asherah was an apostate behavior in Israel and improper for followers of YHWH. Their children form the pantheon of the gods, who are said to number seventy; a Hittite myth similarly mentions the seventy-seven and eighty-eight children of Asherah. The branch He mentions is probably an Asherah, a tree or a wooden pole that stood for the fertility goddess. The full hymn reads: YHWH came from Sinai and shone forth. at his right hand his own Asherah.. Also, vessels in the temple were used to make sacrifices to Asherah (2 Kgs 23:4), and in a compound within the temples walls, women cult functionaries wove garments used to clothe Asherahs cult statue (2 Kgs 23:7). Most believe she was the wife of the supreme god El and the mother of Baal. Unfortunately, our sources do not provide enough information to identify definitively which Israelites were particularly attracted to the worship of Asherah or the reasons for this attraction. And the prophets began to exalt the fullness of the Lord and they would do so at the idols expense. 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. The bible itself denounced the Israelites several times for their polytheistic tendencies they worshipped the idols left by both Gideon and Moses (Moses brazen serpent), An article on the slow change among the Israelites going from saying, "Our god is the best god" to "Our god is the only god" would probably go well with this one, There is a footnote on the explanation of this thesis. Hence the woman being proclaimed as the Hurrian goddess Hepa, Heba, Heva, or Eve, the mother of all living (hai) (Genesis 3:20), that is also Eywa, the mother creation goddess in the film Avatar. The statue appears such that she totally *could* be carved out of a single (yet giant) tree. Its possible that the divine name Yahweh Elohim that appears in connection with the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2-3 may refer to Yahweh and His Asherah.. Probably orange. The ruling elite propagandized against goddess worship by integrating the story of the fall of mankind to the tree which was clearlyassociated with Asherah. If a correspondence holds, then the trees of life and of knowledge in the Eden narrative may also reflect Asherah imagery. 1992. Its our plight that moved the heavensit is the LORD Himself who would come and rescue us. Sacrificial feasts were held in the sacred GROVES of Asherah in Jerusalem according to Apion." He (Abraham) saw a light radiating from the cave, so there he prayed, and there the blessed Holy One spoke with him. Despite these and other references associating Asherah with apostasy, contemporary discoveries have further indicated that, at least in the opinion of some ancient Israelites, YHWH and Asherah were appropriately worshipped as a pair. They must be uprooted. 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In Ugaritic literature, she was called Lady Asherah of the Sea.. Thegoal of Ancient Origins is to highlight recent archaeological discoveries, peer-reviewed academic research and evidence, as well as offering alternative viewpoints and explanations of science, archaeology, mythology, religion and history around the globe. Such religious symbols ("groves") are frequently alluded to in Scripture ( Exodus 34:13 ; Judges 6:25 ; 2 Kings 23:6 ; 1 Kings 16:33 , etc. Upon entering the region, the ancient Israelites soon adopted her and gave her the Hebrew equivalent name of Asherah. 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. Asherah. When Abraham first entered the cave, he saw a light, then dust scattered, revealing two graves. (2Ki 21:7) Manasseh was disciplined by being taken captive to Babylon and, upon his returning to Jerusalem, showed he had profited from that discipline and cleansed Jehovahs house of idolatrous appendages. what does an asherah pole look like Asherah worship was deeply sensual, involving illicit sex and ritual prostitution. While sorting through some 280,000 artifacts excavated from land reserved for a highway construction project running from Cambridge to the village of Huntingdon in eastern England, archaeologists affiliated with the Museum of London Archaeology discovered a miniature comb that was incredibly ancient and also made from a most unusual material. Asherah and Idol Worship From torch to toe the Statue of Liberty resembles a pole. Fairchild, Mary. During the reign of Josiah, the priest Hilkiah purged the images of Asherah from the Temple (2 Kings 23:6). What, then, was an Asherah pole? If that was the case, we would have seen the death of these Asherah poles when Asa, Hezekiah, or Jehosophat put in order stirring reforms and cut down the Asherim. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. an Asherah Pole This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. They portray a woman clutching her exaggerated breasts as if offering them to a nursing child. He was offended by what was going on. Does it make any difference? ( 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. I would guess that Eve was acquiring the attributes of the Queen of Heaven in a microcosmic way when she said, I have gotten a man with the help of Yahweh (Genesis 4:1) and there is no longer mention of Elohim since the woman is a partner with Yahweh. I watched a documentary on this made by PBS which is now on You Tube if i may say the name ? There is some biblical evidence that does see women as particularly attracted to goddess cults (for example, womens role in the cult of the queen of heaven, according to Jer 7:18 and 44:1719, 25), and the various female figurines found in domestic contexts at multiple Israelite sites might also suggest this, assuming, as many scholars do, that women played an especially important role in family-centered religious activities. She's within the Holy Trinity during the middle ages people used to say I baptize you in the name of The Father, The Son, and in the name of the Mother aka Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost. Learn Religions. A little leaven would work through the whole lump and before long they were fully engaged in syncretic worship; having idols, like Asherah, in the very temple of YHWH. She was removed as queen mother and Asa cut down the Asherah and burned it in the river. By the time of the New Testament, idolatry seems to have taken a different flavor. There are other Hera, also known by her Latin title as Juno, is best known in Western culture as the wife of Zeus, king of the gods. But the gospel teaches something different. Asherah, ancient West Semitic goddess, consort of the supreme god. One of these Pagan Phoenicians was "Jezebel" (Izebel), who married Ahab, king of Israel (Samaritan king). Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. 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. No dew, no rain; no welling up of the deep, no sweetness of Baals voice. 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? 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. (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. 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. (Ex 34:13; De 12:3) They may have simply been uncarved poles, perhaps even trees in some instances, for Gods people were instructed: You must not plant for yourself any sort of tree as a sacred pole.De 16:21. In their minds, they thought it did not make any difference; it was not hurting anyone. In the Bible, Asherah is both the Hebrew name of a pagan fertility goddess and the wooden cult object dedicated to her. If you only try to uproot them, they grow back; but they can be supplanted. According to Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible manifestations of Asherah worship have been identified in Egyptian, Hittite, Philistine, and Arabic texts. So, the Asherah cult was prominent. Indeed, unearthing a goddess who has been buried for close to two millennia has its distinct disadvantages. He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and even made a carved image of Asherah and set it up in the Temple (2 Kings 21:7, NLT). That usage reflects a chain of associations. The sacred poles apparently stood upright and were made of wood, or at least contained wood, the Israelites being commanded to cut them down and to burn them. All of the things which we long for that can make idols tempting are found perfectly in Jesus Christ. (NLT). Asherah WebFor instance the carved Asherah, also a pagan monument, represented female properties because it was carved to resemble the pagan goddess Ashtaroth (Astarte). But the most abundant of these are her pillar figurines which were popular from the 10th through the 7th centuries BC. She has an M.A. Journal Archaeological discoveries from the late 1970s and early 1980s have further indicated that, at least in the opinion of some ancient Israelites, YHWH and Asherah were appropriately worshipped as a pair. The Sacred Poles. Were the pre-exilic Israelites and Judeans polytheistic ? Furthermore, the many artifacts representing Asherah and her cult from the region belies the biblical prohibition against the creation of idols. In a related sense, an asherah could refer to a wooden pole, effectively an indoor stand-in for a tree. This same command is given in Deuteronomy 7:5 and 12:3. Answer. Author: www.crosswalk.com Post date: 26 yesterday Rating: 3 (1036 reviews) Highest rating: 4 Low rated: 2 Summary: The account of the visitation by angels at the terebinth of Mamre (cult shrine centered on a sacred tree) has its parallel in the Tale of Aquat, who like Isaac, was blessed by a divine entity. : Understanding the Mysterious Kingdom of Shambhala, The Green Children of Woolpit: Legendary Visitors from Another World, Medieval Sea Monster Was Likely a Whale, New Research Reveals. Therefore, Asherah worship often took place in forested areas, under a tree, or in an area marked by a carved "Asherah pole," such as the one made by the evil King Manasseh ( 2 Kings 21:7 ). what does an asherah pole look like King Manasseh even placed there a carved image of the sacred pole, evidently a representation of the goddess Asherah. We will consider what/who is Asherah and the significant role it plays within the biblical narrative. Ezekiel 8:17. 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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. Iron Age Comb Made from Human Skull Discovered Near Cambridge, Caesars Savage Human Skewers Unearthed In German Fort, The Evidence is Cut in Stone: A Compelling Argument for Lost High Technology in Ancient Egypt. By the age of 10, most children in the United States have been taught all 50 states that make up the country. You have it right! Ackerman, Susan. What is an Asherah pole If nobody could see them doing it, they thought, "Hey, I'm getting away with the perfect crime. ). According to ancient mythology, Asherah was the wife of El, who mothered 70 gods, including Baal, the most famous. AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. Webwhat does an asherah pole look like. That's all I have for now this was a very exciting Article to read thanks for Posting it much appreciated. [8] This role gave her a similarly high rank in the Ugaritic pantheon. A small votive statue of the Mother Goddess of Asherah. By what? (NLT). Tracing the history of Asherah poles is an interesting study. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. Israelite ceramic figure of a nude woman, identified as an Asherah pillar. Lovelock Cave: A Tale of Giants or A Giant Tale of Fiction? They are idols that must be rooted out of Israelite worship. (From Forerunner Commentary). Under Our rescue isnt found in sticks. The relation of the literary references to an asherah and archaeological finds of Judaean pillar-figurines has engendered a literature of debate. Considered the moon-goddess, Asherah was often presented as a consort of Baal, the sun-god ( Judges 3:7, 6:28, 10:6; 1 Samuel 7:4, 12:10 ). It is likely through the various secular conquests and the changing political landscape that God kept his promise to root out the Asherah images.. Perhaps Im opening a Pandoras Box, but this goddess never really was eradicated from Judaism because the sacred tree of Asherah was so universal in ancient times so that (almost) everyone would understand that the position of the Tree of Life in the middle of the garden (Genesis 2:9) referred to the all-pervading cultural influence where this iconic image appeared everywhere like the pithos from Kuntilet Ajrud depicting two ibexes flanking a stylized tree and on the cult stand from Tanaach on the third tier from the bottom that features two goats flanking a tree, with both examples having depictions of lions that are identified with Asherah. Yet increasingly, Asherahs influence in the region is becoming recognized by archaeologists and historians alike, with the expectation of further scrutiny and scholarship to come in this area. Asherah (Nick Thompson/ CC BY NC SA 2.0 ), In fact, this phrase Yahweh and his Asherah was so quotidian that it actually appears in the Hebrew Bible itself. Even the angle at which she holds the torch is extraordinarily parallel much like a pole. For those ancient Israelites who saw Asherah as YHWHs consort, this should suggest a correspondence between the queen mother, the wife of the kings biological father on earth, and Asherah, the wife of YHWH, who was the kings metaphorical father in the heavens. COPYRIGHT 2023 BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY SOCIETY 5614 Connecticut Ave NW #343, Washington DC 20015-2604. They forgot about the LORD their God, and they served the images of Baal and the Asherah poles (Judges 3:7, NLT ). An eighth-century B.C.E. Literature has been divided into two camps as a result of the relation between literary allusions to an asherah and archaeological discoveries of Judaean pillar-figurines. A : Monotheism in Ancient Israel and the Veneration of the Goddess Asherah (Biblical Seminar ) by Bob Becking, Meindert Dijkstra, Marjo C. A. Korpel, Karel J. H. Vriezen, Sheffield Academic Press 2001, p. 117. Combine a one-year tablet and print subscription to BAR with membership in the BAS Library to start your journey into the ancient past today! From what i know Asherah is a false god(dess) which the Children of Israel worshiped and abandoned God for. pole In older translations, it will often be interpreted as grove. Their appearance in the Old Testament, as to be expected, is always in the negative. God chose Israel to be his own special treasure and ordered the destruction of pagan altars and the cutting down of Asherah poles: Deuteronomy 7:56This is what you must do. Who was the Beelzebub/Beelzebul that the Pharisees attributed Christ's work to? Whether as Asherah, Astarte, or any other name, feminine manifestations of the godhead were systematically and sometimes violently opposed by the religious authorities of the Kingdom of Judah and its Temple.