Thanks so much for sharing!! Amen.. The marks of good journalism I find that most of the information regarding the Ugartic/Canaanite Ashtart is sadly lacking. From human sacrifices to carved trees, Asherah was a problem many Israelite kings struggled against. by Anki | Nov 6, 2022 | Judaism In ancient times, Asherah was a goddess worshiped by the people of Israel and Judah. The Legend of Lilith: Did Adam Have Two Wives? Her own specific places of worship were on hilltops, (called High Places in the Bible),and in forests and groves. $14.99 Christianbook.com. They have the same Hebrew root, alephshinreish, and, therefore, we can understand that this verse is explicitly bringing Asherah, our beloved tree goddess, into the folds of Jewish thought by reimagining her gift of blessings within the monotheistic context. Amenahem, Bathia.The Mother Goddess: As She Appears in Cultures Around the World,Judaism. God also made it very clear He is not one of the Canaanite gods but the only true God. And so, the idea of worshiping God, Baal, and Asherah at one time wasnt a stretch. Affiliation [9] Deuteronomy 12 has Yahweh commanding the destruction of her shrines so as to maintain purity of his worship. Let me share your vision The term images of Asherah is often used in the Hebrew Bible and it is thought that these pillar figurines are what the writers of the bible had in mind. The Ugarit excavation of 1928 put Asherah, the goddess, on the map again, after having lost her place for thousands of years. Hi, Canaanite Today, we chant a verse from Proverbs 3:18, Eitz chayyim hi lmachazikim bah vtomcheha meushar, She is a tree of life to those who hold fast to her and her supporters are blessed, as we return the Torah to the ark, implying that the Torah is the tree of life. El had 2 wives but it was Asherah alone who nursed the newly born gods. Instead, rural communities had their own religious beliefs using statuary and other artifacts. Jezebel herself was a Tyrant which only contributed to making Asherah look bad. . By bringing together top experts and authors, this archaeology website explores lost civilizations, examines sacred writings, tours ancient places, investigates ancient discoveries and questions mysterious happenings. So here is an example of how in a Goddess-loving religion like Hinduism, in India, a poor widow can go to the Temple of Kali and get comforted by Her in their times of need : Widow paraded naked for entering the temple of Kali http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-04-05/india/27750550_1_kalawati-gheraoed-police-station. The worship of Goddess Asherah is no different than the myths of many ancient people who created a loving Mother they lived in unison with by respecting the tribal efforts of everyday life. Wisdom (AKA Chochmah AKA Lady Wisdom) is embodied as a goddess-like character, meant to be understood metaphorically. ( Looklex Encyclopaedia ), Top Image: Veiled Mother of the World (Deriv.) That's why God got angry and for the record Jesus said that the Unpardonable Sin is Sinning against the Holy Spirit there is no coming back from that blunder. However, she was always described as a supernatural beauty, causing Yaldabaoth to fall in love with her. Oshtur, The Bright Lady of the Dawn (Marvel Comics) is one of the benevolent Elder Gods of Earth and is one of three vastly powerful beings who are collectively known as the Vishanti. All gods of the myths were born to Asherah and El, with the exception ofBaal, whose parentage is uncertain. Why then, would women want to pray to a male god who had cursed them with this affliction for relief from said curse? I truly appreciate you sharing this and will be reviewing the links you listed. Monotheism won, and God was reimagined not as a singular male warrior God, but as an infinite, eternal, non-gendered/all-gendered God. (Matthew 9; 20-22). A being filled with the Holy Light of all the Heavens, she is considered a being on par, if not exceeding, that of the God of the Bible. The fantasy wiki with fictional characters, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. It is important to note that having money, success, good health, and happy kids is in no way evil. These Asherah figurines would have been kept on private altars in Israelites homes. His example should inspire us all. I also found an article entitled Wifebeating in Jewish Tradition by Naomi Graetz (http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/wifebeating-in-jewish-tradition) to be quite interesting. It would appear that Hebrew menslightlyunderstood this dilemma that their wives and sisters faced and they were more lenient on Asherah worship than they were of Baal worship or other gods. Hezekiah wouldnt stand for it, so they immediately all came down. As the goddess Asherah, she is very prominent in Ugaritic mythology and appears in the same Baal cycle as a different character than Astarte[3]: II. I hope to hear back from you and God bless. Asherah appears as a Goddess by the side of Baal, whose consort She evidently became, at least among the Canaanites of the south. Unfortunately, the Israelites didnt listen. Required fields are marked *. It didnt take long for idol worship to get a foothold. http://www.goddess-pages.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=792&Itemid=1&ed=24, And you are probably aware that in Nepal the Hindu gods will punish menstruating women, their family, land and livestock in any number of catastrophic ways if they try to contaminate their homes, so menstruating girls are quarantined: widow, reports in the local media said. Motherhood, Earth, Fertility, Sea, Moon, Divinity, Lordship, Transcendence An early American symbol used the snake as a statement of power, a warning, saying, Dont tread on me!. The year 1185 BC heralded a diaspora of the so-called Sea Peoples to the south-western coast of the Levantine. That's all I have for now this was a very exciting Article to read thanks for Posting it much appreciated. No?! So it wasnt always that the Yahwehists had no reason to hate the Baals some were bloodthristy. What did Yahweh know about being beaten by a husband or raped by a neighbor? The examples of there being no battered womens shelters and menstruation were examples mentioned by Bathia Amenahem, who had received her PhD in Archaeological Judeo-Christian studies, when I was doing my research on this Goddess and that it is the reason whey I included it in this entry on Asherah. Asherah figures prominently as the wife of Elthe supreme godin a treasure trove of cuneiform texts found in the second millennium port city of Ugarit (in today's Northern Syria). Trees were revered as symbols of life and nourishment in arid regions and so became associated with Asherah and her cult. Were the pre-exilic Israelites and Judeans polytheistic ? Queen of Heaven Wife of El Astaroth Queen of the Skies Fallen Goddess Divine Goddess Affiliation Israel (Formerly), Yaldabaoth (Formerly), Canaan Physical description Race Primeval The existence of numerous symbols, in each of which the Goddess was believed to be immanent, led to the creation of numerous forms of Her person, which were described as Asherim. What is the Church, and What is Your Part in It? They praise Asa, king of Judah (911-870 BCE), for removing his mother Maacah from official duties after she had an abominable image made for Asherah (I Kings 15.13, II Chronicles 15.6). 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It could be that Astarte was a wife of Baal, or they are just praised together. Predominantly, the pillar figurines were found in private homes, suggesting their domesticity. Hi Andre! What idols do you have in your life? Deuteronomy 12 has Yahweh commanding the destruction of her shrines so as to maintain purity of his worship. Asherah, called Athirat in Ugarit, figures prominently as the wife of El, the supreme god. Because he was named El, confusion eventually set in that the pagan El is the holy Yahweh. Some have said he was talking to the Holy Spirit, another aspect of Elohim, which is also seen as a male type or at least, as a non-gender. One of the most prominent goddesses out of these was Asherah, worshipped as the Queen of Heaven by the early Israelites. Their mother-son bond is why she and Baal are often mentioned together in the Bible. Nearly all instances of "Asherah" in the Bible refer to a sacred pole constructed by human hands and erected in honor of the fertility goddess. "Take charge! And why is she often found paired with Yahweh, the Hebrew god? Gods and Demons Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. Today, there is no longer any worship of Asherah, but the Asherah tree remains an important symbol in Judaism. city-state of Ugarit (in western Syria). What did Yahweh know about being beaten by a husband or raped by a neighbor? This tells me that there was a history of domestic abuse, but one must ask, how long had it been going on before it had become a big enough deal to be noticed by the rabbis and actions had to be taken in an attempt to end this behavior? Theyve found the secret to making life work, and author David Dennis explains it to the rest of us. Beanie Feldsteins Summer Camp Wedding Was Super Jewish, 18 Things to Know About Jewish Actor Jonah Hauer-King, This Jewish Fashion YouTuber Recreated Her Great-Great-Grandmothers Shabbat Dress. After all, Asherahs place in the pantheon is alongside Yahwehs, the supreme deity. Second Kings 18-20 tells the story of Hezekiahs reign. Over and over again, Israelites plant Asherahs in their temples, and over and over, other Israelites tear them down. 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. His heart to serve Him every single day is an excellent example of his love and loyalty to a king who is higher than any king. In Proverbs Wisdom is often referred to as Her at some point in 1st King's and 2nd Chronicles God became enraged for Judah and Israel's defiant worship of the Queen of Heaven in the form of Idolatry the 2nd Commandment from God in Exodus Chapter 20 and Deutronomy chapter 5 Thou Shall Not make unto the any Graven Image neither what is in the Air, what is in the Sea, what is on the Land He Shall Not Bow before them. Thus, we were all, male and female, made inElohimsimage, encompassing both the male and female aspect of God. [2], There are more than 40 references to Asherah in the Old Testament. Asherah. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. Jesus came in contact with many women in his ministry and treated them with kindness, respect and compassion even when Jewish traditions said he shouldnt have. I do remember reading somewhere a very long time ago about the connection of the woman in Song of Songs and the Goddess (I think it started at this site when I was researching the Black Madonna http://www.thenazareneway.com/Mary%20Magdalene%20Great%20Mother-Goddess%20Queen.htm). Anya Leonard is the co-founder and Director of Classical Wisdom Weekly. And one who beats his wife is to be excommunicated and banned and beaten. Rabbi Rothenberg also ruled that a battered wife could petition a rabbinical court to compel a husband to grant a divorce, with a monetary fine owed her on top of the regular ketubah money. Why Jesus Wept During His Triumphal Entry. 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Answer Asherah, or Ashtoreth, was the name of the chief female deity worshiped in ancient Syria, Phoenicia, and Canaan. If we persist in worshiping something other than God, He has promised we will be ashamed when He judges us (Psalm 97:7, Isaiah 42:17), and the Lord will cut us off from Him. My own personal interest is in the Canaanite Pantheon, half from an academic angle and half from a personal calling. Before the exiled Israelites returned to claim the Promise Land, most people worshiped Asherah and her husband, El, the chief Canaanite god. Asherah (Ashtoret Anat / Public Domain) But, many believe that the existence of Asherah was suppressed by the narrative of the Bible, which sought to hide the historical truth. The angels started to destroy her shrines so as to maintain purity of His worship, and the angels told the people that she was worshiped in a cult capacity. Traditionally, Asherah is a mother figure often invoked at planting time, embodying a kind of benevolent, fertile energy that can reinforce just efforts and good intentions. That is tragic. Why Jesus Leaves the 99 Sheep to Find You. However if you havent yet I encourage you to read the Myth of Baal , taken from the Ras Shamra texts, the dialogue and interaction between Baal and Anat is quite engaging. He and his army scour the countryside and cut down, burn, and violently destroy every image of Asherah they can find. Some scholars say this is the precursor of the communion wafer. Asherah was regarded as a benevolent, divine kingship (also known as the "Queen of Heaven") who bestows abundance and protection to the people. In the other cultures you mentioned, there are female deities for women to turn to in their times of need (Buddhists have the Holy Mother Tara The Saviouress; Chinese and Japanese have The Mother of Mercy Kwan Yin or Kannon; the Hindu have The Great Divine Mother Shakti in all of Her different aspects). Little did its inhabitants know that this would be a fateful All Saints' Day that would reshape history. You shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images.. After all, thanks for share this information. I know that when we put up a post its there for anyone to criticise and I admire the way you are willing to take information from people and consider it and look further. In creating a wooden image of Asherah, they cut off the limbs of fresh trees (1 Kings 14:23) so only the trunks remained, then they carved a face into the wood. Christian references to Jesus walking on water or choosing fishermen as disciples may indicate veneration of Asherah, Judaism's suppressed, forbidden goddess. But they had little to no experience being priests or sorcerers of the dead which probably pissed the spirits off. And they trumpet the achievements of Josiah (639-609), including the destruction of offerings made to Asherah at the temple in Jerusalem, the abolition of the Asherah from the house of the Lord, and demolition of a shrine there in which women did weaving for Asherah (II Kings 23). Many studies on Asherah in the Bible have concluded that Asherah was a popular and beloved Mother-Goddess in the religion of Israel. 599-610). He removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image, and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made (Numbers 21:9), for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it and called it Nehushtan. 2 Kings 18:4 (my addition). Like God, she is called by several different names, such as Astarte, Inanna, Ishtar, who are all goddesses related to the moon and motherhood, it is unknown if they are also the same person or just avatars of the Goddess. Through Her association with trees, She was seen as the part ofElohimwho brought fertility, new growth, successful crops and watched over nature. To make matters more unseemly than they were, most of those who humiliated Kalawati were women. As the story goes, when the Israelites entered Canaan, they encountered and, naturally, picked up on many of the Canaanite traditions, Asherah included. ( The Met ). What is the origin of the legend of the Christed Son who was born of a virgin on December 25th? By and large, the biblical writers were unhappy that Asherah shared the same platform with their male deity, Yahweh, and repeatedly tried to dissuade their pairing. The Angels didn't appreciate this as God's wife was supposed to be Barbelo, however since she became Yaldabaoth's wife she in turn became God's wife. AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. El, Yaldabaoth, Elkunirsa, Amurru, Dyus, 'Amm, Ashur, Zebul, Bael Because the breasts are exaggerated with the hands supporting them, they are thought to symbolize the nurturing aspect of the mother goddess. You have a lot of interesting information here that i really enjoyed reading. Throughout time there have been great military leaders, whose skills and strategic prowess have shaped and defined the path of human civilization. Offspring Yet who has given a husband the authority to beat his wife? Rabbi Rothberg ruled that For it is the way of the Gentiles to behave thus, but Heaven forbid that any Jew should do so. And so, this year, consider celebrating Tu Bishvat, and uplifting the holiness and sacredness of our natural world, by channeling our ancient Asherah goddess power. In the tale of Goddess Asherah She lovingly created the land and the life that would inhabit it Her consort God El detached and distant in the heavens. Part Two, What Do the 8 Beatitudes in the Bible Mean? Do We Have the Authority of Jesus to Forgive Someones Sin? I am sure you are familiar with his legend which states that he was born in a manger surrounded by shepherds. So I wonder how much close that myth can be to the literary insciptions found in the Bible, and how much Asherah can be understood as Astarte, as both of those goddesses are goddesses of love, war and fertility. Your email address will not be published. Although he was there to disprove both Baal and Asherah, he focused on the priests of Baal and derided them during their prayers, eventually killing them all, but he does nothing to the priestesses of Asherah.[4]. A Canaanite fertility and mother goddess. Deciphering the Mysteries of the First Christmas, The Differences Between the New Testament Gospels, The Parable of the Laborers: Being First and Last, 11 of the Most Misinterpreted Bible Verses You Probably Quote (Part 2), 10 of the Most Misinterpreted Bible Verses You Probably Quote (Part 1), How We Know the Law of the Lord is Perfect, What the Bible Says About Speaking in Tongues, Why God Allows Evil to Exist in the World, Why We Need a Blood Sacrifice for Our Sin, Why Saul Hated Christians: A Brief Look at Pauls History, Why Christians Need to Read the Old Testament, 3 Heartbreaking Moments in Jesus Final Hours, The Parable of the Unjust Steward Explained, Is Jesus Kingdom Physical or Spiritual? Consorts 2 Sometimes she is known as "Lady Asherah of the Sea" but could be taken as "She who walks on the sea." As Athirat, a cognate name for Asherah, she is mother of 70 children (this relates to the Jewish idea of the 70 guardian angels of the nations). Dyus, Dm What I do conclude however, based on biblical law found in and throughout the Bible, (http://www.nobeliefs.com/DarkBible/darkbible7.htm) women were by no means treated as equals, but as unclean and pieces of property in which physical abuse was legal and acceptable forms of punishment. Eventually, Asherah worship faded away, alongside many other idolatrous practices. But we do have many references throughout the Bible to Israelite worship of a feminine deity named Asherah, a Canaanite goddess represented by a living tree. Was her worship confined to folk religion only, or was her influence felt in the book religion of the Hebrew Bible as well? The Ancient Egyptian pantheon was filled with imaginative deities of all kinds. What the Bible Says About Racial Injustice and the Church, The Overwhelming Evidence of Gods Goodness, Why Playing the What If Game is the Wrong Thing to Do, The Extraordinary Gift of Letting Jesus Breathe on You. I am extremely interested in psychology and this would be a wonderful book to add to my collection. 2 In the story, El directs the weak and heirless king Kirta to marry the daughter of a rival king's kingdom. As a Goddess worshipped in Her own right in the ancient Hebrew religion, She was associated with all that was symbolized by the Tree of Life. Among the trees considered to be the Tree of Life, the almond tree was highly regarded as it was the first to flower in spring, even before leafing out. (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. How do we know? I agree with almost everything you said but two points Id like to make. A holy God cannot tolerate sin in any manner, which is why the penalty for sin is death. Asherah was the name of an Ancient Near Eastern goddess, also referred to as Lady Asherah of the Sea, Mother of the Gods (AKA a way more badass version of Daenerys Targaryen! 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Yet, there is need for a female deity that women can turn who can relate to the hardships they endured; a female deity that the Hebrews (and other patriarchal societies) tried to demote, demonize and eliminate in their effort to instate their one true male god. Their mother-son bond is why she and Baal are often mentioned together in the Bible. The name is most probably to be understood as a feminine participle of the verb r (Heb. We are sinning against our Holy Father. Other traces in the Bible either angrily acknowledge Her worship as Goddess (II Kings 14.13, for instance, where another royal lady is involved), or else demote Her from Goddess to a sacred tree or pole set up near an altar (II Kings 13.6, 17.16; Deuteronomy 16.21 and more). An interesting, but little known fact about the Temple of Jerusalem is that an Asherah statue was housed there for two-thirds of the time that the Temple stood during Biblical times. Apparently, one of the wives of Solomon brought it with her when she married him, and he allowed it to remain in the Temple for quite some time; and he was viewed as the wisest man who ever lived! Along with life in nature, She was also seen as the Bread of Life for the Hebrew people. A Study of Jacobs Life: Are You Seeking Your Blessings from the Right One? Worship is above all else for His advantage, not our own, however, it is grand to find that in giving Him joy, we ourselves go into what can turn into our most extravagant and most healthy involvement with life. Who would you pick for the best military leaders of all time? 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Goddess Asherah Journeying to the Goddess, Goddess Macha Journeying to the Goddess, Goddess Ashtart Journeying to the Goddess, http://www.nobeliefs.com/DarkBible/darkbible7.htm, http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/wifebeating-in-jewish-tradition, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_Judaism, http://www.thenazareneway.com/Mary%20Magdalene%20Great%20Mother-Goddess%20Queen.htm, http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/first/women.html, http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/ed20120513a2.html, http://www.american-buddha.com/thai.buddh.patriarchy.htm, http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/india/110125/domestic-violence-indian-women, http://in.reuters.com/article/2009/06/08/idINIndia-40149420090608, http://www.goddess-pages.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=792&Itemid=1&ed=24, http://www.asafeworldforwomen.org/womens-rights/wr-central-and-south-asia/wr-nepal/998-nepal-emerging-from-menstrual-quarantine.html, http://www.causes.com/causes/74219-the-50-million-missing-a-campaign-against-india-s-female-genocide, http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-04-05/india/27750550_1_kalawati-gheraoed-police-station, The Goddess Asherah Ancient Spirituality, http://books.google.ca/books?id=1q2TzqnFWqQC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA89#v=onepage&q&f=false. I don't believe her name is Asherah I think from what I've learned from Enoch and Jubilees Asherah was so supposed to have been married to a bad angel name Baraqiel or Baraqel it means Lightening Giver in Hebrew Baraqiel name was shortened I believe to Baal a weather deity like Zeus or Marmaduke in Babylon. To head off that problem, God commanded the Jews to destroy everything having to do with idol worship. Hebrew women would make special loaves of Asherah bread, which would be blessed, then ritually eaten. Many women invoked Erzulie Dantor against their partners (male or female) should they become violent. The Adoration of the Golden Calf. Asherah, along with Astarte and Anath, was one of the three great goddesses of the Canaanite pantheon. Thank you for this website. The family would also likely expect them to participate in ritualistic human sacrifice. 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The discussion of these texts revealed that scholars differ about the interpretation (of the Kuntillet el-'Ajrud inscriptions), reading either 'Asherata' or 'his Asherah' and also about the question whether only the sacred pole is implied. It would not make sense for them to pray to a male god for female issues. And so, this year, consider celebrating Tu Bishvat, and uplifting the holiness and sacredness of our natural world, by channeling our ancient Asherah goddess power. Caesars Loved Tweezers! Her full name is "Lady Asherah of the Sea". The transition from Asherah-as-tree-goddess to trees-as-metaphor-for-divinity happens clearly in the Book of Proverbs. Many scholars believe that Asherahs tree functioned in the Garden of Eden parable. (1930) by Russian esoteric Christian Nicholas Roerich. El, Astarte, Dagon, Gebal, Bethel He responded to her with grace and love when they finally spoke. And Asherah and Baal led the way together (Judges 3:7, 1 Kings 18:19, 2 Kings 23:4). Its said he spilled so much blood that it could fill Israel from corner to corner. Part One, How the Roman Army Utterly Destroyed the Second Temple, Inside the Blessed Holy of Holies and the Sacred Veil, A Walking Tour of the Second Temple and Its Courts. Today in church i was reminded of a passage in Mark 5 where Jesus had two different encounters with women. Moses and Aaron both carried one of these Asherah poles as a sacred staff of power. Parents Was she Gods ex-wife? In Israel, Taanit Ester commemorates Esthersstrength and compassion in pleading with King Ahasuerus to save her people held captive in Persia. There is little to support a relationship between her and Baal. AsheraAsheAiratuAshratuAsherduAstarteIshtarInannaAthiratGoddess of Motherhood and FertilityMoon GoddessThe Big MotherLady of the SeaQueen of HeavenWife of ElAstarothQueen of the SkiesFallen GoddessDivine Goddess Then, two things happened: either Chaos or Gaia created the universe as we know it, or Ouranos and Tethys gave birth to the first beings. Theres Only One, Why We Should Offer Comfort in Our Own Suffering, Fasting For Lent: 4 Ways to Fight the Enemy, Putting a Biblical Perspective on World History Part 3: 5 Easy Ways to Bring the Bible Alive for Your Middle Schooler. Why did the people worship her? In Ugarit, Asherah was known as Athirat and was the consort of the high god El. 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. I was more surprised at the choice of mentioning battered women, in your writing about the Hebrew Goddess, Aserah and not in the articles about any of the Hindu or Buddhist Goddesses. You have successfully joined Steppes of Faith. Whats your favorite ancient site or museum virtual tour? If we genuinely believe only God is worthy of our worship, we need to identify the idols in our lives, get rid of them, and repent. Kings like him gave Hebrew Polytheism a bad name. The tale of our creation we know from the Bible is only half the storyone which has been heavily edited. He even set a carved image of Asherah that he had made in the house of which the LORD had said to David and to Solomon, his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever. 2 Kings 21:6-7. Reading the New Testament, about the strong independent and also financially autonomous Jewish women, who supported a Jewish Rabbi, by the name of Jesus in the first century, most people would not conclude that there is much evidence of wife beating. The ancient civilization of Greece is a historical period that has long been a subject of fascination and intrigue. Okay, maybe she wasnt exactly a tree goddess, and maybe she wasnt exactly worshipped by Jews. Thats the equivalent of me going around proclaiming myself a witch because the President is my friend so he gave me the title. Asherah is the former wife of several powerful Gods, including the God of the Bible, Anu, and Amurru, as well as the mother of more than seventy or eighty children, she could be considered the "Ultimate Mother". I would also recommend the book by Janice Ristock No More Secrets: Violence in Lesbian Relationships. Anything that takes time and attention away from God is idol worship. After Abraham was called by Yahweh and recruited some followers, he had a difficult time cutting out Asherah and the other regional gods. The History and Madness of King Herods Family, 11 Hebrew Words for Praise Every Christian Should Know, How Evil Began and What Christians Can Do About It, Ancient Mithra Worship and How It Mimics Christianity, How to Respond to Persecution Like Daniel, Why Jesus Tells Us to Righteously Judge Dogs and Swine. Regardless of what anyone believed, its clear we ought to be very careful about any form of idol worship. 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. You can unsubscribe anytime. Don't quit! Rachael Pass is a fourth year rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Many of his colleagues would agree. [5], *A word about snakes: The Serpent, though a frightening symbol because of its ability to bring death, stood also for ancient wisdom and immortality. Female The prophets also preached against idol worship, declaring God is the only one true God. ( Queen of Heaven ). Seeing as She had birthed so many children it is only normal that She was worshipped as the true fertility Goddess, force of life and nature. In Hebrew, she is known as Asherah. These rulings occurred in the midst of societies where wife-beating was legally sanctioned and routine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_Judaism). Let me share your vision Other kings such as Asa, Josiah, and Hezekiah feared God and sought to tear down the poles, pillars, and altars to Asherah and Baal (Exodus 34:13-14; Deuteronomy 7:5; Judges 6:25-30; 1 Kings 15:13/2 Chronicles 15:16; 2 Kings 23:4,7/2 Chronicles 34:3,7; 2 Kings 21:7/2 Chronicles 33:3,19; 2 Chronicles 19:3; 2 Kings 18:4). Was Jesus Supposed to be Called Immanuel? They do not seem to be needing Battered Womens Shelters. Behind the peaceful pagodas of Goddesses of Japanese Zen Buddhism, over a third of Japanese women experience violence: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/ed20120513a2.html, Forced prostitution, and exploitation of girls and women by Thai Buddhist monks are virtually institutionalised: http://www.american-buddha.com/thai.buddh.patriarchy.htm, In India wifebeating seems to be a national sport today, as it was 2000 years ago: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/india/110125/domestic-violence-indian-women Where there is prejudice (p. 39 54). Astarte is the Greek form of the name Ashtart, who, along with Asherah and Anath, was one of the three great goddesses of the Canaanite pantheon.In Canaanite religion she was associated primarily with love and fertility, playing the role of divine courtesan, for example, in mythological texts from the Late Bronze Age (c. 1550-1200 B.C.E.) Mary Fairchild Updated on November 28, 2022 In the Bible, Asherah is both the Hebrew name of a pagan fertility goddess and the wooden cult object dedicated to her. The Bible is never specific about which Baal it is. Sim. Asherah has two meanings, as a sacred grove or cultic object (the mishna treats it as a tree) as well as a divine name of the consort of El, the chief God. As a result, God blessed and prospered Hezekiah all of his life, even extending it another fifteen years after he was near death from an unknown illness (2 Kings 20:1-6). Thus, the people concluded that God had a wife named Asherah. In a world beset by hardship and drought, likely a concern for fecundity was what attracted the rural Israelites and Judeans to the goddess Asherah, whom they associated with abundance. An asherah of this type stood for many years in the Temple of Jerusalem itself, and sacred pillars were also erected in earlier times by the greatest . One thing that struck me was when you talked about how christianity doesnt have a female higher power to turn to for comfort. That's essentially all I'm aware of The Holy Spirit the wife of God. Is It Okay for Christians to Put Up a Christmas Tree? Journey to the Jordan: The Israelites Historical Hike to the Promised Land Part Four, Journey to the Jordan: The Israelites Historical Hike to the Promised Land Part Three, Journey to the Jordan: The Israelites Historical Hike to the Promised Land Part Two, Journey to the Jordan: A Study of the Israelites Historical Hike to the Promised Land Part One. Now the other Kings you mentioned? Source: northernway.org, By Mary Naples, Contributing Writer, Classical Wisdom Weekly. Jesus 4 Great Acts of Compassion in His Final Hours, Unraveling the Mystery of Tithes and Offerings, We Were Not Made to be Common: A Lesson from Peter, Filling In the Blanks: A Look At Josephs Story, Culture Shock: A Biblical Response to Todays Most Divisive Issues, Discovering Isaiahs 4 Messianic Servant Songs, Something made of wood profited no one (Isaiah 44:10, Habakkuk 2:18), They were not eternal because they could burn easily (Isaiah 44:15), They are unable to save us from eternal destruction (Isaiah 45:20). Asherah is wearing a necklace from Deir el-Balah, 14th-13th century BCE with an ibex-headed pendant from Ashod, 4th century BCE. [1], Food for Thought The Hebrew name used for God in Genesis isElohim, a derivative of El. (http://www.mysticvoodoo.com/erzulie.htm), Pingback: The Goddess Asherah Ancient Spirituality. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. She is primarily known as a Phoenician Canaanite goddess who was married to El. Asherahs themes are kindness, love, divination and foresight. Asherah is represented many times in various forms scattered throughout the region. Listen to article Ras Shamra (Ugarit), Syria: Asherah Asherah, ancient West Semitic goddess, consort of the supreme god. Strange Labyrinths and Edgar Cayce - Part I, What Did Ancient Greece Really Look Like? Remember many Kings tried to force people to worship them as living Gods, the Baal mentioned in the Bible could be a King, a General of some sorg, or a Deity. Her son, Baal, was represented as a stone pillar. (b) a construction similar, to the admittedly much later, Song of Songs 1:6 karmi elli. In a shameful incident a widow was made to wear a garland of shoes and to top it, her face was blackened after she defied a ban on her offering prayers at a Kali temple in Dhanbad district in Jharkhand. Later, after patriarchal systems prevailed, Her name came to mean grove or trees. But it was only in the succeeding Persian period, after the fall of Judah in 586 BCE and the exile in Babylon, that Asherah virtually disappeared. For perhaps hundreds of years before Abraham migrated to what would become known as Israel, Asherah was revered as Athirat, Earth Mother and Fertility Goddess. I am reading aerato lamo assuming: (a) an original r got corrupted to d (see Cross-Freedman ibid. Asherah is the Canaanite goddess who was also worshiped by other peoples such as the Israelites, considered the wife of several deities according to the region that worshiped her, as by the Canaanite peoples who adored her as the wife of El, or by the Hebrew peoples who adored her as wife of Yaldabaoth. [10] Maybe you should read the Bible a little more for better understanding? Understandings and Misunderstandings about the Ancient Practice of Sacred Prostitution, 7,500-year-old Juniper Stump Is Believed Oldest Goddess Asherah Idol, Tracing The Footprints Of The Philistines To Minoan Knossos On Crete, The Resurrection of Asherah, Mother-Goddess of Humankind, Unravelling the Roots of Hera, the Wrathful Goddess of Marriage. 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.. In making the first Menorah, the ancient Hebrews were instructed to have three branches coming out of either side of a central stand with an almond shaped cup and a flower at the end of each one, resembling an almond tree. Neither does The Shulamit, the heroin of the Song of Songs, who is proud to be black and beautiful and not afraid to express her sexual desire in the Hebrew Bible. ASHERAH. Asherah, a Canaanite Goddess of moral strength, offers to lend support and insight when we are faced with inequality or overwhelming odds. As well, some of the parts of his book, including a big chunk from Baal can be found : http://books.google.ca/books?id=1q2TzqnFWqQC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA89#v=onepage&q&f=false Call (813) 969-1518 or go to www.BigRedBalloon.com to reserve your flight today! Asherah is a Hebrew word for what was either a goddess or a cultic object or perhaps both. Worship to her included sexual immorality, prostitution, divination, and fortune telling. function ml_webform_success_2847088(){var r=ml_jQuery||jQuery;r(".ml-subscribe-form-2847088 .row-success").show(),r(".ml-subscribe-form-2847088 .row-form").hide()}. In art, She is often depicted simply as an upright post supporting the temple. On the contrary, God wants all these things for us. Heres a fun fact: The word meushar, meaning blessed or happy, is linguistically linked to the word asherah! I do however like to read about these great women and have suggested this link to my Christian sisters before (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/first/women.html) which I found very intriguing. He was a prophet of God against 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah, yet Elijah won and once again the Israelites declared that there was only one God of Israel. This ancient Goddess was revered by all who subscribed to the Canaanite religion at the time, but slowly became an item of controve Many people find the passage in Genesis that says, Let us make humankind in our own image a little confusing. Even though there is a Goddess presence in this religion and culture, it is still a male dominated patriarchal society (which are characterized by violence) that institutes a caste system versus a more matriarchal society in which women enjoy a sense of autonomy, are considered equals, free to express themselves and are less prone to violence as can be seen in the few existing matriarchal typed societies today (i.e. According to the 13th century cuneiform tablets found in Syria at the site ofUgarit,She is the wife ofElinUgaritic mythology, known as Elat (the feminine form of El; compareAllat); afertility Goddess and the wooden cult symbol that represented Her. [8] This role gave her a similarly high rank in the Ugaritic pantheon. The inscription reads: I have blessed you by Yahweh.and his Asherah. Not only was this engraving found in the 9th-8th century BC Israelite caravanserai, Kuntillet Ajrud, the same text was found in a number of sites thought to be Yahweh sanctuaries, such as in Samaria, Jerusalem, Teman, and in the Biblical kingdom of Judah, at the ancient burial site of Khirbet el-Qom, dating to 750 BC. Asherah became increasingly marginalized in the scriptures to the point of being reduced to her cult objectthe stylized tree or wooden pole which became known as asherah or asherim. In the Judeo-Christian tradition Asherah is considered a false Canaanite deity and a major source of temptation to the Israelites. Where there is disharmony This symbol, the snakes* and the staff, has become the modern universal symbol for doctors and healers. The confusion is because the Hebrew word for God is Elohim, but few saw a distinction between El and Elohim. In much the same way, today we revere the Lion or other ferocious big-cats even though theyre dangerous. What Do the 8 Beatitudes in the Bible Mean? So, girls are trained from a young age to become a good and subservient wife, living only to please her husband or risk being punished not my idea of a good life and rather psychologically damaging in my opinion. These practices and the cult objects themselves were utterly detestible to faithful worshippers of Yahweh (1 Kings 15:13). [3]. 1 Asherah plays a prominent role in the Ugaritic stories of Kirta (sometimes called Keret) where she is referred to as the divine patron of Tyre and Sidon. She was also the goddess of fertility who gave life to 70 other gods. It was a struggle for Moses to wean his people away from the worship of Asherah and he had to resort to imprisoning Miriam, yet it still took hundreds of years during which time Yahweh and Asherah were worshipped together, before the priests were able to stop the worship of the goddess. The only way she is worshiped from then on is by minor pagan religions, she can only get power from desperate cults which, if anything, probably taint her name further. The initial objection to the rendering 'his Asherah' that a possessive pronoun could not be attached to a proper name, is increasingly proved to be unfounded by a great deal of comparative material (Especially P. Xella, 'Le dieu et sa desse: I'utilisation des suffixes pronominaux avec des thonymes d'Ebla Ugarit et Kuntillet 'Ajrud', UF 27 (1995), pp. Are the Rapture and the Second Coming the Same Thing? Itwas difficult for the religious leaders in early Judaism to suppress Asherah because of a universally desire to recognize a nurturing, compassionate, Mother Goddess. Also, the great women mentioned, I truly do believe that they are exceptions to the rule. Some scholars believe the poles eventually became a mere cult symbol with no one knowing who Asherah was. Widow humiliated for entering Kali temple. She was often represented as a tree, and her worship was centered around a sacred tree or pole. Others believe they persisted in being a representation of the goddess, similar to the cross being a representation of Jesus. Several Old Testament kings worshiped Asherah and Baal and made it an official state-sponsored religion (2 Kings 14, 17, 18). God didnt have a period, God didnt give birth. She is the Voodoo Goddess of love, romance, art, jealousy, passion, & sex. The Baalim and Elohim were the same Gods simply the Yahwehist faction tried to rutessly murder most lf them. Norimitsu Odachi: Who Could Have Possibly Wielded This Enormous 15th Century Japanese Sword? Still others believe the poles (representing a goddess of fertility) were replaced with magical rabbits who laid eggs for women to find. Scant referrals in the Bible alert to the presence of a vilified female deity destined to be banished into oblivion. Similar to what happened during Egypt, the Prophet Elijah challenged in the name of God challenged the gods of Canaanite pantheon, specifically Baal and Asherah. This was also of particular interest, The rabbisinstituted and tightened prohibitions on domestic violence [during the Middle Ages Im assuming]. As a primeval entity, the goddess Asherah is one of the most powerful entities in creation, she is so powerful that her power is believed to be equal to that of God's avatar, Yaldabaoth, or even superior to him. Since there were only two kinds of people created, male and female, one could probably assume that man was made in the Els image while woman was made in Eloahs image. Is it Time for You to Draw a Line for God? Those raised in the Judeo-Christian tradition may be surprised to learn that the god we were told was singularly sacred once had a wife. After the creation of the Earth and the beginning of the human race, Asherah, along with her brother El, created their own pantheon. Han purple is an artificial pigment created by the Chinese over 2,500 years ago, which was used in wall paintings and to decorate the famous terracotta warriors, as well as ceramics, metal ware, and Sanatan Shastar Vidya is an ancient martial art that traces its roots back thousands of years in northern India . God repeatedly told the Israelites to avoid idol worship, even going as far as making it number one in Mosaic Law. Asherah appears on the 14th century B.C. Now, archaeology has excavated her. Dever is quite certain that he knows who the Asherah of ancient Israel and of the biblical texts isShe is the wife or consort of Yahweh, the one god of Israel. (1633) ( Public Domain ) But have you ever wondered how god created male and female in his image? Asherah figures prominently as the wife of Elthe supreme godin a treasure trove of cuneiform texts found in the second millennium port city of Ugarit (in todays Northern Syria). This corrupt blending of a holy God with a pagan goddess became part of everyday religious practice, which is why evil king Manasseh put an Asherah pole inside Solomons temple. Trees were revered as symbols of life and nourishment in arid regions and so became associated with Asherah and her cult. This can easily happen in either the old Hebrew or the Aramaic script. 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. Israelite ceramic figure of a nude woman, identified as an Asherah pillar. As a result, the Mosaic Law spoke specifically against Asherah worship ( Deuteronomy 16:21 ). Before the genocide of most of the Eternal's, she left Earth, took to the stars and became the Goddess of the Skies. Also, when Elijah wanted to prove the power of God or Yahweh, he called out the 450 priests of Baal and the 400 priestesses of Asherah. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. Ultimately, the campaign to eliminate the Goddess has failed. We might prioritize money, our job, friends, family, fitness, children and activities, and much more. Asherah is now well known from the Ugaritic texts, where she is called rabbatu atiratu yammi ("Lady Athirat of the Sea"). Stories from Ancient Canaan by Michael Coogan is a great read for this. As you do, you tend attributes in your heart.. to transform the trees to look like how they envisioned her. In archaeological sites that date back to Biblical times, small statues of Asherah are found in what would likely be bedrooms and kitchen areas. Her prophets are mentioned (1 Kings 18:19), and the vessels used in Her service referred to (2 Kings 23:4). This is interesting to me because Solomon had allowed his wives to worship their Goddess and this is only book that I find such veneration. Asherah (ash-ay-raw) is mentioned forty times in the Old Testament, usually in a negative tone. There are however one or two instances when I feel the need to comment: How could they pray to him for relief of menstrual pain in a time before Ibuprofen? Of course, there were some great women such as Esther, Deborah, and Rebecca, but women playing a part in early Judaism was definitely the exception instead of the rule. 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. Israel (Formerly), Yaldabaoth (Formerly), Canaan Goddesses in World Culture, Asherah: Hidden Goddess of the Bible. In fact, the very notion of polytheism is inherent in the quest for Asherah. However, as time progressed in the Old Testament, the temptation to worship other gods lessened, while the blatant worship of Asherah along side of Yahweh continued. The garden of Eden with the fall of man . Figures by Rubens, landscape and animals by Brueghel. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Pingback: Goddess Asherah Journeying to the Goddess, Pingback: Goddess Macha Journeying to the Goddess, Pingback: Goddess Ashtart Journeying to the Goddess. Originally developed as a comprehensive system of combat techniques, it has evolved As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. Even before they crossed the Jordan River into the Promise Land, they mingled with the Moabites and Canaanites and had sexual relationships with them. All of those points you just made never came up in my research during my research of the Goddesses mentioned. Order of the White Moon, Asherah by Medussa. Canaanites associated Asherah with sacred trees, an association also found in the Israelite tradition. Rabbi Peretz ben Elijah ruled, The cry of the daughters of our people has been heard concerning the sons of Israel who raise their hands to strike their wives. p. 106) . You shall have no other gods before Me. Exodus 20:2. Very cool, thank you for the enlightenment! Most Haitian women serve Dantor. Like Anat, She is a was well-documented Goddess of the northwest Semitic pantheon. (Spoiler alert: He fails.) Let me show love Despite Gods repeated warnings, many Israelites continued engaging in worshiping a pagan god called Asherah as well as others. They condemn the long-reigning Manasseh of Judah (698-642) for doing what was evil in the sight of the Lord in making an Asherah (II Kings 21.7). Others have asserted that he was talking toEloah, the female aspect of Elohim. 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. Who Wrote Pauls Letters in the New Testament? Thank you! 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. 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. How to Spot False Teachers By Their Form of Godliness. Plus his so-called necromancers were not real Necromancers but people who were friends with them and he simply gave them the title. As time went by, culture replaced the pagan El with the holy El. Is Jesus Atonement for Sins Only for His Elect? While there are voluminous artifacts identified as Asherah in the region, there are still pieces missing from the puzzle. Where are the Kingdoms of Judah and Israel Today? The inscription reads: Not only was this engraving found in the 9th-8th century BC Israelite caravanserai, Kuntillet Ajrud, the same text was found in a number of sites thought to be Yahweh sanctuaries, such as in Samaria, Jerusalem, Teman, and in the Biblical kingdom of Judah, at the ancient burial site of Khirbet el-Qom, dating to 750 BC. Asherah is considered the wife of Yesh due to having been the consort of the aspect of the Supreme, Yaldabaoth, something that was considered blasphemy by the angels of Heaven who claimed that God had no wife, except Barbelo, the divine mother of the entire Megaverse. Asherah and Yaldabaoth ended up falling in love with the God and the two married, becoming the national gods of Israel. This goddess is known from several other Ancient Near Eastern cultures. Pantheon Plaque depicting Asherah. She is most commonly depicted as a carved wooden image rather than by a proper name, which is why the Bible usually mentions her in the grammatical form as either an adjective or a noun (compare 2 Kings 23:6 vs. Gender What could Yahweh know about childbirth without epidurals? Ishara translates as "aromatic of the Goddess Ishtar", which Assyriologist Dr. Erica Reiner has stated is the same plant as the Akkadian herb "qunnabu", or cannabis. Beyond this She is also an oracular Goddess, specifically for predicting the future. [For further study of these incredible ancient discoveries, read Puzzling Finds from Kuntillet Ajrud by the Biblical Archaeology Society]. What was once a very respected goddess in the Canaanite pantheon and even queen of the gods is at best referenced as a demon who tries to seduce humanity into sinning and falling, despite never doing anything of the sort. Asherah shares similarities with the Shekhinah, as both are said to be the wife of God, are symbolized by the Moon while God is symbolized by the Sun, both are goddesses related to the people of Israel and were "married" to the God of the Hebrews, Yahweh. Nothing and no one could ever rise to the power and majesty of our living God, the only one who can save us from sin and eternal death. I freely admit that I do really enjoy Song of Songs, as it seems to be the only place in the Bible in which a woman (or Goddess) is mentioned in such a beautiful and sensual way in all of her feminine glory and loveliness. Asherah ( ash-ay-raw) is mentioned forty times in the Old Testament, usually in a negative tone. Unfortunately, the people continued in idol worship, even after God explicitly commanded them to stop and tear down the graven images (Hebrew, pesel).
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