ASHTORETH
Ashtoreth, a prominent goddess in ancient Near Eastern religions, particularly among the Sidonians and Canaanites, serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of idolatry and its consequences on society and spiritual life.
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Etymology
1. Hebrew (עשתורת – Ashtoreth)
- Meaning: Derived from the root עשתר (ashter), associated with fertility and love.
- Cognates: Related to Astarte in Phoenician and Ishtar in Akkadian, sharing similar attributes as a goddess of love and war.
2. Greek (Ἀστάρτη – Astartē)
- Adoption: The Greek form Astartē reflects the integration of Astoreth into Greek mythology, often associated with Aphrodite, emphasizing her role in love and fertility.
Ashtoreth in the Ancient Near East
Ashtoreth was a multifaceted goddess associated with love, war, and fertility. As a fertility deity, her worship often involved sexual rites and rituals, including temple prostitution. This practice was designed to ensure agricultural prosperity and military success, reflecting the broader cultural values of the societies that revered her.
1. Ashtoreth Worship
The worship of Ashtoreth is mentioned throughout the Old Testament, where it is consistently portrayed as a significant deviation from the worship of Yahweh.
Solomon worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech, the detestable god of the Ammonites. 6 In this way, Solomon did what was evil in the LORD’s sight; he refused to follow the LORD completely, as his father, David, had done. 7On the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem,he even built a pagan shrine for Chemosh, the detestable god of Moab, and another for Molech, the detestable god of the Ammonites. (1 Kings 11: 5- 7)
This passage highlights Solomon’s downfall, as he constructed high places for Ashtoreth, thereby leading Israel into idolatry. His actions signify a turning away from God, contributing to the spiritual decline of the nation.
The king also desecrated the pagan shrines east of Jerusalem, to the south of the Mount of Corruption, where King Solomon of Israel had built shrines for Ashtoreth, the detestable goddess of the Sidonians; and for Chemosh, the detestable god of the Moabites; and for Molech the vile god of the Ammonites.
(2 Kings 23: 13 )
King Josiah’s reforms illustrate the need for repentance and return to the worship of Yahweh. By destroying the altars of Ashtoreth, Josiah sought to purify Israel from the influence of foreign deities.
2. Spiritual and Moral Consequences
The consequences of Ashtoreth worship were profound and multifaceted:
They ask a piece of wood for advice! They think a stick can tell them the future! Longing after idols has made them foolish. They have played the prostitute, serving other gods and deserting their God. 13 They offer sacrifices to idols on the mountaintops. They go up into the hills to burn incense in the pleasant shade of oaks, poplars, and terebinth trees. “That is why your daughters turn to prostitution, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery. (Hosea 4: 12- 13)
Hosea uses the metaphor of prostitution to describe the spiritual infidelity of Israel. The association of Ashtoreth with sexual immorality highlights how idol worship corrupts both personal and communal integrity.
Then all the women present and all the men who knew that their wives had burned incense to idols—a great crowd of all the Judeans living in northern Egypt and southern Egypt—answered Jeremiah, 16 “We will not listen to your messages from the LORD! 17We will do whatever we want. We will burn incense and pour out liquid offerings to the Queen of Heaven just as much as we like—just as we, and our ancestors, and our kings and officials have always done in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For in those days we had plenty to eat, and we were well off and had no troubles! 18 But ever since we quit burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and stopped worshiping her with liquid offerings, we have been in great trouble and have been dying from war and famine.” (Jeremiah 44: 15- 19)
In this passage, the people’s defiance against Jeremiah’s warnings emphasizes the entrenched nature of idolatry. Their willingness to continue worshiping Ashtoreth, despite clear prophetic condemnation, illustrates a spiritual blindness and a rejection of God’s covenant.
3. Prophetic Calls for Repentance
The prophetic literature consistently calls for Israel to turn back to Yahweh, renouncing idolatry:
They have committed both adultery and murder—adultery by worshiping idols and murder by burning as sacrifices the children they bore to me. 38 Furthermore, they have defiled my Temple and violated my Sabbath day! 39On the very day that they sacrificed their children to their idols, they boldly came into my Temple to worship! They came in and defiled my house.
(Ezekiel 23: 37- 39)
This imagery reflects the depths of spiritual corruption associated with idol worship. The sacrifice of children in the worship of Ashtoreth highlights the moral degradation that accompanies the abandonment of true worship.
4. Historical Context and Cultural Influence
The worship of Ashtoreth was not limited to the Sidonians; it was practiced by various ancient Near Eastern cultures, including the Moabites and Ammonites. This widespread veneration points to a shared cultural context where fertility and war were central concerns, often addressed through worship rituals that included sexual practices.
Astaroth: The City of Idolatry and Its Impact on Israel
The ancient city of Ashtaroth, located in the fertile region of Bashan east of the Jordan River, serves as a significant point of study in understanding the pervasive influence of idolatry in biblical history.
1. Geographical and Historical Context
Ashtaroth was one of the principal cities in Bashan, an area known for its rich agricultural land and strong military presence. It was a region ruled by Og, one of the last of the Rephaim, often referred to as giants in biblical literature.
We had now conquered all the cities on the plateau and all Gilead and Bashan, as far as the towns of Salecah and Edrei, which were part of Og’s kingdom in Bashan. (Deuteronomy 3: 10)
“All the cities of the plain and all Gilead and all Bashan, which was called the land of giants.”
This reference sets the stage for Ashtaroth’s significance, as it was a city deeply rooted in the history of the Israelite conquest.
2. Ashtoreth and the Cult of Fertility
Ashtoreth, the goddess associated with love, war, and fertility, was worshiped not only in Ashtaroth but throughout the ancient Near East. Her worship involved various rituals, including sexual rites and offerings, intended to ensure fertility for crops and livestock, as well as success in warfare.
Again the Israelites did evil in the LORD’s sight. They served the images of Baal and Ashtoreth, and the gods of Aram, Sidon, Moab, Ammon, and Philistia. They abandoned the LORD and no longer served him at all.
(Judges 10: 6 )
This passage illustrates the pervasive nature of Ashtoreth’s worship in Israel, indicating how the people turned to foreign gods despite their covenant with Yahweh.
3. The Consequences of Idolatry
The worship of Ashtoreth brought about significant spiritual and moral decline in Israel. The integration of foreign religious practices led to widespread corruption and disobedience to God’s commands.
For they also built for themselves pagan shrines and set up sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. 24 There were even male and female shrine prostitutes throughout the land. The people imitated the detestable practices of the pagan nations the LORD had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites. (1 Kings 14: 23- 24 )
The existence of male shrine prostitutes and the construction of high places reflect the deep moral decay resulting from Ashtoreth worship, highlighting the exploitation associated with fertility cults.
4. Prophetic Warnings and Calls for Repentance
Throughout the prophetic books, God’s messengers condemned the worship of Ashtoreth and called the people to repentance. The persistence of idol worship, particularly in cities like Ashtaroth, led to dire consequences.
“Therefore, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign LORD: Do you plan to pollute yourselves just as your ancestors did? Do you intend to keep prostituting yourselves by worshiping vile images? 31 For when you offer gifts to them and give your little children to be burned as sacrifices, you continue to pollute yourselves with idols to this day. Should I allow you to ask for a message from me, O people of Israel? As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I will tell you nothing. (Ezekiel 20: 30- 31 )
Ezekiel’s words starkly portray the severity of Israel’s idolatry and the associated practices that included child sacrifice, further emphasizing the painful legacy of Ashtoreth worship.
5. Historical Significance and Legacy
The city of Ashtaroth represents a critical intersection of Israel’s struggles with faithfulness and the allure of surrounding cultures. The worship of Ashtoreth not only reflects the challenges faced by the Israelites but also serves as a historical lesson on the consequences of abandoning one’s faith.
The city of Ashtaroth in Bashan stands as a poignant reminder of the dangers of idolatry and the moral corruption that can arise when a community turns away from God. The worship of Ashtoreth had far-reaching implications for the Israelites, contributing to their spiritual decline and eventual judgment. Through the examination of Ashtaroth, the biblical narrative underscores the importance of fidelity to Yahweh and the need for vigilance against the seduction of foreign practices. This story serves as a lasting admonition to believers to remain steadfast in their faith and to reject all forms of idolatry.