Asheroth, often referred to in the plural form, is a term found in the Old Testament that denotes the Canaanite goddess Asherah and the wooden symbols or poles associated with her worship. Asherah was considered a mother goddess and was often linked with fertility, love, and war. The worship of Asheroth was prevalent among the Canaanites and other neighboring cultures, and it posed a significant challenge to the Israelites' exclusive worship of Yahweh.

Biblical References:

The term "Asheroth" appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, often in relation to the Israelites' struggle with idolatry. In Judges 3:7 , it is recorded, "And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD. They forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth." This verse highlights the recurring theme of Israel's apostasy, where they turned away from God to worship foreign deities.

In 1 Kings 14:15 , the prophet Ahijah foretells the consequences of Israel's idolatry: "And the LORD will strike Israel, so that it will be like a reed swaying in the water. He will uproot Israel from this good land that He gave to their fathers and will scatter them beyond the Euphrates, because they have made their Asherah poles, provoking the LORD to anger." This passage underscores the severity of Israel's sin and the divine judgment that follows.

Cultural and Religious Context:

Asheroth worship involved the use of wooden poles or carved images, often placed on high places or under green trees, as described in Deuteronomy 12:2-3 : "Destroy completely all the places on the high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree where the nations you are dispossessing worship their gods. Tear down their altars, smash their sacred stones, and burn their Asherah poles in the fire; cut down the idols of their gods and wipe out their names from those places."

The presence of Asheroth in Israelite worship was a direct violation of the first two commandments, which prohibited the worship of other gods and the making of idols (Exodus 20:3-4). The Israelites were repeatedly warned against adopting the religious practices of the surrounding nations, yet they often fell into syncretism, blending the worship of Yahweh with that of Canaanite deities.

Reform and Removal:

Throughout Israel's history, several leaders took steps to eradicate the worship of Asheroth. King Hezekiah is noted for his religious reforms, as recorded in 2 Kings 18:4 : "He removed the high places, shattered the sacred stones, and cut down the Asherah poles." Similarly, King Josiah's reforms are detailed in 2 Kings 23:6 : "He brought the Asherah pole from the house of the LORD to the Kidron Valley outside Jerusalem, and there he burned it, ground it to powder, and threw its dust on the graves of the common people."

These reforms were part of a broader effort to restore the worship of Yahweh and eliminate idolatry from the land. The removal of Asheroth was seen as essential to maintaining the covenant relationship between God and Israel.

Theological Significance:

The recurring mention of Asheroth in the Old Testament serves as a reminder of the constant temptation of idolatry and the need for faithfulness to God. The struggle against Asheroth worship illustrates the broader spiritual battle between the worship of the one true God and the allure of pagan practices. The biblical narrative consistently emphasizes the importance of exclusive devotion to Yahweh and the rejection of all forms of idolatry.842. Asherah -- a Phoenician goddess, also an image of the same
... Word Origin of foreign origin Definition a Phoenician goddess, also an image of
the same NASB Word Usage Asherah (18), Asherim (20), Asheroth (2). grove. ...
/hebrew/842.htm - 6k

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of the
Lord their God, and served the Baalim and the Asheroth."*. ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Asheroth (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Asheroth (3 Occurrences). Judges 3:7 The children
of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh ...
/a/asheroth.htm - 7k

Baals (18 Occurrences)
... Judges 3:7 The children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh,
and forgot Yahweh their God, and served the Baals and the Asheroth. ...
/b/baals.htm - 12k

Ashe'rahs (2 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 19:3 Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou
hast put away the Asheroth out of the land, and hast set thy heart to seek God ...
/a/ashe'rahs.htm - 7k

Poles (58 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 19:3 Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you have
put away the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God. ...
/p/poles.htm - 22k

Grove (23 Occurrences)
... word "Asherah" (qv) is introduced as a proper noun, the name of the wooden symbol
of a goddess, with the plurals Asherim (Exodus 34:13) and Asheroth (Judges 3 ...
/g/grove.htm - 16k

Forgot (16 Occurrences)
... Judges 3:7 The children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh,
and forgot Yahweh their God, and served the Baals and the Asheroth. ...
/f/forgot.htm - 11k

Reared (22 Occurrences)
... 33:3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down;
and he reared up altars for the Baals, and made Asheroth, and worshiped all ...
/r/reared.htm - 13k

Rebuilt (47 Occurrences)
... 33:3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down;
and he reared up altars for the Baals, and made Asheroth, and worshiped all ...
/r/rebuilt.htm - 20k

Demolished (15 Occurrences)
... 33:3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down;
and he reared up altars for the Baals, and made Asheroth, and worshiped all ...
/d/demolished.htm - 11k

Ba'als (19 Occurrences)
... 33:3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down;
and he reared up altars for the Baals, and made Asheroth, and worshiped all ...
/b/ba'als.htm - 11k

What is an Asherah pole? | GotQuestions.org

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