Its time to stop playing Church and be the Church. This is what happened in Old Testament times, and it is exactly what is happening in the Twenty-First Century across the world. It really is simple and goes back to the commandment thou shalt not commit adultery. . bibliography: N. Wyatt, ddd, 10914. Unfortunately we know from the true Biblical accounts that many in the nation of Israel were quite happy to go along with the pagans around them in the worship of Ashteroth. Why Did Jesus Give Believers the Beatitudes? He said Baal worship goes back to Babylon and Nimrod in the Bible. COPYRIGHT 2023 BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY SOCIETY 5614 Connecticut Ave NW #343, Washington DC 20015-2604. An ancient altar of Baal Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. The wicked and sickos here are YOU, not the poor women of your twisted stories. goddess of Canaan and Phoenicia prostitution was practiced in her name and she was served with immoral rites by bands of men and women. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Volume 1, 1979, pages 319-320. Ashtoreth may be mentioned in other areas throughout scripture. Astarte goddess, is also known as Ashtoreth and the queen of heaven. Here is how the historian William Smith describes her: Ashtoreth: (a star) the principal female divinity of the Phoenicians, called Ishtar by the Assyrians and Astarte by the Greeks and Romans. People develop an emotional dependency on their idols. the unsuspecting Judah mistook his daughter-in-law Tamar for a veiled prostitute, Lost Roman Army Camps Discovered in Jordan, http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200001883, http://wol.jw.org/sv/wol/dsync/r14/lp-z/r1/lp-e/1200003566#h=0-1&selpar=0, http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200002413, http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200000531, Lavish New Kingdom Tomb Uncovered at Saqqara. How are we doing this today? BA'AL AND BA'AL-WORSHIP - JewishEncyclopedia.com 21.". As it is close to qadosh in Hebrew, its use in the story is likely to be ironic. Seats were set up around the veiled arch so that leaders and dignitaries could watch. As one listened to the drumbeat, one could imagine similar music being played as worshipers ascended the ancient Temple of Baal. the early Catholic churches was responsible for over 80 million deaths and tortures to convert people to Catholicism, the European Churches force the religion on people. People are experiencing something. Regardless their opinion, notice that even anti-gay Christians admit Leviticus 18:22, "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." You realize that during the time of Jacob and his sons that they were the only Hebrews in the land of Canaan, right? Baal Worship in the US? - Bible Christian We are joining ourselves to other religions, we are raising up the flag of Baal worship in the name of Tolerance and false love. Ashtoreths worship, along with that of the goddess Asherah, was spread even more during the reign of King Ahab. This multinational corporate force is in the business of global cultural revolution. Ashtoreth is alive and well on planet earth. The Scriptural references to the worship of the sun, moon and stars in connection with the practice of Baalism in Israel suggest that this goddess, viewed as Baal's wife, may have been identified with one or more heavenly bodies. The book of 1 Samuel continues to use Ashtoreths name in this manner. From Egypt there is the Astarte papyrus (19th dynasty, in Pritchard, Texts, 1718), an Egyptian recounting of the Canaanite myth of the revolt of the sea, in which Astarte is given as bride to the sea god Yamm, who is ultimately defeated. and 161 ff. Temple prostitution was used to bring honor to her. Both Ashtoreth and Astaroth are associated with sexual practices condemned by the one true God. But she is believed to be an ancient demon. Objection 3: Having a logo on your cup does not mean you are giving honor to Ashtoreth, Conclusion - A comment from Matthew Poole, http://www.gaychristian101.com/Molech.html, Starbucks: The Unofficial Office for Social Change, A morning in Waterbury, CT waiting for the train, The Son of God Goes Forth to War - Reginald Heber. Umm why was he going to a prostitute?. The issue with God was not committed faithful non-cultic sexual relationships or gay marriages between two men or two women. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia tells us Ashtoreth was a. Make no mistake. She was the ancient Phoenician great goddess of fertility, motherhood, and war. After reading that the demon Baal was the one possessing the child in Mark 9, I tried to find a reference where Jesus said only prayer and fasting could get rid of this demon. While temple prostitutes were part of Canaanite Ashtoreth worship, they were not a feature of Israelite religion. prostitute to other gods." According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, the Hebrews first learned Baal worship from the agricultural Canaanites. add. Variants of the name "Astarte" can be found in the Phoenician, Hebrew, Egyptian and Etruscan languages. Craft centers in Jerusalem, family structure across Israel and ancient practicesfrom dining to makeupthrough the Mediterranean world. Given this cultural, historical and religious context, it becomes clear that God did not intend to forbid a loving, committed gay relationship or gay marriage between two men or two women. Harlotry was condemned because it was prevalant. Around 100 CE, the Patriarchal / Father-oriented / Male Format / Manifestation of Ashtoreth called Astaroth, a word which is the PLURAL Female of the word: ASHTORETH. Like her Akkadian counterpart Itar, she is an astral deity and is associated with the evening star. It has never been completed divorced. Divorce/remarriage and sexual immorality of almost every kind is found almost as often in many of our churches as it is in the world. Today we poo-poo any talk of idol worship as ridiculous. Judah was by no coincidence the lion. They preferred to worship goat idols and demons instead of the one true God. Retrieved April 27, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/ashtoreth. February 6, 2022 By Gary Panell 10 Comments, Baal Worship is Alive and Well in the World! Keep reading your KJV. this church is relaxed the rules is a myth. And it is one of the oldest Middle Eastern aspects of the great Goddess, dating to the . In ancient times much of Israel was drawn into Baal worship. Global cultural revolution, corporate style. The Phoenicians were a loosely gathered group of people who inhabited Canaan (modern-day Lebanon, Syria, and Israel) between 1550 BC and 300 BC. Ashtoreths name seems to combine the goddesss real name Astarte with the Hebrew word for shame, boshet. FREE eBook: Life in the Ancient World. Ashtoreth was worshipped as the goddess of a wide variety of things. Similarly, for a healthy spiritual life, we need to be fueled by the right relationship with the one true God, our Creator. Ashtoreth, the fertility goddess consort of Molech. In Ashtoreth's worship services, male worshipers had anal sex with priests and priestesses of the goddess. Then because of the sexual influence over men which was the hardest battle for them as it is now, Adultry became a focus of sex. This is cultural evangelism. Topical Bible: Ashtoreth Why right after this offer you still prefer your misleading statements! The Canaanites often worshipped her via trees (Asherah poles) because of her association with the tree of life. Leviticus 20:5. I agree with Mr. D, after reading the articles by a Hebrew teacher in internet called Jeff Benner on Ancient Hebrew meaning which he calls being more concrete and Greek being abstract.Hebrew root Q-D-Sh, Jeff says just means set apart. As I watched the unveiling of the ancient monument in New York City, I feared the coming true of those words an America now turning to Baal and going to hell. However, the date of retrieval is often important. As Elijah stood on top of Mount Carmel and cried out to Israel in its hour of decision, in between two altars and two gods, his voice now cries out to America and says to us, Choose you this day whom you will serve. Seventy years ago, the chaplain of the United States Senate cried out in the same voice, and said to this nation, If the Lord be God, then follow Him! If your heart is for your wife, family, labor, and even if you are a slave do not be adulterous. King Solomon's Story in the BibleWho Was Lot's Wife in the Bible?Who Was Jezebel in the Bible?Who Was the Prodigal Son? It was designed like an old fashioned pot-bellied stove, with the belly as the firebox. Romans 1 describes ancient shrine prostitution, not gays and lesbians. Actually, there were two gods which were essentially worshiped the same way, Baal and Ashtoreth. There is overlap between Ashtoreth the female goddess and Astaroth who is worshiped as a demon. Bel was the special god of Nippur, perhaps the oldest of Babylonian cities. There is almost no essential difference between the ancients and us. Posted on January 10, 2012 by Christopher Perdue (thebiblestop). . Following is documented information that evidences how these two pagan practices; Baal and Ashtoreth worship are richly ingrained in Freemasonry, Wicca and Easter. Along with trading goods throughout the ancient world, Phoenicia also spread its culture. The Law specified that a grove of trees was not to be near the altar of the Lord ( Deuteronomy 16:21 ). (1 Kings 4:29-31). No one knew what healthy spiritual choices looked like better than the Old Testament Israelites. ." What Makes Makoto Fujimura a Great Christian Artist? (I practice a religion that is a mix of Gnostic Christianity, general Gnosticism & alchemical paganism) On the slate was an image of an ancient temple with the words Temple of Bel (Baal). I guess one could be set apart lots different things and we are able to know that from the context. Thank you, Zola, God bless you! The NET Bible on Leviticus 18:21, Note 30, says: "It could refer to either human sacrifice or a devotion of children to some sort of service of Molech, perhaps of a sexual sort (cf. But the Bible also teaches that in the last days the professing church would become more and more like the world. Retrieved April 27, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/ashtoreth. I think maybe the writer rushed the column. Really, Im just curious. none of this is new, just new namesMiss. Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it? Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. Required fields are marked *. God is looking for true worshippers, who would worship Him and Spirit in truth. The relationship between Asherah and Israel is a complicated one. Secondly, many verses do not mention Ashtoreth by name. EBLA , archaeological site in northern Syria, present-day Tell Mardikh, located 35 mi. Ashtoreth as a Moon-Goddess: In Canaan, Ashtoreth, as distinguished from the male `Ashtar, dropped her warlike attributes, but in contradistinction to Asherah, whose name and cult had also been imported from Assyria, became, on the one hand, the colorless consort of Baal, and on the other hand, a moon-goddess. One of the centers of Baal worship in ancient times was Palmyra, Syria. Not only because she is a . Judith: Understood in Merricks context, drinking this coffee becomes a pagan sacrament. Fertility rites were practiced at the numerous shrines which dotted the land, as well as at the major sanctuaries A characteristic feature of the fertility cult was sacral sexual intercourse by priests and priestesses and other specially consecrated persons, sacred prostitutes of both sexes Child-sacrifice was also a feature of the rites. What Can Christians Learn From John Donne? What exactly are sirens? Asherah and the Asherim: Goddess or Cult Symbol? II Kings 23:7 definitely mentions the practice of male cult prostitution (qedesh) connected to the worship of Asherah being carried out in the temple itself! The word translated Mo-lech or Moloch (the spelling varies), occurs multiple times in the Bible, in Leviticus 18:21, 20:2, 3, 4, 5, 1 Kings 11:7, 2 Kings 23:10, Jeremiah 32:35, Amos 5:25-26, Acts 7:42-43. However, it can be difficult to figure out what verses specifically refer to her for two reasons. Melech, Mo-lech, Milcom, Melkom, Moloch, Molek, Malec, Malik, Melek, Malkum, Melqart, Melkart, Milk, Melqarth, Kronos, Cronus. In Israel, her worship is associated with the Sidonians, but Solomon in his later years went after "Ashtoreth, goddess of the Sidonians" (i Kings 11:5), and *Josiah destroyed the cult places which Solomon had built on the "Mount of Corruption (see: *Mount of Olives) for Ashtoreth, the abomination of the Sidonians" (ii Kings 23:13). Two practices in particular are mentioned in Scripture. 27 Apr. They followed in the footsteps of the people that God drove out before them. Think how successful this one company has been over the past few decades in promoting international cultural change. Astarte | ancient deity | Britannica One can readily see why God and Moses called this pagan religious practice and the sexual rites associated with it, abomination. Truth On Easter: Ashtoreth, Nimrod, Goddess Worship, The - YouTube http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200000531. She was connected with both the moon and the planet Venus. Indeed, archaeology has shown that Ashtoreth worship and associated rites of sacred prostitution were common throughout the ancient Mediterranean. Its helpful to keep this in mind when considering the promotion and prevalence of Ashteroth worship today. From Wikipedia: In demonology, is the Great Duke of Hell, in the first hierarchy with Beelzebub and Lucifer; he is part of the evil trinity. According to Genesis 38, the unsuspecting Judah mistook his daughter-in-law Tamar for a veiled prostitute (Hebrew zonah). The name astarte means the queen of stars. Many of Phoenicias most populous cities were famous seaports. He warned us that the world would hate us, because our righteousness would convict them of their sin. Eric, your statements are very sound and helpful. (Judges 2:13). JOHN BOWKER "Ashtoreth It sat covered in a giant sheet to keep it cloaked until the time of its unveiling. 7:18). You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. Dont know who sent me this, but I am not interested at all in your Jesus Freak interpretations of so called fallen people from long ago. Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. Edward Lipiski on the influence of Canaanite Ashtoreth worship in ancient Israel. Ashtoreth definition, an ancient Semitic goddess, identified with the Phoenician Astarte. If you consider that this story was gathered and interpreted during the Babylonian Exile, how does this affect your perspective of the event? The one true God never promises a perfect life, but we humans long for one. 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Despite warnings from the Lord, many Israelite leaders worshiped Asherah. (But it is possible that "increase," or "womb of flock," was the original meaning.) The prophet Elijah faces off with these priests. 2023 . In 1 Samuel, we see that the Philistines also worshipped her. What Is an Asherah Pole? - Christianity.com Ashtoreth Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY - JW.ORG The adjective spiritual was inserted by the translators because in their opinion this is not a reference to literal prostitution but figuratively compares idolatry to prostitution. Pagan Practices and the Holiness Code - Gay Christian 101 http://wol.jw.org/sv/wol/dsync/r14/lp-z/r1/lp-e/1200003566#h=0-1&selpar=0, Jephthah a Legitimate Son. Hundreds of people were killed. I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Qedeshah likely originally referred to consecrated maidens who were employed in Canaanite and later Phoenician temples devoted to Ashtoreth worship. He showed that a Christian who violates this rule joins himself to a harlot, as one body.Mt 19:4-9; 1Co 6:16. I do not argue with the statement that cult prostitution was widespread, but that fact is certainly not proven by, and may not even be related to the supposedly evidentiary information that is provided. In ancient Israel, however, sacred prostitution was simply a synonym for harlotry. Over time, her cult evolved, and her worship often intermingled with that of other deities. , -Matthew Poole, English Annotations on the Holy Bible . I agree with Jeffrey that the authors case made was lacking in logic at one point. Ashtoreth | Encyclopedia.com The perfect marriage standard was established in Eden by God himself at the marriage of Adam and Eve, when He stated: A man will leave his father and his mother and he must stick to his wife and they must become one flesh. (Ge. Or does it? The Goddess That will be explained further on in the post. Sacred prostitution, therefore, existed in much of the ancient world and reflected the ritual practices of Ashtoreth worship. Encyclopedia.com. The Tamar is associated with the palm a phallic symbol and one for masturbation. Frymer, Tikva "Ashtoreth Symbols retain their meanings. (De 22:20, 21) The payment that was obtained as the hire of a harlot was a disgusting thing and was unacceptable as a contribution to the sanctuary of Jehovah. Who was Baal? | GotQuestions.org (April 27, 2023). The Lord God, through Moses, forbade the worship of Asherah. 4 Reasons Why We Have a Hard Time Talking about Loneliness. This supposition is corroborated by the figure of the Aramaic goddess Atargatis, whose name results from a conflation of the names Astarte and Anath. Many believe this practice emerged in Canaanite temples devoted to Ashtoreth. It did not disappear. The perfect marriage standard was established in Eden by God himself at the marriage of Adam and Eve, when He stated: A man will leave his father and his mother and he must stick to his wife and they must become one flesh. (Ge 2:24) Though God condemned harlotry, he did permit concubinage and polygamy, even among his servants, until his due time to reestablish the perfect marriage standard through Jesus Christ. ), M.A. God prohibited Israel from adopting the cultic sexual fertility goddess worship of Egypt and Canaan, Lev 18:3, 20:23. Yes, David, it is happening more and more, thanks for your comments. That we would have a form of religion, a form of godliness, but no real power. This relationship is religious in nature. 1. Even that we would claim Christianity while actually denying that Christ is the only way of salvation. THE ANCIENT PAGAN GODDESS ASHTORETH PART TWO Revised 2020 Original goddess logo. The early view of harlotry among Gods servants is illustrated in the case of Judah the great-grandson of Abraham. This was in contrast with pagan practices wherein temple harlots were often a source of revenue.De 23:18. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). (In addition, physical relations) …between male and male worshipers and male and female worshipers was viewed as an offering to the goddess. Worship of Asherah was highly encouraged by Jezebel, with the presence of 400 prophets who held a place in the court of her husband King Ahab (1 Kings 18:19 . As to my interpretation as why Judah might have seen a shrine prostitute (outside of simple depravity), he may have approached the task as a sign of respect or duty owed as a foreigner in this particular community. . Then when the seed bears fruit, we murder the unborn baby. BUCKS = standard of value or medium of exchange, usually thought of as money but also worship. The NET Bible, not considered gay friendly by anyone, takes a strong anti-gay position on Leviticus. (Thompson) Minister of Water Stewardship, Ashton, Catherine Margaret, Baroness Ashton of Upholland, Ashton v. Cameron County Water Improvement District 298 U.S. 513 (1936), Ashwander v. Tennessee Valley Authority 297 U.S. 288 (1936), Ashwell (also Ashewell, Hashewell), Thomas, Ashworth College: Distance Learning Programs: Distance Learning Programs, https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/ashtoreth, https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/ashtoreth. In addition, she is also known by the following names: Is the Goddess Asherah (Astarte) Worshipped Today? - Fluther Am I the only one who feels embarrassed for a writer making such an obviously unsupported argument and so transparently trying to scam his/her readers!? This divinity is especially marked as a goddess of the "Sidonians" or Phenicians ( I Kings xi, 5, 33 ; II Kings xxiii, 13 ). Baal's sisters/consorts were Ashtoreth, a fertility goddess . First, sexual orgies "under every green tree," where promiscuity and perverted sex acts were the norm. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. It isnt difficult to understand why the Israelites continuously turned away from the one true God to false gods like Ashtoreth. Hi Aboriginal 1, Im not quite sure what your point is, but it must be true, because you say it is. Though we ought to be afraid of and to decline all sin; yet as God hath revealed his wrath against any particular sin more than other, so every good Christian is obliged more to detest and abhor that sin. This plate was on the ground near the arch. He is a male figure named after the Mesopotamian goddess Ishtar.2. First, sexual orgies under every green tree, where promiscuity and perverted sex acts were the norm. His mother had been a prostitute prior to her marriage as a secondary wife to Gilead, just as Rahab had once been a prostitute but later married Salmon. no doubt seen what wayward Israel has done. ." The priests and male prostitutes, who were consecrated to her cult were called qadesh, qedishim or sodomites. Though the bible may state that a man must leave his mother and father in order to truly become one with his wife, the bible also accounts for a peaceful coexistence between man and prehistoric dinosaurs. Its curious that Ashteroth and Astaroth are both connected with the blurring of gender and direct attack on Gods moral standards related to sexuality. Not every person or thing that is set apart is set apart for a sacred purpose. Molech was another such god. https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/ashtoreth, Frymer, Tikva "Ashtoreth And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. The general name, used throughout Palestine and in the Bible, for this type of fire god, was Baal. Synder also claims April 20 has significance to occultists since 2016 is a leap year, and it is the 111th day of the year because triple digits are considered to be powerful. Ashtoreth is mentioned three times in scripture, in 1 Kings 11:5 & 33, 2 Kings 23:13. Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camels furniture, and sat upon them. How come you dont mention that. Like the ancient Jews, they are mixing worship of Christ with worship of Baal. Artemis, the goddess of childbirth and fertility, and Aphrodite, the goddess of love, continued the Asherah cults under a new name (Acts 19:35), but with worship practices that were as immoral as ever. Qedesh/qedeshah (from the root Q.D.SH = holy) refers to temple prostitutes of pagan, or false, gods. The more you educate yourself about whats come before, the more youll recognize the connections. Since Ashtoreth as warrior goddess carries the full title Atart-em-Baal both in Ugarit (e.g., Pritchard, Texts, 130) and in the Eshmunazor (ibid., 505, 1.18) inscriptions from Sidon 1,000 years later, it has been suggested that the name is derived ultimately from some root meaning "sparkle" and "splendor," but the evidence is far from conclusive.

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