Definition and Etymology:
The term "Asherahs" refers to wooden symbols or poles associated with the worship of the Canaanite goddess Asherah. The Hebrew word "אֲשֵׁרָה" (Asherah) can denote both the goddess herself and the cultic objects used in her worship. These objects were often erected near altars or high places and were considered sacred by those who practiced Canaanite religion.

Biblical References and Context:
Asherahs are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as objects of idolatry that the Israelites were commanded to destroy. The presence of Asherahs among the Israelites is indicative of their recurring struggle with idolatry and syncretism, as they often adopted the religious practices of the surrounding nations.

In Deuteronomy 16:21, the Israelites are explicitly instructed: "Do not set up any wooden Asherah pole beside the altar you build to the LORD your God." This command underscores the incompatibility of Asherah worship with the worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel.

The Book of Judges records several instances where the Israelites fell into idolatry, including the worship of Asherahs. Judges 3:7 states, "And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD. They forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs."

During the reign of King Asa, a reformer king of Judah, efforts were made to eradicate idolatry. 1 Kings 15:13 notes, "He also removed Maacah his grandmother from her position as queen mother because she had made an abominable Asherah pole. Asa cut down the pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley."

King Hezekiah and King Josiah are also noted for their reforms, which included the removal of Asherahs. 2 Kings 18:4 describes Hezekiah's actions: "He removed the high places, shattered the sacred stones, and cut down the Asherah poles." Similarly, Josiah's reforms are detailed in 2 Kings 23:14: "He smashed the sacred pillars to pieces, cut down the Asherah poles, and covered the sites with human bones."

Theological Significance:
The repeated condemnation and destruction of Asherahs in the Old Testament highlight the central biblical theme of monotheism and the exclusive worship of Yahweh. The presence of Asherahs among the Israelites represents a violation of the first commandment, "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3).

The struggle against Asherah worship is emblematic of the broader conflict between the worship of Yahweh and the pagan practices of the surrounding nations. The biblical narrative consistently portrays the worship of Asherahs as a deviation from true faith and a cause of divine judgment.

Archaeological and Historical Insights:
Archaeological discoveries have provided additional context for understanding the worship of Asherah in the ancient Near East. Inscriptions and artifacts suggest that Asherah was considered a consort of the chief Canaanite god El and later associated with Baal. Some inscriptions even controversially suggest a syncretistic worship involving Yahweh and Asherah, though this is not supported by the biblical text.

The presence of Asherah worship in Israelite society reflects the cultural and religious influences that the Israelites encountered in Canaan. Despite the biblical injunctions against such practices, the allure of fertility cults and the tangible symbols of Asherahs proved to be a persistent temptation for the people of Israel.

Conclusion:
The biblical account of Asherahs serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of idolatry and the importance of maintaining the purity of worship. The repeated efforts to eradicate Asherahs from Israelite society underscore the necessity of faithfulness to the covenant with Yahweh and the rejection of foreign religious influences.Asherahs (23 Occurrences)

Exodus 34:13
but ye shall demolish their altars, shatter their statues, and hew down their Asherahs.
(DBY)

Deuteronomy 7:5
But thus shall ye deal with them: ye shall break down their altars, and shatter their statues, and hew down their Asherahs, and burn their graven images with fire.
(DBY)

Deuteronomy 12:3
and ye shall break down their altars, and shatter their statues, and burn their Asherahs with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and ye shall destroy the names of them out of that place.
(DBY)

Judges 3:7
And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgot the LORD their God, and served the Baalim and the Asheroth.
(See NIV)

1 Kings 14:15
And Jehovah will smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and he will root up Israel out of this good land which he gave to their fathers, and will scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their Asherahs, provoking Jehovah to anger.
(DBY)

1 Kings 14:23
And they also built for themselves high places, and columns, and Asherahs on every high hill and under every green tree;
(DBY)

2 Kings 17:10
And they set them up columns and Asherahs on every high hill and under every green tree;
(DBY)

2 Kings 18:4
He removed the high places, and broke the columns, and cut down the Asherahs, and broke in pieces the serpent of brass that Moses had made; for to those days the children of Israel burned incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
(DBY)

2 Kings 23:14
And he broke in pieces the columns, and cut down the Asherahs, and filled their place with the bones of men.
(DBY)

2 Chronicles 14:3
and he took away the altars of the strange gods and the high places, and broke the columns, and cut down the Asherahs;
(DBY)

2 Chronicles 17:6
And he took courage in the ways of Jehovah; moreover, he removed the high places and Asherahs out of Judah.
(DBY)

2 Chronicles 19:3
Nevertheless there are good things found in thee; for thou hast put away the Asherahs out of the land, and hast directed thy heart to seek God.
(DBY)

2 Chronicles 24:18
And they forsook the house of Jehovah the God of their fathers, and served the Asherahs and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass.
(DBY)

2 Chronicles 31:1
And when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and broke the columns, and hewed down the Asherahs, and demolished the high places and the altars in all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. And all the children of Israel returned every man to his possession, into their cities.
(DBY)

2 Chronicles 33:3
And he built again the high places that Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he reared up altars to the Baals, and made Asherahs, and worshipped all the host of heaven and served them.
(DBY)

2 Chronicles 33:19
And his prayer, and how God was intreated of him, and all his sin and his unfaithfulness, and the places in which he built high places, and set up Asherahs and graven images, before he was humbled, behold, they are written among the words of Hozai.
(DBY)

2 Chronicles 34:3
And in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the Asherahs, and the graven images, and the molten images.
(DBY)

2 Chronicles 34:4
And they broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence; and the sun-pillars that were on high above them he cut down; and the Asherahs and the graven images and the molten images he broke in pieces, and made dust of them and strewed it upon the graves of those that had sacrificed to them;
(DBY)

2 Chronicles 34:7
and he broke down the altars, and beat the Asherahs and the graven images into powder, and cut down all the sun-pillars throughout the land of Israel, and returned to Jerusalem.
(DBY)

Isaiah 17:8
And he will not look to the altars, the work of his hands, nor have regard to what his fingers have made, neither the Asherahs nor the sun-images.
(DBY)

Isaiah 27:9
By this, therefore, shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit of the taking away of his sin: when he shall make all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are crumbled in pieces, the Asherahs and the sun-images shall not stand.
(DBY)

Jeremiah 17:2
whilst their children remember their altars and their Asherahs, by the green trees, upon the high hills.
(DBY)

Micah 5:14
I will have your Asherahs pulled up from among you: and I will send destruction on your images.
(BBE DBY)

Asherahs (23 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Asherahs (23 Occurrences). Exodus 34:13 but ye shall demolish
their altars, shatter their statues, and hew down their Asherahs. (DBY). ...
/a/asherahs.htm - 13k

Columns (17 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). 1 Kings 14:23 And they also built for themselves high places, and columns,
and Asherahs on every high hill and under every green tree; (DBY). ...
/c/columns.htm - 11k

Asherah (40 Occurrences)
... Asherah (40 Occurrences). Exodus 34:13 but ye shall demolish their altars, shatter
their statues, and hew down their Asherahs. (Root in DBY NIV). ...
/a/asherah.htm - 24k

Shatter (26 Occurrences)
... statues. (DBY). Exodus 34:13 but ye shall demolish their altars, shatter
their statues, and hew down their Asherahs. (DBY). Numbers ...
/s/shatter.htm - 14k

Statues (7 Occurrences)
... statues. (DBY). Exodus 34:13 but ye shall demolish their altars, shatter their
statues, and hew down their Asherahs. (DBY). Deuteronomy ...
/s/statues.htm - 8k

Sun-pillars (3 Occurrences)
... 34:4 And they broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence; and the sun-pillars
that were on high above them he cut down; and the Asherahs and the graven ...
/s/sun-pillars.htm - 7k

Ashe'rah (18 Occurrences)
Ashe'rah. Asherah, Ashe'rah. Asherahs . Multi-Version Concordance Ashe'rah
(18 Occurrences). ... (See RSV). Asherah, Ashe'rah. Asherahs . Reference Bible.
/a/ashe'rah.htm - 12k

Unfaithfulness (27 Occurrences)
... prayer, and how God was intreated of him, and all his sin and his unfaithfulness,
and the places in which he built high places, and set up Asherahs and graven ...
/u/unfaithfulness.htm - 15k

Demolished (15 Occurrences)
... when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities
of Judah, and broke the columns, and hewed down the Asherahs, and demolished ...
/d/demolished.htm - 11k

Demolish (16 Occurrences)
... pillars. (WEB NIV). Exodus 34:13 but ye shall demolish their altars, shatter
their statues, and hew down their Asherahs. (DBY). Numbers ...
/d/demolish.htm - 11k

Why was the worship of Baal and Asherah a constant struggle for the Israelites? | GotQuestions.org

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