AnAsherah pole is a sacredtree or pole that stood nearCanaanite religious locations to honor the goddessAsherah.[1] The relation of the literary references to anasherah and archaeological finds of Judaean pillar-figurines has engendered a literature of debate.[2]
Theasherim were alsocult objects related to the worship of Asherah, the consort of eitherBa'al or, as inscriptions fromKuntillet ‘Ajrud andKhirbet el-Qom attest,Yahweh,[3] and thus objects of contention among competing cults. Most English translations of theHebrew Bible translate the Hebrew wordsasherim (אֲשֵׁרִים’ăšērīm) orasheroth (אֲשֵׁרוֹת’ăšērōṯ) to "Asherah poles".[4]
Asherim are mentioned in theHebrew Bible in the books ofExodus,Deuteronomy,Judges, theBooks of Kings, the secondBook of Chronicles, and the books ofIsaiah,Jeremiah, andMicah. The term often appears as merelyאשרה, (Asherah) referred to as "groves" in theKing James Version, which follows theSeptuagint rendering asἄλσος (alsos), pl.ἄλση (alsē) and theVulgatelucus,[5] and "poles" in theNew Revised Standard Version; no word that may be translated as "poles" appears in the text. Scholars have indicated, however, that the plural use of the term (English "Asherahs", translating HebrewAsherim orAsherot) provides ample evidence that reference is being made to objects of worship rather than a transcendent figure.[6]
TheHebrew Bible suggests that the poles were made of wood. In the sixth chapter of theBook of Judges, God is recorded as instructing theIsraelite judgeGideon to cut down an Asherah pole that was next to an altar toBaal. The wood was to be used for a burnt offering.
Deuteronomy 16:21 states thatYHWH (rendered as "theLORD") hatedAsherim whether rendered as poles: "Do not set up any [wooden] Asherah [pole][7] beside the altar you build to theLORD your God" or as living trees: "You shall not plant any tree as an Asherah beside the altar of the Lord your God which you shall make".[8] That Asherahs were not always living trees is shown in 1 Kings 14:23: "their asherim, beside every luxuriant tree".[9] However, the record indicates that the Jewish people often departed from this ideal. For example, KingManasseh placed an Asherah pole in theHoly Temple (2 Kings 21:7). KingJosiah's reforms in the late 7th century BC included the destruction of many Asherah poles (2 Kings 23:14).
Exodus 34:13 states: "Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherim [Asherah poles]."
Biblical archaeologists have suggested that until the 6th century BC the Israelite peoples had household shrines, or at least figurines, of Asherah, which are strikingly common in the archaeological remains.[10] Thus, the pro-Yahwist prophets and priests were the "innovators" whilst Asherah worshippers were the "traditionalists".[11]
Joan E. Taylor suggests thetemple menorah’s iconography can be traced to representations of a sacred tree, possibly “based on the form of an asherah, perhaps one associated in particular withBethel.”[12] However,Rachel Hachlili finds this hypothesis unlikely.[13]
Raphael Patai identified the pillar figurines with Asherah[14] inThe Hebrew Goddess.
So far, the purpose of Asherah poles are unknown.[4]
Due to its role in Iron Age Yahwism, some suggest they were embodiments of Yahweh himself. Evidence for the latter includes pro-Yahwist kings likeJehu not destroying Asherah poles, despite violently suppressing non-Yahwist cults.[15] In addition, the Yahwist inscription ofKuntillet ʿAjrud in theSinai Peninsula pairs Yahweh with Asherah. Scholars believe Asherah is merely a cultic object or temple but others argue that it is a generic name for any consort of Yahweh.[16]
Ronald Hendel argues a middle ground is possible, where the Asherah pole is a symbol of the eponymous goddess but is believed to be the mediator between the worshipper and Yahweh, where she becomes the "effective bestower of blessing".[17]
Stéphanie Anthonioz says that early references to Asherah poles in the Hebrew Bible (i.e.Deuteronomy 16:21–22) were built on the awareness that Yahweh had a consort, from the perspective of many Israelites. With the exception ofDeuteronomists, many Near Easterners believed symbols and cult images, like the Asherah pole, were reflections of the divine and the divine themselves in theiranthropomorphized forms.[18]
The shape of the Temple menorah, which appeared like a cut and prunedalmond tree, may have been based on the form of an asherah, perhaps one associated in particular withBethel.
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