Bible Triva

[Soldier4Christ]

No, no. You got it 100% correct.

[HisDaughter]

Hey guys!  I'm going to pop in for a minute....

While reading 1 & 2 Kings and 1 & 2 Chronicles this past couple of weeks, an Asheroth pole was mentioned several times.  Either being put up or taken down numerous times.  So being the curious sort that I am I had to look it up and see what it was.

So my question for you all.....

What is an Asheroth Pole?

[Soldier4Christ]

A really good one. I'll wait to answer this one giving others time to do so.

[Littleboy]

 “green trees” or “grove.” This “nature worship” became associated with gross immorality, and so the practice of setting up such “groves” or idols was forbidden by Hebrew prophets (Deut. 16: 21; cf. Num. 25: 3; Judg. 2: 11-13; 1 Sam. 7: 3-4; 1 Kgs. 11: 5; Isa. 17: 8; Micah 5: 12). YLBD

[Soldier4Christ]

Actually the words "grove" or "trees" is somewhat deceiving. An Asheroth Pole is actually a very large pole with a carving at the top. Somewhat like a totem pole but with the single carving at the top instead of multiple ones all the way down the pole. It got it's name from a Syrian goddess, the mother of Baal, called Asherah that the Syrians carved a figure of at the top of a pole that they used next to their sacrificial altars. It was found near the altars of Baal

The early Israelites took on the tradition of setting up similar such poles next to the altars and were chastised for doing so.

[Littleboy]

 In the Hebrew Bible we find 40 references to Asherah. Most of these emanate from the Dtr. source, and let it be noted that none of these appear to be of the very positive variety. In her study Asherah: Goddesses in Ugarit, Israel and the Old Testament, Tilde Binger noted that there is warrant for seeing an Asherah as, variously, “a wooden-aniconic-stela or column of some kind; a living tree; or a more regular statue”(1997:141). Johannes de Moor notes that in many instances it seems to refer to some sort of inanimate, albeit illicit, wooden object (1974:442). Deuteronomy 16: 21, for example, reads: You shall not set up a sacred post (i.e., Asherah) any kind of pole beside the altar of the Lord your God that you may make. (Also see 1 K 16:33;2K 21:7; 2 K23:6)

    In this verse an Asherah seems to be a type of wood pole placed near an altar. This might explain why Asheroth in the Hebrew Bible are often cut down. In Judges 6:25, for example, Gideon is instructed to pull down, or destroy, the Asherah (also see Exod. 34:13; Deut. 7:5;2 K 18:4; Mic. 5:13).

The Pastor is right at 1st they were wooden poles with the carving of a Goddess on them later on though many people just started growing groves next to their Altars, Like the Phoencians they had a Grove next to every Altar...

In Hebrew, called Asherah (of which the plural is Asherim or Asheroth), either a living tree or a tree-like pole, set up as an object of worship, being symbolical of the female or productive principle in nature.

I think were both right with this Def.?
YLBD

[Soldier4Christ]

Be careful who you quote as an authority on something. Tilde Binger in her book "Asherah: Goddesses in Ugarit, Israel and the Old Testament" claims that "the Asherah of the Old Testament was indeed the consort (spouse) of Yahweh". Definitely not someone that I would want to claim as an authority on any subject in the Bible.

Both the Bible and archaeological evidence shows that an Asheroth Pole is more like a wooden stele not a living tree. In the instances in which a living tree might have been used it was docked of all branches turning it into a pole or stele and then had an image carved at the top of it. This was done where it was difficult to dig (plant) a hole to set a pole into as the roots would stabilize it. This is how the Phoencians made theirs in many cases.

[HisDaughter]

I see you all had a lot of information!  Thank you!
What I found specifically is that the goddess it represented was a "fertility" goddess.

Welcome back Littleboy! 

[Soldier4Christ]

Yes, sister it is a Syrian sex goddess supposedly the mother of Baal. It is also a goddess adopted by the
gnostics that they claim is the wife of Yahweh.

[HisDaughter]

It is also a goddess adopted by the gnostics that they claim is the wife of Yahweh.

That part, I didn't know.  So how about some history and definition of "gnostic".  I could always look it up and I have in the past but I always forget.  Maybe some others would be interested too. () 

[Soldier4Christ]

Just a little off the cuff to start with then I must get to bed. Perhaps I could do more tomorrow then.

The word Gnostics come from the Greek word gnosis which means knowledge. There are actually many various belief systems that fall into the category of Gnostics but the main general idea is that knowledge is the key to all things. There is a belief of one major God over a lot of little gods with a lot leaning on mysticism. There is a strong denial of the deity of Jesus Christ throughout gnosticism.

[nChrist]

Brothers and Sisters,

I find it sad and shocking that many of the ancient and ungodly cults are reappearing today. I firmly believe they were of the devil, and Bible Prophecy tells us there will be much more that will deceive many. The ancients Gnostics were obviously anti-Christ, and we should all know that evil will increase greatly before the SECOND COMING OF CHRIST. In fact, it is already easy to see. The part of a Christian is to pray, study GOD'S WORD, and put on the WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD. We will wrestle with more than just flesh and blood and should know that the devil and the powers of darkness are quite real.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable GIFT, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour Forever!

[Soldier4Christ]

One of the greatest things used by non-believers are supposed contradictions in the Bible. When confronted by such an individual it makes witnessing to them very difficult. We should be able to "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear". One of the things that we should be able to do is to give reasonable and educated explanations of these supposed contradictions. The following series of questions pertain to these supposed questions. It is my hope and prayer that this study will help us all become better witnesses for our Lord and Saviour.

Supposed Contradiction # 1:

   1. Gen. 1:11 has the trees made on day 3 before man;
      Gen. 2:8 has the trees made on day 6 after man.
   2. Gen. 1:20 has birds made out of the water on day 5;
      Gen. 2:19 has birds made out of the ground (after man) on day 6.
   3. Gen. 1:24, 25 has the animals made on day 6 before man;
      Gen. 2:19 has the animals made on day 6 after man

What is the answer to this supposed difference in scripture?

[Brother Jerry]

Two seperate creation events....

Wait...wait...

Gen 1 and Gen 2 do have two different creation events in them.  Gen 1 is Creation.  While Gen 2 focuses on creation of the Garden of Eden.  Man was created before the Garden was.  When man was created then God created the Garden to put man.  And when man was in the garden God created animals and brought them before man so that man could name them and to find a helper. 

[Littleboy]

Hi GrammyLuv,
It's good to be here...
I got this from a Hebrew Dictionary, I fiqured they had it right....
In Hebrew, called Asherah (of which the plural is Asherim or Asheroth), either a living tree or a tree-like pole, set up as an object of worship, being symbolical of the female or productive principle in nature.YLBD