Who was Asherah? And why did Israel worship her?

BLK SHP Bible Talk ^ | 4/7/2026 | blk Shp

[ckilmer]

For anyone interested in biblical archaeology--this guy is just fabulous.

The author explains why Asherah idols and inscriptions are found all over Israel. *they confirm what the bible says*'

But along the way, the author explains how it was that the Canaanites devolved from the Creator God of the man Abraham tithed to --Micheseldik--to--400 years later-- Baal worship.

(Some migrating townspeople from Mesopotamia did it.)

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TOPICS: Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: asherah; oldtestament

[Merrick]

They didn’t ‘devolve’ to anything. God separated them at Babel. He created the Nations, divided according to the number of a Sons of God (the Divine Council). Each member if the Divine Council was given authority over a Nation, to guide according to God’s will. Most if not all of those created entities became corrupt. God called Abraham *out* of one of those Nations.

[Nervous Tick]

Thank you for posting this! Will watch when time permits...
~ FRegards & Blessings ~

[Merrick]

The ‘god’ the Cannanites worshipped as Ba’al is that Divine Council member God put over their nation.

Deuteronomy 32, Psalm 82.

[madison10]

My favorite Bible teacher. It is great to see him posted. Thanks.

[conservativesister]

Who was Asherah? And why did Israel worship her?
been nice if you would have answered your question.
I only read the headline & summation, don’t click on anything.

[avital2]

Willam Dever wrote in depth about this in DID GOD HAVE A WIFE, chronicling this move of Israelites influenced by God/Goddess cults around them. some even see this influence later in attaching the Shechina to the Blessed Holy One. more here: https://voices.sefaria.org/sheets/102245?lang=bi

[Liz]

The primary spiritual conflict described in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) is not atheism, but unfaithfulness. The Israelites frequently abandoned the worship of the one true God to follow the pagan practices of other cultures.

Theological Meaning: According to biblical scholars and theologians, the “rejection” of God by Israel was never about God not existing, but rather a result of the human desire to trust in their own devices or worship deities that required fewer moral constraints.

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The Modern State of Israel:

Today, Israel is a diverse and “predominantly secular society.” According to demographic surveys, the Israeli population includes a wide spectrum of beliefs: a significant portion of the population identifies as hiloni (secular).

Secular Israelis identify as non-religious atheists or agnostics,
focusing on establishing a secular Israeli national identity.

[Tell It Right]

(I didn't watch the video)

Asherah = mother goddess of Baal worship = fertility = sexual worship.

Worship of many of the false gods throughout history had an air of sex to pull people in. Even had cult prostitution. Just like "Planned Parenthood" has exactly zero to to with parenting, it's a bit of a misnomer to refer to some ancient gods as "fertility gods" if it involves child sacrifice.

[sauropod]

.

[Jamestown1630]

I don’t think fertility cults were merely about ‘sexual worship’. They recognized and honored the procreative principle, without which there is no Life.

[madison10]

You aren’t going to get an answer without reading. 🙄

Click on it. Won’t hurt you.

[Angelino97]

The ‘god’ the Cannanites worshipped as Ba’al is that Divine Council member God put over their nation.

That makes no sense.

These "gods" were angels. You're saying that God appointed an angel who later became a demon.

But no. A third of angels became demons before the Fall of man. And none thereafter.

[safisoft]

Insane, and biblically illiterate.

Deuteronomy 32 and Psalm 82 say nothing of the sort.

[Wuli]

I’d prefer a written version, but broke down and listened to this one; thanks, it was worth it.

[sopo]

Thanks, well worth the time. I have to look up the Cross book and the other he mentions.

[sopo]

The Canaanite myth by Cross, In the Begiining God by Cordron (? )

[Rockingham]

Quite so. The ancient religion of Egypt was especially peculiar in that respect. It regarded the Milky Way as cosmic semen and marriage and sex between the Pharoah and a close female relative as sacramental and essential to the continuation of human life. Above all, the Egyptians feared that the normally life giving and predicable annual Nile flood might fail or become excessive and destructive.

Consideration of life inevitably also provokes consideration of death. And so the Egyptians sought to overcome death through their elaborate funerary practices. In contrast, the astonishingly bloody and brutal ancient religions of Mesoamerica made massive human sacrifice essential to placating the gods whose favor was required for agriculture against the uncertainties of weather and climate.

The cruelty and wickedness of child sacrifice to Baal was the highest form of offering possible. Yet, as in the ancient world, such a practice shocks because it is so plainly and objectively evil. We have good cause to be grateful that the Jews rejected child sacrifice and helped to lead mankind's turn against it.

[ViLaLuz]

Who was Asherah?
https://www.gotquestions.org/who-Asherah.html

Why was the worship of Baal and Asherah a constant struggle for the Israelites?
https://www.gotquestions.org/Baal-and-Asherah.html

[ckilmer]

The Bible specifically mentions the people who corrupted the caanites. They were from Babylon. They migrated into Israel after abraham