Ancient Israelite Religion

The Ancient Israelite Religion before the Babylonian Exile was a variant of the polytheistic Canaanite religion.

Overview

Between the 10th century BC and the beginning of their exile in 586 BC, polytheism was normal throughout Israel; it was only after the exile that worship of YHWH alone became established.

In both Judah and Samaria, the same God, YHWH, was worshiped, but along with other gods in many sanctuaries (or "high places"), such as Bethel, Dan and others. The so-called "First Temple" of Jerusalem originally was simply one among the many temples dedicated to YHWH (and other gods). Despite the presence of henotheistic trends (led by the prophets of YHWH), the Israelite population in two kingdoms was polytheistic. Their religious practices did not differ from those of the other peoples of the region (including Child Sacrifice). YHWH (like his rival Baals) was seen as one of the "sons" of El Elyom, the supreme God of the Canaanite pantheon. Wisdom was the main goddess, at the center of the fertility cults. Asherah was another important goddess

It was common in the ancient world to believe that gods married and bore children. As the other Canaanite gods, YHWH also was worshiped with a female counterpart, Asherah. See Deuteronomy 32:8 and the Story of Ba'al and Anat.

Deuteronomy 32:8-9

When the Most High (El Elyon) apportioned the nations,

when he divided humankind,

he fixed the boundaries of the peoples

according to the number of the gods; (a)

9 the Lord’s own portion was his people,

Jacob his allotted share.

< (a) The Masoretic tradition reads "according to the number of the sons of Israel" (bene israel). Howerer this was not the original text: In Qumran we read "according to the numbers of the sons of God" (bene el; or, bene elohim). The ancient Greek version (LXX) translates huion theou ("sons of God") or angelon theou ("angels of God"). In the Bible the sons of God are divine beings who belong to the heavenly court. They are the ancient gods turned into "angels". See Genesis 6:2; 1 Kings 22:19; Job 1:6; Psalms 29:1; 82. It is to the members of heavenly court that God said: "let us make man in our own image" (Gen 1:26)>

Inscription on a Pithos from Kuntillet ‘Ajrud (8th cent. BCE)

Located in the Sinai desert about 10 miles west of the ancient Gaza Road (Darb Ghazza, in Arabic) as it passes through Bedouin territory separating the Negev from Egypt, Kuntillet ‘Ajrud is remote and isolated from any other settlement. In 1975, Tel Aviv University archaeologist Ze’ev Meshel with some volunteers and a few colleagues as staff, decided to excavate at the site.

The finds from Kuntillet ‘Ajrud were fantastic. The zingers were two large pithoi, or storage jars, that weighed about 30 pounds each. The now-reconstructed pithoi are painted with deities, humans, animals and symbols, and feature a number of inscriptions, including three that refer to YHWH and his wife Asherah.

“I bless you by YHWH and his Asherah” is written across the top of this eighth-century B.C. drawing on a ceramic pithos, or storage jar, from Kuntillet ‘Ajrud in the eastern Sinai. Scholars have theorized that these figures resembling the Egyptian god Bes (who is the one depicted on the left) are in fact a drawing of YHWH and his consort. Two other similar inscriptions have been found in the site of this ancient sanctuary: "YHWH of Teman and his Asherah", and "Blessed be Uriyahu by YHWH for from his enemies by his (YHWH's) Asherah he (YHWH) has saved him ... "