The question of who edited Asherah out of the Bible is a difficult one to answer. There is no one definitive answer, and the debate surrounding the issue is complex and ongoing.
Asherah was a Canaanite goddess who was popular in the ancient Near East. She is mentioned several times in the Bible, including in the book of Judges, where she is described as a statue that was worshipped by the Israelites. However, her name was later removed from the text of the Bible, and she is no longer mentioned in any version of the bible.
There are a number of possible explanations for why Asherah was edited out of the Bible. One theory is that she was seen as a rival to Yahweh, the main god of the Israelites, and so her name was removed in order to ensure that Yahweh was the only god worshipped by the Israelites. Another theory is that the editors of the Bible were influenced by the monotheistic beliefs of the Babylonians and Persians, who did not believe in multiple gods, and so they removed Asherah from the text in order to conform to these beliefs.
Whatever the reason for her removal, the fact that Asherah was edited out of the Bible has had a significant impact on our understanding of the ancient Near East. She was an important figure in the religious beliefs of the people of the region, and her removal from the Bible has resulted in a gap in our knowledge of the religious practices of the ancient Israelites.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Asherah's connection to Yahweh?
Asherah is connected to Yahweh in the Bible and an 8th century B.C. inscription on pottery found in the Sinai desert at a site called Kuntillet Ajrud. The inscription is a petition for a blessing, and crucially, asks for a blessing from 'Yahweh and his Asherah.'
What does the Bible say about Asherah?
The Bible mentions Asherah only once, in connection with idolatry. In the book of Kings (1 Kg 16:33-34), Solomon built an Asherah pole at the entrance to his temple. The worship of this pagan idol provoked the Lord to satirically say, " Because I have removed your Asherah from before the Lord, and I did not allow him to set it up again in Samaria; therefore the Lord has given Samaria unto Sheba, and all its king's children into thy hand" (1 Kg 18:29).
Is Asherah associated with sacred trees?
Yes, the goddess Asherah is often associated with sacred trees in the Hebrew Bible.
Was Asherah worshipped as Yahweh?
Some biblical scholars believe that Asherah at one time was worshipped as the consort of Yahweh, the national God of Israel. However, this practice is no longer followed by biblical Israelites or other believers in Yahweh today.
What attracted the rural Israelites to the goddess Asherah?
Asherah may have been attractive to the Israelites because she was associated with abundance. In a world beset by hardship and drought, likely a concern for fecundity was what attracted the rural Israelites and Judeans to the goddess Asherah, whom they associated with abundance.
