Bible Encyclopedia: Ashtaroth

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ASHTAROTH; ASHTEROTH-KARNAIM; BEESHTERAH

ash'-ta-roth, as'-ta-roth (`ashtaroth; the King James Version Astaroth; Astaroth, the city of Og, king of Bashan (Deuteronomy 14, etc.); `ashteroth qarnayim, the scene of the defeat of the Rephaim by Chedorlaomer (Genesis 14:5): (be`eshterah) a Levitical city in Manasseh East of the Jordan (Joshua 21:27)): The name probably means "house" or "temple of Ashtoreth." It is identical with Ashtaroth of 1 Chronicles 6:71. Ashtaroth is the plural of ASHTORETH (which see). The name denotes a place associated with the worship of this goddess. Ashteroth-karnaim is mentioned only once in canonical Scripture unless we accept Gratz's restoration, when Karnaim appears as a city taken by Israel: "Have we not taken to us horns (qarnayim) by our own strength?" (Amos 6:13). It is identical with Carnion or Carnaim of 1 and 2 Maccabees, a city of Gilead with a temple of Atar-gatis. The name Ashtaroth has been identified with Astertu in the lists of Tahutmes III of the XVIIIth Egyptian Dynasty; and with Ashtarti of the Tell el-Amarna Letters. Its claim to antiquity is therefore well established.

As far as the Biblical record is concerned, the names at the head of this article might stand for one and the same city, Ashtaroth being a contraction from Ashteroth-karnaim. But in the days of Eusebius and Jerome, we learn from the Onomasticon, there were two forts of this name 9 miles apart, lying between Adara (Der`ah) and Abila (Abil), while Ashtaroth, the ancient city of Og, king of Bashan, lay 6 miles from Adara. Carnaim Ashtaroth, which is evidently identical with Ashteroth-karnaim, they describe as a large village in the angle of Bashan where tradition places the home of Job. This seems to point to Tell `Ashtara, a hill which rises about 80 ft. above the plain, 2 miles South of el-Merkez, the seat of the governor of the Chauran. Three-quarters of a mile North of el-Merkez, at the south end of a ridge on which the village of Sheikh Ca'ad is built, stands the weley of the stone of Job, Weley Sakhret 'Ayyub. By the large stone under the dome Job was said to have sat to receive his friends during his affliction.

An Egyptian inscription, found by Schumacher, proves the stone to be a monument of the time of Rameses II. At the foot of the hill is pointed out the bath of Job. In el-Merkez the building known as Deir 'Ayyub, "Monastery of Job," is now part of the barracks. There is also shown the tomb of Job. The stream which flows southward past Tell `Ashtara, is called Moyet en-Neby 'Ayyub, "stream of the prophet Job," and is said to have risen where the patriarch stamped his foot on his recovery. It is to be noted also that the district lying in the angle formed by Nahr er-Raqqad and the Yarmuk River is called to this day ez-Zawiyet esh-sharqiyeh, "the eastern angle" (i.e. of the Jaulan). The term may in Jerome's time have covered the land east of the `Allan, although this is now part of the Chauran. At Tell `Ashtara there are remains pointing to a high antiquity. The site was also occupied during the Middle Ages. Perhaps here we should locate Carnaim Ashtaroth of the Onomasticon. It does not, however, agree with the description of Carnaim in 1 and 2 Maccabees. The Ashtaroth of the Onomasticon may have been at el-Muzerib, on the great pilgrimage road, about 6 Roman miles from Der'ah-the distance indicated by Eusebius. The old fortress here was situated on an island in the middle of the lake, Baheiret el-Bajjeh. A full description of the place is given in Schumacher's Across the Jordan, 137. It must have been a position of great strength in antiquity; but the ancient name has not been recovered.

Some would place Ashteroth-karnaim, the Carnaim of the Maccabees, at Tell 'Ash`ari, a site 10 Roman miles North of Der`ah, and 4 1/2 Roman miles S 2 of Tell `Ashtara. This clearly was "a place hard to besiege, and difficult of access by reason of the narrowness of the approaches on all sides" (2 Maccabees 12:21). It crowns a promontory which stands out between the deep gorge of the Yarmuk River and a great chasm, at the head of which is a waterfall. It could be approached only by the neck connecting it with the mainland; and here it was guarded by a triple wall, the ruins of which are seen today. The remains of a temple close by the bridge over the Yarmuk may mark the scene of the slaughter by Judas.

The whole question however is obscure. Eusebius is clearly guilty of confusion, with his two Ashtaroth-karnaims and his Carnaim Ashtaroth. All the places we have named lie considerably North of a line drawn from Tell Abel to Der`ah. For light upon the problem of identification we must wait the results of excavation.

W. Ewing

ASHTAROTH

Plural of Ashtoreth. See ASHTORETH.

Strong's Hebrew

1045. beth Ashtaroth -- house of Ashtaroth
beth Ashtaroth. 1044, 1045. beth Ashtaroth. 1046 . house of Ashtaroth.
Transliteration: beth Ashtaroth Phonetic Spelling: (bayth ...
/hebrew/1045.htm - 6k

6252a. Ashtaroth -- a place East of the Jordan
... 6252, 6252a. Ashtaroth. 6252b . a place East of the Jordan. Transliteration:
Ashtaroth Short Definition: Ashtaroth. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/6252a.htm - 5k

6251. ashtaroth -- perhaps young
... 6250, 6251. ashtaroth. 6252 . perhaps young. Transliteration: ashtaroth Phonetic
Spelling: (ash-ter-aw') Short Definition: young. ... ashtaroth. 6252 . ...
/hebrew/6251.htm - 6k

6255. Ashteroth Qarnayim -- "Ashtaroth of the double horns," a ...
... "Ashtaroth of ... Word Origin from Ashtaroth and qeren Definition "Ashtaroth of the double
horns," a place E. of the Jordan NASB Word Usage Ashteroth-karnaim (1). ...
/hebrew/6255.htm - 6k

6254. Ashterathi -- inhab. of Ashtaroth
... of Ashtaroth. Transliteration: Ashterathi Phonetic Spelling: (ash-ter-aw-thee')
Short Definition: Ashterathite. Word Origin from Ashtaroth Definition inhab. ...
/hebrew/6254.htm - 6k

6252b. Ashtoreth -- an ancient Near Eastern goddess
Ashtoreth or Ashtaroth. 6252a, 6252b. Ashtoreth or Ashtaroth. 6253 .
an ancient Near Eastern goddess. Transliteration: Ashtoreth ...
/hebrew/6252b.htm - 5k

6252. Ashtarowth -- a place East of the Jordan
... Ashtarowth. 6252a . a place East of the Jordan. Transliteration: Ashtarowth Phonetic
Spelling: (ash-taw-roth') Short Definition: Ashtaroth. Asharoth, Astaroth ...
/hebrew/6252.htm - 6k

Library

Repentance and victory
... Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the Lord
with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/repentance and victory.htm

A Jealous God
... Dagon can stand with Bel, and Bel with Ashtaroth; how should stone, and wood, and
silver, be moved to indignation; but because God is the only living and true ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 9 1863/a jealous god.htm

Israel's Obstinacy and God's Patience
... them, and provoked the Lord to anger.13. And they forsook the Lord, and
served Baal and Ashtaroth.14. And the anger of the Lord was ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture f/israels obstinacy and gods patience.htm

Three Decisive Steps
... Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the Lord
with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/three decisive steps.htm

Joash
... left the house of the Lord their God, the God of their fathers, and served groves
and idols,' the groves here mentioned being symbols of Ashtaroth the goddess ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/joash.htm

Moses and his Writings
... Drinking, feasting, and all kinds of self-indulgence were part of the worship of
Baal, and those who served Ashtaroth, the goddess of beauty, might spend their ...
/.../duff/the bible in its making/chapter iii moses and his.htm

Nor Should I Think it Needful to Discuss Whether God Pursues a ...
... After the death of Joshua the son of Nave they forsake the God of their fathers,
and serve idols, Baalim and Ashtaroth; [8248] and the Lord in anger delivered ...
/.../scorpiace antidote for the scorpions sting/chapter iii nor should i.htm

The Tears of Christ.
... Men burn sacrifices to Baal and Ashtaroth, and the Valley of Hinnom echoes with
the cries of hapless children offered to Moloch, the hideous idol of the ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon xlv the tears of.htm

The End of Self-Will
... the people.10. And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they
fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan.11. And when ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the end of self-will.htm

April 2 Morning
... If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods
and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and ...
/.../anonymous/daily light on the daily path/april 2 morning.htm

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Ashtaroth

Ashtoreth, flocks; sheep; riches

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Ashtaroth

and once As'taroth (a star), a city on the east of Jordan in Bashan, in the kingdom of Og, doubtless so called from being a seat of the worship of the goddess of the same name. (1:4; Joshua 9:10; 12:4; 13:12)

Easton's Bible Dictionary

A city of Bashan, in the kingdom of Og (Deuteronomy 1:4; Joshua 12:4; 13:12; 9:10). It was in the half-tribe of Manasseh (Joshua 13:12), and as a Levitical city was given to the Gershonites (1 Chronicles 6:71). Uzzia, one of David's valiant men (1 Chronicles 11:44), is named as of this city. It is identified with Tell Ashterah, in the Hauran, and is noticed on monuments B.C. 1700-1500. The name Beesh-terah (Joshua 21:27) is a contraction for Beth-eshterah, i.e., "the house of Ashtaroth."

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(n.) Plural of Ashtoreth.

Thesaurus

Ashtaroth (13 Occurrences)
... The name Beesh-terah (Joshua 21:27) is a contraction for Beth-eshterah, ie, "the
house of Ashtaroth.". ...ASHTAROTH; ASHTEROTH-KARNAIM; BEESHTERAH. ...
/a/ashtaroth.htm - 17k

Ash'taroth (12 Occurrences)
Ash'taroth. Ashtaroth, Ash'taroth. Ashtarothite . Multi-Version Concordance
Ash'taroth (12 Occurrences). Deuteronomy 1:4 after he ...
/a/ash'taroth.htm - 10k

Beeshterah (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ASHTAROTH; ASHTEROTH-KARNAIM; BEESHTERAH.
ash ... 71. Ashtaroth is the plural of ASHTORETH (which see). ...
/b/beeshterah.htm - 12k

Ashterothkarnaim
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ASHTAROTH; ASHTEROTH-KARNAIM; BEESHTERAH.
ash ... 71. Ashtaroth is the plural of ASHTORETH (which see). ...
/a/ashterothkarnaim.htm - 11k

Ashteroth-karnaim (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ASHTAROTH; ASHTEROTH-KARNAIM; BEESHTERAH.
ash ... 71. Ashtaroth is the plural of ASHTORETH (which see). ...
/a/ashteroth-karnaim.htm - 12k

Edrei (8 Occurrences)
... ed'-re-i ('edhre`i; Edra-ein): (1) One of the cities of Og, not far from Ashtaroth,
where the power of his kingdom received its deathblow from the invading ...
/e/edrei.htm - 11k

Ashtoreth (3 Occurrences)
... These names often occur in the plural (Ashtaroth, Baalim), probably as indicating
either different statues or different modifications of the deities. ...
/a/ashtoreth.htm - 14k

Ed're-i (8 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 1:4 after he had struck Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived in
Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth, at Edrei. ...
/e/ed're-i.htm - 8k

Astoreth
... ash'-to-reth, ash-to reth (`ashtoreth; plural `ashtaroth; Astarte): 1. Name and
Origin 2. Attributes of the Goddess 3. Ashtoreth as a Moon-Goddess 4. The Local ...
/a/astoreth.htm - 10k

Astarte (2 Occurrences)
... ash'-to-reth, ash-to reth (`ashtoreth; plural `ashtaroth; Astarte): 1. Name and
Origin 2. Attributes of the Goddess 3. Ashtoreth as a Moon-Goddess 4. The Local ...
/a/astarte.htm - 11k

Bible Concordance

Ashtaroth (13 Occurrences)

Deuteronomy 1:4 after he had struck Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth, at Edrei.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS NIV)

Joshua 9:10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon and to Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Joshua 12:4 and the border of Og king of Bashan, of the remnant of the Rephaim, who lived at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Joshua 13:12 all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei (the same was left of the remnant of the Rephaim); for Moses attacked these, and drove them out.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Joshua 13:31 Half Gilead, Ashtaroth, and Edrei, the cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were for the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even for the half of the children of Machir according to their families.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS NIV)

Joshua 21:27 And to the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, they gave from the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with its grass-lands, the town where the taker of life might be safe, and Ashtaroth with its grass-lands, two towns.
(BBE)

Judges 2:13 They forsook Yahweh, and served Baal and the Ashtaroth.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS)

Judges 10:6 The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and served the Baals, and the Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Sidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; and they forsook Yahweh, and didn't serve him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS)

1 Samuel 7:3 Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, "If you do return to Yahweh with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to Yahweh, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS)

1 Samuel 7:4 Then the children of Israel did put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served Yahweh only.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS)

1 Samuel 12:10 They cried to Yahweh, and said,'We have sinned, because we have forsaken Yahweh, and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.'
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS)

1 Samuel 31:10 They put his armor in the house of the Ashtaroth; and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

1 Chronicles 6:71 To the sons of Gershom were given, out of the family of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with its suburbs, and Ashtaroth with its suburbs;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Ashtaroth

Ashtaroth: The Capital City of Bashan

Ashtaroth: The Capital City of Bashan: Allotted to Manasseh

Ashtaroth: The Capital City of Bashan: Giants Lived At

Ashtaroth: The Capital City of Bashan: Possibly Identical With Ashteroth Karnaim, Mentioned In

Related Terms

Ash'taroth (12 Occurrences)

Beeshterah (1 Occurrence)

Ashterothkarnaim

Ashteroth-karnaim (1 Occurrence)

Edrei (8 Occurrences)