Ashtaroth

A city of Bashan, in the kingdom of Og (Deut. 1:4; Josh. 12:4; 13:12; 9:10). It was in the half-tribe of Manasseh (Josh. 13:12), and as a Levitical city was given to the Gershonites (1 Chr. 6:71). Uzzia, one of David’s valiant men (1 Chr. 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 (Josh. 21:27) is a contraction for Beth-eshterah, i.e., “the house of 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)

Ashtoreth, flocks; sheep; riches

ASH'TAROTH, AS'TAROTH. 1. A city of Bashan, east of the Jordan, Deut 1:4; Josh 9:10; Josh 13:31; the same as Beesh-terah, Josh 21:27; probably Tell-Ashterah, in Jaulan. Figure of Astarte. (Rawlinson's "Herodotus.") three hundred priests were constantly employed in its service at Hierapolis, in Syria, many centuries after Jezebel's time. - The worship of Ashtoreth was suppressed by Josiah. It was simply licentiousness under the guise of religion. The goddess was called the "queen of heaven," and the worship was said to be paid to the ''host of heaven." It is usually mentioned in connection with Baal. Baal and Ashtoreth are taken by many scholars as standing for the sun and the moon respectively; by others as representing the male and female powers of reproduction. Asherah, which is translated in the Authorized Version "grove," was an idol-symbol of the goddess, probably a wooden pillar.