Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. History matters. First, sexual orgies "under every green tree," where promiscuity and perverted sex acts were the norm. In brief: This story is from an old Amorite cosmic myth concerning the Northern Crown. For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about. King Solomon, married to foreign wives, "followed Astarte the goddess of the Sidonians" (1 Kings 11:5). Hundreds of people were killed. And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. 21.". Ashtoreths name seems to combine the goddesss real name Astarte with the Hebrew word for shame, boshet. Although the rooms were used primarily for sacred meals, they may also have been reserved for the sexual services of women jailed in the temple for adultery. In the form of the Ephesian Artemis, Ashtoreth continued to impact scripture in the New Testament. Giving honor to Ashteroth is evil. Zonah has only one meaning in earlier biblical Hebrew, which is prostitute. Later, it came to be used informally and loosely for promiscuity or harlotry. Many modern Hebrew scholar believe that "consecrated maiden" is a mistranslation. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. Though Christians today may not run after literal gods, we often chase things with that same worshipful ferocity. It did not disappear. The question as to the origin of the Worship of Ba'al among the Hebrews can only be settled by tracing it among the Semites in general and especially among the Babylonians. 7:18). Astarte is a fierce warrior goddess and the goddess of sexual love (eros) and fertility. Why was the worship of Baal and Asherah a constant struggle for the Gods nature is jealous. 7:9; 8:2) Possibly Ashtoreth is the goddess referred to as the "queen of the heavens" at Jeremiah