אֲשֵׁרָה

**see now also GFM^{EB ASHERAH} Dr^{5 Mos 16,21} Allen^{DB ASHERAH}, all doubtful as to Canaanite goddess Asherah; question left open by Zim^{KAT 3. 436 ff.} (on Semitic goddess Aširtu-Ašratu Id.^{ib, 432 ff.}); but see Jerem^{AT im Licht d. Alten Orients 207} (name of goddess Aširat in letter found at Taanach by Sellin (1902-3) and Id.^{ib. 37. 237}) (Oppenheim's find at Ras el-`Ain in Mesopotamia, stone shaft with veiled head as top, supposed to identify post with goddess; if 2 Kong 23,7 refers to draped Asherim [see on text Benz Bur], this even more plausible), Id.^{ib. 23, 208 f. 236}. On pictorial representations of Asherah-symbol see WHWard^{AJSL xix.l (Oct.1902)}. — usually with the article: probably
\ \ a. a Canaanitish goddess of fortune & happiness; having prophets 1 Kong 18,19, an image 1 Kong 15,13 = 2 Kron 15,16; 2 Kong 21,7, sacred vessels 2 Kong 23,4, houses v2 Kong 23,7.
\ \ b. a symbol of this goddess, a sacred tree or pole set up near an altar 1 Kong 16,33; 2 Kong 13,6; 2 Kong 17,16; 2 Kong 18,4; 2 Kong 21,3; 2 Kong 23,6; 2 Kong 23,15 prohibited 5 Mos 16,1 burnt by Gideon Dom 6,25; Dom 6,26; Dom 6,28; Dom 6,30. Plural אֲשֵׁרוֺת
\ \ a. the goddess Dom 3,7 (probably error for עַשְׁתָּרֹת ᵑ9).
\ \ b. sacred trees or poles 2 Kron 19,3; 2 Kron 33,3 elsewhere אֲשֵׁרִים id. Es 27,9 + 12 t.; suffix Mik 5,14 + 5 t.; — 2 Mos 34,13 (J) 5 Mos 7,5; 5 Mos 12,3; Es 17,8; Es 27,9; Jer 17,20; Mik 5,13; 1 Kong 14,15; 1 Kong 14,23; 2 Kong 17,10; 2 Kong 23,14; 2 Kron 14,2; 2 Kron 17,6; 2 Kron 24,18; 2 Kron 31,1; 2 Kron 33,19; 2 Kron 34,3; 2 Kron 34,4; 2 Kron 34,7. — (compare also Sta^{ZAW 1881, 344 f.} RS^{Semitic i. 171 f., 175 n.} We^{H 235}, who think ׳א only the sacred pole.)