Ashtoreth, also known as Astarte, is a prominent deity in the ancient Near Eastern pantheon, particularly among the Canaanites and Phoenicians. She is often associated with fertility, love, and war. The worship of Ashtoreth is frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as a significant temptation and snare for the Israelites, who were commanded by God to worship Him alone.

In the Bible, Ashtoreth is often linked with Baal, another major Canaanite deity. The Israelites' adoption of Ashtoreth worship is seen as a direct violation of the covenant with Yahweh. In Judges 2:13 , it is stated, "for they forsook Him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths." This syncretism led to periods of divine judgment and oppression by foreign powers.

King Solomon, despite his wisdom, fell into the sin of idolatry by building high places for Ashtoreth due to the influence of his foreign wives. 1 Kings 11:5 records, "Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites." This act contributed to the eventual division of the kingdom.

The worship of Ashtoreth involved various rites, including ritual prostitution and possibly child sacrifice, practices that were abhorrent to the God of Israel. The prophets frequently condemned the worship of Ashtoreth and other foreign gods, calling the people back to exclusive devotion to Yahweh.

Chemosh

Chemosh is the national deity of the Moabites, a people who lived east of the Dead Sea. He is often associated with the god of war and destruction. The Moabites, descendants of Lot, were frequently in conflict with Israel, and their worship of Chemosh is depicted as a significant spiritual and moral threat.

The Bible first mentions Chemosh in Numbers 21:29 , "Woe to you, O Moab! You are destroyed, O people of Chemosh!" This highlights the deity's central role in Moabite society and their reliance on him for protection and victory in battle.

King Solomon, in his later years, built a high place for Chemosh on the Mount of Olives, as recorded in 1 Kings 11:7 : "At that time on a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab." This act of idolatry was part of Solomon's spiritual decline and led to God's judgment on his kingdom.

Chemosh's worship is characterized by practices that were detestable to the Israelites, including human sacrifice. In 2 Kings 3:27 , during a battle against Israel, the king of Moab offered his firstborn son as a burnt offering to Chemosh, demonstrating the extreme measures taken to appease this god.

Milcom

Milcom, also known as Molech, is the chief deity of the Ammonites, another people group descended from Lot. The worship of Milcom is particularly notorious for its association with child sacrifice, a practice that was strictly forbidden by the God of Israel.

Milcom is mentioned in 1 Kings 11:5 alongside Ashtoreth, as Solomon "followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites." This indicates the widespread influence of Milcom worship and its infiltration into Israelite society through foreign alliances and marriages.

The worship of Milcom is condemned in the strongest terms throughout the Old Testament. Leviticus 18:21 commands, "You must not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD." This prohibition underscores the severity of the sin and its incompatibility with the worship of Yahweh.

Despite these clear prohibitions, the Israelites repeatedly fell into the sin of Milcom worship, leading to severe consequences. The prophets, including Jeremiah and Ezekiel, denounced the practice and called the people to repentance and faithfulness to the covenant with God.