Lexical Definition

‎עַשְׁתָּרוֹת‎ ʻAshtârôwth (ash-taw-roth') Ashtaroth ^{N:N-F-T / N:N--L}
or עַשְׁתָּרֹת ʻAshtârôth (ash-taw-roth'); plural of ‎עַשְׁתְּרָה‎

Asharoth, Astaroth. See also ‎בֵּית עַשְׁתָּרוֹת‎, ‎עַשְׁתֹּרֶת‎, ‎עַשְׁתְּרֹת קַרְנַיִם‎.

• § Ashtaroth or Astaroth = "star"
• Ashtaroth, the name of a Sidonian deity, and of a place East of the Jordan

n pr f deity
1) false goddesses in the Canaanite religion, usually related to fertility cult
n pr loc
2) a city in Bashan east of the Jordan given to Manasseh
2a) same as עַשְׁתְּרֹת קַרְנַיִם

Extended Information

• a city in Bashan east of the Jordan given to Manasseh

Brown-Driver-Briggs

III. ‎עַשְׁתָּרוֺת‎ proper name, of a location Ασταρωθ, etc., east of Jordan (name from worship of different forms of `Aštart; in Egyptian ±astiratu, as east Jordan located WMM^{As.u.Eur.162,313}; compare Tel Amarna proper name, of a location Aštarti); — in Bashan (near Edrei) Deut 1:4 (‎רֹת‎-), Josh 12:4; Josh 13:12; Josh 13:31 (all + ‎אֶדְרֶ֫עִי‎), Josh 9:10; 1Chr 6:56* = ‎בְּעֶשְׁתְּרָה‎ (i.e. ‎בֵּית עַשְׁתָּרָה‎) Josh 21:27 also ‎עַשְׁתְּרֹת‎ ‎קַרְנַיִם‎ Gen 14:5 (ᵐ5 Ασταρωθ Καρναιν, compare GFM^{JBL xvi(1897), 155 f.} who explains name as Ashtereth of the two-peaked mountain); compare further, ‎קַרְנַיִם‎ Amos 6:13 — site probably either Tel ±Aštara, 21 miles east of Sea of Galilee, or Muzeirib, 8 miles further south; possibly both occur in OT; compare especially Dr^{Ashtaroth in} Hast^DB Di^{Gen 14:5}), Buhl^{Georg. 248 ff.} GASm^{Ency. Bib. 335 f}.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Ashtaroth • A city of Og, king of Bashan.

Ashtaroth or Beeshterah, a city in Bashan, ruled by King Og and later allotted to the Levites.

• A location first mentioned at Deu.1.4;
• referred to as Ashtaroth עַשְׁתָּרוֹת, or Beeshterah (NIV= Be Eshterah) בְּעֶשְׁתְּרָה, or Ashterathite עַשְׁתְּרָתִי.
  

Ashtaroth, also known as Beeshterah, was a city located in the region of Bashan, east of the Jordan River. It is mentioned several times in the Bible, particularly in connection with Og, the king of Bashan, who ruled over the city.

In Deuteronomy 1:4, Ashtaroth is named as one of the cities defeated by the Israelites, along with Edrei, after they had conquered Sihon, king of the Amorites. Joshua 9:10 and 12:4 also mention Ashtaroth as part of the territory ruled by Og, who was one of the last remnants of the Rephaim, a race of giants.

After the conquest of Bashan, Ashtaroth was allotted to the half-tribe of Manasseh (Joshua 13:31). However, the city was later designated as a Levitical city, given to the descendants of Gershon (Joshua 21:27; 1 Chronicles 6:71). This indicates that Ashtaroth was one of the cities set apart for the Levites to dwell in and perform their sacred duties.

In 1 Chronicles 11:44, Ashtaroth is mentioned as the hometown of Uzzia, one of David's mighty men, suggesting that the city had Israelite inhabitants during the time of David's reign.

The name Ashtaroth is also associated with the Canaanite goddess Astarte, and it is possible that the city was a center of her worship before the Israelite conquest. The biblical writers often used the name Ashtaroth to refer to the goddess herself or to the plural form of Astarte, representing multiple goddesses or idols.

The city of Ashtaroth was strategically located in the fertile region of Bashan, known for its rich pastures and livestock. Its mention in the Bible highlights the Israelites' victories over the powerful kings of the region and the allotment of the conquered territories to the tribes of Israel, including the Levites.

All entries for Ashtaroth or Beeshterah: עַשְׁתָּרוֹת ☩ בְּעֶשְׁתְּרָה ☩ עַשְׁתְּרָתִי