Heathen gods of the Old Testament

[B/W Photodude]

What I thought would be a relatively simple task to list the gods of the surrounding nation of Israel and Judah was much more complicated than I thought! But it seemed an understanding of them and the common belief concerning gods would help to understand why Israel and Judah "went off the tracks" so much. So, as I am reading thru the Bible again, this time with an archeological study bible (The Chronological NKJV Study Bible by Nelsen Publishers < https://www.amazon.com/Chronological-Study-Bible-James-Version/dp/0718020685/ref=sr_1_1 > ), I have been compiling this list along with weblinks to many of the gods.  

Pantheon of Gods: different cultures had groups of gods known as a pantheon of gods. Moloch was more of a title than a name, and as will be seen, was a variation on the Hebrew word for "King". "Baal" is also a title meaning "Master". The term "Baal" can rightly be used by a woman as a name for a husband. So, you have to look closer to see what the actual name of a god might be and not just his titles."Baal Hammon*" is one such god with the title and the name. The Scriptures will even use the term "Baals" for groups of gods. "So it was, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made Baal-Berith their god." Judges 8:33

Phoenicia: El (head of the Pantheon) < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_(deity) >, Molech (Milcom),  Baalat* (* - Not found in Scripture) (Baalat equivalent to Ishtar*, Innis*, Isis*) Ba‘alat Gebal*, 'Lady of Byblos', was the goddess of the city of Byblos, Phoenicia in ancient times. She was sometimes known to the Greeks as Baaltis or Atargatis. Ba‘alat Gebal was generally identified with the pan-Semitic goddess "Ashtart* (Astarte*) and, like ‘Ashtart, equated with the Greek goddess Aphrodite. < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baʽalat_Gebal > (This link may not open correctly, check the spelling in the address bar or paste it in), Adonis 
Minor gods:  Reshef* (fire/lightening), Dagon (wheat), Shadrapa* (snakes/healing), Chusor* (iron) Sydek* (justice), Misor* (righteousness)

Reshef: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resheph
Dagon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagon
Shadrapa: https://www.reddit.com/r/Semitic_Paganism/comments/hbhmya/shadrapa/ (Could this god be a forerunner of the medical caduceus < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus_as_a_symbol_of_medicine >, and could the serpent in the desert made by Moses be the inspiration for Shadrapa?!)
Chusor: https://www.ancient.eu/Phoenician_Religion/
Sydek: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydyk
Misor: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misor

Phoenician Cities

Tyre: Marqart*, Baal 

Baal, god worshipped in many ancient Middle Eastern communities, especially among the Canaanites, who apparently considered him a fertility deity and one of the most important gods in the pantheon. As a Semitic common noun baal (Hebrew baʿal) meant “owner” or “lord,” < https://www.britannica.com/topic/Baal-ancient-deity >

Sidon: Ashtoreth (2 Kings 23:13), Baal, Eshmun*

Then the king defiled the high places that were east of Jerusalem, which were on the south of the Mount of Corruption, which Solomon king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the people of Ammon. 2 Kings 23:13

Byblos: El

Assyria: Asshur* Genesis 10:10-12 (Asshur was the father of the Assyrians and the country was named after him. He was regarded as "the great god, king of all the gods." It was Asshur who gave power and life to every priestly king, and this was his symbol. A winged circle or globe with the human figure of a warrior god armed with a bow in its center.)< https://www.bible-history.com/sketches/ancient/assyrian-symbol-asshur.html >, (Biblical texts regarding Asshur are regarding Asshur, son of Shem.)

Tammuz < https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tammuz-Mesopotamian-god >

Babylon: Marduk*, Tammuz, Succoth Benoth* (Succoth-benoth or Succoth Benoth was a Babylonian deity, one of the deities brought to the former kingdom of Samaria by the men of Israel after the exile of Canaan by Assyria. After resettling large numbers of Canaan's population "in Halah, in Gozan, on the Habor River and in towns of the Medes", the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim" and settled them in Canaan.), Tammuz,

So He brought me to the door of the north gate of the Lord’s house; and to my dismay, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz. Ezekiel 8:14 

30 The men of Babylon made Succoth Benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, 31 and the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. 2 Kings 17:30-31

Cuth: Nergal
Hamath: Ashima
Avites: Nibhaz, Tartak
Sepharvites: Adrammalech, Anammelech

Nabonidus: Sin* (moon god) < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sin_(mythology) >, omen deitites Shamash*, Adad* (Nabonidus was the last king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, reigning from 556–539 BC. He seized power in a coup, toppling King Labashi-Marduk. He also angered the priests and commoners of Babylon by neglecting the city’s chief god, Marduk, and elevating the moon god, Sin, to the highest status. Nabonidus left the capital for ten years to build and restore temples – mostly to Sin – leaving his son, Belshazzar, in charge. While leading excavations for the restoration effort, he initiated the world’s first known archaeological work.)

Syria-Palestine: Mot* (Mot was the ancient Canaanite god of death and the Underworld. He was worshipped by the people of Ugarit, by the Phoenicians, and also by the Hebrews of the Old Testament. The main source of information about his role in Canaanite mythology comes from the texts discovered at Ugarit, but he is also mentioned in the surviving fragments of Philo of Byblos's Greek translation of the writings of the Phoenician Sanchuniathon and also in various books of the Old Testament.) < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mot_(god) >) vs Baal, Yareah (moon god), Shemesh (sun god)

And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the Lord all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven: and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Bethel. 2 Kings 23:4 (Hosts of heaven were the pantheons of the gods)

Judah: Nehushtan (Bronze serpent of Moses that Josiah destroyed) 2 Kings 18:4

Josiah reformed Judah's cultic worship and pagan images. This included the Temple Pantheon of Judah. Josiah destroyed the high places (temples, shrines) built by Solomon over 300 years earlier. Ashteroth, Chemosh, and Milcom had high places built for them.

Then the king defiled the high places that were east of Jerusalem, which were on the south of the Mount of Corruption, which Solomon king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the people of Ammon. 2 Kings 23:13

Sumerian: Utu*, Nihurtz*

Ugarit (land of Ararat, Urartu by the Assyrians)
El* (chief god), Anath*, Aqhat*, Baal 
See the legend of Aqhat:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Aqhat-Epic

Israel: Molach (children sent thru the fire)

Amonnites: Moloch (also Molech, Mollok, Milcom, or Malcam)
 
Moloch is the biblical name of a Canaanite god associated with child sacrifice, through fire or war. The name Moloch results from a dysphemic vocalisation in the Second Temple period of a theonym based on the root mlk, "king". There are a number of Canaanite gods with names based on this root, which became summarily associated with Moloch, including biblical Malkam "Great King", which appears to refer to a god of the Ammonites, as well as Tyrian Melqart and others.

Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. Acts 7:43 (There is an interesting discussion suggesting the star of Remphan became the Star of David. The star of david is neither mentioned in Scripture or said to be a recognized symbol in Judaism before the 1600s. The symbol connected to Judaism prior to then was a seven branched candlestick.)

But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves. Amos 5:26

Moabites: Chemosh

(Solomon's wife (Moab) set up an alter to Chemosh which lasted over 300 years until Josiah had it torn down.)

Edomites: Quas (Qos)*, 

Canaanites: goddess Ashterah, Baal, Hadad* (storm god). There are people named Hadad in the Old Testament, but no gods with that name. < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadad >

Egypt: Re*, Osiris*, Aten* (removed with chisels during the reign of Josiah)

Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously. Isaiah 24:23 Would this confounding and shaming be because of the gods associated with the sun and moon?

[This is an unfinished document!]
 

[BlessedMan]

good post! Is there by chance any mention of Bel & Nebo in that book?

Isa_46:1  Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast.

[Gustave]

Good post BW! Mind boggling how many God's people worshipped over the ages. I seem to remember Hinduism has several hundred thousand. 

[Gregory Matthews]

Hinduism is a religion that believes in one god, which manifests itself in some 360,000,000 forms.  The technical word that describes this belief is kenotheism.

NOTE:  If you look the word "kenotheism" up on the Internet, you will find some convoluted definitions of that word.  I am using a definition used by scholars of religion.

 

[B/W Photodude]

12 hours ago, BlessedMan said:

good post! Is there by chance any mention of Bel & Nebo in that book?

Isa_46:1  Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast.

I had not found those two names. Was able to find info on them:

Bel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bel_(mythology)

Nebo: https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/nebo/

Those "pantheons" just keep getting bigger and bigger! I did not really even go into the Greek and Roman gods. Perhaps when I am done with this whole Bible I am reading I will come cross some of them also.

[Gustave]

12 hours ago, Gregory Matthews said:

Hinduism is a religion that believes in one god, which manifests itself in some 360,000,000 forms.  The technical word that describes this belief is kenotheism.

NOTE:  If you look the word "kenotheism" up on the Internet, you will find some convoluted definitions of that word.  I am using a definition used by scholars of religion.

 

I just learned something new - I was not aware of that. 

[Gregory Matthews]

NOTE:  Do not confuse with "henotheism," which is different.

 

[BlessedMan]

57 minutes ago, Gregory Matthews said:

NOTE:  Do not confuse with "henotheism," which is different.

 

worship of the Buffet God, where they pick "one, out of several." Ive been in some churches like that.

[phkrause]

Thanks BW, I've been trying to purchase a new Bible and have been looking at this one. It sounds pretty interesting and I think I'll go for it!!

[B/W Photodude]

1 hour ago, phkrause said:

Thanks BW, I've been trying to purchase a new Bible and have been looking at this one. It sounds pretty interesting and I think I'll go for it!!

I think you will enjoy it. It includes much information derived from archeology and reading clay tablets left behind. Give a great view of the mindset of the people and how they viewed their relationships to their different gods. However, they do not stick tightly with Ussher's 6000 year view, so much of the very early stuff seemed way off in dates. I felt more comfortable agreeing with the dates somewhere around the time of Moses.

This Bible has been one of my "lockdown" projects! 

[JoeMo]

On 7/4/2020 at 8:58 PM, B/W Photodude said:

What I thought would be a relatively simple task to list the gods of the surrounding nation of Israel and Judah was much more complicated than I thought!

Excellent post B/W - very educational.  You are chasing a very deep rabbit hole; especially if you dig into non-biblical resources.  I have tried to chase down all the Baal's in the past; and there are many of them!  And then you can get into Sumerian, and Babylonian gods (the Annunaki and the gods of Nimrod) and you get into an entirely different realm (like Ancient Aliens).

[stinsonmarri]

On 7/4/2020 at 10:58 PM, B/W Photodude said:

What I thought would be a relatively simple task to list the gods of the surrounding nation of Israel and Judah was much more complicated than I thought! But it seemed an understanding of them and the common belief concerning gods would help to understand why Israel and Judah "went off the tracks" so much. So, as I am reading thru the Bible again, this time with an archeological study bible (The Chronological NKJV Study Bible by Nelsen Publishers < https://www.amazon.com/Chronological-Study-Bible-James-Version/dp/0718020685/ref=sr_1_1 > ), I have been compiling this list along with weblinks to many of the gods.  

Pantheon of Gods: different cultures had groups of gods known as a pantheon of gods. Moloch was more of a title than a name, and as will be seen, was a variation on the Hebrew word for "King". "Baal" is also a title meaning "Master". The term "Baal" can rightly be used by a woman as a name for a husband. So, you have to look closer to see what the actual name of a god might be and not just his titles."Baal Hammon*" is one such god with the title and the name. The Scriptures will even use the term "Baals" for groups of gods. "So it was, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made Baal-Berith their god." Judges 8:33

Phoenicia: El (head of the Pantheon) < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_(deity) >, Molech (Milcom),  Baalat* (* - Not found in Scripture) (Baalat equivalent to Ishtar*, Innis*, Isis*) Ba‘alat Gebal*, 'Lady of Byblos', was the goddess of the city of Byblos, Phoenicia in ancient times. She was sometimes known to the Greeks as Baaltis or Atargatis. Ba‘alat Gebal was generally identified with the pan-Semitic goddess "Ashtart* (Astarte*) and, like ‘Ashtart, equated with the Greek goddess Aphrodite. < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baʽalat_Gebal > (This link may not open correctly, check the spelling in the address bar or paste it in), Adonis 
Minor gods:  Reshef* (fire/lightening), Dagon (wheat), Shadrapa* (snakes/healing), Chusor* (iron) Sydek* (justice), Misor* (righteousness)

Reshef: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resheph
Dagon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagon
Shadrapa:

Phoenician Cities

Tyre: Marqart*, Baal 

Baal, god worshipped in many ancient Middle Eastern communities, especially among the Canaanites, who apparently considered him a fertility deity and one of the most important gods in the pantheon. As a Semitic common noun baal (Hebrew baʿal) meant “owner” or “lord,” < https://www.britannica.com/topic/Baal-ancient-deity >

Sidon: Ashtoreth (2 Kings 23:13), Baal, Eshmun*

Then the king defiled the high places that were east of Jerusalem, which were on the south of the Mount of Corruption, which Solomon king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the people of Ammon. 2 Kings 23:13

Byblos: El

Assyria: Asshur* Genesis 10:10-12 (Asshur was the father of the Assyrians and the country was named after him. He was regarded as "the great god, king of all the gods." It was Asshur who gave power and life to every priestly king, and this was his symbol. A winged circle or globe with the human figure of a warrior god armed with a bow in its center.)< https://www.bible-history.com/sketches/ancient/assyrian-symbol-asshur.html >, (Biblical texts regarding Asshur are regarding Asshur, son of Shem.)

Tammuz < https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tammuz-Mesopotamian-god >

Babylon: Marduk*, Tammuz, Succoth Benoth* (Succoth-benoth or Succoth Benoth was a Babylonian deity, one of the deities brought to the former kingdom of Samaria by the men of Israel after the exile of Canaan by Assyria. After resettling large numbers of Canaan's population "in Halah, in Gozan, on the Habor River and in towns of the Medes", the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim" and settled them in Canaan.), Tammuz,

So He brought me to the door of the north gate of the Lord’s house; and to my dismay, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz. Ezekiel 8:14 

30 The men of Babylon made Succoth Benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, 31 and the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. 2 Kings 17:30-31

Cuth: Nergal
Hamath: Ashima
Avites: Nibhaz, Tartak
Sepharvites: Adrammalech, Anammelech

Nabonidus: Sin* (moon god) < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sin_(mythology) >, omen deitites Shamash*, Adad* (Nabonidus was the last king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, reigning from 556–539 BC. He seized power in a coup, toppling King Labashi-Marduk. He also angered the priests and commoners of Babylon by neglecting the city’s chief god, Marduk, and elevating the moon god, Sin, to the highest status. Nabonidus left the capital for ten years to build and restore temples – mostly to Sin – leaving his son, Belshazzar, in charge. While leading excavations for the restoration effort, he initiated the world’s first known archaeological work.)

Syria-Palestine: Mot* (Mot was the ancient Canaanite god of death and the Underworld. He was worshipped by the people of Ugarit, by the Phoenicians, and also by the Hebrews of the Old Testament. The main source of information about his role in Canaanite mythology comes from the texts discovered at Ugarit, but he is also mentioned in the surviving fragments of Philo of Byblos's Greek translation of the writings of the Phoenician Sanchuniathon and also in various books of the Old Testament.) < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mot_(god) >) vs Baal, Yareah (moon god), Shemesh (sun god)

And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the Lord all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven: and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Bethel. 2 Kings 23:4 (Hosts of heaven were the pantheons of the gods)

Judah: Nehushtan (Bronze serpent of Moses that Josiah destroyed) 2 Kings 18:4

Josiah reformed Judah's cultic worship and pagan images. This included the Temple Pantheon of Judah. Josiah destroyed the high places (temples, shrines) built by Solomon over 300 years earlier. Ashteroth, Chemosh, and Milcom had high places built for them.

Then the king defiled the high places that were east of Jerusalem, which were on the south of the Mount of Corruption, which Solomon king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the people of Ammon. 2 Kings 23:13

Sumerian: Utu*, Nihurtz*

Ugarit (land of Ararat, Urartu by the Assyrians)
El* (chief god), Anath*, Aqhat*, Baal 
See the legend of Aqhat:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Aqhat-Epic

Israel: Molach (children sent thru the fire)

Amonnites: Moloch (also Molech, Mollok, Milcom, or Malcam)
 
Moloch is the biblical name of a Canaanite god associated with child sacrifice, through fire or war. The name Moloch results from a dysphemic vocalisation in the Second Temple period of a theonym based on the root mlk, "king". There are a number of Canaanite gods with names based on this root, which became summarily associated with Moloch, including biblical Malkam "Great King", which appears to refer to a god of the Ammonites, as well as Tyrian Melqart and others.

Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. Acts 7:43 (There is an interesting discussion suggesting the star of Remphan became the Star of David. The star of david is neither mentioned in Scripture or said to be a recognized symbol in Judaism before the 1600s. The symbol connected to Judaism prior to then was a seven branched candlestick.)

But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves. Amos 5:26

Moabites: Chemosh

(Solomon's wife (Moab) set up an alter to Chemosh which lasted over 300 years until Josiah had it torn down.)

Edomites: Quas (Qos)*, 

Canaanites: goddess Ashterah, Baal, Hadad* (storm god). There are people named Hadad in the Old Testament, but no gods with that name. < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadad >

Egypt: Re*, Osiris*, Aten* (removed with chisels during the reign of Josiah)

Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously. Isaiah 24:23 Would this confounding and shaming be because of the gods associated with the sun and moon?

[This is an unfinished document!]
 

Photodude: I truly admire what you have done but I know you might not like the things I will inject. The word god was not use in ancient time by any of these people. If you had said deities you work would be excellent. I have said it over and over god is a Persian word:

 God: Old English god "supreme being, deity; the Christian God; image of a god; godlike person," from Proto- Germanic *guthan (source also of Old Saxon, Old Frisian, Dutch god, Old High German got, German Gott, Old Norse guð, Gothic guþ), which is of uncertain origin; perhaps from PIE *ghut- "that which is invoked" (source also of Old Church Slavonic zovo "to call," Sanskrit huta- "invoked," an epithet of Indra), from root *gheu(e)- "to call, invoke." The notion could be "divine entity summoned to a sacrifice."

"Given the Greek facts, the Germanic form may have referred in the first instance to the spirit immanent in a burial mound" [Watkins]. See also Zeus. In either case, not related to good.

Zeus: supreme god of the ancient Greeks and master of the others, 1706, from Greek, from PIE *dewos- "god" (source also of Latin deus "god," Old Persian daiva- "demon, evil god," Old Church Slavonic deivai, Sanskrit deva-), from root *dyeu- "to shine," in derivatives "sky, heaven, god." The god-sense is originally "shining," but "whether as originally sun-god or as lightener" is not now clear. Etymology Dictionary Online

I am glad that you talked about Baal because it did not come from EL that is found in IsraEL!  Baal came from the root word 'ayil! It stands for mighty one, and EL SHADDI means ALMIGHTY ONES!

I also stated that the Canaanites worshipped YAHWEH first and it seem so difficult for you all to believe this because these people came from Ham!

And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of THE MOST HIGH EL. Genesis 14:18

In our second installment on the African presence in the bible, I wanted to highlight one of the most important priests in the bible, Melchizedek. Beloved, Melchizedek was an African High Priest that lived in what the bible identifies as Salem. Salem as many of you may know will later be called, Jerusalem. However, before it was called Jerusalem it was known as Jebus. Some have tried in the past to say that Melchizedek was Shem (son of Noah), but the bible doesn’t support that position. Melchizedek was a Jebusite. Jebusites were Canaanites (descendants of Canaan the son of Ham). This African High Priest is very special for people of African descent.

In our second installment on the African presence in the bible, I wanted to highlight one of the most important priests in the bible, Melchizedek. Beloved, Melchizedek was an African High Priest that lived in what the bible identifies as Salem. Salem as many of you may know will later be called, Jerusalem. However, before it was called Jerusalem it was known as Jebus. Some have tried in the past to say that Melchizedek was Shem (son of Noah), but the bible doesn’t support that position. Melchizedek was a Jebusite. Jebusites were Canaanites (descendants of Canaan the son of Ham). This African High Priest is very special for people of African descent.

Melchizedek is important and the city of Salem (Jebus) from which he ruled are vital facets of our history. He was a worshiper of the True and Living God. His service wasn’t just to any God, but specifically to, God Most High, Creator of Heaven and Earth. Since he was the God of creation, Melchizedek offered sacrifices and prayers to the one who is greater than all. The city, the place where Melchizedek served as King indicates that he was a righteous ruler. According to Hebrews 7:2 Melchizedek was known as “the King of Peace” because the root word for Salem (Jebus) means complete, prosperous, and peace. The bible tells us that Jesus was a priest not after the Aaron Priesthood, but was named a priest after the Melchizedek Priesthood which is an everlasting priesthood. Melchizedek: The African High Priest by Rev. Dr. T. A. Anderson

I just want to say all have fallen short of THE GLORY of YAHWEH! All people including IsraEL and SDA have fallen into paganism but the time is now where people are coming together we can become the repairer’s of the breach. We can restore all of the truth and become the remnant to bring in the harvest of souls from all nations, people and tongues. We all must remove hate and show love for YAHWEH first and then we will love our sisters and brothers!

 May YAHWEH add a blessing to these words and Happy Sabbath!

[B/W Photodude]

17 hours ago, JoeMo said:

You are chasing a very deep rabbit hole; especially if you dig into non-biblical resources.  I have tried to chase down all the Baal's in the past; and there are many of them!  

Another confounding fact about it all is that some of the gods get recycled into other cultures. While I haven't gotten many of the Greek and Roman gods, some of them are noted to be renamed gods from Phoenicia, Assyria, and Babylon. Unfortunately, many of these gods got recycled and are now "saints" in the Roman Catholic religion! And "gods" continue to be made with recent humans.

[JoeMo]

1 hour ago, B/W Photodude said:

Unfortunately, many of these gods got recycled and are now "saints" in the Roman Catholic religion!

I was a good, well-studied Catholic for the first 20 years of my life and don't recall any Catholic saints that used to be Roman or Greek gods.  Can you provide an example?

I believe that all these gods were real entities. IMHO, they were the fallen angels who joined satan in his rebellion.

[B/W Photodude]

On 7/11/2020 at 9:40 AM, JoeMo said:

I was a good, well-studied Catholic for the first 20 years of my life and don't recall any Catholic saints that used to be Roman or Greek gods.  Can you provide an example?

I believe that all these gods were real entities. IMHO, they were the fallen angels who joined satan in his rebellion.

My most interesting source for studying the enfolding of paganism into the Roman church comes from a book by Ralph Woodrow entitled "Babylon, Mystery Religion" . Of interest, Woodrow has listed his sources of information and the Catholic Encyclopedia is very commonly listed as the source of his quotes.

So, to the original question of saints taking the place of the pagan gods from from the heathen nations that preceded the Roman church, I found the fourth chapter of his book dedicated to the saints to be very enlightening as to the fact that saints were recycled pagan gods, but also a source of the rationale for such. He also discussed what a saint is in contrast to Scripture definition of a saint, the use of the idols of the pagans, and how saints have taken over the functions of the pagan gods.

Woodrow brings up the Council of Trent when he quotes "the saints who reign together with Christ offer up their own prayers to God for men." He later states that "They are told to worship God and then to "pray, first to Saint Mary, and the holy apostles, and the holy martyrs, and all God's saints ... to consider them as friends and protectors, with the hope that God would grant to the patron what he might otherwise refuse to the supplicant.""

Woodrow notes that Many of the old legends that had been associated with the pagan gods were transferred over to the saints. The Catholic Encyclopedia even says these "Legends repeat the conceptions found in the pre-christian religious tales ... the legend is not Christian, only Christianized"

Woodrow detailed how gods and goddesses were associated with various events in life including days of the years, occupations, illnesses, and many other concerns of lifes. Some examples include:
Astronomers        St. Cominic
Bankers            St. Matthew
Doctors            St. Luke
Musicians        St. Cecilia

Domestic Animals    St. Anthony
Old Maids        St. Andrew
To obtain a husband     St. Joseph

Blindness       St. Raphael
Epilepsy, nerves    St. Vitus (St. Vitus's Dance)
Heart Trouble    St. John of God

You will recall in the OP,  there were many gods listed for specific events such as the god of death, wheat (harvests), and so on. The Babylon system of gods numbers up to 5,000 of these gods. The saint system has reached nearly 10,000 of these lesser gods! Given that in many ways, the Roman religion mirrors the Babylonian system of worship it is little surprise that Babylon is the name of the false system of worship in Revelation. Herodotus wrote, "Babylon was the source from which all systems of idolatry flowed to the nations."

Woodrow also detailed how pagan idols were simply renamed as Christian saints. Sometimes saints were given similar sounding names to the god they replaced, for example, the goddess Victoria of the Basses-Alpes was renamed as St. Victoria!

I have saved this entire chapter on Saints into a pdf file. Anyone who would like to read it, just send me via private message an email address (hopefully everyone has a throwaway email address!) and I will email you one. I hope this is fair use and if you like it you can get the book of Amazon (It is getting expensive). The file is an image file and as such, you cannot copy/paste text from it.

I did have a discussion many years ago with Ralph Woodrow and one thing missing from this book is a discussion of the change of the Sabbath day by the Roman church. One thing I do respect is the Roman church and it's priests in that they are very transparent regarding what they have done to Scripture and why. Unlike most Protestant churches today who twist themselves into all kinds of pretzel shapes to justify what they believe in contrast to what the Scriptures say.

[JoeMo]

I understand better now what you were saying.  I agree that certain Catholic saints took over the function of pagan gods. I believe that the statue of St. Peter in front of the Vatican was once a statue of Apollo (or maybe it was Zeus).  I have a copy of the Great Controversy that has a section of photos and drawings of pagan symbols used in Catholic and some Protestant religions.  auras became halos. Certain pagan hand symbols became standard in Christian art.  Attributes of certain female deities were attributed to Mary.  Certain saints have even been removed from traditional Catholicism - like St Christopher who allegedly carried the boy Christ across the Jordan River; and St. George who slew a dragon, and St Patrick (a real guy) who allegedly chased all the snakes out of Ireland.

[stinsonmarri]

On 7/14/2020 at 9:41 AM, JoeMo said:

I understand better now what you were saying.  I agree that certain Catholic saints took over the function of pagan gods. I believe that the statue of St. Peter in front of the Vatican was once a statue of Apollo (or maybe it was Zeus).  I have a copy of the Great Controversy that has a section of photos and drawings of pagan symbols used in Catholic and some Protestant religions.  auras became halos. Certain pagan hand symbols became standard in Christian art.  Attributes of certain female deities were attributed to Mary.  Certain saints have even been removed from traditional Catholicism - like St Christopher who allegedly carried the boy Christ across the Jordan River; and St. George who slew a dragon, and St Patrick (a real guy) who allegedly chased all the snakes out of Ireland.

This is so true what you are stating Joe. It even goes deeper than what many don't want to accept today about the word Christ. This word originated in Egypt of the Old Testament and was adopted by the Greeks. Ifall would study the Masonic belief you will know that Washington and Jefferson were Masons and they trace their belief from the Greek back to Egypt. The Greek loved and admired the Egyptians and when Alexander the Great died, Ptolemy not only took over Egypt but became identified an Egyptian culture, beliefs and practices.

 Alexander the Great conquered Egypt at an early stage of his conquests. He respected the pharaonic religions and customs and he was proclaimed Pharaoh of Egypt. He established the city of Alexandria. After his death, in 323 BC, his empire was divided among his generals. Egypt was given to Ptolemy I Soter, whose descendants would give Egypt her final royal dynasty — a glittering one, largely Greek in flavor.

Ptolemy and his descendants showed respect to Egypt's most cherished traditions — those of religion — and turned them to their own advantage. Greeks in Egypt From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The hieroglyphic for Christ in Egyptian is "krst" pronounced in Greek “Chrestos,” that was translated Christ in English! It is not from any Hebrew translation at all. Which we are dealing with pagan deities of the Old Testament time. The ancient Egyptian word "krst" was more of a medical term meaning rub with oil (part of the mummification process), translates as "reborn mummy," all based on the Osiris religious belief (Harper, 2004)

The first two letters in "Christos" are CHI + RHO and appear as X (CHI) and R (RHO).  If you put these together, they form the "R-X" symbol still used today in the pharmaceutical and the apothecary trade, who mix and weigh dosages of medication for the sick.

The evil Seth put out the eye of the young Horus. The mother of Horus called for help. Her cry was answered by Thoth, the god of learning and magic. Thoth, with his wisdom and special powers, healed the eye of Horus. And the child was able to see again.

The ancient Egyptians used a drawing of the eye of Horus as a magic sign to protect themselves from disease, suffering and evil. They cut this sign in the stones they used for buildings. And it was painted on the papyrus rolls used for writing about medicine and doctors.

For thousands of years, the eye of Horus remained as a sign of the god's help to the suffering and sick. How a special sign came to mean a doctor’s prescription: About Learning English

The ancient civilization of Egypt gave birth to numerous powerful symbols that are still used even today, including the beautiful Eye of Horus. With curved lines around a solid iris, this mystical symbol brings protection, royal power, and even good health. It is said that the eye was a symbol for the goddess Wadjet or the Whole One. Records state that Wadjet was believed to have risen from the image of a cobra rising up. Through the years, this goddess has been associated with others such as Bast, Mut, and Hathor. Archeological findings even reveal that the symbol was used in mummies and funerary amulets, to ward off evil and protect kings even in death. It is also believed that the Rx symbol used in the medical profession has its roots based on the Eye of Horus. - Ancient-Symbols.com

Serapis  was formed by Ptolemy Graeco-Egyptian deity. Serapis was introduced during the third century BC Ptolemy I Soter  who  begin  to rule the Kingdom Egypt. The cult of Serapis begin to spread even to the Roman area.

Serapis was an invented god just as Christianity was copied from African Spirituality. Jesus was a composite of several Egyptian and Hellenistic deities who were introduced to the world at the beginning of the Ptolemaic (Greek) Period in Egypt during the reign of Ptolemy I. Serapis Christus was meant to form a bridge between the Greek and Egyptian religion in a new age in which their respective gods were bought face-to-face with each other so that both Egyptians and Greeks could find union in a specific supreme entity.

Linguistically, the god's name is a fusion of Ausar (Osiris) and the bull Apis, which by the Greek period might be said to have represented the essence of Egyptian religion. This is a combination god, named Osirapis (or Userhapi, Asar-Hapi), had existed in Egypt prior to the rule of the Ptolemies. Osirapis was basically the sacred bull of Memphis after its death. According to the hieroglyphic texts which were found on stelae and other objects in the Serapeum at Sakkara, established long before the Greek Period, Apis is called "the life of Osiris, the lord of heaven. Ancient Egypt: The Light of the World London by T. Fischer Unwin

The Egyptian belief of the Old Testament never died it just transformed. The ancient Greeks admired and stole both their belief and medicine concept which was always devoted to the various deities of Egyptian especial Osiris!

“Chrestos was one of the epithets traditionally ascribed to Osiris” (Picknett and Prince's, Templar Revelation,  p. 372)

Thanks to Champollion and his many eminent successors, nothing is more certain in the whole range of Egyptology than the consecration to Osiris, in his mystic character of Ruler in the realm of the departed and Judge of Souls, of the special title of the Good, Bonus, XPHCT0S. Even before the art of deciphering the hieroglyphical characters had been acquired, this could be made out from Plutarch's treatise, “De Iside et Osiride."

It is therein stated that "Osiris was the Good Deity, the beneficent king, who was able to conquer the world by persuasion alone" CHRESTOS (pp. 19-20) by J.B. Mitchell

The All-Seeing Eye has been with us since the dawn of time. ‘God’s Eye’ in churches reminds youngsters that no sin goes unpunished. The ‘Eye of Providence’ appears in the Great Seal of the United States, and on the dollar bill. The All-Seeing Eye can perhaps be traced to the Eye of Horus of Egyptian mythology. In Hinduism it appears as the ‘third eye’ of Shiva. Perception, 2014, volume 43, pages 1–6

The uneducated with no interest in mystical traditions and the esoteric may regard Ancient Egypt as little more than a place of pagan worship, strange hieroglyphics, and monuments erected by thousands of Hebrew slaves. But those more learned, especially those having undertaken the initiative rituals of Freemasonry, will see a link between the Egyptian metaphysical tradition and modern mystery schools, of which Freemasonry is one.

The connections between Ancient Egypt and modern Freemasonry are many, and only a few are presented in this article. To say that Freemasonry was born from the Egyptian Mystery Schools and their initiation rituals is true in part. Nobody can claim to know the full history of Freemasonry and the origin of each of its symbols. The Egyptian Mystery Schools played a part in its development, as did those of the Greeks, Romans, Druids, Essenes, Cathars, Rosicrucian’s, Alchemists, and the guilds of the Medieval Stone Masons. Ancient Egyptian Mystery Schools and Freemasonry

Egypt is derived from Greek but is not the name that the land was originally called. It was originally known as Kmt (or Kemet) meaning “land of the black.” The meaning is actually similar and related to the name of the father of Kemet whose name in our Bible is “Ham,” meaning “burnt.”  Ham was the father of Mizraim which became Kemet/Egypt and also the father of Cush which actually means “black.” These people like the Canaanites play a important role in the Old Testament. YAHWEH dealt with these Black people who turn their back on HIM  early. They did know HIM which is true in the story of Abraham who told the first lie in Egypt before Pharaoh, claiming that Sarah was his sister and not his wife; in which she was both! The Bible said that when Pharaoh took Sarah, YAHWEH plagued his household. Yet, when he called Abraham, he knew that is was because Sarah was Abraham wife! How did he know that? He knew like all ancient people knew who YAHWEH was even before IsraEL became a nation. Rahab hid the spies because the Canaanites knew who YAHWEH is! When YAHWEH moved the sun back 15 degree, ambassadors knew to come to IsraEL because YAHWEH was known by the heathen nations. They like us today choose to worship other deities and to believe that people do not die!

The Black people included the Philistines who came from Ham’s second son Mizraim. Some of the Philistines left and lived in Crete way before the Greeks. They were the Minoans and they like all Black people worshiped the bull or calf. The Minoan worship the bull, Baal of the Canaanites was also a bull of calf, the Egyptian also worship the bull or calf that IsraEL worshiped in the wilderness. The Dravidians of Southern India worship even to this day the cow! However all cultures around the world had worshipped the bull! But, it first identified with Ham’s children who left YAHWEH and turned to the bull in the Old Testament!

In the ancient world the bull was a symbol of strength and power. Every culture in the ancient world was connected to bull worship in one way or another. Many people would seek the bull deity for divine blessings, whether for rich crops and a fertile harvest or for victory in battles. Even today in the modern world certain countries recognize the bull is a sacred animal, for example in India the bull is never killed. The ancient Egyptians worshiped the God Hapi, the powerful bull of the Nile River. The Babylonians, the Canaanites, and all the cultures of the near East worshiped bulls. Ancient Bull Worship Bible History Online

In closing the Babylonians was ruled by Nimrod who created the city but left off being building by the confounding of the languages by YAHWEH! Then the Black Sumerians, Amorites, Kassites all control Babylon before Nebuchadnezzar of the Chaldeans took over, which is called the Neo-Babylonian period. However, the priest and the people were Black and they kept the religion of Nimrod alive. To let you know why the bull was worship during the time of the Old Testament had to do with Satan who was a cherub. Most do not know about the the cherub mean and what they look like.

 Also, out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. And everyone had four faces, and everyone had four wings. And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the color of burnished brass. And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.  Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.  Thus, were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. Eze 1:5-11

And everyone had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. Eze 10:14 

If you notice the face of a cherub is the first face and it is the ox face. Notice that all the other three faces are mention, the second was the face of adam, the third the face of a lion and the fourth the face of an eagle. So, the ox face is the cherub which what these messengers were really called!

Import of the Name. — The origin and signification of the word it is impossible to determine with any certainty. Those who seek it in a Shemitic root are still divided in opinion, some deriving it from the Chald. כּרִב, kerab´, to plough, so that cherub ="plougher," i.e. ox, urging the parallel between Eze 10:14. McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia

The first had the face of a cherub — That is, of an ox, as appears by comparing this verse with Ezekiel 1:10. The word cherub, indeed, originally signifies an ox. Benson Commentary

Face of a cherub] Of the cherub. As the other faces were those of a man, a lion, and an eagle, this face must be that of the ox (ch. Ezekiel 1:10). Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

The first face was the face of a cherub, etc.; better, with the Revised Version, of the cherub. This takes the place of "the face of an ox" in Ezekiel 1:10, and it is first in order instead of being, as there, the third. Pulpit Commentary

The first face was the face of a cherub; this being in the room of the ox's face, Ezekiel 1:10, shows that the face of an ox and a cherub are the same; and that the living creatures have the general name of cherubim, from the face of an ox; and are so called from which in the Syriac and Chaldee languages signifies to "plough", that creature being made use of in such service: Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Satan even today is depicted as an large red ox with huge horns and a pitchfork. All of this came from the worship of Satan who have changed THE TRUE worship of YAHWEH in every way. Baal was called the lord of the flies and this is where we get the word adoni from. It is sad as well as remarkable that we can go through all of the ancient deities of the Old Testament but do not realize that they all are trace back to Satan who was once called Lucifer. 

Happy Sabbath!

[B/W Photodude]

On 7/6/2020 at 8:59 PM, phkrause said:

Thanks BW, I've been trying to purchase a new Bible and have been looking at this one. It sounds pretty interesting and I think I'll go for it!!

On 7/6/2020 at 10:12 PM, B/W Photodude said:

I think you will enjoy it. It includes much information derived from archeology and reading clay tablets left behind. Give a great view of the mindset of the people and how they viewed their relationships to their different gods. However, they do not stick tightly with Ussher's 6000 year view, so much of the very early stuff seemed way off in dates. I felt more comfortable agreeing with the dates somewhere around the time of Moses.

This Bible has been one of my "lockdown" projects! 

So, I have made it up to page 1009*, which is well into the post-exilic period. Up to the destruction of Jerusalem, I found it all very interesting. I have been interested in how they arrange the writings through the different prophets and it seemingly gives a much clearer picture of the whole destruction of Jerusalem and captivity of people of Judah.  However, post-exilic, this version of the Bible seems to be running off the rails in some interpretations. While supposedly it was chronological, it put Job up in the post exilic period and seemed to find reasons for Jobs actions related to the thoughts of other nations from about 1300-1400 BC. Unfortunately, that does not make sense! Job had accomplished a lot by the time of his misfortunes at the hand of Satan. Then all is restored and he lives another 140 years. This is not consistent with a life from around 500 BC. 

Other websites trying to chronologically list the Bible put Job between the flood and Abraham. There were a number of individuals during that time who we know little about or little about the lives of those whose story we did know from earlier Biblical events. Surprisingly, Noah was still alive during the life of Abraham. Abraham is said to have been partially raised in the house of Shem (by the Book of Jasper, of uncertain authenticity). 

Of interest relative to Job, is that one of the "friends" may have been from the house of Esau. Note the genealogical records of the sons of Esau and the fact that one of the friends was a Temanite. I do believe that at least nominally, Esau was a follower of God much like many Christians today have a form of godliness but not the power of it.

Many points get worked over with varying opinions be noting that "other scholars" consider a different interpretation. I guess it is par for the course when you try to make commentary on ancient writings by modern archeological finds and interpretations.

*I should be much further along in this Bible, however, I have a reading challenge over at Goodreads.com for 36 books this year. I try to keep a Bible version going, one from SOP, one from other SDA or Christian writers, and one secular writer. This Bible totalling about 1400 pages has put a dent into my reading schedule!

[phkrause]

Ha, only up to page 142. Looking forward to seeing how the books have been placed.