from עַשְׁתָּרוֹת and the dual of קֶרֶן; Ashtaroth of (the) double horns (a symbol of the deity); Ashteroth-Karnaim, a place East of the Jordan; Ashtoreth Karnaim.
Transliteration:ʻAshtᵉrôth Qarnayim
Pronunciation:ash-ter-oth' kar-nah'-yim
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term עַשְׁתְּרֹת קַרְנַיִם (ʻAshtᵉrôth Qarnayim, `{{H6255}}`) is a proper noun, a geographical place name. Its meaning is derived from its constituent parts: עַשְׁתְּרֹת (ʻAshtᵉrôth), which is the plural form of עַשְׁתֹּרֶת (Ashtoreth, `{{H6256}}`), and קַרְנַיִם (qarnayim), the dual form of קֶרֶן (qeren, `{{H7161}}`), meaning "horn." Thus, the name literally translates to "Ashtaroths of the double horns" or "Ashtaroth of the two horns."
This etymology immediately points to a strong association with the pagan goddess Ashtoreth (also Astarte), a prominent fertility deity in the Canaanite and Phoenician pantheons. The "double horns" likely refer to a common iconographic representation of this deity, possibly symbolizing the crescent moon, a bovine deity, or a specific horned headdress worn by the goddess or her priestesses. The plural "Ashtaroths" might refer to multiple shrines or images of the goddess, or simply be a plural of majesty or intensity. The semantic range of ʻAshtᵉrôth Qarnayim is therefore confined to its designation as a specific location, one deeply tied to the worship of a foreign deity, situated east of the Jordan River in the region of Bashan.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The place name ʻAshtᵉrôth Qarnayim appears in two significant passages in the Hebrew Bible, both providing crucial historical and geographical context:
1. **[[Genesis 14:5]]**: This verse describes the military campaign of Chedorlaomer and his allied kings against various inhabitants of Canaan. "In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh-Kiriathaim." Here, ʻAshtᵉrôth Qarnayim is presented as a stronghold of the Rephaim (`{{H7497}}`), a formidable race often associated with giants. This earliest mention places the city as an existing and significant settlement in the patriarchal period, highlighting its antiquity and its role as a site of conflict. The defeat of the Rephaim here underscores the power dynamics of the region before the Israelite conquest.
2. **[[Joshua 12:4]]**: This passage lists the kings defeated by the Israelites under Moses. "and the territory of Og king of Bashan, one of the remnant of the Rephaim, who lived at Ashtaroth and at Edrei." While this verse uses the shortened form עַשְׁתָּרוֹת (ʻAshtᵉrôth, `{{H6257}}`), it is widely understood to refer to the same location, or at least the central city of the district, given its association with Og, king of Bashan, who was also a remnant of the Rephaim. This indicates that ʻAshtᵉrôth Qarnayim later became a key city within the kingdom of Og, subsequently conquered by Israel. This demonstrates the continuity of the city's association with the Rephaim and its eventual incorporation into the Israelite inheritance.
The consistent association with the Rephaim in both texts suggests ʻAshtᵉrôth Qarnayim was a long-standing center for this ancient people group, further emphasizing its strategic and cultural importance in the pre-Israelite landscape of Transjordan.
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of ʻAshtᵉrôth Qarnayim is enriched by understanding its lexical and conceptual connections:
* **עַשְׁתֹּרֶת (ʻAshtōreth, `{{H6256}}`)**: The singular form of the goddess Ashtoreth. This is the primary deity to whom ʻAshtᵉrôth Qarnayim is dedicated. Ashtoreth was worshipped throughout the ancient Near East, often as a goddess of fertility, war, and sexuality, frequently paired with Baal. Her worship often involved cultic prostitution and other abominable practices in the eyes of Yahweh.
* **עַשְׁתָּרוֹת (ʻAshtᵉrôth, `{{H6257}}`)**: The plural form, often used to denote multiple images of the goddess or places of her worship. As seen in [[Joshua 12:4]], it can also serve as a shortened name for ʻAshtᵉrôth Qarnayim.
* **קֶרֶן (qeren, `{{H7161}}`)**: "Horn." In ancient Near Eastern iconography, horns symbolized strength, power, and divine authority. Their association with Ashtoreth, particularly "double horns," reinforces her perceived divine potency and perhaps her connection to lunar symbolism or horned animals.
* **רְפָאִים (Rephaim, `{{H7497}}`)**: A race of giants mentioned as inhabitants of the region, specifically defeated at ʻAshtᵉrôth Qarnayim in [[Genesis 14:5]] and associated with Og of Bashan in [[Joshua 12:4]]. Their presence underscores the formidable nature of the pre-Israelite inhabitants of the land.
* **Paganism and Idolatry**: The very name ʻAshtᵉrôth Qarnayim serves as a tangible reminder of the widespread polytheism and idolatrous practices prevalent in Canaan, which Israel was commanded to utterly eradicate.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of ʻAshtᵉrôth Qarnayim is profound, though it is a place name rather than a concept:
1. **Pervasiveness of Idolatry**: The name itself is a stark testament to the deep entrenchment of pagan worship in the land promised to Abraham's descendants. It signifies a place explicitly dedicated to a foreign deity, highlighting the spiritual darkness that permeated Canaan before the arrival of Israel. This underscores the necessity of God's judgment upon the land's inhabitants due to their abominable practices.
2. **Divine Sovereignty over Pagan Strongholds**: Despite being a center for Ashtoreth worship and a stronghold of the formidable Rephaim, ʻAshtᵉrôth Qarnayim ultimately fell. Its mention in both Chedorlaomer's victory and later as part of Og's conquered territory demonstrates Yahweh's overarching sovereignty. Even places dedicated to rival deities are under His ultimate control and subject to His divine plan for judgment and the establishment of His covenant people.
3. **The Spiritual Battle for the Land**: The existence of such a place name serves as a geographical marker of the spiritual conflict inherent in the conquest narratives. Israel was not merely taking land but dispossessing peoples whose religious practices were antithetical to the worship of Yahweh. ʻAshtᵉrôth Qarnayim represents the very kind of idolatrous bastion that Israel was called to dismantle, both physically and spiritually, to establish a land dedicated to the one true God.
4. **Historical Veracity of God's Plan**: The specific mention of such a culturally significant pagan center lends historical depth to the biblical narrative. It grounds the patriarchal and conquest accounts in a verifiable ancient Near Eastern context, affirming the reality of God's unfolding plan amidst historical circumstances.
### Summary
ʻAshtᵉrôth Qarnayim (`{{H6255}}`) is a significant geographical place name in the Hebrew Bible, literally meaning "Ashtaroth of the double horns." This etymology directly links the site to the worship of the Canaanite fertility goddess Ashtoreth, whose iconography often featured horns. Biblically, it first appears in [[Genesis 14:5]] as a stronghold of the Rephaim, defeated by Chedorlaomer, and later in [[Joshua 12:4]] as a key city in the territory of Og, king of Bashan, which was subsequently conquered by the Israelites. The theological import of ʻAshtᵉrôth Qarnayim lies in its tangible representation of the widespread idolatry in pre-Israelite Canaan, serving as a powerful reminder of the spiritual darkness God's people were called to confront. Its eventual fall, first to Chedorlaomer and then to Israel, underscores Yahweh's ultimate sovereignty over all lands and peoples, even those deeply entrenched in pagan worship, and highlights the divine judgment enacted upon those who defied His righteous standards.
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