Meaning
Ashtoreth the moon goddess of the Phoenicians, representing the passive principle in nature, their principal female deity; frequently associated with the name of Baal, the sun-god, their chief male deity (Judg 10:6; 1Sam 7:4; 12:10). These names often occur in the plural (Ashtaroth, Baalim), probably as indicating either different statues or different modifications of the deities. This deity is spoken of as Ashtoreth of the Zidonians. She was the Ishtar of the Accadians and the Astarte of the Greeks (Jer 44:17; 1Kings 11:5, 33; 2Kings 23:13). There was a temple of this goddess among the Philistines in the time of Saul (1Sam 31:10). Under the name of Ishtar, she was one of the great deities of the Assyrians. The Phoenicians called her Astarte. Solomon introduced the worship of this idol (1Kings 11:33). Jezebel's 400 priests were probably employed in its service (1Kings 18:19). It was called the "queen of heaven" (Jer 44:25).
