GOD
903
GOD
2 Kings xxiii, 13); derisively d'^b^l^H, logs (Ezek. vi, 4 ; xiv, 3) ; their sacred rites '^'^^^ frivolity (1 Sam. xv, 23; Isa. Ixvi, 3), r.iul their Avhole worship harlotry (Ezek. xxiii; compare "37, and derivatives, in Winer, Simonis Lex. p. 286 sq.), in contrast with which Jeho- vali is called the true God (n'^'Tl tl"^ri;:N, Jcr. x, 10 sq. ; Dan. vi, 20, 26 [compare n^^r^, Psa. cxvi, 28] ; Acts xiv, 15 ; 2 Cor. vi, 10), the God of Heaven (Judith v, 7 ; compare Jer. x, 11, etc.). Indeed idolatry was reprobated as a capital offence in the Mosaic law, under penalty of extirpation and destruction in the case of tlie whole people (Lev. xix, 4 ; Deut. vi, 15 ; viii, 19 ; xi, 16 sq. ; xxviii, 15 sq. ; xxx, 17 sq. ; xxxi, 16 sq. ; comp. Josh, xxiii, 16 ; 1 Kings ix, 6 sq.), and stoning for individuals (Exod. xxii, 20 ; Deut. xvii, 2 sq. ; comp. vi, 14 sq. ; vii, 10; viii, 19; xiii, 2 sq. ; Exod. XX, 3, 23) ; and the Israelites were admonished in their campaigns utterly to demolish idolatrous images (Exod. xxiii, 24 ; xxxiv, 13 ; Deut. vii, 5, 25 ; xii, 2 sq. ; comp. 1 Chron. xiv, 12 ; 1 Mace, x, 84), and not to tolerate any heathen whatever in their land (Exod. xxiii, 33 ; Deut. XX, 17), and, furthermore, to shun all connection (even civil and political) with idolatrous nations (Exod. xxiii, 32 ; xxxiv, 15 sq. ; Deut. vii, 1 sq.). Even in- stigation to idolatry was liable to punishment bj' death (Deut. xiii, 6 sq.). In spite, however, of these severe statutes, we find the Israelites, not only during the passage through the wilderness and the unsettled pe- riod of their polity (Numb, xxv, 2 ; Deut. xiii, 13 ; Josh, xxiv, 23 ; comp. Amos v, 25 sq.), but also under the monarchy, sadly departing from the worship of Jehovah, and addicting themselves to the adoration of Phoenico-Philistine-Sj'rian and Arabico-Sabtean (in the time of the Maccabees also to Grajco-Syrian) dei- ties (see Gramberg, Rdiglor.Hdeen., i, 430), such as Ba- al, Ashtaroth, Moloch, Chemosh, Thammuz, etc., and connecting therewith soothsaj'ing and sorcery (Deut. xviii, 10 sq. ; comp. Dale, De divinationib. idolol. V. T. in his work De origine et jn-ogr. idolol. p. 363 sq.). See each of these names in its place.
The service rendered to foreign deities was very multiform (Mishna, Sanhedrim, vii, 6), but consisted principally of vows (Hos. ix, 10), incense (1 Kings xi 8 ; 2 Kings xxii, 17 ; xxiii, 5 ; Jer. i, 16 ; vii, 9 ; xi, 12; xiii, 15; xxxii, 20), bloodless (Jer. vii, 18) and bloody offerings (2 Kings v, 17), including even hu- man beings. See Moloch. The incense and offor- ings were presented on high places and hills (Isa. Ivii, 7 ; Jer. ii, 20 ; iii, C ; xiii, 27 ; Hos. iv, 13 ; 1 Kings xi, 7 ; 2 Kings xxiii, 5 ; comp. Philostr. Apoll. ii, 4 ; Span- heim, ad Callim. Del. 70; see High Place \ on roofs (Jer. xix. 13; xxxii, 29; Isa. Ixv, 3), under shad}- trees (1 Kings xiv, 23 ; 2 Kings xvi, 4 ; xvii, 10 ; Hos. iv, 13 ; Isa. i, 29 ; Jer. ii, 20 ; "iii, 13 ; xvii, 2 ; 2 Chron. xxviii, 4; Ezek. vi, 13; xx, 28; see Movers, Phonic. p. 577 sq.), also in valleys (Jer. ii, 23; 2 Chron. xxviii. 3) and gardens (Isa. i, 29 ; Ixv, 3). See Grove. The votaries of many of these deities made an offering of their own chastity to them, and illicit commingling of the sexes was a chief element of such cultus. See Baal ; Astakte. Sitting upon graves formed also a part of idolatry, either as a propitiation to the manes or in necromancy (Isa. Ixv, 4). Lustration even was not wanting (Isa. Ixvi, 17). The priestly castes of these idolatrous systems were numerous (1 Kings xviii, 22; 2 Kings x, 21) and in good station (Hos. x, 5). One kind of them was called Kemarlm (□'^"1^3, Zeph. i, 4; 2 Kings xxiii, 5; a Syriac word, Gesen. Thes. p. 693; iMishna, TI/c^r-iY. iv, 9). See Idolatry.
h. The worship of Jehovah, under the form of an\' image whatever, was strictly forliidden (Exod. xx, 4; Deut. iv, 16 ; V, 8 ; xxvii, 15 ; comp. Tacit. Hist, v, 5). Such symbols as the (iolden Calf (q. v.) were liorrow- ed from Egypt (Josh, xxiv, 14 ; Ezek. xx, 7 sq.). See Ewald, Isr. Gesch, ii, 109 sq. ; Gerritsen, Cur Hebrcei
ante exil. Bahyl. se ad idolorum et plurium deor. cultnm valde pronos osfenderint, in the Annul. Acad. Rheno-Tra- ject. 1822-3, p. 120 sq. ; Michaelis, Mvs. Recht, v, 98 sq. ; Otho, Lex. Rahh. p. 28(i sq. See Lmage.
2. Idolatry of non-Israelltish Nations. — See each in its place. Tliis was frequently portraj-ed by the proph- ets in all its grossness (1 Kings xviii, 27 ; comp. Dev- ling's Observv. i, 136 sq.), especially by exhibitions of the (mechanical) construction of these gods (images, Isa. ii, 8, 20 ; xliv, 10 sq. ; Jer. x, 3 sq. ; Hos. xiii, 2 ; Psa. cxv, 4; Barucli vi, 3 sq. ; Wisd. xiii, 11 sq. ; xv, 7 sq. ; compare Philo, ii, 472 ; Horace, Sat. i, 81 sq. ; Arnob. iii, 12 ; vi, 13 sq. ; Augustine, Civ. Dei, vi, 10), and tlieir powerlessncss (Isa. xli, 29 ; xiii, 17 ; xlvi, 1, 2; Jer. ii, 28; compare Deut. iv, 28 ; xxviii, 30; Psa. cxv, 5 sq. ; Hab. ii, 18). The images of the gods (mnS"?) were sometimes cast (metallic, Judg. xvii, 4; Isa. ii, 20; xl, 19; Hos. xiii, 2), r\0}., t^^S^ ; sometimes carved (of wood, Isa. xliv, 13; Jer. x, 3; comp. Plinj', xii, 2; xiii, 17 ; Pausan. ii, 19, 3), ^CS, b"iCiQ [see Diaxa], or even moulded of cla}^ (Wisd. XV, 8; Pliny distinguishes "%«ea ct fictilia simula- cra," xxxiv, 16). They were fastened with chains, so as not to fall down or be carried away (Isa. xli, 7 ; Jer. x, 4; comp. Pausan. iii, 15, 5; viii, 41, 4; Arnob. vi, 13), and were usually overlaid with gold or silver, and were, besides, richlv decked with apparel (Isa. ii, 20; xxx, 22; xxxi, 7 ; "xl, 19 ; Jer. x, 4 ; Hos. viii, 4; Baruch xii, 16; compare Dougtaei Analect. ii, 179 sq. ; Biihr, Symbol, i, 277 sq.). They were also painted with red (vermilion) color (Wisd. xiii, 14 ; compare Plinj-, xxxiii, 7, 36 ; xxxv, 12, 45 ; Virgil, Eclog. vi, 22 ; X, 26 sq. ; Plutarch, Qiuest. Rom. 98 ; Arnob. vi, 10 ; Biihr, Symbol, i, 334). They were taken bj' ar- mies with them into battle (2 Sam. v, 21 ; comp. Cur- tius, viii, 14, 11 ; Polyam. vii, 4). Victors were accui- tomed to carrj' them about in triumph, in order to despoil the subject nations of their divinities (Isa. x, 10 ; xxxvi, 19 ; xxxvii, 12), or to bind them to greater fidelit}- (Isa. xlvi, 1 sq. ; Jer. xlviii, 7 ; xlix, 3 ; Hos. X, 5 ; Dan. xi, 8 ; compare Pausan. viii, 46, 1 ; fee Bo- chart, Hieroz. i, 372 ; W^ithof, Opiisc. p. 143 sq.). The weapons of slain enemies were hung as trophies in the temjjles of the gods (1 Sam. xxxi, 10; Pausan. i, 13, 3; Xenoph. Anab. v, 3, 4; Euseb. Chron. Arm. i, 67). Soothsaying and sorcery ever stand in connection with this cultus (Isa. xix, 3). — Winer, i, 433. See also Mark in the Flesh.