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Albert Barnes · Citado em PreceptAustin
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Barnes - This particular Asherah symbol will apparently survive until after the reign of the reformer king, Jehu (cf. 2 Kgs 13:6). (See 1-2 Kings - Page 146) Thus - This is almost like a conclusion, based on Ahab's becoming unequally yoked and going full in for worship of Baal and Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke (kaas; Lxx - parorgizo) the LORD God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him - Don't miss who Ahab provokes - the LORD God Who was still the God of Israel! The king of Israel might have denied Him, but He was still the true God of Israel and Israel's Husband (Je 31:31, 32+, Isa 54:5). As such He had a right to be jealous of His people playing the harlot with other "lovers!" Ahab's actions were a direct assault to the truth that Yahweh was Israel's "Husband" and was deserving of full devotion. It is ironic that the word for "husband" in Jer 32:32 is baal (master, owner - see baal, ba'al, ba'al) is the same word used for Israel's "lover" (idols) with whom she had an adulterous affair, for these idols were often named "Baal!" (cf Jdg 2:11-13+) In the OT, under the Old Covenant, Israel formally became Jehovah's "Wife" in the "ceremony" at the foot of Mt. Sinai (Ex 19:1,2+) when God gave Moses the Law and Israel said "Yes" (cf marriage ceremony where bride says "I do" - Israel the "bride" of Yahweh said "We will do"! - Ex 24:3,7+) to the vows. Note that the solemn, binding nature of their entrance into this covenant was ratified by the blood of the covenant (Ex 24:3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8+, cf Dt 29:25+ and Heb 9:18-21+). Israel was (repeatedly) an unfaithful, adulterous wife and eventually was thus disowned by Jehovah (e.g., see Dt 29:25-28+), but she will one day in the future repent (cf Zech 12:10-14+) and be restored (Isa 62:4, 5 - where the verb "married" = baal!), a prophecy which will be fulfilled in the Messianic Age. (See complete discussion on this topic Israel The Wife of Jehovah). More.... than all the kings of Israel who were before him - This is quite a statement given the evil perpetrated by Ahab's predecessors. To be sure Jeroboam had sinned greatly by introducing idolatry into Israel, but Ahab took it one evil step further by choosing to introduce full blown pagan worship to God's chosen people! God is a jealous God and the first commandment was to have no other gods before Him (Ex 20:3+). Ahab set up many gods in place of Him, thus provoking God's anger. Asherim (0842) Asherah refers to "poles" representing and/or associated with the goddess Asherah - these poles could be cut down and burned (Jdg. 6:25-26). They were made (1Ki 14:15) and set up (1Ki 14:23) after being carved (2Ki 21:7). In many cases, Asherah clearly refers to the deity and not to an image or symbol (Judg. 3:7, 1 Ki. 18:19 and 2 Ki. 23:4). NIDOTTE - (a) wooden cult-object; pole (Asherah pole); (b) goddess (direct reference not accepted by NIV). Derivation unknown. Ancient Near Eastern - Asherah (Aṯiratu/Ašratu/Ašertu) in the second millennium was worshiped from Asia Minor to Mesopotamia. In Ugar. myths she (ʾṯrt) was wife of El and “mother of the gods.” She was the goddess (Elat) of Tyre and Sidon. She is ʾṯirat ym: Asherah of the sea. Cf. Akk. ašratum, consort of Amurru (see Lipiński). In the first millennium references to her are found only on the fringes of the culture area, especially in Arabia. It is generally held that the Kuntillet ‘Ajrud and Khirbet el-Qôm inscriptions refer to some cultic object associated with Yahweh, and not exclusively—as some still maintain—his consort. Outside of the possible references in the Bible, she is not well attested in the Syria/Palestine region. OT Most scholars accept that the word is used as the name of the goddess in 1 Kgs 15:13 (= 2 Chron 15:16); 1 Kgs 18:19; 2 Kgs 21:7; 23:4 (perhaps 7); and the textually doubtful Judg 3:7 (possibly Astarte). All references in the OT, whether to goddess or to the cult object, are uniformly antagonistic. The אֲשֵׁרָה (pole, Asherah) is also said to be used within the worship of Yahweh, but is never approved. The אֲשֵׁרָה was also at times described as being in the temple, either as a symbol in the worship or as the image of a “guest goddess” (2 Kgs 21:7; 23:6). If an image, she could only be the consort of Yahweh, even if Baal was also a “guest god” there. There is apparently no part of the Bible that accepts the poles (אֲשֵׁרִים) as legitimate cult objects, even though the pillars, מַצֵּבָה, are sometimes accepted (Gen 28:18; perhaps Hos 3:4). LXX translates this word as ἄλσος, sacred grove, which is also the meaning as understood in Jewish literature (cf. Abodah Zarah). This association was unchallenged (cf. AV) until the Babylonian evidence was studied (cf. RV, BDB). Bob
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Barnes: the unfortunate actions of Hiel are probably meant to reflect negatively on the reign of Hiel’s king, Ahab. While any king can repent and thus bring blessing to himself, his land, and perhaps to his future dynasty, no king can undo a truly prophetic word from God, whether it be from an unnamed “man of God” (cf. ch 13), or from the renowned leader Joshua. Perhaps the continuing conundrum of free will versus predestination has never been illustrated so clearly as in these parallel passages: God literally has the last word in history, but authentic repentance can remarkably change the future, at least to some extent (yet not rendering void any clear long-term prophecies from God). What a divine mystery this is! What a hope and what a warning to believers in any age! (See 1-2 Kings - Page 147)