This article examines three issues concerning the cultic identity of Asherah: 1) Was she represented by a living tree or a wooden object? 2) Was she conceived as the goddess or the cultic object in the religious context of ancient Israel? 3) Is there any significant difference among the three grammatical forms: ’asˇerah, ’asˇerôt and ’asˇerîm? The evidence in favor of Asherah as a wooden object is the weightiest in the Bible. ’asˇerîm (the masculine plural form) clearly refers to the cult objects at the high places, while ’asˇerah (the singular form) can occur everywhere, in a temple setting or at the high places. ’asˇerôt (the feminine plural form) emphasizes the femininity of the goddess in association with the male deity, Baal. From this it can be inferred that the Israelites considered Asherah as a consort of Baal according to the Deuteronomistic anti-Asherah ideology that influenced the later period of the Monarchy.
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