THE EFFECTS OF IDOLATRY IN ISRAEL - KCSE CRE NOTES FORM 1

tHE EFFECTS OF IDOLATRY IN ISRAEL - KCSE CRE NOTES FORM 1

Exodus 34:22 – 23

​Exodus 34:22-23 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
22 You shall observe the festival of weeks, the first fruits of wheat harvest, and the festival of ingathering at the turn of the year. 23 Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel.

Leviticus 1

Leviticus 1 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Burnt Offering
1 The Lord summoned Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying: 2 Speak to the people of Israel and say to them: When any of you bring an offering of livestock to the Lord, you shall bring your offering from the herd or from the flock.

3 If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you shall offer a male without blemish; you shall bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, for acceptance in your behalf before the Lord. 4 You shall lay your hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be acceptable in your behalf as atonement for you. 5 The bull shall be slaughtered before the Lord; and Aaron’s sons the priests shall offer the blood, dashing the blood against all sides of the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 6 The burnt offering shall be flayed and cut up into its parts. 7 The sons of the priest Aaron shall put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. 8 Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the parts, with the head and the suet, on the wood that is on the fire on the altar; 9 but its entrails and its legs shall be washed with water. Then the priest shall turn the whole into smoke on the altar as a burnt offering, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to the Lord.

10 If your gift for a burnt offering is from the flock, from the sheep or goats, your offering shall be a male without blemish. 11 It shall be slaughtered on the north side of the altar before the Lord, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall dash its blood against all sides of the altar. 12 It shall be cut up into its parts, with its head and its suet, and the priest shall arrange them on the wood that is on the fire on the altar; 13 but the entrails and the legs shall be washed with water. Then the priest shall offer the whole and turn it into smoke on the altar; it is a burnt offering, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to the Lord.

14 If your offering to the Lord is a burnt offering of birds, you shall choose your offering from turtledoves or pigeons. 15 The priest shall bring it to the altar and wring off its head, and turn it into smoke on the altar; and its blood shall be drained out against the side of the altar. 16 He shall remove its crop with its contents[a] and throw it at the east side of the altar, in the place for ashes. 17 He shall tear it open by its wings without severing it. Then the priest shall turn it into smoke on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire; it is a burnt offering, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to the Lord.

​Leviticus 2

​Leviticus 2 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Grain Offerings
2 When anyone presents a grain offering to the Lord, the offering shall be of choice flour; the worshiper shall pour oil on it, and put frankincense on it, 2 and bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests. After taking from it a handful of the choice flour and oil, with all its frankincense, the priest shall turn this token portion into smoke on the altar, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to the Lord. 3 And what is left of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons, a most holy part of the offerings by fire to the Lord.

4 When you present a grain offering baked in the oven, it shall be of choice flour: unleavened cakes mixed with oil, or unleavened wafers spread with oil. 5 If your offering is grain prepared on a griddle, it shall be of choice flour mixed with oil, unleavened; 6 break it in pieces, and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering. 7 If your offering is grain prepared in a pan, it shall be made of choice flour in oil. 8 You shall bring to the Lord the grain offering that is prepared in any of these ways; and when it is presented to the priest, he shall take it to the altar. 9 The priest shall remove from the grain offering its token portion and turn this into smoke on the altar, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to the Lord. 10 And what is left of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the offerings by fire to the Lord.

11 No grain offering that you bring to the Lord shall be made with leaven, for you must not turn any leaven or honey into smoke as an offering by fire to the Lord. 12 You may bring them to the Lord as an offering of choice products, but they shall not be offered on the altar for a pleasing odor. 13 You shall not omit from your grain offerings the salt of the covenant with your God; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.

14 If you bring a grain offering of first fruits to the Lord, you shall bring as the grain offering of your first fruits coarse new grain from fresh ears, parched with fire. 15 You shall add oil to it and lay frankincense on it; it is a grain offering. 16 And the priest shall turn a token portion of it into smoke—some of the coarse grain and oil with all its frankincense; it is an offering by fire to the Lord.

THE EFFECTS OF IDOLATRY IN ISRAEL

​​Introduction

After the death of Solomon, the kingdom of Israel split into two countries. the southern kingdom called Judah ruled by King Rehoboam and the Northern kingdom called Israel led by King Jeroboam. Other kings who ruled these two nations were King Abijah, King Asa of Judah, and king Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri, and Ahab of Israel. During the time of Elijah king Ahab ruled – Israel. 

​When Israelites intermarried with other communities, they worshipped their gods. The Bible makes it clear that:

1. There was a lot of influence by Canaanite religion
2. There was division /schism of Israel into 2 kingdoms
3. Ahab’s married the Phoenician princess
4. Israelites did not destroy all gods after settling in Canaan. 

Learning outcomes

​After studying this lesson on idolatry, you should

• State factors that led to spread of idolatry in Israel
• Analyse religious schism between Judah and Israel
• Describe King Ahab’s marriage to the Phoenician princess (Tyre)
• Explain the failure to completely destroy temples, and places of worship
• State effects of idolatry in Israel
• Factors that led to spread of idolatry in Israel 

THE EFFECTS OF IDOLATRY IN ISRAEL

1. ​It led to the persecution of Yahweh’s prophets. The remaining loyal followers of Yahweh were driven into hiding.
2. It led to the division in Kingdom as a punishment by God/Unity was undermined.
3. Religious syncretism developed where they worshipped both Yahweh and Baal e.g. Israelites turned to fertility gods to ensure good harvests and looked to Yahweh in times of military crisis..
4. Israelites broke their covenant relationship with God.
5. Israelites forgot the covenant of brotherhood and practice.
6. God raised up prophets like Prophet Elijah to help bring back the Israelites to the covenant way of life.
7. Famine and drought befell Israel leading to the people’s suffering e.g. 3 years drought/suffering.
8. Social evils such as bribery, sexual immorality and stealing became rampant.
9. False prophets emerged in Israel and received state protection and gave false messages.
10. The Israelites were defeated in battles leading to their exile in foreign countries.
11. They introduced new religious festivals that were not in the Mosaic Law.
12. The Canaanite agricultural calendar was adopted by Israel for the timing of the pilgrimage festival. (Ex 34:22 – 23).
13. Names of Canaanite gods were used for Yahweh e.g. El the name of the father of all gods was applied to Yahweh.  The name Baal was also given to Yahweh.
14. Parents began naming their children after Baal e.g. one of the judges, Gideon was also named Jerubaal, which means “Let Baal contend”.
15. The Canaanite sacrificial system was incorporated into Israelite worship e.g. the different types of Israelite sacrifices such as peace offerings, burnt offering (Holocaust) and cereal offering (Oblation) where formerly Canaanite in origin Lev 1 and 2 but were later taken over by Israelites.
16. Under the influence of Jezebel, King Ahab declared Baalism a compulsory state religion.  Baal was worshipped as the Lord of heavens who sustains and gives life.
17. Queen Jezebel ordered the destruction of the altars of Yahweh/Yahweh’s altars were destroyed/ neglected.
18. Emergence of weak rulers through bloody coups.
19. Exile to Assyria and Babylon.
20. The 450 prophets of Baal were made officials of the royal court in order to promote and protect the Baal religion.
21. The religion of Yahweh was now in danger of being destroyed.  It is in this context that Yahweh raised up Prophet Elijah, a Tishbite, to return Israel to the covenant way of life.

Influence of the local Canaanite religion

​Idolatry is the worship of idols.
An idol is an image representing a god made using precious materials such as gold, bronze, stone, and hardwood images kept in the places of worship.
God had forbidden Israelites from bowing down to images and worshipping idols, intermarrying with non-Israelites, and making treaties. When Israelites settled in Canaan, they forgot God’s commandments. They intermarried and were greatly influenced by the local religion.
Israelites changed from being pastoralist to farmers. They therefore worshipped Baal the god of rain, agricultural fertility, and storms. Israelites worshipped Baal, for rain for their crops.
​The Israelites were also attracted to the visible gods of Canaan as opposed to the invisible Yahweh. This is how idolatry spread in Israel. However some Israelites maintained worship of Yahweh only (monotheistic) while others worshipped Yahweh and Baal (syncretism). 

Characteristics of the Canaanite religion

​Canaanite religion was:

1. Polytheistic
   They worshipped many gods. The Israelites religion was monotheistic. They worshipped Yahweh and no other God. They abandoned their religion and worshipped many gods like Canaanite. This influenced the Israelites.
2. A nature religion.
   The gods were related with the forces of nature such as rain, sun, storms, drought, famine, wind, water and death.
3. Ensured continued fertility of land, people, animals
4. Based on many families of gods. There was 
   1. EL – Chief god – who was their father, king, creator
   2. Asherah – wife of El – the goddess of motherhood and fertility
   3. Baal – also referred to as Baal Hadad, son of El and Asherah – the god of rain, agricultural fertility, storms
   4. Astarte – wife of Baal -the goddess of war
   5. Anat – sister of Baal – the goddess of war and love
   6. Maat – the goddess of love
   7. Mot – most feared. The god of drought, famine and death
5. Free and temple of prostitution.
   Israelites turned to temple prostitution. Women who wanted to increase vitality of their husbands had sexual relations with the male priests in the Baal temples.
6. Had many places of worship.
   One could pray in the temple, under sacred trees, and on top of the hills among others.
7. Based on offerings and sacrifices of human beings.
   State differences between Israel and Canaanite religion?
   1. Religious schism between Judah and Israel Schism occurred among the Israelites because there were sharp differences within them. These differences were religious, political and social.
      After the death of Solomon, the nation of Israel was split. Rehoboam ruled one group while the other was ruled by Jeroboam.
      Because of this split, Jeroboam could not go to Jerusalem to worship in the temple. He thus set up other places of worship one at Bethel, and another at Dan. Jeroboam also set up images to represent Yahweh. Though he had no intention of Idol worship, it turned out to be so because he made his subjects to offer sacrifices to these golden calves, which he had designed as images representing Yahweh.
      He also built places of worship on hilltops like the Canaanites. He chose priests from other families in addition to the Levite Family. 
      ​Furthermore, he organised religious festivals and feasts in the month of his choice. As it were, they coincided with the Canaanites calendars. He then burnt incense at the altar of idols. Jeroboam therefore started idol worship and gave room for idolatry. Kings who succeeded him followed this idol worship. 
   2. King Ahab’s marriage to the Phoenician/Tyre princess Ahab married Jezebel, the daughter of the King Ethbaal of Sidon (Tyre) to strengthen ties with Tyre/Phoenicia. Queen Jezebel was ambitious, and a strong follower of Baal religion. Ahab allowed her to bring her gods to Israel. She forced Israelites to worship Baal and not Yahweh. She imported 450 prophets of Baal and supported them using public treasury. Ahab built a temple to Baal In Samaria. He also put up an image of goddess – Asherah.
   3. When Israelites settled in Canaan, they did not destroy temples, places of worship, idols, images that they found there. As a result Canaanite’s religious practices influenced Israelites’ worship of Yahweh leading to idolatry. 

The nature of the Canaanite religion

1. It was based on nature/cosmic/cyclic/changes in seasons.
2. It was polytheistic/comprised of many gods and goddesses
3. Temple prostitution was part of the worship of gods/goddesses
4. Human and animal sacrifices were made to the gods/goddesses
5. Festivals/feasts were celebrated in honor of the gods/goddesses
6. Rituals were performed to ensure continued fertility and well being of the community
7. There were prophets and prophetesses for each god/goddesses
8. Each god and goddesses played a specific role in the community
9. There was a chief god and goddesses
10. Temples/shrine/high places of worship of gods/goddesses

​The effects of idolatry harmed Israelites as:

1. Syncretism developed. This was a process of mixing beliefs and practices from different religions. Israelites worshipped Yahweh and the gods of Canaan.
2. Former places of worship for the Canaanite gods were used as places of worship for Yahweh
3. The Canaanite agricultural calendar was adopted by Israelites
4. Names of the Canaanite gods were used for Yahweh. For example, EL was referred to as Yahweh
5. Parents began naming their children after Baal.
6. Feasts and celebrations were changed to correspond with those of Canaanites when they celebrated their feasts.
7. King Ahab declared worship of Baal as the state religion Queen Jezebel ordered the destruction of the altars of Yahweh
8. Prophets of Yahweh were killed. Elijah went into hiding.
9. The 450 prophets of Baal were made the officials of the royal court in order to promote and protect Baal religion
10. Israel started to experience long droughts because Yahweh withdrew his blessings. This made Israel worshipers of El 

​Outline six effects of Idolatry in Israel during the time of Elijah.

• Persecution /Hostility towards God people.
• Baal prophets/prophetess were brought to Israel.
• Corruption/social injustice/people rejected the covenant way of worship
• Israelites practiced syncretism /mixed worship of Yahweh with Baal
• Drought in Israel for three and half years.
• Israel lost her identity as a nation of God’s people.
• Contest at Mt.carmel took place to prove the power of Yahweh.

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