chemosh Summary and Overview

the destroyer, subduer, or fish-god, the god of the Moabites (Num. 21:29; Jer. 48:7, 13, 46). The worship of this god, "the abomination of Moab," was introduced at Jerusalem by Solomon (1 Kings 11:7), but was abolished by Josiah (2 Kings 23:13). On the "Moabite Stone" (q.v.), Mesha (2 Kings 3:5) ascribes his victories over the king of Israel to this god, "And Chemosh drove him before my sight."

(subduer), the national deity of the Moabites. #Nu 21:29; Jer 48:7,13,46| In #Jud 11:24| he also appears as the god of the Ammonites. Solomon introduced, and Josiah abolished, the worship of Chemosh at Jerusalem. #1Ki 11:7; 2Ki 23:13| Also identified with Baal-peor, Baalzebub, Mars and Saturn.

CHE'MOSH (subduer), the national deity of the Moabites, who were his people, as the Israelites are the people of Jehovah. Num 21:29; Jer 48:7, 1 Chr 2:46; called "the abomination of Moab." 1 Kgs 11:7. Solomon introduced, 1 Kgs 11:7, and Josiah suppressed, 2 Kgs 23:13, his worship in Jerusalem. Upon the recently discovered Moabite Stone, King Mesha, 2 Kgs 3:4, attributes to his god Chemosh his victories. See DIBON. The same traits of cruelty and lust prove him to have been identical with Molech, the god of the Ammonites. Jud 11:24. It was to Chemosh that Mesha offered his son. 2 Kgs 3:27; The god is also identified with Baal-Peor, Saturn, or Mars.

The "abomination" (i.e. idol, in Scripture's contemptuous phrase) of Moab (Numbers 21:29; Jeremiah 48:7; Jeremiah 48:13-46). Depicted on coins with sword, lance, and shield, and two torches at his side. Ammon, from its close connection with Moab, also worshipped Chemosh, but Moloch (kin) was their peculiar deity (Judges 11:24). Solomon introduced, and Josiah overthrew, Chemosh worship in Jerusalem. A black star, according to Jewish tradition, was his symbol, whether as identical with Mars or Saturn. Jerome states that Dibon was his chief seat of worship. A black stone was the Arab symbol of him. The inscribed black stone set up at Dibon, lately discovered, is full of the Moabite king Mesha's praises of Chemosh as the giver of his martial successes against Israel. (See MOAB; DIBON.) Derived from kabash, to vanquish. Idolatry originated in appropriating to separate deities the attributes combined in the one true God. "Ashtar Chemosh," mentioned on the Moabite stone, connects the Moabite and the Phoenician worship. Ashtar is the masculine of Astarte, an androgynous god, combining the active and passive powers of nature. Chemosh required human sacrifices as god of war; Mesha, after taking Ataroth, offered all the warriors in sacrifice.