JOURNAL ARTICLE

Theological Matricide in the Ancient Israelite Religion and Commentary on the Book of Lamentations.

  • Published In: Feminist Theology: The Journal of the Britain & Ireland School of Feminist Theology, 2023, v. 32, n. 1. P. 21 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Lederman Daniely, Dvora 3 of 3

Abstract

The article explores the hypothesis that the Book of Lamentations contains expressions of mourning over the theological matricide—the violent removal of the Mother-Goddess Asherah—from ancient Israelite religion and worship. Archaeological evidence and biblical references indicate that Asherah, often called the "Queen of Heaven," was once a central divine mother figure associated with abundance and protection, whose worship was integrated into early Israelite faith, including the Temple. The essay argues that the destruction of her cult, particularly during King Josiah's reforms as described in 2 Kings 23, caused profound spiritual and existential trauma among the people, which may be reflected symbolically in Lamentations. It further suggests that motifs and epithets in Lamentations parallel ancient Near Eastern lamentations for mother goddesses, indicating a suppressed layer of religious grief over the loss of this maternal divine presence.

Additional Information

  • Source:Feminist Theology: The Journal of the Britain & Ireland School of Feminist Theology. 2023/09, Vol. 32, Issue 1, p21
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Literature and Writing
  • Publication Date:2023
  • ISSN:0966-7350
  • DOI:10.1177/09667350231183064
  • Accession Number:169914300
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