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Anath

Hebrew: עֲנָת —transliteration: Anath

This is the name of an Israelite judge, a widely worshipped false goddess and a city.

  1. Anath, the judge

    This was the name of the father of Shamgar, who was one of the judges of Israel (Judges 3:31).

  2. Anath, a false goddess

    also known as: Anat, ‘Anat, Anatu, Ḫanat, and Αναθ (Greek)

    This was supposedly Baal’s helper and sister or lover—or both.

    She was the goddess of warfare, hunting, fertility and love, and was worshipped widely, including in upper Mesopotamia, Babylonia, Canaan, Egypt, Phoenicia, and Syria.

    During the Hellenistic period, this goddess was combined with the goddess Astarte (Asherah), becoming the goddess Atargatis.

  3. Beth-Anath

    Hebrew: בֵּית עֲנָת —transliteration: Beth Anath or Beth Anoth —meaning: temple of Anat (the above goddess)

    also known as: Beth Anath

    This was originally a walled Canaanite city.

    It was located in the tribal territory of Naphtali, and it was the duty of the tribe of Naphtali to drive out these idolatrous people settled in the Promised Land. They failed to do so.

    This place is mentioned twice in the book of Judges.

    Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, or the inhabitants of Beth-anath, but lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; and the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath became forced labor for them. —Judges 1:33

    and Yiron and Migdal-el, Horem and Beth-anath and Beth-shemesh; nineteen cities with their villages. —Joshua 19:38

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Article Version: September 18, 2024