E. Mediterranean First Millennium B.C. In the 1st millennium the written documentation shrinks to formulaic inscriptions, very occasionally developed into more expressive literary miniatures. Gods are often referred to in these texts by titles or by new names, so that it is often difficult to ascertain their relationship to the deities of the 2nd millennium, or indeed to determine their individuality in relation to one another. It appears that there was a tendency in this millennium to concentrate all divine power in one deity, as has been noted of Mesopotamia and as is most obviously and extremely the case in Israel. The storm god, Hadad, appears as the chief god of the Aramaeans in northern Syria in the 9th and 8th centuries.
Some rulers speak of their own dynastic deity.
Anath becomes much less visible during the 1st millennium than at Ugarit. According to the Hebrew Bible, Asherah and Astarte were both worshiped in Israel during the first half of the millennium, and Hebrew inscriptions attest to a pairing of Yahweh and Asherah. Chemosh, known from Ebla and Ugarit, reappears as the national god of Moab. King Mesha of Moab interprets Israel's occupation of his country as a consequence of Chemosh's anger with his land. He claims that, at Chemosh's direction, he reconquered land occupied by Israel, and he attributes his success to Chemosh.