Chemosh

Chemosh (; from ), was the god of the Moabites (Num. 21:29; Jer. 48:7, 13, 46). The etymology of "Chemosh" is unknown. He is also known from Ebla as Kamish.
According to the Hebrew Bible, 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, Mesha (2 Kings 3:5) ascribed his victories over the king of Israel to this god, "And Chemosh drove him before my sight."
According to Morris Jastrow, Jr. and George A. Barton in the Jewish Encyclopedia,The name of the father of Mesba, Chemosh-melek ("Chemosh is Malik" or "Chemosh is king"; compare Moabite Stone, line 1), indicates the possibility that Chemosh and Malik (or Moloch) were one and the same deity. Judges xi. 24 has been thought by some to be a proof of this, since it speaks of Chemosh as the god of the Ammonites, while Moloch is elsewhere their god (compare I Kings xi. 7, 33). Several critics regard the statement in Judges as a mistake; but such an error was not unnatural. since both Chemosh and Moloch were developed, in different environments, from the same primitive divinity, and possessed many of the same epithets.
Solomon is said to have built a sanctuary to Chemosh on the Mount of Olives (I Kings xi. 7, 33), which was maintained till the reform of Josiah (II Kings xxiii. 13). This movement by Solomon was no doubt to some extent a political one, but it made the worship of Chemosh a part of the religious life of Israel for nearly 400 years".
However, according to II Kings xi. 7, evidence is given that Chemosh and Moloch were two different gods or perhaps two manifestations of the same god, at least to the peoples who worshiped them. Solomon had "high places" built for both gods at the same time and in the same location, "on the mountain which is East of Jerusalem." Both Chemosh and Molech may have had the same origins but if so, by Solomon's time they had been denominated into differing objects for different peoples, Chemosh for the Moabites and Moloch for the Ammonites. According to Genesis xix. 30-38, both the Moabites and the Ammonites were descended from the two sons of Lot (themselves half-brothers by his two daughters), Moab and Ben-ammi, which would corroborate the notion that they share a common origin.
== Literary references ==
*John Milton, "Paradise Lost", Book I
Next CHEMOS, th' obscene dread of MOABS Sons, 
From AROER to NEBO, and the wild 
Of Southmost ABARIM; in HESEBON 
And HERONAIM, SEONS Realm, beyond 
The flowry Dale of SIBMA clad with Vines, 
And ELEALE to th' ASPHALTICK Pool. 
PEOR his other Name, when he entic'd 
ISRAEL in SITTIM on their march from NILE 
To do him wanton rites, which cost them woe. 
Yet thence his lustful Orgies he enlarg'd 
Even to that Hill of scandal [the Mount of Olives], by the Grove 
Of MOLOCH homicide, lust hard by hate; 
Till good JOSIAH drove them thence to Hell.
Category:Deities in the Hebrew Bible
Category:Sacrifice