Who was Chemosh in the Bible?
A male deity at the time of the Old Testament
Chemosh was a male deity worshiped by the people of Moab during the time of the Old Testament. The worship of Chemosh is mentioned in several passages in the Bible:
1. Numbers 21:29 – Woe to you, Moab! You are destroyed, people of Chemosh! He has given up his sons as fugitives and his daughters into captivity to Sihon king of the Amorites.
2. Judges 11:24 – Will you not take what your god Chemosh gives you? Likewise, whatever the LORD our God has given us, we will possess.
3. 1 Kings 11:7 – On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites.
4. 1 Kings 11:33 – I will do this because they have forsaken me and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Molek the god of the Ammonites, and have not walked in obedience to me, nor done what is right in my eyes, nor kept my decrees and laws as David, Solomon’s father, did.
5. 2 Kings 23:13 – The king also desecrated the high places that were east of Jerusalem on the south of the Hill of Corruption—the ones Solomon king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the vile goddess of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the vile god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the people of Ammon.
6. Jeremiah 48:7 – Since you trust in your deeds and riches, you too will be taken captive, and Chemosh will go into exile, together with his priests and officials.
7. Jeremiah 48:13 – Then Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh, as Israel was ashamed when they trusted in Bethel.
8. Jeremiah 48:46 – Woe to you, Moab! The people of Chemosh are destroyed; your sons are taken into exile and your daughters into captivity.
From a biblical perspective, the worship of Chemosh is condemned in the Bible as idolatry and a detestable practice. The Bible teaches that there is only one true God, Yahweh, and worshiping any other deity is considered a grave sin. The worship of Chemosh involved child sacrifice and other abominable practices that were contrary to the commands of God.
As Christians, we are called to worship and serve the one true God, Yahweh, through faith in Jesus Christ. We are to reject all forms of idolatry and false worship, including the worship of Chemosh. God’s Word warns us against following after false gods and commands us to worship Him alone (Exodus 20:3-6).
In conclusion, the worship of Chemosh was a pagan practice of the Moabites that was condemned in the Bible. As believers, we are called to remain faithful to the Lord and to reject all forms of idolatry.