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Ḳedeshah

The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia

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The ḳedeshot were sacred prostitutes attached to the Temple as priestesses of Ashtoreth or Astarte. The worship of Ashtoreth was introduced by Solomon (1 Kings 11:5); and it is possible that the obscene rites connected therewith were practised near the Temple, which was practically a chapel royal while the kingdom lasted. It is even stated that Tamar adopted the professional dress of a ḳedeshah to ensnare Judah (Genesis 38:21). The male counterparts of the ḳedeshot, the ḳedeshim, are mentioned in the reign of Rehoboam (1 Kings 14:24); they were removedby Asa (ib. 15:12) and by Jehoshaphat (ib. 22:47); and Josiah even found it necessary to break down their houses at the time of his reforms (2 Kings 23:7). Hosea (4:14) refers to ḳedeshot. The Deuteronomic legislation, which represents Josiah's reformation, declared against the practise of such rites. "There shall be no ḳedeshah of the daughters of Israel, nor a ḳadesh of the sons of Israel" (Deuteronomy 23:18, Hebr.). It is doubtful, however, whether the rites were altogether abolished; for Ezekiel gives a full account of them, obviously from scenes witnessed during his lifetime (Ezekiel 23:36-48). It is even probable that there was reversion to these rites by Jehoiakim (2 Kings 23:37), Jehoiachin (ib. 24:9), and Zedekiah (ib. 19). It has been suggested by Jacobs that the NETHINIM were the descendants of these ḳedeshot.