[478] Maimonid. in more Nebochim part. 3. cap. 38.
CHAP. VII.
Of other Gods mentioned in Scripture.
The Sun and Moon, which are the greater lights in the Heaven, I take to have been the chiefest Idols worshipped by the Heathen people. Notwithstanding, their blind devotion deified also the other Planets, and that numberless number of lesser lights, called in Scripture, Militia Cœli, The Host of Heaven, whose several natures, properties and influences, are not distinctly known. In like manner there is an Host of Idols mentioned in Holy Writ, of whom little or nothing is spoken to the purpose by Authors, more than their very names. Of this nature are those Chambers of Imagery, wherein all forms of creeping things were pourtrayed on the walls, Ezek. 8. It may be termed their Pantheon.
In those Colonies which the King of Ashur transplanted into Samaria, every one worshipped the god of his own Nation. The men of Babel made Succoth Benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, the Avims made Nibhaz and Tartak; the Sepharvaims burnt their Children in the fire to Adram-melech, and Anammelch the gods of Sepharvaim, 2 King. 17. 30, 31. The Hebrew Doctors say,[479] that Succoth Benoth was the picture of an Hen with her Chicken: Nergal they interpret Gallum Sylvestrem, Asima a Goat, Nibhaz a Dog, Tartak an Ass, Adrammelech a Mule, Anammelech an Horse: that such brute beasts should be worshipped as gods, may seem ridiculous; but the like to have been practised among the Heathens, profane Authors abundantly testifie. The Cock was worshipped as a god among the Syrians,[480] A Goat by the Mendesii;[481] A Dog by others:[482] Yea, they have adopted into the number of their gods &c. Oxen, Lyons, Eagles, Wolves, Crocodiles, Cats, Rats,[483] Nay, they have digged their gods out of their gardens, Garlick, Leeks, Onions, &c.[484] To these may be added Nisroch, which was the god of the Assyrians, and, as it seemeth, had his Temple at Nineve, 2 King. 19. ult. and Esay. 37. ult. Secondly, רמון Rimmon, the word signifieth a Pomegranate. Concerning this Idol it is much controverted, whether Naaman sinned not in saying, The Lord be merciful unto thy servant, that when my Master goeth into the house of Rimmon, &c. 2 King. 5. 18. Read the words in the Præter tense (when my Master went into the house of Rimmon) the sense appears to be a pardon craved for sins past, not afterward to be committed. The same word בבוא Bebbo, in going, is put to express the time past, in the titles of the Psalms 52. and Psalm 54. Thirdly, Nebo otherwise called Nabo, an Idol of the Assyrians, Jer. 48. 1. He had his name from Prophecy, נביא Nahbi, signifying a Prophet, he seemeth not much to differ from Ζεὺς βουλαῖος, or Ζεὺς μητιέτης, so often mentioned in Homer, Diodorus Siculus[485] maketh them both one, and we may render Nebo, the Assyrians Ammon, or Jupiter Vaticinus, the god of their Oracles.
[479] R. Jarchi. 2 King. 17. R. David non dissentit.
[480] Lucian l. 16. de Syr. Dea.
[481] Herodotus in Euterp.
[482] Cic. de legib. l. 1. vid. Tiraquel. in Alex.
[483] Neopol. l. 6. c. 26.