The Hebrew Goddess 3rd Enlarged Edition Paperback – September 1, 1990

This is probably one of the best academic books of all time. The area of Hebrew beliefs is not really tackled by even the most hardcore of Mesopotamian scholars. I always recommend this book to people who study Hebrew, Canaanite, and Mesopotamian beliefs as well as the people interested in goddess worship of the Ancient Near East and even those who are very critical of Judaism or Christianity. The book covers a plethora of goddesses and even has a chapter on the demon Lilith, with really good references to the demon Naamah and Tubal Cain. So its a plus for Jewish feminists and Goddess worshipers whom concern themselves with the modern image of Lilith.Patai is very excellent translator of the Hebrew language and his notes in other Hebrew translations (Such as his translations of the Zohar) are worth looking into to explain the translation for the lay people who know little Hebrew. There is a lot that the English language fails to grasp concerning translating Hebrew.I only have a few problems with it. For example, some of his more controversial assertions don't hold up to modern scholarship where archeology is concerned. The Burney relief is thought with great academic consensus to be Ishtar rather than Lilith. Jacobsen, a very renown Mesopotamian scholar, suggested this was a form of Ishtar in her Ninna (Lady Owl) form. Patai uses Kramer, whom makes great translations from Sumerian, but is outdated concerning that archeology bit and some theories. However, Patai does cite Jacobsen several times over on other things. He seemed to cite Jacobsen more than Kramer... Well, this is a minor problem, really.The other thing, which is also is very minor, is that the book isn't written so flowingly sometimes. It seems to just kind of go dry. You may find yourself not really paying attention. But this is something that is so overshadowed by the fact that the book contains eye opening and jaw dropping information about Yahweh. I found the book, overall, to be written in such a understandable way that no lay person should have problems understanding it.All and all this is my favorite book on ancient Hebrew beliefs, and though its been along time since it was written, I highly recommend it for anybody interested in Hebrew and Jewish myths, as well as Israelite worship and the concept of God.

Very much enjoyed this book. I was pleasantly surprised to find support for the concept that God the Father has a wife. The idea of the Cherubim being in human form - male and female - was another impressive item. While not supported directly, Cherubim in the form of man and women appears to support the idea of God having a wife. This along with Dever's work with Asherah and Margaret Barker's work with the Queen of Heaven and how Josiah had Her (And the Tree of Life) removed from the temple in the 6th century is a fascinating concept. I highly recommend this book.

First off, I read this book with a bias. I designed the Asherah tattoo I proudly display on my chest. Anathema for a Jewish girl, but there's an important reason for it. The concept of a holy bride was not new to me when I picked this up.We all need to know where we come from, and it can be argued that descendants of the Jewish tribe take that more seriously than most. It's reflected in our holidays and in our fasts. But while we celebrate Moshe, the Maccabees, and Ben Gurion, there's not much acknowledgment of our heroines, save for Queen Esther.It seems to me to be a cover up; a whitewashing of where not just the Tribe, but Judaism as a whole came from, and our origin specifically is a paganistic religious group that was scattered all throughout the Arabian peninsula and Northeast Africa many thousands of years ago -- indeed, just like the Heathens to the North.At one point, YHWH had a wife, and she was arguably the object of more devotions than He was. While the concept of YHWH was still under development, the female ideal of a perfect mother and beautiful bride was full in swing; every ancestral/household god had one, or even multiple. So much so, in fact, that we still refer to Shabbat as a beautiful bride and we mourn her departure at Havdalah.This is important knowledge for not just Semitic pagans like myself, but for all Jews -- and Christians and Muslims -- to hold dear.

There are many books out there claiming a goddess in the Hebrew tradition, but few provide the original source material evidence as is provided here. While scholarly, this book is easy to read and accessible to anyone with a basic knowledge of scripture. I found this book to be both empowering and encouraging as a woman and confirmation of the innate human need for a Divine that is more than just male. I highly recommend this book.Lauri Ann Lumby, OM, OPM, MATSAuthentic Freedom Academy

I am very pleased and surprised with the content of this book, especially because it brings many references and language is open and simple.I hope to see more books on this subject. If you search on the Holy Spirit, this book will greatly help you to clarify. The difference is that the author brings history, that is, is not a book for religious celebrations.

The admirably precise scholarship of this early delve into questions few previously attempted to answer leaves an assiduous reader with an otherwise unattainable understanding -and a reward of further, unanswered questions. And, this text is, in itself, historically significant.

I purchased this book in order to research Lilith and I discovered a wealth of information beyond my original quest. "The Hebrew Goddess" is well written, informative, and easy to understand. I recommend this to college professors who need to teach undergrad level courses because the material will not be over their head. I also recommend the book to anyone who is interested in Judeo-Christian Lore.

Love this book

Great read

un saggio importante e fondamentale per chi veramente vuole conoscere storia e religione. spero che lo traducano per chi non legge l'inglese

Ce livre est génial. C'est une vision de la religion un peu moins sèche qu'à l'habitude et qui aide à comprendre à quel point le besoin de croire est inhérent à la nature humaine. Il présente également l'avantage de donner un aperçu de la religion juive dans l'histoire.

Super. Love the book. Good service

as advertised