162. Goat Worship

From: Manners and Customs of the Bible By: James M. Freeman

• 1 min. read • grade level: 10

Leviticus 17:7⁷And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations. (Leviticus 17:7). They shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils.

Seirim, here and in 2 Chronicles 11:15¹⁵And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made. (2 Chronicles 11:15) rendered “devils.” is derived from a word signifying hairy, shaggy, rough, from which it is used to designate he-goats. The Egyptians worshiped the goat under the name of Mendes, by which name a province in Egypt was called. The goat was worshiped as a personification of the fructifying power of nature, and was reckoned among the eight principal gods of Egypt. A splendid temple was dedicated to Mendes, and statues of the god were erected in many places. The Israelites doubtless learned the worship of the Seirim among the Egyptians. It was accompanied with the vilest acts of bestiality.

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