ASHERAH: Canaanite Deity or Leafy Tree?
The claim that syncretism was practiced in ancient Israel and Judah hinges in part on how to interpret the biblical reference to "Asherah." Does this refer to an object, a symbol, or to a deity depicted as a female surrounded by leafy trees?
As indicated by the polemic of biblical prophets Hosea and others, YHWH seemed at one time and by certain worshippers to have been associated with a female consort (much like other male deities,e.g., Baal). Epigraphic proof seems provided by the Kuntillet Ajrud inscription, referring to "YHWH and his Asherah".
Also see the following links to information on Kuntillet Ajrud:
http://www.ancientneareast.net/kuntillet_ajrud.html (a bibliography)
http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/b-hebrew/2002-January/012141.html (part of a web chat on this question)
http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/jwst/second.htm (an essay by Jeffrey Tigay on a Second Temple parallel to the formulation found at Kuntillet Ajrud)
For a monographic study on this topic see Tilde Binger. Asherah: Goddesses in Ugarit, Israel, and the Old Testament. JSOTSup 232. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997. Pp. 190. [[sterling]]37.50/$62.00.(On-line review of this book by Phyllis A. Bird, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL 60201).