Idol

IDOL. The Greek word Eidolon signifies in general a representation, a figure. It is always taken in Scripture in an ill sense for all sorts of representations of the heathen Deities, whether of Men, Stars, or Animals; whether of figures in relievo, imbossed, or in painting, of what matter or nature soever. God forbids the use of all sorts of Idols, or figures and representations of the creatures, with an intention to pay an idolatrous and superstitious worship Exod. xxiii. 4.to them. Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, nor the likeness of any thing in the heavens above, or in the earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth; thou shalt not bow down to them nor worship them. We shall speak of the Idols and false Gods mentioned in the Scripture, in the particular Articles under their names.

The Heathens had Idols of all sorts, and of every kind of matter, such as gold, silver, brass, stone, wood, potter’s earth, &c. The Stars, Spirits, Men, Animals, Rivers, Plants and Elements were the subject and model of them. There have been whole Nations seen to worship a rough stone. The Arabians, by the report of Maximus Tyrius, adored a great square stone. It is certain that before Mahomet they had a very great veneration for a certain black stone, which is still at this day fastned to a pillar standing in the Porch of the Temple at Mecca, and is kissed very devoutly by the Mahometans. The ancient Israelites had many Deities or Idols, the figure whereof is not known to us. The Mahometans speak of an Idol called Soura, which they say had been worshipped in the time of Noah before the Deluge. The ancient D’Herbelot. Bibl. Orient. p. 827.Arabians likewise adored an Idol under the name of Uza, as who should say, the mighty or powerful God. The God Helagabalus was nothing but a stone in the form of a cone, under which they worshipped the Sun. They adored likewise Spears or Lances¹, great pieces of Timber, Fire, Animals, the Sun, Moon, Stars, Earth, Flowers, Plants, Trees, and Fountains. Barbarous people, such as the ancient Gauls, and Germans, had scarce any other Gods but these.

It is very well known what the ancient Idols of the Egyptians were; because a great number of them has been transmitted down to us. They were for the most part very ill-contriv’d Figures, representing Animals, or symbolical Figures compounded of Man and some Animal or other: here, the head of a Dog grafted upon the body of a Man; there, the head of a Cat upon that of a Woman; Oxen, Sparhawks, Ravens, Serpents, the vilest Insects, the very Herbs of their Gardens in this country received divine honours.

If in this point we refer ourselves to the Rabbins and the generality of Interpreters, they will tell us, that the Idols mentioned in Scripture were grotesque Figures. Dagon was described in the form of a Fish; Beelzebub in that of a Fly; the golden Calves set up by Jeroboam, as well as those worshipped in the wilderness, were cast in the shape of a Bull. We have spoken of all these Idols under their respective Titles. See MOLOCH, CHEMOSH, BAALPEOR, DAGON, ASTEROTH, BAAL, &c. and the Articles HIGH-PLACES and SAMARITANS.

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