Anammelech
Who was Anammelech in the Bible?
A deity worshiped by the Sepharvites through child sacrifice, introduced to Samaria following the Assyrian conquest of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
Anammelech is a deity mentioned in the Old Testament during the period of the Divided Monarchy. The name is specifically associated with the religious practices of the Sepharvites, a group of people relocated by the Assyrian Empire to the territory of the former Northern Kingdom of Israel. Following the fall of Samaria in 722 BC, the Assyrians implemented a policy of mass deportation and repopulation to prevent further rebellion among conquered subjects.
According to the biblical record in 2 Kings, these new inhabitants brought their ancestral gods into the land of Israel, creating a syncretic religious environment. Anammelech is identified alongside another deity, Adrammelech, as the objects of extreme devotion characterized by child sacrifice. This practice stood in direct violation of the Mosaic Law and represented the spiritual decline that the biblical authors attributed to the region after the exile of the ten tribes.
Background and Family
Anammelech is not a human figure but a deity belonging to the pantheon of the Sepharvaim. The specific identity and origin of the Sepharvites remain a subject of historical discussion, though they are generally placed within the Mesopotamian or Syrian sphere under Assyrian influence. The name Anammelech (Hebrew: ‘Anammelek) is linguistically significant, likely combining the name of the Mesopotamian sky god Anu with the Semitic root melek, meaning "king." This suggests a title or role as "Anu is King."
Major Life Events
The biblical record of Anammelech is confined to the aftermath of the Assyrian conquest of Samaria (c. 722 BC). As documented in 2 Kings 17, the King of Assyria settled people from various regions—including Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim—into the cities of Samaria to replace the exiled Israelites.
Upon settling in the land, these groups continued their native idolatrous practices. The Sepharvites specifically established the worship of Anammelech. The text highlights a particularly grim aspect of this cult: the Sepharvites "burned their children in the fire" as offerings to Anammelech and Adrammelech. This ritual of human sacrifice by fire suggests a connection to similar West Semitic or Phoenician rites associated with deities like Molech.
Relationship to Other Biblical Figures
Anammelech is mentioned exclusively in connection with the Sepharvites and the deity Adrammelech. While no specific human individuals are named as his priests or followers, he represents the spiritual opposition to the God of Israel (Yahweh) during this era. The biblical narrative notes that while these new settlers feared the Lord—due to a plague of lions sent among them—they simultaneously served their own gods, including Anammelech, resulting in a compromised religious system that persisted for generations.
Spiritual Significance
In the context of 2 Kings, Anammelech serves as a symbol of the ultimate spiritual consequence of Israel’s disobedience. The presence of such a deity in the heart of the Promised Land served as a stark reminder of the displacement of the covenant people. The practice of child sacrifice associated with Anammelech is presented as the antithesis of the holiness required by Yahweh, illustrating the depths of pagan depravity that the prophets frequently warned against. For the biblical author, the inclusion of Anammelech in the text justifies the divine judgment upon Samaria and emphasizes the purity of worship required at the Temple in Jerusalem.
Anammelech represents the introduction of extreme pagan idolatry into the land of Israel following the Assyrian exile. His mention serves to document the syncretism that characterized the region of Samaria, where the fear of Yahweh was mixed with the horrific rituals of foreign gods, including child sacrifice. The presence of Anammelech highlights the theological theme that the land itself reacted to the inhabitants' spiritual state, and the failure to serve God exclusively led to the cultural and religious fragmentation of the Northern Kingdom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Anammelech in the Bible?
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Mentions by Book
- 2 Kings1
Scripture References
All 1 indexed verse, in canonical order, from the Berean Standard Bible.
2 Kings · 1
- 2 Kings 17:31
the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech the gods of the Sepharvaim.