A Sidonian goddess
Ashtoreth was not an Israelite woman or a character with a personal story like Ruth or Esther. She was a deity worshipped by the Sidonians. The Bible calls her the goddess of the Sidonians, and later records that Solomon built a high place for her near Jerusalem (1 Kings 11:5; 2 Kings 23:13).
You may also see the related name Ashtaroth in the Old Testament. In some passages it refers to foreign gods more generally, while Ashtoreth is the singular name used for this particular Sidonian goddess (Judges 2:13).
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
Why Solomon worshipped her
The account comes in a sad part of Solomon's life. Although God had given him remarkable wisdom, Solomon married many foreign wives. The issue was not their ethnicity. God had repeatedly warned Israel not to be drawn into serving other gods. Over time, Solomon's wives turned his heart towards their worship, including Ashtoreth (1 Kings 11:2-4).
That choice mattered because Israel's covenant called them to worship the Lord alone. Solomon's divided loyalty became a turning point, and the kingdom was later torn apart after his reign (1 Kings 11:9-11). Wisdom without wholehearted faithfulness wasn't enough.
Israel's repeated struggle
Solomon was not the first Israelite tempted by this kind of worship. In the period of the judges, Israel repeatedly left the Lord and served the Baalim and Ashtaroth. The Bible presents this as a cycle: the people wandered, suffered the consequences, cried out to God, and were rescued (Judges 2:11-13).
Years later, Samuel called Israel to put away foreign gods, including Ashtaroth, and to direct their hearts to the Lord. The people responded by removing those gods and serving the Lord only (1 Samuel 7:3-4). Their response shows that turning back to God was possible, even after real spiritual compromise.
And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtoreth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
What this means for readers today
Ashtoreth's name can feel distant, but the Bible's question is close to home: what receives the trust, love, or obedience that belongs to God? An idol is not only a carved image. Anything that takes God's place in the heart can become one.
The point is not to stir shame. It is an invitation to honest devotion. Jesus taught that God is to be worshipped and served alone (Matthew 4:10). Reading Solomon's story can prompt a simple prayer: ask God to show you where your loyalties are divided, and to draw your heart back to him.