Anammelech (Hastings' Dictionary)
A "od worshipped along with Aiirammelech with rites like those of Molech by the foreijrn settlers brought by the Assj'riaus to Samaria (2 K 17", cf. v.") The worshippers are said to have come from Sepharvaim = Sabara'in, a Syrian city destroyed by Shalmaneser (Bab. Chronicle, col. i. line 28, in Winckler, Kcitin.tchr. Textburh. Cf. Halcvy, ZA, ii. 401, 402). Winckler (AT U ntersuchungen, p. 97 ff.
), doubting that Syrifins would be settled in Samaria, a district so near their own land, takes Sepharvaim as a false reading, or false editorial correction, introduced from 2 K 18", for Sipar (Sippar), the well-known city of Northern Babylonia. The first part of the word Anammelech contains perhaps the name of the Bab. god of the sky, or of a third of the sky, Anu. The whole name is taken by Schrader (KAT'', 1883, p. 284) to mean ' Anu is prince,' but the meaning is doubtful.
Possibly the writer of Kings meant by the name to identify the Bab. Anu with the Ammonite Molech — Anu-Molech. \V. E. Barnes.
This topic also has an entry in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Both articles offer independent scholarly perspectives.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Anammelech
Anammelech a-nam'-e-lek (`anammelekh = Assyrian Anu-malik, "Anu is the prince"): A Babylonian (?) deity worshipped by the Sepharvites in Samaria, after being transported there by Sargon. The worship of Adrammelech (who is mentioned with Anammelech) and Anammelech is accompanied by the sacrifice of children by fire: "The Sepharvites burnt their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim" (2Ki 17:31). This passage presents two grave difficulties. First, there is no evidence in cuneiform literature that would point to the presence of human sacrifice, by fire or otherwise, as part of the ritual; nor has it been shown that the sculptures or bas-reliefs deny this thesis. Much depends upon the identification of "Sepharvaim"; if, as some scholars hold, Sepharvaim and Sippar are one and the same cities, the two deities referred to are Babylonian. But there are several strong objections to this theory. It has been suggested that Sepharvaim (Septuagint, seppharin, sepphareimi) is rather identical with "Shabara'in," a city mentioned in the Babylonian Chronicle as…
Smith's Bible Dictionary on Anammelech
(image of the king), one of the idols worshipped by the colonists introduced into Samaria from Sepharvaim. (2 Kings 17:31) He was worshipped with rites resembling those of Molech, and is the companion-god to Adrammelech.
Fausset's Bible Dictionary on Anammelech
The idol of Sepharvaim, introduced into Samaria by the Assyrian settlers (2Ki 17:31). The name means "statue of the king," Moloch. Adrammelech is the sun's male power; Anammelech, the female power. (See ADRAMMELECH)
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia