Anammelech

Anammelech was an Assyrian deity worshiped by the Sepharvites, who were among the foreign peoples settled in Samaria by the Assyrian king.

Anammelech was an Assyrian deity mentioned in the Bible as one of the gods worshiped by the Sepharvites. The Sepharvites were a people group from the Assyrian Empire who were brought to Samaria by the Assyrian king after the deportation of the Israelites. They settled in the cities of Samaria and continued to worship their own gods, including Anammelech.

The worship of Anammelech involved child sacrifice, as the Sepharvites were known to "burn their children in the fire" as part of their religious practices. This abhorrent act was strongly condemned by God and was one of the reasons for His judgment against the foreign nations who had been settled in Samaria.

The name "Anammelech" is believed to mean "Anu is king" or "Anu is prince," referring to the Mesopotamian sky god Anu. This connection suggests that Anammelech may have been a local deity or a manifestation of Anu worshiped by the Sepharvites. The worship of foreign gods, including Anammelech, was a violation of God's covenant with Israel and demonstrated the syncretistic practices that led to the downfall of the Northern Kingdom.

One of the gods worshipped by the people of Sepharvaim, who colonized Samaria (2 Kings 17:31). The name means “Anu is king.” It was a female deity representing the moon, as Adrammelech (q.v.) was the male representing the sun.