Who was Asherah? And why did Israel worship her?

For anyone interested in biblical archaeology--this guy is just fabulous. The author explains why Asherah idols and inscriptions are found all over Israel. *they confirm what the bible says*' But along the way, the author explains how it was that the Canaanites devolved from the Creator God of the man Abraham tithed to --Micheseldik--to--400 years later-- Baal worship. (Some migrating townspeople from Mesopotamia did it.)