MASSEBHAH. — A standing stone, a large upright rock (from the verb *nāšab* “to set upright”); LXX: στήλη, λίθος σκοτός, ὑπόστασις, Ex. 26:11; Vulgate: *titulus*, *lapis*, *statua*). In the Bible it commemorates a divine benefit (Gen. 28:18, 22; 31:13; 35:14) or a covenant (between Jacob and Laban: Gen. 31:45, 51 ff.; the covenant at Sinai: Ex. 24:4) and is a symbol of the worship of the true God (Is. 19:19). As a funerary stele (2 Sam. 18:18; Gen. 35:20) it is still in use among Muslims today. The *massebhah* was often an idolatrous stele, set up beside the *’asherah* and the altar in Canaanite sanctuaries or high places (Ex. 32:24; 34:13; Deut. 7:5; 12:3; Jer. 43:13; in Ex. 26:11 “supporting pillars,” such as those at the entrance of the temple of Melqart at Tyre).
The *massebhoth* were arranged at equal intervals along a line often oriented north–south. Their number varied: at Gezer ten remain in one sanctuary, four in another; at Taanach only one; in rural sanctuaries there was probably only one. The most common were about human height; at Gezer some reach about three meters; some are smoothed by centuries of kisses and anointings, others are rough-hewn. Their relation to the deity is unclear: whether dwelling or symbol. The Law therefore forbade them (Lev. 26:1; Deut. 16:22). They are nevertheless found in the *bāmōth* or sanctuaries dedicated to Yahweh (1 Kgs. 1:4, 23; 2 Kgs. 17:10; 18:4; 23:14; 2 Chr. 14:2; 31:1; Hos. 3:4; 10:1 sqq.; Mic. 5:12) and even in honor of Baal (2 Kgs. 3:2; 10:26 sqq.). In Is. 6:13 the *massebhah* is a tree trunk stripped of its branches. Distinct from the *massebhoth* are the solar stelae in honor of Baal: the *hammānîm* (Lev. 26:30; Is. 17:8; 27:9; Ezek. 6:4; 2 Chr. 14:4; 34:4–7), placed above the altar.