What is important here is that The Bible shows God having relations just like other creatures. If worshiping Ashera was due to:

Quote
the Israelites, surrounded by other nations that worshiped many gods, constantly backslid into idolatry.

What about "Lady Wisdom", in the Bible referred to as a consort or companion to the Lord:

"The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way,......before his works of old,... and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him" (Prov. 8:22,30).


The Bible continues giving God titles and relationships:
Isaiah tells Israel:
"Thy maker is thine husband," Isa. 54:5

This is for the Old Testament.

The influence of pagan religions on the New Testament is still debatable. If "the Israelites, surrounded by other nations that worshiped many gods" the Christians of the former Roman Empire were surrounded by pagan religions as well.