Baal was a false god the feckless Jewish King Ahab and his wicked wife, Jezebel, attempted to force upon the nation of Israel during the time of Elijah the prophet (see 1 Kings 18). In the Judeo-Christian tradition Asherah is considered a false Canaanite deity and a major source of temptation to the Israelites. This is not brand new, but it is picking up speed. That afon designated the "north" in Hebrew is presumably due to the fact that Mount Casius lies directly north of Palestine. In this article, well discuss what Scripture has to say about Baal, what we know from history about Baal, and why this ultimately matters to us today. Baal is a Canaanite and Phoeniciandeity and the son of the chief god El. The laws given to Moses by God expressly forbade the Jews to do what was done in Egypt or in Canaan. The Israelites rejected the law of God and relied on the traditions of Gentile nations. The motifs of these myths were adopted and adapted in Jewish and Christian eschatology. . Reuben Alcalay, a famous Hebrew lexicographer, stated that Yehoshua is closely related to Let there be So, lets be intellectually honest and start using the proper English translation: Joshua. He then merely floats, going through the motions, even feeling good about himself as he neglects so great salvation (Hebrews 2:3). Ashtar the Awful (ttrr) was then nominated to replace Baal, but when he ascended the throne, his feet did not reach the footstool nor his head the top and so he declined to reign on the heights of apn and descended from Baal's throne, but ruled over all El's earth. We may not sacrifice our children on altars for everyone to see; instead, we sacrifice them behind closed doors at a doctor's . The worship of this idol consisted in exposing that part of the body which all persons usually take the utmost care to conceal. (verse 8). No doubt, we cant cover the breadth of verses on Baal here, but we should make a note that Baal becomes a big player in the book of Judges and during the time of the kings when Israel appears to succumb most to the foreign pantheons. For one to keep on coming to services and leaving, like a theatergoer, without his options, opinions, or decisions resolved but deferred, is an erosion of character. Meaning of Jezebel: This word can be also pronounced as Isabel. The prophet turns the heat on, and they become angry with him when he is actually working to make them better. They become "settled on their lees," as it says in Zephaniah 1:12. What Tamils are you speaking of? But what was its real effect on the participants and the nation? The Israelites displayed a pandemic failure to love their fellow man. And of all the foreign gods the Israelites came into contact with, they appeared to struggle the most with worshipping this one. The Macedonian Cleopatra planned to send her son to India through the Red Sea. The biblical allusions to YHWH's victory over the sea preserve echoes of the older exploit of Baal (cf. Asherah, mother of the gods, was prevailed upon to intercede with El to gain permission for the building. Canaanite worship often took place in open-air sites at the tops of hills, referred to in the Bible as "high places." . The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment Sign up for the Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. . 1:21), would be catastrophic. Elijah prepared the way for Elisha, who had a double portion of Elijah's spirit and did many more miracles. At Shittim they attached themselves to Baal-Peor, ate sacrifices for the dead, and indulged in sacred sexual orgies (Num. Thus, IF one is to pronounce the Tetragrammaton according to the masoretic vowel-markings, then it should probably be pronounced something like yuh-WAH or yuh-HWAH. Since their rejection of the house of David under Jeroboam I, the Israelites had practiced a syncretistic religion (Amos 5:21-26; 8:14; I Kings 12:25-33). ed., 1965); H.B. Yet such fluidity in the use of the term baal did not prevent it from being attached to a god of distinct character. When Ashtoreth is mentioned in scripture, she is linked to Molech, (also called Milcom in the Bible). The Spread of Baalism. Source: Encyclopaedia Judaica. They believed by their actions they could control and manipulate the Gods. Jehu's massacre of the Baal worshipers (II Kings 10:1828) did not eradicate bull worship (II Kings 10:31). In distress some would naturally revert to the old ways of reviving or reactivating the rain-god prayer, mourning, self-laceration, dancing, and water-pouring (I Kings 18:2628; Hos. (the Middle Bronze Age). The variant form Hadad (hdd) is attested to only once in Ugaritic. The principal pillars of Baalism were child sacrifice, sexual immorality (both heterosexual and homosexual) and pantheism . He replaced the Levitical priesthood with men of his own choosing. Because such people are drunk through riches' deceptive promise, their judgment is in danger of being radically altered. Asherah (Hebrew ), also spelled Ashera, was a major northwest Semitic mother goddess, appearing also in Akkadian sources as Ashratu, in Hittite as Asherdu and in Ugaritic as Athirat.She was the consort of the chief deity El and the mother of 70 other gods.. The sequel to this action is furnished by the group of texts which recount Baal's confrontations with Mot. A complaint is made to Bull El, father of the gods, that Baal has no house like other gods. Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail. One was 260 days and was used for . The ancient Tamils had connections with the Syrians and Sidon. "Whatever is not of faith is sin" (Romans 14:23). This establishes the fact that the Cannanites (Phoenicians) has connections with the Tamil speaking ancient Kerala mariners. It is not known to what extent the Canaanites considered those various Baalim identical, but the Baal of Ugarit does not seem to have confined his activities to one city, and doubtless other communities agreed in giving him cosmic scope. Gray, The Legacy of Canaan (rev. Christ's purpose is to cure, not merely to comfort, so pain will be often involved when dealing with a prophet. Israel "feared other gods" (verse 7). Ginsberg, Kitvei Ugarit (1936); J. Oberman, Ugaritic Mythology (1948); A.S. Kapelrud, Baal in the Ras Shamra Texts (1952); M. Dahood, in: Studi Semitici, 1 (1958), 7578; N. Habel, Yahweh Versus Baal: A Conflict of Religious Cultures (1964); J. Besides the names Baal and Haddu, the Ugaritic texts furnish a variety of other titles, such as "Mighty Baal" (aliyn bl) and "Prince, Lord of Earth" (zbl bl ars). The religion of Israel began with a man, Jeroboam I, who changed the true worship of God. There are indications that Baal and other gods and goddesses of the Canaanite pantheon were associated in the minds of their worshipers with certain heavenly bodies. Before we explore what Scripture says about Baal, lets establish a brief depiction of the Canaanite deity. They clash violently until both are prostrate and the Sungoddess warns Mot not to fight with Baal lest El hear and overthrow him. Speech is completely original and produced exclusively by Grace Digital Network Music licensed through Artlist.io Footage licensed through Filmpac.com and S. Its prosperity played a part in corrupting the Israelites' hearts, which is why Hosea mentions the divided or disloyal heart in context with its bountiful fruit. This is no different from what Israel was doing when Amos wrote back in 760 BC. In the Hebrew Bible, Moloch is presented as a foreign deity who was at times illegitimately given a place in Israel's worship as a result of the syncretistic policies of certain apostate kings. He sends someone long before the real crisis reaches its peak, while it is building. The worship of Baal was popular in Egypt from the later New Kingdom in about 1400 bce to its end (1075 bce). With Baal's functions accredited to YHWH, it was natural and fitting that some of Baal's titles would also be taken over. In Judah the murder of the queen mother, *Athaliah , and of Mattan, priest of Baal, and the smashing of the altars and cult images in the Baal temple (II Kings 11:18) did not wipe out the cult (II Kings 12:34). Indeed, religion flourished, as Amos, Hosea's contemporary, clearly reports (see Amos 5:21-27). Archaeologists at Sidon have uncovered a 12th11th-century B.C.E. Dig into the illuminating world of the Bible with a BAS All-Access membership. I would also challenge the suggestion in the text of the article that the location of Lots cave is known. Blending the lies of this world with the truth of God produces a foul mixture called syncretism (James 3:10-13). COPYRIGHT 2023 BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY SOCIETY 5614 Connecticut Ave NW #343, Washington DC 20015-2604. 19 Now therefore, call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests. Given Sidons position on the coast, it is not surprising that the storm god is Sidons most important god. Apostasy is a defection from trutha forsaking of one spiritual approach in favor of another. The Semitic word "baal" (meaning '"Lord") was also used to refer to various deities of the Levant. It has been suggested that this clash was indirectly a conflict between Baal and El, with Yamm serving as champion for the venerable El, as the Titans fought on behalf of Kronos in the Greek version of the myth and the stone colossus Ulikummi for Kumarbi in the Hurrian-Hittite version which is roughly contemporary with the Ugaritic texts. See what over 150,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. He established a feast in the eighth month to replace the true Feast of Tabernacles in the seventh. In the Old Testament, many of the kings and eventually the whole nation of Israel rebelled against God and chose opposing belief systems. (Jeremiah 7:8-10). This god also, apparently according to Canaanite lore, defeated El and had associations with the sun and thunder. 3:23). The word bal, common Semitic for "owner, master, husband," became the usual designation of the great weather-god of the Western Semites. In another room was a round base that likely supported a wooden pillar. The continued worship of Baal was given as one of the causes for the destruction of Judah (Jer. He is a loving Master who only is to be obeyed and servedand only on His terms. They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, And ate the sacrifices of the dead. l /), or Baal (Hebrew: baal), was a title and honorific meaning 'owner', 'lord' in the Northwest Semitic languages spoken in the Levant during antiquity.From its use among people, it came to be applied to gods. In the El-Amarna letters the logogram for the weather-god is conventionally read Addu, but that it is sometimes to be read Baluis indicated by the addition of the phonetic complement-lu, as well as by the names like Mut dIm written syllabically as mu-ut-ba-a-lum. When the rain failed, it was inevitable that some would question YHWH's power and resort to Baal. Now the king of Assyria went throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria and besieged it for three years. The association of the name Baal-Zephon with Israel's exit from Egypt (Ex. I know the firstborn of Creation through and for Him everything was made would appreciate it! Looking at these two definitions we can say . The Lord calls for the worship of him and his idols to be uprooted and destroyed, and for the people to turn away from his false . Not a BAS Library member yet? This is a prophet's job, a hallmark of a prophet of God. For this reason, God shows that the preacher, not the civil authority, is the most vital part of the community. Asherah, another popular deity in Canaan, was the goddess of motherhood and fertility . Avot 5:11 on the connection between tithing and rain). O. Eissfeldt, Beitraege zur Religionsgeschichte des Altertums I (1932); H.L. . The beliefs and practices of the Canaanites were not only detestable, but they also . The king of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away to Assyria, and placed them in Halah and by the Habor, the River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. because they sell the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of sandals. The Jordan River (Nahar ha-Yarden) qualified as a mikveh as its flowing living waters originated from a natural spring (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_River). It may seem easy to point the finger at the ancient Israelites and say, How could you let a bull statue into Israel? That there were minor Baalim also at Ugarit is indicated by a god list in Akkadian (see Ugaritica, 5, p. 44 ll. 25:111; Ps. God sends a prophet to people who are cold in their relationship with Godspiritually freezing to deaththough they want to stay that way. Join the BAS Library today. 6:30; II Kings 16:3233) are associated with him. They were not committed to the side that they were supposed to be on. The Name] instead of prouncing the YHWH word even though the Masoretes added the sheva below the Y and the Qamats below the W. JezaBel can be respelLt as JezaVel ~ JezaVAl ~ IezaVAL ~ Isaval-lavi ~ an expert in music. Combine a one-year tablet and print subscription to BAR with membership in the BAS Library to start your journey into the ancient past today! (Iron Age) temple. Updates? It is urgent that we understand what is involved here because it reveals the cause of God's anger that led to Israel's defeat and scattering. Baal was a cruel, sensuous, and revolting false god whose worship involved sexual degradation and lewdness. This Bible History Daily Article was first published in 2017, British Museum Excavations at Sidon Expose Millennia of History, The Phoenician Alphabet in Archaeology by Josephine Quinn. Since the root tr in Arabic is connected with artificial irrigation, it is apparent that Ashtar's failure to measure up to Baal represents the inadequacy of irrigation as a substitute for natural rainfall. The basis for this view was the fact that in biblical usage the plural of the term, with the article, "the Baalim," appears to designate minor local gods (Judg. Adad (the Canaanite Hadad, the Semitic Hadda, the Hurrian Teshub, the Egyptian Resheph, the Phoenician Baal/Bel, the Sumerian Ishkur) is the Mesopotamian storm god, who has special maritime, celestial and meteorological attributes important to the well-being of sailors. It proved extremely hard for a monotheistic faith to compete against the Canaanite fertility cult. Unlike Egypt and Mesopotamia, which depend on irrigation, the Promised Land drinks water from the rain of heaven (Deut. Thus it is clear that Baal, representing the life-giving rains, fluctuates in his ability to withstand the power of Mot, who represents drought, sterility, and death. Baal Peor, or the Baal of Peor, was a local deity worshiped by the Moabites. Baal was the god of agriculture and fertility in Canaan, becoming a fallen angel and a demon. The myths also tell of Baals struggle to obtain a palace comparable in grandeur to those of other gods. Ugaritic texts tell of other fertility aspects of Baal, such as his relations with Anath, his consort and sister, and also his siring a divine bull calf from a heifer. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. The bulk of the Ugaritic mythological texts is concerned with the activities of Baal. 19:5ff.). Although they lived in Israel, Jezebel and her retainers were free to worship Baal. In Tamil Nadu, the following words payachi paarai, Peyazhwar, payans, pai (meaning devil) are currently in use. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. 131; Sanh. You tricked me." Your email address will not be published. They were Phoenicians. II Kings 17:7-17 catalogs the sins of Israel: Widespread idolatry. They too had blended the worship of the true God with outright paganism, utterly corrupting the relationship He had established with them. 26:46). There are several ideas as to exactly what Elijah meant by "How long will you falter between two opinions?" Before descending to the realm of death, Baal copulates with a heifer and begets a male offspring. Isaiah 29:13 clarifies what God means: "Therefore the LORD said: 'Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men.'" Superstitious fear and sexual rites on the one hand fought against faith and loyalty on the other. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Baal-ancient-deity, McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia - Baal, Baal - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). All rights reserved. However, God still holds them responsible because the truth is available. Baal transformed into Zeus, who transformed into Jupiter, etc. Because Baal was neither alive nor a moral force, his worshippers felt they could communicate with him only by ritual actions that portrayed what they were asking him to do. What made the very name Baal anathema to the Israelites was the program of Jezebel, in the 9th century bce, to introduce into Israel her Phoenician cult of Baal in opposition to the official worship of Yahweh (I Kings 18). Sometimes the leadership of the nation of Israel tolerated and embraced the deities of other nations. When the Israelites, following Moses to the Promised Land, were in the vicinity of Peor, some of them fell into idolatry and worshiped Baal Peor. Because of their self-procured wealth and affluence, they think they are being blessed with material things. The Baal-worship so often alluded to and described in Holy Writ might, perhaps, be better styled Cid-worship, moon-worship, Melek ()-worship, or Hadad-worship, according to places and circumstances.Many of the practices mentioned were most probably common to the worship . Today,. Anyway she changed her mind and sent his son to Libya etc Most often, it condemns Baal worship. In this regard, Elijah was a type of John the Baptist, and Elisha, a type of Christ. Paul, then, is letting the church know that it need not be concerned about missing the end time. Whatever the case, there is no doubt about Elijah's intent: "How long will you keep shifting from one opinion to the other?" Life in a land dependent on rainfall enhanced the appeal of the Baal cult and its pervasive influence persisted through the centuries, as the unrelenting protests of the prophets and the sporadic efforts at reform attest. The written form Moloch (in the Septuagint Greek translation of the Old Testament), or Molech (Hebrew), is the word Melech or king, transformed by interposing the vowels of bosheth or 'shameful thing'. This corrupt blending of a holy God with a pagan goddess became part of everyday religious practice, which is why evil king Manasseh put an Asherah pole . The name is more likely derived from the god Baal. He just goes to sleep as he is freezing to death. . The judge Gideon was also named Jerubbaal (Judges 6:32), and King Saul had a son named Ishbaal (I Chronicles 8:33). Because Canaan depended on rain to grow crops and survive, he was numero uno. Baal was simply the title (literally, Lord) of the pagan god Molech. Of special interest is the designation Aliy (ly) which is twice applied to Baal in the Krt Epic: Before the discovery and recognition of this name in Ugaritic, H.S. The open-air altar shrine, called a bamah (plural bamot), is known through several books of the Biblical canonbut none more so than the Book of Kings, where they play a prominent role in assessing the performance of a king.Often referred to as "high places" in translations of the Bible, bamot were worship sites that usually contained an altar. (the Middle Bronze Age), this impressed handle depicts a ship and a leonine dragon, which is the symbol of the Mesopotamian storm god Adad. A prophet's life is not a happy situation. All Rights Reserved. 4:12; Hos. ; contact address: [emailprotected]. In short, Scripture has nothing positive to say about Baal. Paul, in: Biblica, 49 (1968), 3436; U. Oldenburg, The Conflict Between El and Bal in Canaanite Religion (1969). Second was passing their babies through the fire. (the Iron Age). Their reverence for Him was mere intellectual accommodation intended to appease Him. A vivid description of theophany in a thunderstorm is found in Psalms 18:715 (= II Sam. The latter name (Amarna, Addu) is to be related to Arabic hadda ("break," "crash") with reference to thunder. Although Baal is mentioned almost 100 times in the Bible, he is best known from the narratives of I and II Kings which include the story of the Phoenician princess Jezebel (d. c. 842 BCE), who encouraged his worship, and her struggle with the prophet Elijah, champion of the cult of Yahweh. 14:2). In Canaanite religion her primary role was that of mother goddess. The Jews of Christ's day clearly recognized this putrid blend and despised the Samaritans for it. Israel "walked in the statutes of the nations whom the LORD had cast out from before the children of Israel." He began to prophesy in a time of immediate crisis, one that would become far worse before it ever improved. Recall the mention in Hosea 10:1 of increasing and embellishing altars just before Israel fell to Assyria. First was sexual orgies "under every green tree," where promiscuity and perverted sex acts were the norm. A series of bad years, which were apparently believed to come in seven-year cycles (cf. Albright, Yahweh and the Gods of Canaan (1968); Albright, Arch Rel; S.M. Sign up to receive our email newsletter and never miss an update. In the formative stages of Israels history, the presence of Baal names did not necessarily mean apostasy or even syncretism. According to the Bible, centers of worship for Canaanite gods such as Molech and the Baal's were set up in Judah and Israel by apostate kings. El and Anath mourn violently, mutilating their faces and bodies. Since you mentioned John baptizing Jesus. The above comment is by Prof. Abraham Joseph, M.Sc., M.Phil. Like ancient Israel, we can easily fall back into our former ways. Jer 32:29. II Kings 17:33 illustrates their worship: "They feared the LORD, yet served their own gods - according to the rituals of the nations from among whom they were carried away." Note the name of her father, King of the Sidoneans and apparently (Josephus) a priest of Baal as well. At the foundation of every community is a way of life that its people live and teach their children. In many cases, when the king or the nation had wandered from the way, the prophets were sent to correct them (e.g., II Samuel 12:1-15; I Kings 18:17-19; II Kings 21:10-15). Anath then dismembered Mot, scattered and burned the pieces, and gave them to the birds. The practice of Baal worship was wide spread in Bible times and was very evil. 2:13) and *Asherah (Judg. Historical Background of HoseaBaal and Idolatry. While it is acceptable to say that it was in what is now Jordan, to point to a particular cave and say, This is it. is ridiculous. 74:1314, 89:910, 93:1ff. He was also called the Lord of Rain and Dew, the two forms of moisture that were indispensable for fertile soil in Canaan. It was under the Sol Invictus cult that CHRISTIANITY as a religion BEGAN TO BE ACCEPTED AND GROW, but THERE WAS A BIG PRICE THE EARLY ROMAN CHURCH HAD TO PAY. Yet Sidon was a significant site before this period, too. Consequently, during this tumultuous time, most Jews kept their faith and identity outwardly but bowed to Baal when necessary to appease Jezebel as well as mainstream culture. The worship of Baal extended in this region to the Jews, Canaanites and the Phoenicians. The second major background factor that we need to grasp somewhat to read Hosea well is the worship of the Canaanite god Baal (s). If it is of men, it will not work very long. The Septuagint (LXX) referred to the latter as a stranger [in the land]. Baal Worship The Battle for the Israelites' Hearts For nearly a thousand years, a battle raged for the hearts of the Israelite nation. Assyria, a kingdom known as much for its innovative weapons as for their brutal implementation, conquered the Kingdom of Israel in 718 BC. Thus in any year anxiety about the rainfall would be a continuing concern of the inhabitants which would suffice to give rise to rites to ensure the coming of the rains. The divine child was named Demarous, one of the cognomens of Zeus-Baal-Hadad. In the mythology of Canaan, Baal, the god of life and fertility, locked in mortal combat with Mot, the god of death and sterility. If Baal triumphed, a seven-year cycle of fertility would ensue; but, if he were vanquished by Mot, seven years of drought and famine would ensue. 18For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Some suppose Baal to correspond to the sun and Ashtoreth to the moon; others that Baal was Jupiter and Ashtoreth Venus. The myth may refer in part to the construction of Baals own temple in the city of Ugarit. Elijah was dealing with the same thing here, albeit spiritually.
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