Recall God's wrath when Aaron made a golden calf at the urging of the Israelites in the wilderness and proclaimed a feast to the Lord (Exodus 32:1-5). In Ugaritic and Hebrew, Baal's epithet as the storm god was He Who Rides on the Clouds. I know the firstborn of Creation through and for Him everything was made would appreciate it! It is related that on one occasion a strange ruler came to the place where Peor was worshiped, to sacrifice to him; but when he heard of this silly practise, he caused his soldiers to attack and kill the worshipers of the god (Sifre, Num. Given Sidons position on the coast, it is not surprising that the storm god is Sidons most important god. 3:10; cf. 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). God's first command to destroy any forms of idol worship came early in the Bible in Exodus 34:13. . Take the word isabel; it can be split as isa bel or as isai bel. 1:711). Baal was a fertility and earth god of the ancient cultures and was later exported to Egypt where he was worshipped as the storm god. In the Judeo-Christian tradition Asherah is considered a false Canaanite deity and a major source of temptation to the Israelites. This god also, apparently according to Canaanite lore, defeated El and had associations with the sun and thunder. Matthew 5:17Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. Albright, Yahweh and the Gods of Canaan (1968); Albright, Arch Rel; S.M. That afon designated the "north" in Hebrew is presumably due to the fact that Mount Casius lies directly north of Palestine. The eschatological traits were taken over with the Canaanite myths. 2:13) and *Asherah (Judg. 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). For seven days a fire burned inside the building, and when it subsided, the house was plated with gold, silver, and lapis lazuli. (Iron Age) temple. because they sell the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of sandals. In the books of Kings and Chronicles, we can read the record of a given king who turned away from God and served the Baals, and the foolishness sounds quick and casual because we are reading a summary. Whatever the case, there is no doubt about Elijah's intent: "How long will you keep shifting from one opinion to the other?" The association of the name Baal-Zephon with Israel's exit from Egypt (Ex. Baal, of course, could not talk to them, but if he could, he would probably have said basically the same thing, so the people were in a very uncomfortable situation. The Hebrew word suggests "smoothness" or "flattering," describing people who "talk the talk" but do not "walk the walk.". The only trouble is that people like to feel comfortable in moral mediocrity. When religion is ungodly, its power is destructive, and every institution in the nation suffers. They used the name of God frequently, saying they trusted Him, but they filled the nation with stealing, lying, and murder. In this chapter, the prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal have a show-down to prove the power of their God and gods. Baal's worshipers appeased him by offering sacrifices, usually animals such as sheep or bulls (1 Kings 18:23). 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. He views them as personally rejecting Him and His Word. 11:17; I Kings 8:3536; Jer. 27:1). that the southern kingdom of Judah ever had .just like her momma. The Laodicean evaluates himself, saying, "I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing" (Revelation 3:17). Biblical Sidon is perhaps most infamously known as the birthplace of the Phoenician princess Jezebel (1 Kings 16:31), who became queen of the Israelites during King Ahabs reign in the ninth century B.C.E. Download our mobile app for on-the-go access to the Jewish Virtual Library, Encyclopaedia Judaica, 1998 - 2023 American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. All rights reserved. The name is more likely derived from the god Baal. 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. BAAL-WORSHIP AMONG THE GENTILES.The evidence is hardly of such weight as to justify us in speaking of a worship of Baal. Another idea is that it pictures a person shifting his weight from one foot to the other, indicating a degree of lameness. Before we explore what Scripture says about Baal, lets establish a brief depiction of the Canaanite deity. "But there was no voice. 14:2). Various forms of Baal worship are still going on in the Catholic church; even though these pagan idols were incorporated into Catholicism centuries ago, the worship of the sun still exists to this day. A frequent epithet is "Cloud Rider" (rkb rpt) which has an almost identical parallel in Psalms 68:5. Prophets and Prophecy (Part 1). If anyone could get an award for Having the Worst Neighbors, it would most likely go to the ancient Israelites. 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 others, they rejected Yahweh worship altogether and fully turned themselves over to the idols of Canaan (2 Kgs 17:14-17). ; contact address: [emailprotected]. It proved extremely hard for a monotheistic faith to compete against the Canaanite fertility cult. Baal's house was constructed in an extraordinary fashion. There are several ideas as to exactly what Elijah meant by "How long will you falter between two opinions?" They think that what they are doing is right, but they are deceived. But it could have existed long before that, when God established the law, including laws against eating pork, since pig slaughter and sacrifice were a hallmark of Baal worship. Thus the basis of the Baal cult was the utter dependence of life on the rains which were regarded as Baal's bounty. Some suppose Baal to correspond to the sun and Ashtoreth to the moon; others that Baal was Jupiter and Ashtoreth Venus. Baal worship is and has always been pagan; today it is replacing the laws and beliefs based upon Judaeo-Christian roots, which honours the GOD of the Bible, His laws and His ways. He awakens them to their spiritual and moral responsibilities. At Ras-Shamar, Baal was referred to as the son of Dagon, the Philistines chief god. But what was its real effect on the participants and the nation? This establishes the fact that the Cannanites (Phoenicians) has connections with the Tamil speaking ancient Kerala mariners. In the Aztec religion, life existed before humans, and civilization was built after the destruction of the fourth sun. In their spiritually unaware state, they will be incredulous at God's punishment for "such a little bit of sin." Elijah prepared the way for Elisha, who had a double portion of Elijah's spirit and did many more miracles. Baal was the god of agriculture and fertility in Canaan, becoming a fallen angel and a demon. Historical Background of HoseaBaal and Idolatry. Virtually all reference to Baal's consort, the violent "Virgin Anath" with whom Baal copulates by the thousand in one of the Ugaritic mythological fragments has been excluded from the Bible, but the goddesses Ashtart (Judg. He just goes to sleep as he is freezing to death. Molech was another such god. He is the king of the east and governs an army of 66 legions of demons." Did you catch that? Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Israel "feared other gods" (verse 7). Since the Ugaritic verified the antiquity and authenticity of this divine name, additional instances have been alleged in the Psalter and in Job. The word "Baal" derives from the Semitic stem "bel", meaning "lord". 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. The judge Gideon was also named Jerubbaal (Judges 6:32), and King Saul had a son named Ishbaal (I Chronicles 8:33). ; Job 3:8, 7:12, 9:13, 26:1213, 38:811, 40:25). 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. However, even though their origins were Canaanite, the Phoenicians established their own distinct culture. (verses 9-11). Source: Encyclopaedia Judaica. 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. A religion with such a beginning was doomed to fail, bringing the nation down with it. The longest of the texts deals with the construction of Baal's house on top of Mount apn. Then stood up Phinehas, and exe Then they linked up with Baal Peor, attending funeral banquets and eating idol food. Once Elijah began preaching, their conscience pricked them, and it encouraged them to worship the true God. 6:30; II Kings 16:3233) are associated with him. People like to feel comfortable. Apparently in anticipation of developments the artisan god Koshar had cast furnishings of gold and silver. In addition to Baal still influencing religions and pagan practices today, we must take note of what happened to the Israelites and vigilantly watch our churches. The Canaanites worshiped Baal as the sun god and as the storm godhe is usually depicted holding a lightning boltwho defeated enemies and produced crops. The rains were fully controlled by YHWH who called them from the sea and poured them out on the surface of the earth (Amos 5:8b; 9:6b). And Asherah and Baal led the way together (Judges 3:7, 1 Kings 18:19, 2 Kings 23:4). Baal & Asherah. He began to prophesy in a time of immediate crisis, one that would become far worse before it ever improved. I prefer transliterating the sheva with [*] rather than any other English vowel letter, so I prefer Y*HWaH to YuHWaH or to YaHWeH, for that matter. The myth may refer in part to the construction of Baals own temple in the city of Ugarit. The prophet turns the heat on, and they become angry with him when he is actually working to make them better. The bulk of the Ugaritic mythological texts is concerned with the activities of Baal. Elijah had to take drastic measures to prevent Baal worship from completely eradicating the worship of the true God (I Kings 18:20-40). Whether it turns out to be the falling away remains to be seen. Thus, they developed a syncretic religious system, a blending of the truth of God and outright paganism. Sign up to receive our email newsletter and never miss an update. Speech is completely original and produced exclusively by Grace Digital Network Music licensed through Artlist.io Footage licensed through Filmpac.com and S. 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. Searching for Israel (Part Six): Israel Is Fallen, Is Fallen. Sidons Phoenician Temple. His opinion of his holiness as compared with God's judgment is so far off base, it causes Jesus Christ to regurgitate him from His body. The Israelites displayed a pandemic failure to love their fellow man. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them (2 Kings 21:3). This chapter reports on the behavior of the people placed in Israel after Israel's conquest and deportation by Assyria between 722-720 BC. In their ignorance, the people do not realize the terrible calamity that is coming soon upon modern Israel. Baal's objection to the window somehow concerned his three daughters and the sea-god (Yamm), but the text is broken at this point. He was considered superior to his father, El, the chief of the deities. All Rights Reserved. Alan, how said anything about John baptizing Jesus? The Septuagint (LXX) rendered Joshua, the son of Nun, in Greek as Iesous; the same was used for Christs name in the NT. For example, Christmas and Easter are traditions of men, but they are lies. The latter title has a biblical echo in the corrupted form Baal-Zebub (II Kings 1:2ff. Canaanite Religions and Baal Worship by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson Audio (12:51) Free E-mail Bible Study Grace: Favor for the Undeserving. Baal rejoiced and celebrated with a banquet. Who were the Sidonians of the Bronze Age (c. 30001200 B.C.E.)? The prophet Haggai attributed the drought and scarcity in his day to the failure to rebuild the Temple (Hag. Dated to c. 1750 B.C.E. 55:613; Jer. If it is of men, it will not work very long. The Aztec people used two calendars. This article is about Baal worship in the Bible. By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. It disturbed them. But their carnality and their fear of men persuaded them to worship Baal, because they wanted to be friends with their fellow Israelites. What Is Coptic and Who Were the Copts in Ancient Egypt? Baal worship spread rapidly when the king of Israel, Ahab, married Jezebel, the princess of Tyre (1 Kings 16:31-32). None of the foolish practices of the heathen could bring the rains; only YHWH could and did (Jer. Two practices in particular are mentioned in Scripture. See what over 150,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. In some cases, they attempted to attach this practice to worship of the Lord (Ezek 23:39). But church is where we come to have our minds stretched and measured against Christ's standard. Learn about the Canaanite-Phoenician deities who were called Baal, which means Lord. Child sacrifice was even practiced in the Valley of Hinnom just outside of Jerusalem. The Canaanites often worshipped her via trees (Asherah poles) because of her association with the tree of life. An example of Israel going after Baal leads to their loss of direction and, ultimately, scattering at the hands of the Assyrians and the Babylonians. This is exactly what God warns us to flee, and the only way to come out of it is by developing and maturing in our relationship with God. The Baal-worship so often alluded to and described in Holy Writ might, perhaps, be better styled, id-worship, moon-worship, Melek (Moloch)-worship, or Hadad-worship, according to places and circumstances. COPYRIGHT 2023 BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY SOCIETY 5614 Connecticut Ave NW #343, Washington DC 20015-2604. What will happen will affect the entire world, even though the world will not grasp the spiritual significance. He was overseeing a tevilah (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritual_washing_in_Judaism#Full-body_immersion_.28Tvilah.29) in a mikveh (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikveh). The bird cannot make up its mind where it wants to settle down, so it just keeps hopping around. One of the rooms in this temple had a bench, where offerings would have been placed, and an altar made of piled and unhewn stones, which recalls the Biblical command to make altars of uncut stones (see Exodus 20:25). Essentially, the Phoenicians were the Canaanites who survived from the Bronze Age into the Iron Age and who were not supplanted by new people groups (Philistines, Israelites, etc.). Looking at these two definitions we can say . The name Baal in the Bible is most commonly associated with the Canaanite and Phoenician god of fertility, the rain, the sun, and the storm. Baal was the title of the "god" worshiped in ancient Canaan and Phoenicia. Sometimes the leadership of the nation of Israel tolerated and embraced the deities of other nations. Immorality lies in the desire of men to live self-centered lives independent of God, as when Adam and Eve took of the forbidden tree (Genesis 3:1-19). The worship of this idol consisted in exposing that part of the body which all persons usually take the utmost care to conceal. In the mythology of Canaan, Baal, the god of life and fertility, locked in mortal combat with Mot, the god of death and sterility. (Jeremiah 7:8-10). The building materials, gold, silver, and lapis lazuli, were procured and the architect-builder Koshar was invited to dinner and consultation. The cosmic character of afon leads to its use as a synonym for "sky" in Job 26:7: "who stretched out afon on emptiness who suspended earth on naught." The prophet comes along and troubles people by awakening them to their sins, making them feel guilty about their relationships with God and each other. After a sortie against the sea-god, Baal returned to his house and ordered Koshar to install a window; Koshar laughed, reminded Baal of the debate, and complied. Because Canaan depended on rain to grow crops and survive, he was numero uno. With the help of the sun-goddess Shapsh, Anath locates the dead Baal, carries him to the height of apn, and weeping buries him with funerary sacrifices. The Sovereign Creator is not a God who allows His favor to be bought with crumbs. That Baal appears to be a relative newcomer in the Ugaritic pantheon has been generally recognized, and it may be that Sakkhunyaton's story about Baal's paternity reflects a mythologizing of the process by which Baal was integrated into the family of El. 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." 74:1314, 89:910, 93:1ff. For this reason, God shows that the preacher, not the civil authority, is the most vital part of the community. Like ancient Israel, we can easily fall back into our former ways. 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 . Who were the Sidonians, and what do we know about their religion? Dated to c. 1750 B.C.E., the handle pictures the storm god as a leonine dragon. . Today, music performers entice young and old in the practice of the worship of Baal-Peor In the Hebrew language, Baal as a noun means "lord or possessor." As a verb, it means "to have dominion over or be lord over." Additionally, the local deity (near Israel) "Baal," was a god of rain and fertility. Or about Yahweh? He was also called the Lord of Rain and Dew, the two forms of moisture that were indispensable for fertile soil in Canaan. 30 Verses to Reflect on in the Book of Hebrews. Their commitment went one way, and then it went the other way. (verse 8). Ashtaroth is mentioned 12 times in the Old Testament. 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. In Hosea 10:2, God charges Israel with having a divided heart. Though it hurts, the pain is indicative of rescue and cure. THIS IS A PROFILE OF PRACTICES, DOCTRINES, AND SYMBOLS OF BAAL WORSHIP . Let's exemplify Baal doctrines as preached . 26:46). Study the god Baal, Baal worship, and the presentation of Baal in the Bible. They simply evolve. It may be, however, that these extra Baalim are Baal's attendants, mentioned as the seven or eight lads whom Baal is ordered to take with him in his descent into the netherworld. The god Baal was the heathen sun-god spoken of in the Old Testament. . This is typical Israeliltish syncretism, but it will not work. Baal, god worshipped in many ancient Middle Eastern communities, especially among the Canaanites, who apparently considered him a fertility deity and one of the most important gods in the pantheon. By submitting to Him, we take a small step in being transformed into what He is. In Canaanite religion her primary role was that of mother goddess. The variant form Hadad (hdd) is attested to only once in Ugaritic. Baal (/ b e. The prize of the victory was kingship over the gods and the enthronement ritual guaranteed the natural order of life and the welfare of the society. The violence and injustice in Israelite society ultimately stemmed from the false teaching proclaimed from the pulpits. A general understanding about the bamah and . How many pagan ideas have we let seep in? The Name] instead of prouncing the YHWH word even though the Masoretes added the sheva below the Y and the Qamats below the W. 10:25, 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15, 18). Today, some evangelicals attempt to prepare the people for what is to come, but their teaching is a mixture of right and wrong. The Bible is full of colorful characters, from Noah to Moses to Jesus. He is deceived into thinking that his material prosperity proves that God approves of his conduct and attitudes. See what over 150,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. Discovered in a farmer's field in northeastern Egypt, this inscribed monument bears the name of one of the few pharaohs actually named in the Old . The tablets, although closely attached to the worship of Baal at his local temple, probably represent Canaanite belief generally. In the Bible, Baal is spoken of in a negative light, as an idol and a false god, and is associated with idolatry and paganism. The summer drought did not mean that YHWH had died (like Baal), nor did the return of the rains signal the resurrection. Baal's sister-consort Anath demanded that Mot release her brother. This viewpoint was developed as the basic and final argument against Baalism. Observing Christmas and Easter in the name of Christ is no different. 3:23). For those early Hebrews, Baal designated the Lord of Israel, just as Baal farther north designated the Lord of Lebanon or of Ugarit. Yet, he was in trouble his whole life, from his teenage years on. He could, and did, withhold the rain from one city and lavish it on another (Amos 4:7). Check out her books at hopebolinger.comfor clean books in most genres, great for adults and kids. He is a loving Master who only is to be obeyed and servedand only on His terms. He is often accused of causing their pain. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch" (Matthew 15:14). The basis of all immorality is selfishness, the exact opposite of what God is. 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. He replaced the Levitical priesthood with men of his own choosing. Israel "walked in the statutes of the nations whom the LORD had cast out from before the children of Israel." But Jezebels religion is not Jewish whereas the religion of the Tamils is more like that of the Jews. Baal in Smith's Bible Dictionary Baal (2) the supreme male divinity of the Phoenician and Canaanitish nations, as Ashtoreth was their supreme female divinity. The sum of what Elijah said is actually spiritually dangerous, due to the fact that God is judging. He established a feast in the eighth month to replace the true Feast of Tabernacles in the seventh. It may seem easy to point the finger at the ancient Israelites and say, How could you let a bull statue into Israel? Most of them were just saving themselves and making themselves comfortable in their situation. 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. (II Kings 17:35-38). If you will not be committed to Him, you are going to die.". When the rain failed, it was inevitable that some would question YHWH's power and resort to Baal. 19:5ff.). Adad roughly equates with the later Phoenician storm god Baal, the worship of whom is championed by the nefarious queen Jezebel in the Bible. Payment of the full tithe to the food stores of the Temple, some thought, would guarantee that YHWH would open the windows of heaven and pour down overflowing blessings (Mal. There was tremendous evil to overcome. They also worshiped him as a fertility god who provided children. "Christian" religions of this world have mixed the traditions of paganism with some of the truth of God's Word. He describes Israel as a luxuriant grape vine sending runners in every direction, indicating a bountiful crop. Despite having the power and support of the king of Israel and his . Learn more about Biblical Sidon and Sidonian religion in Claude Doumet-Serhals article SidonCanaans Firstborn in the July/August 2017 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review. The above comment is by Prof. Abraham Joseph, M.Sc., M.Phil. But Baal was not exclusively a fertility god. In the Bible, Baal (also rendered Baal) was an important Canaanite god, often portrayed as the primary enemy of the Hebrew God Yahweh. 19 Now therefore, call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests. Evil practices never go away. Corrections? Photo: Courtesy of Claude Doumet-Serhal. * Jesus is a transliteration of the Latin; it is NOT a translation! Baal and Asherah were two giant stumbling blocks for the people of Israel. A large part of this world's appeal is its offer of financial security. FREE ebook: Israel: An Archaeological Journey. Through the influence of the Aramaeans, who borrowed the Babylonian pronunciation Bel, the god ultimately became known as the Greek Belos, identified with Zeus.