Difference between revisions of "Baal"

<p> '''Baal''' (''Bâ'Al'' ), ''Lord.'' 1. A Reubenite. &nbsp;1 Chronicles 5:5. 2. The eon of Jehiel, and grandfather of Saul. &nbsp;1 Chronicles 8:30; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 9:36. </p> <p> '''Baal.''' The prevailing worship of the Phœnician and [[Canaanitish]] nations, as [[Ashtoreth]] was their prominent goddess. There can lie no doubt of the great antiquity of the worship of Baal. It prevailed in the time of Moses among the [[Moabites]] and Midianites, &nbsp;Numbers 22:41, and through them spread to the Israelites. &nbsp;Numbers 25:3-18; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 4:3. In the times of the kings it became the religion of the court and people of the ten tribes, &nbsp;1 Kings 16:31-33; &nbsp;1 Kings 18:19; &nbsp;1 Kings 18:22, and appears never to have been wholly abolished among them. &nbsp;2 Kings 17:16. [[Temples]] were erected to Baal in Judah, &nbsp;1 Kings 16:32, and be was worshipped with much ceremony. &nbsp;1 Kings 18:19; &nbsp;1 Kings 18:26-28; &nbsp;2 Kings 10:22. The religion of the ancient British islands resembled this ancient worship of Baal. The [[Babylonian]] Bel, &nbsp;Isaiah 46:1, or Belus, is supposed to be identical with Baal, though perhaps under some modified form. The plural, Baalim, is found frequently, and the singular, Baal, in different compounds, among which appear— </p> <p> 1. '''Baal-berith''' (''Bâ'Al-Bç'Rith'' ), ''The [[Covenant]] Baal.'' &nbsp;Judges 8:33; &nbsp;Judges 9:4. The God who comes Into covenant with the worshippers. </p> <p> 2. '''Baal-hanan''' (''Bâ'Al-Hâ'Nan'' ). 1. The name of one of the early kings of Edom. &nbsp;Genesis 36:38-39; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 1:49-50. 2. The name of one of David's officers, who had the superintendence of his olive and sycamore plantations. &nbsp;1 Chronicles 27:28. </p> <p> 3. '''Baal-peor''' (''Bâ'Al-Pç'Or'' ), ''Lord Of The Opening, I.E.,'' for others to join in the worship. The narrative, &nbsp;Numbers 25:1-18, seems clearly to show that this form of Baal-worship was connected with licentious rites. </p> <p> 4. '''Baal-zebub''' (''Bâ'Al-Zç'Bub'' ), ''Lord Of The Fly,'' and worshipped at Ekron. &nbsp;2 Kings 1:2-3; &nbsp;2 Kings 1:16. </p> <p> '''Baal''' also occurs as the prefix or suffix to the names of several places in Palestine. Rome of them are— </p> <p> 1. '''Baal''' , a town of Simeon, named only fn &nbsp;1 Chronicles 4:33, which from the parallel list in &nbsp;Joshua 19:8 seems to have been identical with '''Baalath-beer''' . </p> <p> 2. [[Baalah]] (''Bâ'Al-Ah'' ), ''Mistress.'' 1. Another name for '''Kibjath-jearim''' , or '''Kirjath-baal''' , perhaps now Kuriet el Enab (?). &nbsp;Joshua 15:9-10; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 13:6. 2. A town in the south of Judah, &nbsp;Joshua 15:29, which in 19:3 is called [[Balah]] , and in the parallel list, &nbsp;1 Chronicles 4:29, [[Bilhah]] . </p> <p> 3. [[Baalath]] (''Bâ'Al-'' ''Ăth'' ), ''Mistress,'' a town of Dan named with Gibbethon, Gath-rimmon and other [[Philistine]] places. &nbsp;Joshua 19:44. </p> <p> 4. '''Baalath-beer''' (''Bâ'Al-'' ''Ăth-B'' ''Ç'Er'' ), ''Lord Of The Well.'' A town in the south part of Judah, given to Simeon, which also bore the name of '''Ramath-negeb''' , or "the height of the south." &nbsp;Joshua 19:8. </p> <p> 6. '''Baal-gad''' (''Bâ'Al-G'' ''Ăd'' ), ''Lord Of Fortune,'' used to denote the most northern, &nbsp;Joshua 11:17; &nbsp;Joshua 12:7, or perhaps northwestern, 13:6, point to which Joshua's victories extended. Possibly it was a Phœnician or Canaanite sanctuary of Baal under the aspect of Gad, or Fortune. </p> <p> 6. '''Baal-hamon''' (''Bâ'Al-Hâ'Mon'' ), ''Lord Of A Multitude.'' A place at which [[Solomon]] had a vineyard, evidently of great extent. &nbsp;Song of Solomon 8:11. </p> <p> 7. '''Baal-hazor''' (''Bâ'Al-Hâ'Zor'' ), ''Village Of Baal.'' A place where [[Absalom]] appears to have had a sheep-farm, and where [[Amnon]] was murdered. &nbsp;2 Samuel 13:23. </p> <p> 8. '''Mount Baal-hermon''' (''Bâ'Al-Hêr'Mon'' ), ''Lord Of Hermon,'' &nbsp;Judges 3:3, and simply Baal-hermon, &nbsp;1 Chronicles 5:23. This is usually considered as a distinct place from Mount Hermon; but we know that this mountain had at least three names, &nbsp;Deuteronomy 8:9, and Baal-hermon may have been a fourth in use among the Phœnician worshippers of Baal. </p> <p> 9. '''Baal-bieon''' (''Bâ'Al-Mç'On'' ), ''Lord Of The House.'' One of the towns built by the Reubenites. &nbsp;Numbers 32:38. It also occurs in &nbsp;1 Chronicles 5:8, and on each occasion with Nebo. In the time of Ezekiel it was Moabite, one of the cities which were the "glory of the country." &nbsp;Ezekiel 25:9. </p> <p> 10. '''Baal-perazim''' (''Bâ'Al-Pĕr'A-Zĭm,'' or ''Perâ'Sim'' ), ''Lord Of Divisions.'' The scene of a victory of David over the Philistines, and of a great destruction of their images. &nbsp;2 Samuel 5:20; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 14:11. See &nbsp;Isaiah 28:21, where it is called '''Mount Perazim''' . </p> <p> 11. '''Baal-shalisha''' (''Bâ'Al-Sh'' ''Ăl'I-Shah'' ), ''Lord Of Shalisha.'' A place named only in &nbsp;2 Kings 4:42, apparently not far from Gilgal; Comp. 4:38. </p> <p> 12. '''Baal-tamar''' (''Bâ'Al-Tâ'Mar'' ), ''Lord Of The [[Palm]] Tree.'' A place named only in &nbsp;Judges 20:33, as near [[Gibeah]] of Benjamin. The palm tree (''Tâmâr'' ) of Deborah, &nbsp;Judges 4:1-24; &nbsp;Judges 5:1-31, was situated somewhere in the locality. </p> <p> 13. '''Baal-zephon''' (''Bâ'Al-Zç'Phon'' ), ''Lord Of The North.'' A place in Egypt near where the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, &nbsp;Numbers 33:7; &nbsp;Exodus 14:2; &nbsp;Exodus 14:9, probably on the western shore of the [[Gulf]] of Suez, a little below its head. </p>

<p> '''Ba'al.''' ''(Lord).'' </p> <p> 1. A [[Reubenite]] &nbsp;1 Chronicles 5:5. </p> <p> 2. The son of Jehiel, and grandfather of Saul. &nbsp;1 Chronicles 8:30; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 9:36. </p> <p> The supreme male divinity of the Phoenician and Canaanitish nations, as Ashtoreth was their supreme female divinity. Some suppose Baal to correspond to the sun and Ashtoreth to the moon; others that Baal was [[Jupiter]] and Ashtoreth Venus. There can be no doubt of the very high antiquity of the worship of Baal. It prevailed in the time of Moses among the Moabites and Midianites, &nbsp;Numbers 22:41, and through them spread to the Israelites. &nbsp;Numbers 25:3-18; &nbsp;Numbers 4:3. </p> <p> In the times of the kings, it became the religion of the court and people of the ten tribes, &nbsp;1 Kings 16:31-33; &nbsp;1 Kings 18:19; &nbsp;1 Kings 18:22, and appears never to have been permanently abolished among them. &nbsp;2 Kings 17:16 Temples were erected to Baal in Judah, &nbsp;1 Kings 16:32 and he was worshipped with much ceremony. &nbsp;1 Kings 18:19; &nbsp;1 Kings 26-28; &nbsp;2 Kings 10:22. The attractiveness of this worship to the Jews undoubtedly grew out of its licentious character. We find this worship also in Phoenician colonies. </p> <p> The religion of the ancient British islands much resembled this ancient worship of Baal, and may have been derived from it. Nor need we hesitate to regard the Babylonian Bel, &nbsp;Isaiah 46:1, or Beaus, as essentially identical with Baal, though perhaps under some modified form. The plural, '''Baalim''' , is found frequently, showing that he was probably worshipped under different compounds, among which appear - </p> <p> 3. ''Baal-Berith.'' ''(The Covenant Baal),'' &nbsp;Judges 8:33; &nbsp;Judges 9:4, the god who comes into covenant with the worshippers. </p> <p> 4. ''Baal-Zebub.'' ''(Lord Of The Fly),'' and worshipped at Ekron. &nbsp;2 Kings 1:2-3; &nbsp;2 Kings 1:16. </p> <p> 5. ''Baal-Hanan.'' a. The name of one of the early kings of Edom. &nbsp;Genesis 36:38-39; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 1:49-50. </p> <p> b. The name of one of David's officers, who had the superintendence of his olive and sycamore plantations. &nbsp;1 Chronicles 27:28. </p> <p> 6. ''Baal-Peor.'' ''(Lord Of The Opening,'' that is, ''For Others To [[Join]] In The Worship).'' We have already referred to the worship of this god. The narrative Numbers 25 seems clearly to show that this form of Baal-worship was connected with licentious rites. </p> <p> '''Geographical.''' This word occurs as the prefix or suffix to the names of several places in Palestine, some of which are as follows: </p> <p> 7. '''Baal''' a town of Simeon, named only in &nbsp;1 Chronicles 4:33 which from the parallel list in &nbsp;Joshua 19:8 seems to have been identical with [[Baalath-Beer]] . </p> <p> 8. '''Baalah.''' ''(Mistress).'' </p> <p> a. Another name for '''Kirjath-Jearim''' , or '''Kirjath-Baal''' , the well-known town now Kuriet el Enab. &nbsp;Joshua 15:9-10; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 13:6. </p> <p> b. A town in the south of Judah, &nbsp;Joshua 15:29 which in &nbsp;Joshua 19:3, is called '''Balah''' , and in the parallel list, &nbsp;1 Chronicles 4:29, '''Bilhah''' . </p> <p> 9. '''Baalath.''' ''(Mistress),'' a town of Dan named with Gibbethon, Gath-rim-mon and other Philistine places. &nbsp;Joshua 19:44. </p> <p> 10. ''Baalath-Beer.'' ''(Lord Of The Well).'' '''Baal, 7''' , a town among those in the south part of Judah, given to Simeon, which also bore the name of '''Ramath-Negeb''' , or "the height of the south." &nbsp;Joshua 19:8. </p> <p> 11. ''Baal-Gad.'' ''(Lord Of Fortune),'' used to denote the most northern, &nbsp;Joshua 11:17; &nbsp;Joshua 12:7, or perhaps northwestern, &nbsp;Joshua 13:5, point to which Joshua's victories extended. It was in all probability a Phoenician or Canaanite sanctuary of Baal under the aspect of [[Gad]] or Fortune. </p> <p> 12. ''Baal-Hamon.'' ''(Lord Of A Multitude),'' a place at which Solomon had a vineyard, evidently of great extent. &nbsp;Song of Solomon 8:11. </p> <p> 13. ''Baal-Hazor.'' ''(Village Of Baal),'' a place where Absalom appears to have had a sheep-farm, and where Amnon was murdered. &nbsp;2 Samuel 13:23. </p> <p> 14. ''Mountain Baal-Hermon.'' ''(Lord Of Hermon),'' &nbsp;Judges 3:3, and simply Baal-hermon. &nbsp;1 Chronicles 5:23 This is usually considered as a distinct place from Mount Hermon; but we know that this mountain had at least three names &nbsp;Deuteronomy 3:9 and Baal-hermon may have been a fourth in use among the Phoenician worshippers. </p> <p> 15. ''Baal-Meon.'' ''(Lord Of The House),'' one of the towns which were built by the Reubenites. &nbsp;Numbers 32:38. It also occurs in &nbsp;1 Chronicles 5:8 and on each occasion with Nebo. In the time of Ezekiel, it was Moabite, one of the cities which were the "glory of the country." &nbsp;Ezekiel 25:9. </p> <p> 16. ''Baal-Perazim.'' ''(Lord Of Divisions),'' the scene of a victory of David over the Philistines, and of a great destruction of their images. &nbsp;2 Samuel 5:20; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 14:11. See &nbsp;Isaiah 28:21 where it is called ''Mountain Perazim'' . </p> <p> 17. ''Baal-Shalisha.'' ''(Lord Of Shalisha),'' a place named only in &nbsp;2 Kings 4:42 apparently not far from Gilgal; Compare &nbsp;2 Kings 4:38. </p> <p> 18. ''Baal-Tamar.'' ''(Lord Of The Palm Tree),'' a place named only in &nbsp;Judges 20:33 as near Gibeah of Benjamin. The palm tree (Hebrew, '''tamar''' ) of Deborah, &nbsp;Judges 4:5, was situated somewhere in the locality, and is possibly alluded to. </p> <p> 19. ''Baal-Zephon.'' ''(Lord Of The North),'' a place in Egypt near where the Israelites crossed the Red Sea. &nbsp;Numbers 33:7; &nbsp;Ezekiel 14:2; &nbsp;Ezekiel 9. We place Baal-zephon on the western shore of the Gulf of Suez, a little below its head, which at that time was about 30 or 40 miles northward of the [[Present]] head. </p>