Baal
Fausset's Bible Dictionary [1]
BAAL as applied to places. It sometimes refers to Baal's worship there; sometimes it means that the place possesses some attribute denoted by the other part of the compound. It is a Canaanite not Hebrew term: applied to the men of Jericho while Canaanites ( Joshua 24:11), "the men ( Baliy , possessors, occupants) of Jericho." Also "the men ( Baliy , occupants) of Shechem," the ancient city of the Hivite Hamor ( Judges 9:2-51); the occupants of Keilah, bordering on pagandom ( 1 Samuel 23:11-12); Uriah the Hittite; "lords of the pagan" ( Isaiah 16:8).
So strong was Israelite orthodox feeling against the name, that they altered names in which it occurred: Jerubbaal into Jerubbesheth, Merib-baal into Mephibosheth: compare Hosea 2:16. "At that day, saith Jehovah, thou shalt call Me Ishi, and shalt call Me no more Baali." Though both express "my husband," yet Baali by being used for the images of Baal whose name ought not to be taken up into the lips ( Psalms 16:4), was to be renounced for the unambiguous Ishi.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [2]
bā´al בּעל , ba‛al , "lord," "master," "possessor"):
(1) A descendant of Reuben, Jacob's first-born son, and the father of Beerah, prince of the Reubenites, "whom Tiglath-pileser ( 1 Chronicles 5:5 , 1 Chronicles 5:6 ) king of Assyria carried away captive."
(2) The fourth of ten sons of Jeiel (King James Version "Jehiel"), father and founder of Gibeon. His mother was Maacah; his brother Kish father of Saul ( 1 Chronicles 8:29 f; 1 Chronicles 9:35 , 1 Chronicles 9:36 , 1 Chronicles 9:39; compare 1 Samuel 14:50 f). These passages identify Jeiel and Abiel as the father of Kish and Thus of Baal. For study of confusions in the genealogical record, in 1 Chronicles 9:36 , 1 Chronicles 9:39 , see Kish; Abiel; Jeiel .
(3) In composition often the name of a man and not of the heathen god, e.g. Baal-hanan, a king of Edom ( Genesis 36:38; 1 Chronicles 1:49 ); also a royal prefect of the same name ( 1 Chronicles 27:28 ). Gesenius thinks that Baal in compound words rarely refers to the god by that name. See Baal (deity).
(4) A city of the tribe of Simeon ( 1 Chronicles 4:33 ). See Baalath-Beer .
