Baal-Gad

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Baal-Gad (? ‘Baal of fortune’). A place under Hermon, in the valley of Lebanon, referred to only as the northern limit of the country conquered by Joshua (  Joshua 11:17;   Joshua 12:7;   Joshua 13:5 ). Various identifications have been suggested, all uncertain. Perhaps Banias is the most probable. See Cæsarea Philippi.

R. A. S. Macalister.

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

This was another of the heathen idols, and as we learn from the book of Joshua, ( Joshua 11:17) was set up in the valley of Lebanon.. Gad means fortune; so that Baal-gad means a lord of fortune.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 1 Chronicles 5:23 Joshua 13:5 11:17 12:7

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Joshua 11:17

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Ba´al-Gad, a city 'in the valley of Lebanon under Mount Hermon' ( Joshua 11:17;  Joshua 12:7). We are also informed that among those parts of Palestine which were unsubdued by the Hebrews at the death of Joshua, was 'all Lebanon towards the sun-rising, from Baal-gad, under Mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath' ( Joshua 13:5). This position of Baal-Gad is not unfavorable to the conclusion which some have reached, that it is no other than the place which, from a temple consecrated to the sun, that stood there, was called by the Greeks Heliopolis, i.e. city of the sun; and which the natives called and still call Baalbek, a word apparently of the same meaning.

Baalbek is pleasantly situated on the lowest declivity of Anti-Libanus, at the opening of a small valley into the plain El-Bekaa. Through this valley runs a small stream, divided into numberless rills for irrigation. The place is in N. lat. 34° 1′ 30″, and E. 36° 11″, distant 109 geog. miles from Palmyra, and 38¾ from Tripoli.

Its origin appears to be lost in the most remote antiquity, and the historical notices of it are very scanty. In the absence of more positive information we can only conjecture that its situation on the high-road of commerce between Tyre, Palmyra, and the farther East, must have contributed largely to the wealth and magnificence which it manifestly attained. It is mentioned under the name of Heliopolis by Josephus, and also by Pliny. From the reverses of Roman coins we learn that Heliopolis was constituted a colony by Julius Caesar; that it was the seat of a Roman garrison in the time of Augustus. Some of the coins of later date contain curious representations of the temple.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. id., בִּעִל גָּר , Lord Of Fortune: Sept. Βααλγάδ v. r. Βαλαγάδ , once [ Joshua 13:5] Γαλγάλ ), a city of the Canaanites, perhaps in the valley of Lebanon, at the source of the Jordan and foot of Mount Hermon, whose kings were taken and put to death by Joshua, but the city itself remained unsubdued in his day ( Joshua 11:17;  Joshua 12:7;  Joshua 13:5). It was a place evidently well known at the time of the conquest of Palestine, and, as such, used to denote the most northern ( Joshua 11:17;  Joshua 12:7), or perhaps northwestern ( Joshua 13:5, Hamath being to the extreme northeast) 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, (See Gad), from whose worship it appears to have derived its name. (See Baalim). The words "the plain ( בַּקְעָה ) of Lebanon" would lead to the supposition that it lay between the two ranges of Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon which is still known by the same name El-Buka'A, and it has accordingly been identified by Iken and others (including Thomson, Land And Book, 1:353) with Baalbek (Ritter, Erdkunde, 17:230). (See Baalbek). But against this are the too great distance of Baalbek to the north, and the precise expression of the text "under Mount Hermon." The conjecture of Schwarz (Palest. p. 60), supported by Robinson (Researches, new ed. 3, 519), is, that the modern representative of Baal-gad is Banias, a place which long maintained a great reputation as the sanctuary of Pan. (See Caesarea Philippi). From its association with Mount Hermon, it would seem to be the same with Baal-Hermon ( Judges 3:3;  1 Chronicles 5:23). — Smith.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

bā´al - gad בּעל גּד , ba‛al gādh  ; Βαλαγαδά , Balagadá , Βαλγάδ , Balgád ̌ : Joshua in his conquest reached as far north as 'Baal-gad in the valley' of Lebanon, under Mount Hermon ( Joshua 11:17 ). This definitely locates it in the valley between the Lebanons, to the West or Northwest of Hermon. It must not be confused with Baal-hermon. Conder thinks it may be represented by ‛Ain Jedeideh .