This shows that the Egyptian Cleopatra had maritime connections with the ancient Kerala Tamils. 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. Either you are going to be committed to Him or not. Jesus says, "They are blind leaders of the blind. He awakens them to their spiritual and moral responsibilities. Silapadikaram, a Tamil Classic, mentions more than 200 musical instruments. It indeed produces great material prosperity, but it is consumed through self-indulgent gorging. Two practices in particular are mentioned in Scripture. In the Aztec religion, life existed before humans, and civilization was built after the destruction of the fourth sun. "Whatever is not of faith is sin" (Romans 14:23). Sift through the storied history of ancient Israel. All this was part of his fertility role, which, when fulfilled, meant an abundance of crops and fertility for animals and mankind. 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. Photo: Courtesy of Claude Doumet-Serhal. 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. Most of them were just saving themselves and making themselves comfortable in their situation. Further, they "followed idols, became idolaters, and . Even those who have vaguely heard of the name Baal in the Bible know it doesnt have a good connotation. A frequent epithet is "Cloud Rider" (rkb rpt) which has an almost identical parallel in Psalms 68:5. He is a loving Master who only is to be obeyed and servedand only on His terms. The Macedonian Cleopatra planned to send her son to India through the Red Sea. Jehu's massacre of the Baal worshipers (II Kings 10:1828) did not eradicate bull worship (II Kings 10:31). Near Baals temple was that of Dagon, given in the tablets as Baals father. Sun worship came from the ancient pagan religion of Baal. Drought and the Fall of the Hittite Empire. Asherah was a fertility goddess. In the Old Testament, many of the kings and eventually the whole nation of Israel rebelled against God and chose opposing belief systems. The proposition for the concept is as follows: The Latins called the Phoenicians as Poeni. Baal's house was constructed in an extraordinary fashion. Sidons Phoenician Temple. Claude Doumet-Serhal of the British Museum details recent excavations at Sidon in her article SidonCanaans Firstborn, published in the July/August 2017 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The myth may refer in part to the construction of Baals own temple in the city of Ugarit. Baal worship was the bane of the Ancient Israelites. They used the name of God frequently, saying they trusted Him, but they filled the nation with stealing, lying, and murder. Thus the basis of the Baal cult was the utter dependence of life on the rains which were regarded as Baal's bounty. 1:711). The Bible speaks of the destruction of Baal's temples and the idols associated with him. Ahab accommodated his wife's idolatry to the point of building a . Most of the information they gave turned out to be wrong, to be lies. A falling away is taking place right now. The Aztec people used two calendars. In Hosea 10:2, God charges Israel with having a divided heart. No one answered; no one paid attention" (v. 29 ESV). (the Iron Age). In those God calls outthose who, by faith, will voluntarily yield to HimHe is building character based on outgoing love. . Their reverence for Him was mere intellectual accommodation intended to appease Him. Since the Ugaritic verified the antiquity and authenticity of this divine name, additional instances have been alleged in the Psalter and in Job. 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.. 55:613; Jer. Baal was a god of prosperity, god of harvest, sex and fertility. This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. The worship of Baal extended in this region to the Jews, Canaanites and the Phoenicians. north of Ugarit. 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." When Elijah preached his message, it put the people in a bind because they knew their conscience was telling them that they had to commit themselves to God or to Baal. Download our mobile app for on-the-go access to the Jewish Virtual Library, Encyclopaedia Judaica, 1998 - 2023 American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. To become moral, we must kill our selfish egos through the use and guidance of God's Holy Spirit. (The suggestion that Jer. 106 a ). Most often, it condemns Baal worship. 1:4; Hab. Baal worship was rooted in sensuality and involved ritualistic prostitution in the temples. Huffmon, Amorite Personal Names in the Mari Texts (1965), 174; W.F. Second was passing their babies through the fire. 1:21), would be catastrophic. One was 260 days and was used for . Lastly, he replaced God with golden calves in Bethel and Dan. In daily life, they conformed to and reflected the Babylonish system just as Israel does today. 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). 2:13) and *Asherah (Judg. Baal is said to be one of the first of Solomon's 72 demons. And the statutes, the ordinances, the law, and the commandment which He wrote for you, you shall be careful to observe forever; you shall not fear other gods. The most prominent idol that they worshiped was Baal. Usually the storm god is illustrated as a striding human figure, but sometimes he is represented by one of his symbols, such as the bull or leonine dragon. Groves and high places were places of worship erected to Canaanite gods and goddesses. Baal's worshipers appeased him by offering sacrifices, usually animals such as sheep or bulls (1 Kings 18:23). (Jeremiah 7:8-10). 19 Now therefore, call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests. The word is used as the name of a town in ancient Israel in Deuteronomy 1:4, Joshua . Superstitious fear and sexual rites on the one hand fought against faith and loyalty on the other. A complex religion with traditions and gods from all over the ancient Middle East, Baal worship offered something for everyone. The principal pillars of Baalism were child sacrifice, sexual immorality (both heterosexual and homosexual) and pantheism . was furnished by Harvard University excavations in the form of personal names containing Baal as the theophorous element, such as bybl, "Baal is my father," bl zmr, "Baal sings" or "Baalis strong," bl zkr, "Baal remembers," bl mny, "Baal is my answer," etc. Whether it turns out to be the falling away remains to be seen. 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. Valimai means strengh, or force or weight. But when heat is applied, and the blood begins rushing into the affected areas, pain immediately occurs. 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." He was also called the Lord of Rain and Dew, the two forms of moisture that were indispensable for fertile soil in Canaan. Everything Joshua* (Yehoshua) did was in accordance with the TaNaKh, which is an acrostic for Torah (=Law/Instruction), Neviim (=Prophets), and Ketuvim (=Writings). Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Elijah was dealing with the same thing here, albeit spiritually. Next both Mot and Baal appear reconstituted and reactivated and again in conflict. When the rain failed, it was inevitable that some would question YHWH's power and resort to Baal. Although they lived in Israel, Jezebel and her retainers were free to worship Baal. This is not brand new, but it is picking up speed. The ancient Tamils had connections with the Syrians and Sidon. Prepare to Meet Your God! 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. Paul, then, is letting the church know that it need not be concerned about missing the end time. Baal worship is something I associated only with Old Testament Bible days. (II Kings 17:35-38). But who is Baal? Baal was the title of the "god" worshiped in ancient Canaan and Phoenicia. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. (Iron Age) temple. A complaint is made to Bull El, father of the gods, that Baal has no house like other gods. Sacred sex was a key component. 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. Anyway she changed her mind and sent his son to Libya etc ( The first is the Assyrian crisis, discussed here.) 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. A DSS fragment has it spelled Iaw in Greek (iota-alpha-omega), which is consistent with Yahoah; see ccat.sas.upenn.edu/rs/rak/lxxjewpap/4QLevB.jpg. He is the king of the east and governs an army of 66 legions of demons." Did you catch that? By submitting to Him, we take a small step in being transformed into what He is. ; contact address: [emailprotected]. 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). The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment Sign up for the Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. Baal Peor, or the Baal of Peor, was a local deity worshiped by the Moabites. Adad roughly equates with the later Phoenician storm god Baal, the worship of whom is championed by the nefarious queen Jezebel in the Bible. Some become discouraged with the church because we are always being toldto some measure anywaydisturbing things about ourselves. The basis of all immorality is selfishness, the exact opposite of what God is. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The Sidonians were the inhabitants of ancient Sidon, a seaport on the Mediterranean Sea in modern Lebanon. Baal Worship Child sacrifice was even practiced in the Valley of Hinnom just outside of Jerusalem. 26:46). In others, they rejected Yahweh worship altogether and fully turned themselves over to the idols of Canaan (2 Kgs 17:14-17). made for themselves a molded image and two calves, made a wooden image and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal" (verses 15-16). The tablets, although closely attached to the worship of Baal at his local temple, probably represent Canaanite belief generally. Evil practices never go away. We need to be reminded of it because it can have a detrimental effect on us. See what over 150,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. So it was in the northern kingdom of Israel after its division from the kingdom of Judah. This is God's way of showing that Israel abused its prosperity: It used its prosperity for the purposes of idolatry. This describes to a T what Israel did then and their descendants are continuing to do today. The Semitic word "baal" (meaning '"Lord") was also used to refer to various deities of the Levant. 3:8; Ps. He was to be an aid in getting them from their state of being merely "churched" to that of being truly religious and servants of the Most High God. 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. But God has a different perspective; He says they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked (Revelation 3:17). "like a bird in a tree. After a textual gap, there is a report that Baal's corpse has been found. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. With human features as well as the eyebrows, nose and horns of a ram, this painted limestone figurine represents a deity and dates to c. 1650 B.C.E. The spectacular victory for Yahwism did not have a lasting effect. Baal was the title of the "god" worshiped in ancient Canaan and Phoenicia. 10:25, 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15, 18). 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. 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. And the covenant that I have made with you, you shall not forget, nor shall you fear other gods. Archeological excavations have dated information about Baal back as far as the second millennium BC, and the spread of Baal worship caught fire in Egypt in 1400 BC. In Phoenician he was called Baal Shamen, Lord of the Heavens. Baal Worship Baal-Berith Berbers Bet (Ha)-Midrash Bet Din Bethar Bibliophiles Bloodletting Chronicles of Kings of Israel Episcopus Judaeorum Essenes Exile Fable Flood Forced Baptism Garden of Eden Glass Golden Calf Goliath Great Revolt Great Synagogue Hannah and her Seven Sons Hasmoneans/Maccabees Hebrew Printing Hekdesh Herod Herodian Dynasty Some suppose Baal to correspond to the sun and Ashtoreth to the moon; others that Baal was Jupiter and Ashtoreth Venus. Observing Christmas and Easter in the name of Christ is no different. 11:1011). All Rights Reserved. 26:1920). Yet if you asked most people who believe and follow this new morality, I suspect few would have ever heard of Baal. 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. And one of the most famous instances of Israel going head to head with the prophets of Baal comes from 1 Kings 18. Avot 5:11 on the connection between tithing and rain). A second interpretation is that since the falling away contains the definite article, it refers to a unique event in man's history, far greater than anything that has happened before. He was the god that provided - food - for the people. The Kingdom of Israel fell below the historian's radar. The violence and injustice in Israelite society ultimately stemmed from the false teaching proclaimed from the pulpits. As a result of their sin, the men of Israel were judged by God. Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail. Source: Encyclopaedia Judaica. One interpretation is that it is a localized occurrence, in the sense of it happening just within the little flockthe church. The motifs of these myths were adopted and adapted in Jewish and Christian eschatology. Baal was different from his adherents merely in that he was above them. Canaanite worship often took place in open-air sites at the tops of hills, referred to in the Bible as "high places." . 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. They set up for themselves sacred pillars and wooden images on every high hill and under every green tree; and there they burned incense on all the high places, as the nations had done whom the LORD had carried away before them." 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. The worship of Baal penetrated Jewish religious life during the period of the Judges ( Judges 3:7 ), became common in Israel during the rule of Ahab ( 1 Kings 16:31-33 ), and also influenced Judah ( 2 Chronicles 28:1-2 ). Given Sidons position on the coast, it is not surprising that the storm god is Sidons most important god. The worship of Baal was popular in Egypt from the later New Kingdom in about 1400 bce to its end (1075 bce). What do we know about the religion surrounding this Canaanite deity, and how did it affect those in the Old Testament? Kings Ahaz and Manasseh, If the rains failed and drought and death came upon the land and people, it was not because Mot had mangled Baal and made the glowing sun-goddess destructive; it was rather YHWH's way of meting out merited punishment to a faithless and sinful people (Deut. Thus, according to Sakkunyaton, Baal's natural father was Ouranos and Dagn became his foster-father, while El-Kronos effected the transfer. The Laodicean evaluates himself, saying, "I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing" (Revelation 3:17). 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. 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. Sometimes the leadership of the nation of Israel tolerated and embraced the deities of other nations. 57:310), perhaps including copulation with animals (Hos. See what over 150,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. Who were the Sidonians, and what do we know about their religion? Apparently in anticipation of developments the artisan god Koshar had cast furnishings of gold and silver. John W. Ritenbaugh 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. 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. As we study the operation of the spirit of Baal in the Bible, one can see the fruit of its operation in the USA.. In this chapter, the prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal have a show-down to prove the power of their God and gods. The god Baal was the heathen sun-god spoken of in the Old Testament. In popular and syncretistic religion in Israel, Yahweh could be equated with both El and Baal. Smith, The Ugaritic Baal Cycle (1994). II Kings 17:7-17 catalogs the sins of Israel: Widespread idolatry. One idea is that he means, "How long are you going to hop from branch to branch? Ashtaroth is mentioned 12 times in the Old Testament. The contest on Mount Carmel was reported as demonstrating that Baal was an impotent non-entity and that the rain came only from YHWH. 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). 57 Bull Baal. El and Anath mourn violently, mutilating their faces and bodies. Did the Ancient Israelites Think Children Were People. 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. . . *Romans 1:25 "Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and WORSHIPPED AND SERVED THE CREATURE MORE THAN THE CREATOR". Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/ggenova. Does the Bible Mention What to Give Up for Lent? In Hebrew, it is rendered Yehoshua, and in Aramaic, Yeshua. (Iron Age) temple. Because of their self-absorption, God's "sudden" punishment will stun the people of the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia, and the other nations of modern Israel, including some members of the true church. God's pattern is being established. However, God still holds them responsible because the truth is available. The religion of Israel began with a man, Jeroboam I, who changed the true worship of God (I Kings 12:26-33). 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. John W. Ritenbaugh The Masoretic text has the 4 letters YHWH with a sheva under the Y, pronounced yuh, and a Qamats below the W, i.e. His overall conduct may not be too bad, but his poor self-analysis persuades him that he has no urgent need to seek God any further. 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. And that happened with the Canaanites and Baal. It was this Israelite worship of Baal which was challenged by the Hebrew prophet Elijah in his famous conflict with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel in I Kings 18, when he challenged the. As a Semitic common noun baal (Hebrew baal) meant owner or lord, although it could be used more generally; for example, a baal of wings was a winged creature, and, in the plural, baalim of arrows indicated archers. Commentaries are at odds over what the Hebrew word translated divided means. Jews nowadays say Ha-Shem [i.e. 13:2) such as Baal himself performed in the Ugaritic myth are depicted in the prophetic tirades. Did the Carthaginians Really Practice Infant Sacrifice? . Asherah, along with Astarte and Anath, was one of the three great goddesses of the Canaanite pantheon. Its is right up there with the thought that we know where Jesus was born, or that one can see a descendant of the original burning bush, etc.. The latest archaeological discoveries shed light on Biblical Sidon and provide a window into the Sidonians polytheistic religion and worship practices during the Bronze and Iron Ages. . But their carnality and their fear of men persuaded them to worship Baal, because they wanted to be friends with their fellow Israelites. For a while, both sidesthe Confederate and the Unionaccepted those turncoats and took their information.