The principal pillars of Baalism were child sacrifice, sexual immorality (both heterosexual and homosexual) and pantheism . Dated to c. 1750 B.C.E., the handle pictures the storm god as a leonine dragon. Since the Ugaritic verified the antiquity and authenticity of this divine name, additional instances have been alleged in the Psalter and in Job. As a result of their sin, the men of Israel were judged by God. No one answered; no one paid attention" (v. 29 ESV). Not only do the Jews have to deal with the abomination of Zeus and Antiochus Epiphanes IV (Daniel 8), but the Greek pantheon later gets repeated in the Roman pantheon, and practices from both the Greeks and Romans still exist today. Baal remains silent during the exchange, whereas God showers a sopping-wet altar with fire. They too had blended the worship of the true God with outright paganism, utterly corrupting the relationship He had established with them. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The god Baal was the heathen sun-god spoken of in the Old Testament. For those early Hebrews, Baal designated the Lord of Israel, just as Baal farther north designated the Lord of Lebanon or of Ugarit. He was the god that provided - food - for the people. A vivid description of theophany in a thunderstorm is found in Psalms 18:715 (= II Sam. No doubt, we cant cover the breadth of verses on Baal here, but we should make a note that Baal becomes a big player in the book of Judges and during the time of the kings when Israel appears to succumb most to the foreign pantheons. Since the root tr in Arabic is connected with artificial irrigation, it is apparent that Ashtar's failure to measure up to Baal represents the inadequacy of irrigation as a substitute for natural rainfall. The word bal, common Semitic for "owner, master, husband," became the usual designation of the great weather-god of the Western Semites. The god of arts and crafts, Kothar, then proceeded to build for Baal the most beautiful of palaces which spread over an area of 10,000 acres. 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. He established a feast in the eighth month to replace the true Feast of Tabernacles in the seventh. Omissions? One interpretation is that it is a localized occurrence, in the sense of it happening just within the little flockthe church. Murder and sexual immorality was a part of Baal worship. 1:21), would be catastrophic. Baal worship spread rapidly when the king of Israel, Ahab, married Jezebel, the princess of Tyre (1 Kings 16:31-32). Pagan Religious Practices. Gen. 41; II Sam. Who were the Sidonians of the Iron Age (c. 1200586 B.C.E.)? In a normal good year, when the rains come in due season, there is no hiatus in productivity, for the land yields its increase, the trees produce their fruit, the threshing overlaps, the vintage overlaps the sowing, and there is food aplenty, prosperity, and peace (Lev. They see themselves as following the way of God, but their religion has deceived them by failing to teach them His truth. 27:1, 30:7, 51:910; Ezek. Nevertheless, he was still faithful, and he did his job. They were Canaanites and shared numerous similarities, including many of the same gods, with their close neighbors in the southern Levantwho were also predominantly Canaanite. He replaced the Levitical priesthood with men of his own choosing. Avot 5:11 on the connection between tithing and rain). The violence and injustice in Israelite society ultimately stemmed from the false teaching proclaimed from the pulpits. 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. For instance, Hezekiahs son rebuilds the shrines of Baal and the Canaanite goddess Asherah that Hezekiah had torn down: He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he also erected altars to Baal and made an Asherah pole, as Ahab king of Israel had done. They were not committed to the side that they were supposed to be on. 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). 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. We must understand that our god is not what we say we worship but what we serve. Further, they "followed idols, became idolaters, and . Despite having the power and support of the king of Israel and his . Combine a one-year tablet and print subscription to BAR with membership in the BAS Library to start your journey into the ancient past today! In Canaanite religion her primary role was that of mother goddess. 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. He is deceived into thinking that his material prosperity proves that God approves of his conduct and attitudes. 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. (verses 9-11). 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. If anyone could get an award for Having the Worst Neighbors, it would most likely go to the ancient Israelites. 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. Right now, though, we are witnessing a steady defection from the basic principles of the Bible, away from what we call the Judeo-Christian ethic. Sometimes the leadership of the nation of Israel tolerated and embraced the deities of other nations. The most prominent idol that they worshiped was Baal. A religion with such a beginning was doomed to fail, bringing the nation down with it. Corrections? 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. (The suggestion that Jer. Searching for Israel (Part Six): Israel Is Fallen, Is Fallen. . How could you worship Baal? But if we dont exercise extreme discernment, we may find ourselves doing the same with modern-day baals. Their commitment went one way, and then it went the other way. He was also called the Lord of Rain and Dew, the two forms of moisture that were indispensable for fertile soil in Canaan. Not a BAS Library member yet? Valimai means strengh, or force or weight. Yet if you asked most people who believe and follow this new morality, I suspect few would have ever heard of Baal. He then merely floats, going through the motions, even feeling good about himself as he neglects so great salvation (Hebrews 2:3). Today, music performers entice young and old in the practice of the worship of Baal-Peor . Notice the dramatic change of attitude in the people. When religion is ungodly, its power is destructive, and every institution in the nation suffers. Besides the names Baal and Haddu, the Ugaritic texts furnish a variety of other titles, such as "Mighty Baal" (aliyn bl) and "Prince, Lord of Earth" (zbl bl ars). Archaeologists at Sidon have uncovered a 12th-11th-century B.C.E. This shows that the Egyptian Cleopatra had maritime connections with the ancient Kerala Tamils. In Psalms 48:23, Mount Zion is equated with "the recesses of afon" (the phrase quoted above from Isa. In others, they rejected Yahweh worship altogether and fully turned themselves over to the idols of Canaan (2 Kgs 17:14-17). "Christian" religions of this world have mixed the traditions of paganism with some of the truth of God's Word. Moffatt renders this, "They worshipped the Eternal, and they also served their own gods.". Its prosperity played a part in corrupting the Israelites' hearts, which is why Hosea mentions the divided or disloyal heart in context with its bountiful fruit. The practice of Baal worship was wide spread in Bible times and was very evil. See what over 150,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. Whoever is missing shall not live.". Elijah was dealing with the same thing here, albeit spiritually. Well dive more into this in the historicity of Baal in a few sections. 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 . In Judah the murder of the queen mother, *Athaliah , and of Mattan, priest of Baal, and the smashing of the altars and cult images in the Baal temple (II Kings 11:18) did not wipe out the cult (II Kings 12:34). This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. Baal Peor, or the Baal of Peor, was a local deity worshiped by the Moabites. In Ugaritic and Hebrew, Baals epithet as the storm god was He Who Rides on the Clouds. Sidon was well connected by trade by the traders of the Pandya kingdom of Tamil Nadu. I appreciate your consideration, and Im sure the Most High does as well! Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Yet such fluidity in the use of the term baal did not prevent it from being attached to a god of distinct character. It will be far more terrible than anything ever seen on this earth! In another room was a round base that likely supported a wooden pillar. Some scholars believe that the Canaanites also sacrificed pigs and that God prohibited his people from eating pork in part to prevent this horrible cult from being established among them. 74:1314, 89:910, 93:1ff. 29:35, 32:26; Nah. 26:1920). In contrast, the church has had periods of strength and weakness all throughout its historyit goes through cycles of rallying around truth and then gradually letting it slip. Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/ggenova. The ancient Tamils had connections with the Syrians and Sidon. This is the crux of our salvation through Jesus Christ. Does the Bible Mention What to Give Up for Lent? Sidons Storm God. Ahab accommodated his wife's idolatry to the point of building a . Hope Bolingeris an acquisitions editor at End Game Press, and the author 21+ books. I would also challenge the suggestion in the text of the article that the location of Lots cave is known. . The spectacular victory for Yahwism did not have a lasting effect. Alan, how said anything about John baptizing Jesus? Baal's objection to the window somehow concerned his three daughters and the sea-god (Yamm), but the text is broken at this point. Ritual prostitution only served to erode the family, eventually leading to the destruction of the nation. Even now some ancient Jews (white and black) live in Cochin, Kerala, India. The myth may refer in part to the construction of Baals own temple in the city of Ugarit. What Is the Meaning of Psalm 91 and Why Is it Popular? 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. In correlating the sequence of events, Baal's victory over the sea-god, Yamm, is probably to be placed near the beginning of the action, since it was presumably this exploit which gained him the dominant position among the gods, just as *Marduk achieved preeminence by defeating the sea-monster Tiamat. Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail. God's pattern is being established. Although they lived in Israel, Jezebel and her retainers were free to worship Baal. 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. The contest on Mount Carmel was reported as demonstrating that Baal was an impotent non-entity and that the rain came only from YHWH. The Macedonian Cleopatra planned to send her son to India through the Red Sea. The Canaanites often worshipped her via trees (Asherah poles) because of her association with the tree of life. 13:2) such as Baal himself performed in the Ugaritic myth are depicted in the prophetic tirades. Paul, then, is letting the church know that it need not be concerned about missing the end time. * Jesus is a transliteration of the Latin; it is NOT a translation! Elijah prepared the way for Elisha, who had a double portion of Elijah's spirit and did many more miracles. Baal worship was the bane of the Ancient Israelites. Most modern translations use "false," "deceitful," or "faithless," and none of these are wrong, including "divided." Photo: Courtesy of Claude Doumet-Serhal. Baal's sister-consort Anath demanded that Mot release her brother. They clash violently until both are prostrate and the Sungoddess warns Mot not to fight with Baal lest El hear and overthrow him. What is so interesting is that, by verse 35, it is clear God is no longer addressing Himself to the Samaritans, but to Israel: [T]he LORD had made a covenant and charged [Israel], saying: "You shall not fear other gods, nor bow down to them nor serve them nor sacrifice to them; but the LORD, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm, Him you shall fear, Him you shall worship, and to Him you shall offer sacrifice. But God has a different perspective; He says they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked (Revelation 3:17). Baal was the god of agriculture and fertility in Canaan, becoming a fallen angel and a demon. THIS IS A PROFILE OF PRACTICES, DOCTRINES, AND SYMBOLS OF BAAL WORSHIP . 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. Scholars previously associated the theonym with solar cults and with a variety of unrelated patron deities, but inscriptions have . Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered!only to go on doing all these abominations? Speech is completely original and produced exclusively by Grace Digital Network Music licensed through Artlist.io Footage licensed through Filmpac.com and S. This life-and-death struggle pitted the worship of Baal against the worship of Jehovah. Matthew 5:17Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 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. He was considered superior to his father, El, the chief of the deities. While they gave lip service to the Creator, they adopted most of the Canaanitish religion with its lewd immorality, and in actual practice, patterned their life after it. 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. A god Baal apn was known from Egyptian and Akkadian sources before the discovery of the Ugaritic documents. 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. Because such people are drunk through riches' deceptive promise, their judgment is in danger of being radically altered. 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. If Baal triumphed, a seven-year cycle of fertility would ensue; but, if he were vanquished by Mot, seven years of drought and famine would ensue. He could, and did, withhold the rain from one city and lavish it on another (Amos 4:7). Either you are going to be committed to Him or not. The combined letters o and e is joined to pronounce the sound ye. By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Sidon is the birth place of Jezabel. 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. Ashtaroth is mentioned 12 times in the Old Testament. 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. 106 a ). 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. YHWH's victory over the waters is connected either with the rescue of Israel at the Exodus (Ps. In Hosea 10:2, God charges Israel with having a divided heart. The Aztec people used two calendars. In Hebrew, it is rendered Yehoshua, and in Aramaic, Yeshua. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritual_washing_in_Judaism#Full-body_immersion_.28Tvilah.29, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_River, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_to_Judaism. Ashtar the Awful (ttrr) was then nominated to replace Baal, but when he ascended the throne, his feet did not reach the footstool nor his head the top and so he declined to reign on the heights of apn and descended from Baal's throne, but ruled over all El's earth. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. He established a feast in the eighth month to replace the true Feast of Tabernacles in the seventh. When Ashtoreth is mentioned in scripture, she is linked to Molech, (also called Milcom in the Bible). They believed in a Creator God, but they worshipped Him at the shrines they erected to the Baals. A solution has been supplied by a tradition ascribed to the ancient Phoenician priest Sakkunyaton (Greek Sanchuniathn) that when El-Kronos defeated Ouranos, he captured in the battle Ouranos' pregnant concubine and gave her to Dagn. Jun 2. Mot refused and boasted how he had mangled Baal. In the El-Amarna letters the logogram for the weather-god is conventionally read Addu, but that it is sometimes to be read Baluis indicated by the addition of the phonetic complement-lu, as well as by the names like Mut dIm written syllabically as mu-ut-ba-a-lum.