What do you know about Baal?

Question

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal

Answer 1

In the Scriptures, the Hebrew word ba′‛al is employed with reference to (1) a husband as owner of his wife (Gen. 20:3.); (2) landowners (Josh. 24:11, ftn.); (3) “owners of the nations” (Isaiah 16:8.); (4) “confederates” (literally, “owners [masters] of the covenant”) (Gen. 14:13.); (5) owners or possessors of tangibles (Ex. 21:28, 34; 22:8; 2 Kings 1:8.); (6) persons or things having something that is characteristic of their nature, manner, occupation, and the like, for example, an archer (literally, “owner of arrows”) (Gen. 49:23.), a “creditor of the debt” (literally, “owner of a debt of his hand”) (Deuteronomy 15:2), “anyone given to anger” (literally, “owner of anger”) (Proverbs 22:24), “judicial antagonist” (literally, “owner of judgment”) (Isaiah 50:8.); (7) Jehovah (Hosea 2:16.); (8) false gods (Judges 2:11, 13).

The term hab·Ba′‛al (the Baal) is the designation applied to the false god Baal. The expression hab·Be‛a·lim′ (the Baals) refers to the various local deities thought of as owning or possessing and having influence over particular places.

The term “Baal” occurs once in the Christian Greek Scriptures, in Romans 11:4, where it is preceded in the Greek text by the feminine article he. Commenting on the use of the feminine article before “Baal” in the Greek Septuagint and Romans 11:4, John Newton wrote in an essay on Baal worship: “Though he is of the masculine gender in the Hebrew, hab·Ba′‛al, the lord, yet Baal is called he Ba′al, = the lady, in the Septuagint; Hos. ii. 8; Zeph. i. 4; and in the New Testament, Romans xi. 4. At the licentious worship of this androgyne, or two-sexed god, the men on certain occasions wore female garments, whilst the women appeared in male attire, brandishing weapons.”—Ancient Pagan and Modern Christian Symbolism, by T. Inman, 1875, p. 119.

At times in Israel’s history Jehovah was referred to as “Baal,” in the sense of his being the Owner or Husband of the nation. (Isaiah 54:5) Also, the Israelites may have improperly associated Jehovah with Baal in their apostasy. The latter appears to be borne out by Hosea’s prophecy that the time would come when Israel, after going into and being restored from exile, would repentantly call Jehovah “My husband,” and no more “My owner” (“My Baal,” American Translation). The context suggests that the designation “Baal” and its associations with the false god would never again pass the lips of the Israelites. (Hosea 2:9-17) The bad connotation that appears to have become attached to the Hebrew word ba′‛al because of its association with the degraded worship of Baal is thought by some to be the reason the writer of Second Samuel used the names “Ish-bosheth” and “Mephibosheth” (bo′sheth means shame) instead of “Eshbaal” and “Merib-baal.”—2 Samuel 2:8; 9:6; 1 Chron. 8:33.

Baal Worship. Little was known about Baal worship aside from the many Scriptural references to it until excavations at Ugarit (the modern Ras Shamra on the Syrian coast opposite the North East tip of the island of Cyprus) brought to light many religious artifacts and hundreds of clay tablets. Many of these ancient documents, now known as the Ras Shamra texts, are thought to be the liturgies of or words spoken by those participating in the rituals at the religious festivals.

In the Ras Shamra texts, Baal (also called Aliyan [the one who prevails] Baal) is referred to as “Zabul [Prince], Lord of the Earth” and “the Rider of the Clouds.” This harmonizes with a representation of Baal, showing him as holding a club or mace in his right hand and a stylized lightning flash with a spearhead in his left. He is also depicted as wearing a helmet with horns, suggesting an intimate connection with the bull, a symbol of fertility.

The beginning of the rainy season was believed to indicate that Baal had awakened to life. The mating of Baal with his wife, presumably Ashtoreth, was believed to ensure fertility for the coming year.

Undoubtedly each Canaanite city built its Baal sanctuary in honor of its local patron Baal. Priests were appointed to conduct the worship at these sanctuaries and the many shrines on neighboring hilltops known as high places. (Compare 2 Kings 17:32.) Inside the shrines there may have been images or representations of Baal, whereas near the altars outside were to be found stone pillars (likely phallic symbols of Baal), sacred poles representing the goddess Asherah, and incense stands. (Compare 2 Chron. 34:4-7) Male and female prostitutes served at the high places, and besides ceremonial prostitution, even child sacrifice was practiced. (Compare 1 Kings 14:23, 24; Hosea 4:13, 14; Isaiah 57:5; Jer. 7:31; 19:5 - Worship of Baal was also carried out right on the housetops of the people, from where sacrificial smoke to their god was frequently seen to rise.—Jer. 32:29.

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. For instance, one of the Ras Shamra texts mentions an offering to “Queen Shapash (the Sun) and to the stars,” and another alludes to “the army of the sun and the host of the day.”

It is, therefore, noteworthy that the Bible makes several references to the heavenly bodies in connection with Baal worship. Describing the wayward course of the kingdom of Israel, the Scriptural record states: “They kept leaving all the commandments of Jehovah . . . , and they began to bow down to all the army of the heavens and to serve Baal.” (2 Kings 17:16.) Concerning the kingdom of Judah, it is noted that right in the temple of Jehovah there came to be “utensils made for Baal and for the sacred pole and for all the army of the heavens.” Also, the people throughout Judah made “sacrificial smoke to Baal, to the sun and to the moon and to the constellations of the zodiac and to all the army of the heavens.”—2 Kings 23:4, 5; 2 Chron. 33:3; see also Zephaniah 1:4, 5.

Each locality had its own Baal, and the local Baal was often given a name denoting his being attached to a specific locality. For instance, the Baal of Peor (Baal-peor), who was worshiped by Moabites and Midianites, took his name from Mount Peor. (Numbers 25:1-3, 6.) The names of these local Baals later came to be transferred through a figure of speech to the localities themselves, as, for example, Baal-hermon, Baal-hazor, Baal-zephon, Bamoth-baal. However, although there were many local Baals, officially, among the Canaanites, it was understood that there was actually just one god Baal.
What effect did Baal worship have on Israel?

Baalism is implied early in the Bible, although apparently it had not reached the level of degradation in the days of the patriarchs that existed when the Israelites entered the land of Canaan. (Compare Gen. 15:16; 1 Kings 21:26.) Before the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, the location Baal-zephon could be seen in the wilderness. (Ex. 14:2, 9) With respect to the inhabitants of Canaan, specific warnings were given to Moses on Mount Sinai to pull down their altars, shatter their sacred pillars, and cut down their sacred poles. (Ex. 34:12-14) Thus all appendages of Baal worship were to be eradicated from the Promised Land.

The people kept altars, poles, and other appendages of Baal worship in their fields, and apparently they listened to their Canaanite neighbors as to how they might please the “owner,” or Baal, of each piece of land. The Israelites were also ensnared by the immoral practices associated with Baal worship. As a result, Jehovah abandoned them to their enemies.

However, when the people turned back to him, Jehovah mercifully delivered them by raising up judges such as Gideon, whose name was changed to Jerubbaal (meaning, “Let Baal Make a Legal Defense (Contend)”). (Judges 6:25-32; 1 Samuel 12:9-11) But no permanent reform then took place. (Judges 8:33; 10:6.) Baalism continued to be practiced even beyond the days of Samuel, although it is written that, at his urgings, the people put away the Baals and Ashtoreth images and began serving Jehovah alone.—1 Samuel 7:3, 4.

Although we do not hear of Baalism again until the end of Solomon’s reign, it may have lingered on in parts of the kingdom. Many varieties of Baalism were introduced into the country as Solomon married his many heathen wives, and they induced him and their children to serve other gods and goddesses, such as Ashtoreth and Molech, who were associated with Baal worship.—1 Kings 11:4, 5, 33; Jer. 32:35.
With the split of the kingdom in 997 B.C.E., Jeroboam set up calf worship in the northern kingdom of Israel at Dan and Bethel. The native Baalism and the calf worship were carried on side by side, just as in Judah a semblance of true worship was carried on at Jerusalem as Baalism was also practiced throughout the land.—1 Kings 14:22-24.

Finally, a famous showdown came at Mount Carmel between Jehovah and Baal.

Likely because Baal, believed to be the owner of the sky, was regarded by his worshipers as the giver of rains and fertility, a drought was ordered by Elijah in the name of Jehovah. (1 Kings 17:1) After three years and six months of drought, Baal having proved unable to bring an end to the drought in answer to the many appeals undoubtedly made by his priests and worshipers, Elijah summoned all the people to Mount Carmel to witness the great test as to who is the true God. The test resulted in the humiliation of the Baal worshipers and the slaughter of 450 Baal prophets. Jehovah, and not Baal, then brought rain to end the drought.—1 Kings 18:18-46; James 5:17.

Ahab’s son and successor, Ahaziah, continued to serve Baal. (1 Kings 22:51-53.) Ahaziah’s brother, Jehoram, succeeded him, and it is reported that he removed the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had made, although he persisted in calf worship.—2 Kings 3:1-3.

All the worshipers of Baal were then summoned to Samaria under pretense of holding “a solemn assembly for Baal.” Then, the Baal worshipers were killed. The sacred poles were burned, and the sacred pillar and house of Baal were pulled down, the house being set aside for a public privy. So, at least for the time, Baal worship was suppressed. However, it was on account of such Baalistic religion that Jehovah finally let the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel go into exile.—2 Kings 17:16-18.

In Judah, Baalism evidently remained entrenched, despite the efforts of King Asa to remove its appendages. (2 Chron. 14:2-5 - When Ahab married off Athaliah, his daughter by Jezebel, to Jehoram, the seventh Judean king, her wicked influence established Tyrian Baalism among the royal family in Judah. Even reforms at the beginning of the reign of Athaliah’s grandson, King Jehoash, and those later by King Hezekiah, did not effect permanent removal of Baal worship. (2 Kings 11:18; 18:4) Hezekiah’s son Manasseh rebuilt the very high places that his father had destroyed. (2 Kings 21:3.)

Jeremiah, carrying on his prophetic work from the days of Josiah to the exile to Babylon, denounced Israel for degrading herself by Baal worship, likening Israel to an adulterous wife who prostituted herself under every luxuriant tree and on every high place, committing adultery with stones and trees, and forgetting Jehovah, “the husbandly owner” of the people. (Jer. 2:20-27; 3:9, 14) After the exile to Babylon and the return of the Jews to Palestine, Baalism is not mentioned in the Bible as being practiced by the Israelites.

Answer 2

Baal Lord. a million. The call appropriated to the crucial male god of the Phoenicians. it is present in numerous places interior the plural BAALIM Judges 2:11 10:10 1Ki 18:18 Jeremiah 2:23 Hosea 2:17 Baal is pointed out with Molech Jeremiah 19:5 It replaced into oftentimes happening to the Israelites as Baal-peor Numbers 25:3 Deuteronomy 4:3 replaced into worshipped till ultimately the time of Samuel 1Samuel 7:4 and replaced into afterwards the religion of the ten tribes interior the time of Ahab 1Kings sixteen:31-33 18:19,22 It prevailed additionally for a time interior the dominion of Judah 2Kings 8:27 comp. 2Kings 11:18 sixteen:3 2Chronicles 28:2 till ultimately ultimately placed an end to with the help of the severe self-discipline of the Captivity Zephaniah a million:4-6 The clergymen of Baal have been in great numbers 1Kings 18:19 and of countless instructions 2Kings 10:19 Their mode of offering sacrifices is defined in 1Kings 18:25-29 The solar-god, below the regularly occurring identify of Baal, or "lord," replaced into the supervisor merchandise of worship of the Canaanites. each locality had its particular Baal, and the countless close by Baals have been summed up below the call of Baalim, or "lords." each Baal had a spouse, who replaced right into a colourless meditated image of himself.

Answer 3

Baal means master. Anything can be our master, money, sex, power, self, etc.

Answer 4

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