baal worship practices in the bible baal worship practices in the bible

Now another presentation that the Phoenicians who are also connected with the Canaanites had traded with the trading mariners of Kerala, India. The rains were fully controlled by YHWH who called them from the sea and poured them out on the surface of the earth (Amos 5:8b; 9:6b). A complaint is made to Bull El, father of the gods, that Baal has no house like other gods. 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. Huffmon, Amorite Personal Names in the Mari Texts (1965), 174; W.F. After a sortie against the sea-god, Baal returned to his house and ordered Koshar to install a window; Koshar laughed, reminded Baal of the debate, and complied. Those familiar with the Biblical text will recall that Sidon was an influential, wealthy Phoenician city when the kings of Israel and Judah ruled during the Iron Age. God wants to transform us from people who are bent on pleasing ourselves to people who show concern for others. A frequent epithet is "Cloud Rider" (rkb rpt) which has an almost identical parallel in Psalms 68:5. Gray, The Legacy of Canaan (rev. Payment of the full tithe to the food stores of the Temple, some thought, would guarantee that YHWH would open the windows of heaven and pour down overflowing blessings (Mal. Sacred sex was a key component. Our god is what we give our lives over to. Christ's purpose is to cure, not merely to comfort, so pain will be often involved when dealing with a prophet. Most of them were just saving themselves and making themselves comfortable in their situation. Jer 32:29. For those early Hebrews, Baal designated the Lord of Israel, just as Baal farther north designated the Lord of Lebanon or of Ugarit. Like ancient Israel, we can easily fall back into our former ways. The laws given to Moses by God expressly forbade the Jews to do what was done in Egypt or in Canaan. In other words, God is saying that He was driven to defeat and scatter Israel because they were guilty of exactly the same sin as the Samaritans! Knowledge of Baals personality and functions derives chiefly from a number of tablets uncovered from 1929 onward at Ugarit (modern Ras Shamra), in northern Syria, and dating to the middle of the 2nd millennium bce. During the summer months the rains cease, but the temporary drought is no threat unless it is abnormally prolonged. This life-and-death struggle pitted the worship of Baal against the worship of Jehovah. 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). What Tamils are you speaking of? THIS IS A PROFILE OF PRACTICES, DOCTRINES, AND SYMBOLS OF BAAL WORSHIP . Given Jezebels religious fervor in the Bible, one would expect to find evidence of Baal worship at Sidon. (Iron Age) temple. This Bible History Daily Article was first published in 2017, British Museum Excavations at Sidon Expose Millennia of History, The Phoenician Alphabet in Archaeology by Josephine Quinn. All rights reserved. He views them as personally rejecting Him and His Word. 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. A falling away is taking place right now. A general understanding about the bamah and . (Iron Age) temple. Prophets and Prophecy (Part 1). The king of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away to Assyria, and placed them in Halah and by the Habor, the River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. The proposition for the concept is as follows: The Latins called the Phoenicians as Poeni. One was 260 days and was used for . Sidons Phoenician 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. Thus the basis of the Baal cult was the utter dependence of life on the rains which were regarded as Baal's bounty. This establishes the fact that the Cannanites (Phoenicians) has connections with the Tamil speaking ancient Kerala mariners. 2:11; 3:7; 8:33), while the singular of the word in combination with other terms apparently designated minor or local gods, such as Baal-Berith, Baal-Gad, Baal-Hamon, Baal-Hazor, Baal-Hermon, or, in the feminine form, a goddess, Baalat-Beer, Baalat-Gebal. There was, therefore, continuity in Sidons population from the Bronze to the Iron Age. We may not sacrifice our children on altars for everyone to see; instead, we sacrifice them behind closed doors at a doctor's . 4. Ashtoreth is mentioned three times in scripture, in 1 Kings 11:5 & 33, 2 Kings 23:13. But their carnality and their fear of men persuaded them to worship Baal, because they wanted to be friends with their fellow Israelites. For this reason, God shows that the preacher, not the civil authority, is the most vital part of the community. With the help of wonder weapons supplied and blessed by the versatile Koshar (the craftsman god), Baal was able to defeat and rout the sea-god. In exchange, they would offer information about their unit. What do we know about the religion surrounding this Canaanite deity, and how did it affect those in the Old Testament? 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. The Assyrians deported the population en masse from its homeland in Canaan, transplanting it virtually in toto to the southern shores of the Caspian Sea. What Is the Significance of Not the Letter but of the Spirit? A common designation of Baal in the Ugaritic myths is bn-dgn "son of Dagn"; but Baal is also considered the son of El who is called "Bull El his [i.e., Baal's] father; El King who begot him [Baal]" (tr il abh; il mlk dyknnh). Baal transformed into Zeus, who transformed into Jupiter, etc. 6:30; II Kings 16:3233) are associated with him. A third is that he is describing somebody teetering on a tightrope and trying to maintain his balance. . What will happen will affect the entire world, even though the world will not grasp the spiritual significance. Although they lived in Israel, Jezebel and her retainers were free to worship Baal. This time, Baal puts up a fight and holds Mot off in battle. The prophet turns the heat on, and they become angry with him when he is actually working to make them better. Recall God's wrath when Aaron made a golden calf at the urging of the Israelites in the wilderness and proclaimed a feast to the Lord (Exodus 32:1-5). He replaced the Levitical priesthood with men of his own choosing. The worship of Baal was popular in Egypt from the later New Kingdom in about 1400 bce to its end (1075 bce). The name Baal in the Bible is most commonly associated with the Canaanite and Phoenician god of fertility, the rain, the sun, and the storm. God set up the Levites within Israel to function as the teachers of His way of life, and He sent the prophets as watchdogs on the Levites and civil leaders. 14:13). Ashtaroth is mentioned 12 times in the Old Testament. The sum of what Elijah said is actually spiritually dangerous, due to the fact that God is judging. 14:2). Bible Study Hosea Old Testament. Koshar twice recommended that a window be installed and Baal twice vetoed the suggestion, although Koshar insisted that Baal would have to reconsider. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. When the rain failed, it was inevitable that some would question YHWH's power and resort to Baal. Sift through the storied history of ancient Israel. It indeed produces great material prosperity, but it is consumed through self-indulgent gorging. Israel "walked in the statutes of the nations whom the LORD had cast out from before the children of Israel." 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. This full-body immersion was required for converts (giyur) to the sect called The Way (HaDerech) in Acts whether a Pharisaic/Saddusaic Jew or a Gentile proselyte (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_to_Judaism). 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). He describes Israel as a luxuriant grape vine sending runners in every direction, indicating a bountiful crop. Most modern translations use "false," "deceitful," or "faithless," and none of these are wrong, including "divided." The name is more likely derived from the god Baal. They were primarily devoted to the worship of Baal and Asherah (or Asherim, Asheroth). Even those who have vaguely heard of the name Baal in the Bible know it doesnt have a good connotation. Molech was another such god. The prophet Haggai attributed the drought and scarcity in his day to the failure to rebuild the Temple (Hag. Baal's worshipers appeased him by offering sacrifices, usually animals such as sheep or bulls (1 Kings 18:23). Baal is also referred to about 12 times as "the Rider of the Clouds" which undoubtedly testifies to his control over the rain and storms. Drought and the Fall of the Hittite Empire. In Ugaritic and Hebrew, Baal's epithet as the storm god was He Who Rides on the Clouds. Baal and Asherah were two giant stumbling blocks for the people of Israel. The Hebrew scriptures speak frequently of the Baal of a given place or refers to Baalim in the plural, suggesting the evidence of local deities, or lords, of various locales. The word "Baal" derives from the Semitic stem "bel", meaning "lord". He was also called the Lord of Rain and Dew, the two forms of moisture that were indispensable for fertile soil in Canaan. (From Forerunner Commentary). Baal is said to be one of the first of Solomon's 72 demons. One of the rooms in this temple had a bench, where offerings would have been placed, and an altar made of . They were not committed to the side that they were supposed to be on. 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. So it was in the northern kingdom of Israel after its division from the kingdom of Judah. He awakens them to their spiritual and moral responsibilities. The basis for this view was the fact that in biblical usage the plural of the term, with the article, "the Baalim," appears to designate minor local gods (Judg. In addition to Baal still influencing religions and pagan practices today, we must take note of what happened to the Israelites and vigilantly watch our churches. Lastly, he replaced God with golden calves in Bethel and Dan. 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." 1:711). The heyday of Baal worship in Israel came in the days of Elijah, when the Phoenician princess Jezebel launched a massive campaign to promote Baal. Israel "feared other gods" (verse 7). Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. In an Akkadian catalogue of Ugaritic deities Baal apn is listed as dIM be-el hurn a-zi, "Storm-God, Lord of Mount azi" (see above; az [z] i being the Hurrian name of Mount apn which survives in the Greek and Latin Kasios/Casius as the name of the storied mountain of the gods). Baal's sister-consort Anath demanded that Mot release her brother. Ritual prostitution only served to erode the family, eventually leading to the destruction of the nation. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them (2 Kings 21:3). Recall God's prophecy in Deuteronomy 32:15, predicting that when Israel prospered, then it would rebel. 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. Did the Carthaginians Really Practice Infant Sacrifice? The latter name (Amarna, Addu) is to be related to Arabic hadda ("break," "crash") with reference to thunder. Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/ggenova. Kings Ahaz and Manasseh, 18 Then Jehu gathered all the people together, and said to them, "Ahab served Baal a little, Jehu will serve him much. One such deity who gripped Israel for a period of time was Baal. Baal is a Canaanite and Phoeniciandeity and the son of the chief god El. Baal, of course, could not talk to them, but if he could, he would probably have said basically the same thing, so the people were in a very uncomfortable situation. Most of the information they gave turned out to be wrong, to be lies. . 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. Possibly even more treacherous than this was a parallel development: mixing the worship of Yahweh and Baal. In the Bible, Jezebel is notorious for persecuting the worship of Yahweh and for demanding that the Israelites worship Baal. The Name] instead of prouncing the YHWH word even though the Masoretes added the sheva below the Y and the Qamats below the W. But what was its real effect on the participants and the nation? "Whatever is not of faith is sin" (Romans 14:23). How many pagan ideas have we let seep in? Jews nowadays say Ha-Shem [i.e. 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. The Lord calls for the worship of him and his idols to be uprooted and destroyed, and for the people to turn away from his false . He replaced the Levitical priesthood with men of his own choosing. 26:1920). They become "settled on their lees," as it says in Zephaniah 1:12. People like to feel comfortable. Paul, in: Biblica, 49 (1968), 3436; U. Oldenburg, The Conflict Between El and Bal in Canaanite Religion (1969). Ashtaroth is mentioned 12 times in the Old Testament. Lastly, he replaced God with golden calves in Bethel and Dan. Study the god Baal, Baal worship, and the presentation of Baal in the Bible. After we accept His calling, He commands us to become moral as He is. Commentaries are at odds over what the Hebrew word translated divided means. What is so interesting is that, by verse 36, God is no longer reporting on the Samaritans but is addressing Israel. The spectacular victory for Yahwism did not have a lasting effect. 25:111; Ps. In the Bible, Jezebel is notorious for persecuting the worship of Yahweh and for demanding that the Israelites worship Baal. We must understand that our god is not what we say we worship but what we serve. 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 established a feast in the eighth month to replace the true Feast of Tabernacles in the seventh. 57 Bull Baal. 33:7) has been made the basis of intriguing speculation by Eissfeldt. In the Hebrew Bible, Moloch is presented as a foreign deity who was at times illegitimately given a place in Israel's worship as a result of the syncretistic policies of certain apostate kings. Gen. 41; II Sam. Anyway she changed her mind and sent his son to Libya etc 4:12; Hos. (The suggestion that Jer. Actually, there were two gods which were essentially worshiped the same way, Baal and Ashtoreth. Notably, an impressed handle found near a Canaanite grave at the site depicts Sidons storm god and a ship. YHWH's victory over the waters is connected either with the rescue of Israel at the Exodus (Ps. Depending on the tradition, she was either Baal's mother, lover, or both. He wanted people to like him, which is understandable. You have a cuddly little Baal idol in your child's bedroom without even suspecting it. Despite having the power and support of the king of Israel and his . Yet Sidon was a significant site before this period, too. 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. A large part of this world's appeal is its offer of financial security. This is a prophet's job, a hallmark of a prophet of God. 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. Theoretically, the Israelites did not believe in idols, but in reality, they did. One interpretation is that it is a localized occurrence, in the sense of it happening just within the little flockthe church. 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). Given Sidons position on the coast, it is not surprising that the storm god is Sidons most important god. Most often, it condemns Baal worship. This is exactly what God warns us to flee, and the only way to come out of it is by developing and maturing in our relationship with God. To become moral, we must kill our selfish egos through the use and guidance of God's Holy Spirit. 27:1, 30:7, 51:910; Ezek. Dated to c. 1750 B.C.E., the handle pictures the storm god as a leonine dragon. 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. All Rights Reserved. In other words, prosperity turns people's heads. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. No one answered; no one paid attention" (v. 29 ESV). The prophet comes along and troubles people by awakening them to their sins, making them feel guilty about their relationships with God and each other. With Baal's functions accredited to YHWH, it was natural and fitting that some of Baal's titles would also be taken over. In those God calls outthose who, by faith, will voluntarily yield to HimHe is building character based on outgoing love. Elijah says disturbing things. The Largest Baal Worship Service on the Planet is in America August 27, 2017 by Andy Roman "They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone." Daniel 5:4. Since the Ugaritic verified the antiquity and authenticity of this divine name, additional instances have been alleged in the Psalter and in Job. What modern-day Baals have we worshipped in place of God? Source: Encyclopaedia Judaica. When a person is freezing to death, he feels a pleasant numbness that he does not want to end. Paul, then, is letting the church know that it need not be concerned about missing the end time. His ministry took place about 150 years before Israel was to fall, becoming the Lost Ten Tribes, so God was beginning to make a powerful witness to them. The events leading up to the Day of the Lord will be unmistakable to those with eyes to see. 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. It Is So Painful to Care: How Do I Conquer Apathy? In the Old Testament, many of the kings and eventually the whole nation of Israel rebelled against God and chose opposing belief systems. 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. Apparently in anticipation of developments the artisan god Koshar had cast furnishings of gold and silver. God's difference from us is that He is holy; He is moral and we are immoral. Isa. 57:310), perhaps including copulation with animals (Hos. The beliefs and practices of the Canaanites were not only detestable, but they also . God's first command to destroy any forms of idol worship came early in the Bible in Exodus 34:13. . In this regard, Elijah was a type of John the Baptist, and Elisha, a type of Christ. . 10:25, 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15, 18). 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. More than 1400 of her works have been featured in various publications. They clash violently until both are prostrate and the Sungoddess warns Mot not to fight with Baal lest El hear and overthrow him. 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. Doumet-Serhal explains the significance of the handles iconography: The dragon epitomizes the most fundamental ancient mythical perception of the Mesopotamian storm god. So the word Jezebel finally means one who is a good musician. By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. In short, Scripture has nothing positive to say about Baal. 11:1011). Does that way of life conform to the God of the Bible, or does it spring from the mind of men? (the Middle Bronze Age). They also worshiped him as a fertility god who provided children. For a while, both sidesthe Confederate and the Unionaccepted those turncoats and took their information. I appreciate your consideration, and Im sure the Most High does as well! Child sacrifice was even practiced in the Valley of Hinnom just outside of Jerusalem. The Laodicean evaluates himself, saying, "I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing" (Revelation 3:17). Baal was the title of the "god" worshiped in ancient Canaan and Phoenicia. When we see that our thoughts and ways are not His, we should reform and repent. Elijah had to take drastic measures to prevent Baal worship from completely eradicating the worship of the true God (I Kings 18:20-40). Elijah is quite instructive here. For seven days a fire burned inside the building, and when it subsided, the house was plated with gold, silver, and lapis lazuli. As such, Baal designated the universal god of fertility, and in that capacity his title was Prince, Lord of the Earth. Updated: 12/07/2022 . Burning incense, worship of the sun, moon, astrology, and ancestor worship are all earmarks of the Baal religion. This second, universal interpretation is a better fit because, when we look at the whole passage, the events and personalities are worldwide in scope. The Semitic original of this name has been recognized in one of Baal's names in Ugaritic: (The name is to be connected with the root dmr, "be strong, brave," and is probably the same as that of Abraham's son Zimrn (damarn), the -n afformative being preserved in the genitive case of the Greek form Demarountos). So it was that, about 250 years after it was established, the ten-tribed northern kingdom became extinct as a sovereign nation. a little T-shaped mark that stands for the long-A vowel (like a in father). Anath then dismembered Mot, scattered and burned the pieces, and gave them to the birds. Meaning of Jezebel: This word can be also pronounced as Isabel. Portions of ancient Baal liturgy were adapted to the praise of Israel's God, as the Ugaritic poems have shown. 30 Verses to Reflect on in the Book of Hebrews. The Semitic word Baal means lord or master, and the ancient people believed he was in charge of all of nature and humans. The Sovereign Creator is not a God who allows His favor to be bought with crumbs. Despite Gods efforts to dissuade them, the Israelites engaged with the Canaanite culture a little too much and adopted their practices, including Baal worship. One idea is that he means, "How long are you going to hop from branch to branch? But who is Baal? Elijah was sent by God, and he was fulfilling the responsibility of a prophet, to prod the people to whom he was sent to their responsibilities. Sometimes the leadership of the nation of Israel tolerated and embraced the deities of other nations. Since their rejection of the house of David under Jeroboam I, the Israelites had practiced a syncretistic religion (Amos 5:21-26; 8:14; I Kings 12:25-33). The biblical allusions to YHWH's victory over the sea preserve echoes of the older exploit of Baal (cf. This is no different from what Israel was doing when Amos wrote back in 760 BC. ; contact address: [emailprotected]. Indeed, religion flourished, as Amos, Hosea's contemporary, clearly reports (see Amos 5:21-27). In the formative stages of Israels history, the presence of Baal names did not necessarily mean apostasy or even syncretism. linked to Molech (also called Milcom in the Bible). Baal worship was rooted in sensuality and involved ritualistic prostitution in the temples. In their spiritually unaware state, they will be incredulous at God's punishment for "such a little bit of sin." For Constantine, the acceptance of Christianity was done solely TO UNIFY TERRITORY, RELIGIONS, AND POLITICAL MOVEMENTS. Today Baal churches preach and teach Baal doctrines; prosperity, harvest, sex and fertility. As such, Baal designated the universal god of fertility, and in that capacity his title was Prince, Lord of the Earth. The myth may refer in part to the construction of Baals own temple in the city of Ugarit. Hope Bolingeris an acquisitions editor at End Game Press, and the author 21+ books. Baal was a false god the feckless Jewish King Ahab and his wicked wife, Jezebel, attempted to force upon the nation of Israel during the time of Elijah the prophet (see 1 Kings 18). He is deceived into thinking that his material prosperity proves that God approves of his conduct and attitudes. Baal (/ b e. The ancient Tamils had connections with the Syrians and Sidon. Through the window, a cleft in the clouds, Baal gave forth his holy voice which convulsed the earth and sent his enemies scurrying to the hills and woods. It will be far more terrible than anything ever seen on this earth! Their commitment went one way, and then it went the other way. One of the rooms in this temple had a bench, where offerings would have been placed, and an altar made of piled and unhewn stones, which recalls the Biblical command to make altars of uncut stones (see Exodus 20:25). The basis of all immorality is selfishness, the exact opposite of what God is. They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, And ate the sacrifices of the dead. Baal's 450 prophets worked themselves into a frenzy, cutting themselves, dancing, and chanting to their god. The only trouble is that people like to feel comfortable in moral mediocrity. They used the name of God frequently, saying they trusted Him, but they filled the nation with stealing, lying, and murder. BAAL-WORSHIP AMONG THE GENTILES.The evidence is hardly of such weight as to justify us in speaking of a worship of Baal. There is no doubt that prosperity is good, but unless one is properly focused and disciplined, it can also be a demanding master because of its power to distract one into idolatry. Not a BAS Library member yet? That Baal appears to be a relative newcomer in the Ugaritic pantheon has been generally recognized, and it may be that Sakkhunyaton's story about Baal's paternity reflects a mythologizing of the process by which Baal was integrated into the family of El. He sends someone long before the real crisis reaches its peak, while it is building. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. In mythological texts from the Late Bronze Age (c. 1550-1200 B.C.E) city-state of Ugarit, she is called "the creatress of the gods"; her consort at Ugarit, the god El, is . Thus, according to Sakkunyaton, Baal's natural father was Ouranos and Dagn became his foster-father, while El-Kronos effected the transfer. . Baal Worship The Battle for the Israelites' Hearts For nearly a thousand years, a battle raged for the hearts of the Israelite nation. Hosea exposes the problem between God and Israel. 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