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

Join the BAS Library today. (verses 9-11). 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. The worship of Moloch, which was practiced at a special site (outside the walls of Jerusalem in the valley of Ben-Hinnom) called Topheth, became firmly established in the time of King Manasseh, his son Amon, and at the beginning of Josiah's reign. 131; Sanh. He wanted people to like him, which is understandable. Revelation 2:14 "THE DOCTRINES OF . 10:1113; 14:22). Elijah says disturbing things. The Canaanites often worshipped her via trees (Asherah poles) because of her association with the tree of life. Before we explore what Scripture says about Baal, lets establish a brief depiction of the Canaanite deity. 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. Baal and Asherah were two giant stumbling blocks for the people of Israel. Updated: 12/07/2022 However, before the war was over, both sides were summarily executing anybody who did this because those traitors could not be trusted. Further, in biblical usage when applied to the great weather-god, the singular regularly has the article, "the Baal," which suggests that the word was not regarded as a proper name. Since El and Dagn are distinct deities, this seeming confusion over Baal's paternity needs explanation. Theoretically, the Israelites did not believe in idols, but in reality, they did. 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. 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. At Shittim they attached themselves to Baal-Peor, ate sacrifices for the dead, and indulged in sacred sexual orgies (Num. 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. See what over 150,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. In the Bible, the followers of the one true God encounter other gods, or previously worshipped idols themselves. 6:30; II Kings 16:3233) are associated with him. All through the Old Testament, the people of Israel fell into Baal and Asherah worship, and it is no different for us today. . O. Eissfeldt, Beitraege zur Religionsgeschichte des Altertums I (1932); H.L. The proposition for the concept is as follows: The Latins called the Phoenicians as Poeni. Many of the practices mentioned were most probable common to the worship of all the Baals; a few others are certainly specific. Elijah is quite instructive here. What Tamils are you speaking of? 18 Then Jehu gathered all the people together, and said to them, "Ahab served Baal a little, Jehu will serve him much. A large part of this world's appeal is its offer of financial security. They also worshiped him as a fertility god who provided children. In Ugaritic and Hebrew, Baal's epithet as the storm god was He Who Rides on the Clouds. It is urgent that we understand what is involved here because it reveals the cause of God's anger that led to Israel's defeat and scattering. 14:13). Our nation has embraced the old ancient paganism that we read about in the Bible. The second major background factor that we need to grasp somewhat to read Hosea well is the worship of the Canaanite god Baal (s). I would also challenge the suggestion in the text of the article that the location of Lots cave is known. God wants to transform us from people who are bent on pleasing ourselves to people who show concern for others. Sidons Phoenician Temple. In Ugaritic and Hebrew, Baals epithet as the storm god was He Who Rides on the Clouds. Even now some ancient Jews (white and black) live in Cochin, Kerala, India. The sum of what Elijah said is actually spiritually dangerous, due to the fact that God is judging. Your email address will not be published. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Paul is not writing about apostasy in a small group of people that will give rise to an international personality, but an event on the world scene that creates the right environment to catapult this figure, backed by the power of Satan, to the heights of power. 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. "like a bird in a tree. Canaanite Religions and Baal Worship by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson Audio (12:51) Free E-mail Bible Study Grace: Favor for the Undeserving. Whoever is missing shall not live.". Essentially, the Phoenicians were the Canaanites who survived from the Bronze Age into the Iron Age and who were not supplanted by new people groups (Philistines, Israelites, etc.). Whether it turns out to be the falling away remains to be seen. 1:21), would be catastrophic. Rejection of God's Law. They were primarily devoted to the worship of Baal and Asherah (or Asherim, Asheroth). Recall God's prophecy in Deuteronomy 32:15, predicting that when Israel prospered, then it would rebel. 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 ). Download our mobile app for on-the-go access to the Jewish Virtual Library, Encyclopaedia Judaica, 1998 - 2023 American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. 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. It has been suggested that this clash was indirectly a conflict between Baal and El, with Yamm serving as champion for the venerable El, as the Titans fought on behalf of Kronos in the Greek version of the myth and the stone colossus Ulikummi for Kumarbi in the Hurrian-Hittite version which is roughly contemporary with the Ugaritic texts. This connects with the curse of Laodiceanism because God shows in the Laodiceans what can happen spiritually as people increase materially. Baal was the god of rain, wind, and fertility. Anath then dismembered Mot, scattered and burned the pieces, and gave them to the birds. Then stood up Phinehas, and exe Then they linked up with Baal Peor, attending funeral banquets and eating idol food. 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. This corrupt blending of a holy God with a pagan goddess became part of everyday religious practice, which is why evil king Manasseh put an Asherah pole . He established a feast in the eighth month to replace the true Feast of Tabernacles in the seventh. This is a prophet's job, a hallmark of a prophet of God. Alan, how said anything about John baptizing Jesus? 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). Baal was a god of prosperity, god of harvest, sex and fertility. In their ignorance, the people do not realize the terrible calamity that is coming soon upon modern Israel. With Baal's functions accredited to YHWH, it was natural and fitting that some of Baal's titles would also be taken over. 10:25, 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15, 18). By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Certainly not those of east Asia. 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). They clash violently until both are prostrate and the Sungoddess warns Mot not to fight with Baal lest El hear and overthrow him. (Iron Age) temple. The beliefs and practices of the Canaanites were not only detestable, but they also . But it could have existed long before that, when God established the law, including laws against eating pork, since pig slaughter and sacrifice were a hallmark of Baal worship. 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. Extra-biblical evidence for the flourishing Baal cult at Samaria in the ninth and eighth centuries B.C.E. 27:1, 30:7, 51:910; Ezek. 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.. 74:1314, 89:910, 93:1ff. They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, And ate the sacrifices of the dead. Our god is what we give our lives over to. 114) or with eschatological victory (Isa. that the southern kingdom of Judah ever had .just like her momma. II Kings 17:5-6 relates the ultimate consequence. These people, who became known as the Samaritans, feared the Lord but worshipped their own gods. Dated to c. 1750 B.C.E., the handle pictures the storm god as a leonine dragon. The religion of Israel began with a man, Jeroboam I, who changed the true worship of God. Val is related to valimai in Tamil. However, God still holds them responsible because the truth is available. The only trouble is that people like to feel comfortable in moral mediocrity. What made the very name Baal anathema to the Israelites was the program of Jezebel, in the 9th century bce, to introduce into Israel her Phoenician cult of Baal in opposition to the official worship of Yahweh (I Kings 18). In daily life, they conformed to and reflected the Babylonish system just as Israel does today. The bulk of the Ugaritic mythological texts is concerned with the activities of Baal. It disturbed them. The Jews of Christ's day clearly recognized this putrid blend and despised the Samaritans for it. a little T-shaped mark that stands for the long-A vowel (like a in father). Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail. Historical Background of HoseaBaal and Idolatry. 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 handle displays an impression of a ship with the leonine dragon Uumgal, the storm god Adads attendant, next to it. As we study the operation of the spirit of Baal in the Bible, one can see the fruit of its operation in the USA.. Baal was the god of agriculture and fertility in Canaan, becoming a fallen angel and a demon. This is no different from what Israel was doing when Amos wrote back in 760 BC. A third is that he is describing somebody teetering on a tightrope and trying to maintain his balance. linked to Molech (also called Milcom in the Bible). 1:711). Ashtoreth is mentioned three times in scripture, in 1 Kings 11:5 & 33, 2 Kings 23:13. (the Middle Bronze Age). 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). Today,. Required fields are marked *. Ahab accommodated his wife's idolatry to the point of building a . However, even though their origins were Canaanite, the Phoenicians established their own distinct culture. Portions of ancient Baal liturgy were adapted to the praise of Israel's God, as the Ugaritic poems have shown. Charles Whitaker People like to feel comfortable. l, b . For example, Christmas and Easter are traditions of men, but they are lies. 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. Baal's 450 prophets worked themselves into a frenzy, cutting themselves, dancing, and chanting to their god. Sun worship came from the ancient pagan religion of Baal. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. He may have replaced the Sabbath with Sunday worship. So-called from Mount Peor, where this worship was celebrated, the Baal of Peor. ADD. Baal worship also included, at times, child sacrifice, which we see some Israelite kings engaging with later on. The Macedonian Cleopatra planned to send her son to India through the Red Sea. A falling away is taking place right now. Elijah was dealing with the same thing here, albeit spiritually. 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. Most of the information they gave turned out to be wrong, to be lies. Now the king of Assyria went throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria and besieged it for three years. The prize of the victory was kingship over the gods and the enthronement ritual guaranteed the natural order of life and the welfare of the society. Some suppose Baal to correspond to the sun and Ashtoreth to the moon; others that Baal was Jupiter and Ashtoreth Venus. Canaanite worship often took place in open-air sites at the tops of hills, referred to in the Bible as "high places." . 4:12; Hos. "They built for themselves high places in all their cities . 3:10; cf. In Tamil Nadu, the following words payachi paarai, Peyazhwar, payans, pai (meaning devil) are currently in use. For one to keep on coming to services and leaving, like a theatergoer, without his options, opinions, or decisions resolved but deferred, is an erosion of character. 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). Study the god Baal, Baal worship, and the presentation of Baal in the Bible. . Apparently in anticipation of developments the artisan god Koshar had cast furnishings of gold and silver. Lastly, he replaced God with golden calves in Bethel and Dan. If you will not be committed to Him, you are going to die.". Nevertheless, despite the biblical tendency to avoid the use of the word as a proper name, it is now quite clear that by pre-Israelite times the term had become the usual name of the weather-god of Syria-Palestine. 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. Some become discouraged with the church because we are always being toldto some measure anywaydisturbing things about ourselves. More than 1400 of her works have been featured in various publications. 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's worshipers appeased him by offering sacrifices, usually animals such as sheep or bulls (1 Kings 18:23). you didnt even mention her horrible daughter Athaliah, the only killer queen Baal's objection to the window somehow concerned his three daughters and the sea-god (Yamm), but the text is broken at this point. Christ warned the Pharisees: "For laying aside the commandments of God, you hold the traditions of men." (II Kings 17:35-38). To accommodate Baal ideology to Yahwism required some radical transformations. There was, therefore, continuity in Sidons population from the Bronze to the Iron Age. From Easton's Bible Dictionary:Baal-peor: lord of the opening, a god of the Moabites (Numbers 25:3; 31:16; Joshua 22:17), worshipped by obscene rites. We must understand that our god is not what we say we worship but what we serve. Prophets and Prophecy (Part 1). because they sell the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of sandals. The spectacular victory for Yahwism did not have a lasting effect. Perhaps the clearest example of this is Jeremiah, who moaned and complained to God, "This is more difficult than You ever told me it would be. In others, they rejected Yahweh worship altogether and fully turned themselves over to the idols of Canaan (2 Kgs 17:14-17). How Is Harry Potter a Literary Christ Figure? Baal, god worshipped in many ancient Middle Eastern communities, especially among the Canaanites, who apparently considered him a fertility deity and one of the most important gods in the pantheon. Photo: Courtesy of Claude Doumet-Serhal. 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. Baal's resurrection followed Mot's demise, the good news being transmitted through a dream of El: The fields were still parched from the drought and again Anath and Shapsh set out to find Baal. 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. El is praised for his wisdom in granting the request since now it is insured that Baal will give his rain in season. 13:2) such as Baal himself performed in the Ugaritic myth are depicted in the prophetic tirades. Baal was simply the title (literally, Lord) of the pagan god Molech. Dated to c. 1750 B.C.E. 11:1011). . The prophet Amos particularizes the epidemic of social injustice in the Kingdom of Israel. Most modern translations use "false," "deceitful," or "faithless," and none of these are wrong, including "divided." He takes something loathsome and vile, something that is a direct affront to almighty God, a pagan idol, and turns it into a cute little children's fairy tale, so that you can buy the book, see the movies, get the cuddly toy, and bingo! For instance, Amos 2:7 describes a deliberate act of ritual prostitution in a pagan temple: "A man and his father go in to the same girl, to defile My holy name." We need to be reminded of it because it can have a detrimental effect on us. In the El-Amarna letters Canaanite clients addressed the Egyptian king as "My Baal, my Addu." The Septuagint (LXX) rendered Joshua, the son of Nun, in Greek as Iesous; the same was used for Christs name in the NT. (The suggestion that Jer. Most of them were just saving themselves and making themselves comfortable in their situation. II Kings 17:7-17 catalogs the sins of Israel: Widespread idolatry. In the Ugaritic mythological texts Balu (bl) is the name of the god which is used more than twice as often as his next most frequent name, Haddu (hd). It Is So Painful to Care: How Do I Conquer Apathy? This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. *Romans 1:25 "Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and WORSHIPPED AND SERVED THE CREATURE MORE THAN THE CREATOR". The variant form Hadad (hdd) is attested to only once in Ugaritic. In Psalms 48:23, Mount Zion is equated with "the recesses of afon" (the phrase quoted above from Isa. This life-and-death struggle pitted the worship of Baal against the worship of Jehovah. (verse 8). 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. What the Bible says about He describes Israel as a luxuriant grape vine sending runners in every direction, indicating a bountiful crop. Consequently, during this tumultuous time, most Jews kept their faith and identity outwardly but bowed to Baal when necessary to appease Jezebel as well as mainstream culture.