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Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

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BAAL (Idol)

Name of the most prominent Canaanite deity. As the god of fertility in the Canaanite pantheon (roster of gods), Baal’s sphere of influence included agriculture, animal husbandry, and human sexuality. The word Baal occurs in the OT in combination with other terms, such as place-names (Baal-peor, Hos 9:10; Baal-hermon, Jgs 3:3), or with other adjuncts as in Baal-berith (Baal of the covenant, Jgs 8:33). Use of the name in connection with a local place-name may indicate a local cult of Baal worship.

Show passage in OET: HOS 9:10

OET-RV HOS 9:10

10 I found Yisrael (Israel) like someone finding grapes there in the wilderness.
 ⇔ ≈ Like the first fruit on the fig tree in its first season, I saw your ancestors.
 ⇔ But they came to Ba’al-Pe’or and they devoted themselves to that shameful thing.
 ⇔ ≈ They became detestable like that which they loved.

OET-LV HOS 9:10

10 Like_grapes in_wilderness I_found Yisrāʼēl/(Israel) like_an_early_fig on_a_fig_tree at_beginning_of_its I_saw ancestors_of_your(pl) they they_came Baˊal Pəˊōr and_they_separated_themselves to_shame and_they_were detestable_things according_to_their_love.
Show passage in OET: JDG 3:3

OET-RV JDG 3:3

3 the five Pelishti rulers and the Kena’anim (Canaanites), the Tsidonim (Sidonians), the Hivim that live on Mt. Levanon between Mt. Ba’al-Hermon and Levo-Hamat.

OET-LV JDG 3:3

3 The_five_of the_rulers_of the_Pəlishtiy and_all the_Kənaˊₐnī/(Canaanite)[s] and_the_Sidonian[s] and_the_Ḩiūī[s] who_was_dwelling of_the_mount_of of_(the)_Ləⱱānōn from_hill of Baˊal to Ləⱱōʼ Ḩₐmāt.
Show passage in OET: JDG 8:33

OET-RV JDG 8:33

33 However after Gid’on had died, the Israelis turned away again from Yahweh and prostituted themselves to the Baals—making Ba’al-Berit for themselves as a god.

OET-LV JDG 8:33

33 And_he/it_was when_just_as Gidˊōn he_had_died and_ the_people_of Yisrāʼēl/(Israel) _they_turned_back and_they_acted_as_prostitutes after the_Baˊal and_they_made to/for_them Baˊal- Berith into_god.

Jump to OET HOS 9:10 section.

Jump to OET JDG 3:3 section.

Jump to OET JDG 8:33 section.

Baal worship became prominent in the northern kingdom of Israel during the days of King Ahab (ninth century BC) when he married Jezebel of Tyre, a city in Phoenicia (1 Kgs 16:29-33; 18:19-40). It later infiltrated the kingdom of Judah when Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, married King Jehoram of Judah (2 Kgs 8:17-18, 24-26 OET KI2 8:17–18 · OET KI2 8:24–26). Places for worship of Baal were often high places in the hills consisting of an altar and a sacred tree, stone, or pillar (2 Kgs 23:5). The predominantly urban Phoenicians built temples to Baal; while Athaliah was queen of Judah, even Jerusalem had one (2 Chr 23:12-17).

Show passage in OET: KI1 16:29–33

OET-RV KI1 16:29

29 Omri’s son Ahav became king of Yisrael (Israel) in the thirty-eighth year of King Ahav’s reign over Yehudah (Judah), and he reigned Yisrael from Shomron (Samaria) for twenty-two years.

OET-RV KI1 16:30

30 Ahav did what Yahweh had said was evil—in fact he did more evil things than all those kings who preceded him.

OET-RV KI1 16:31

31 As if following Yarov’am’s (Jeroboam’s) behaviour wasn’t bad enough, he married Izevel (Jezebel), the daughter of the Tsidoni King Etba’al, then went and served Ba’al and bowed down to him.

OET-RV KI1 16:32

32 ⇔He built a temple for Ba’al in Shomron and placed an altar in it.

OET-RV KI1 16:33

33 Ahav also made an Asherah pole and went on to provoke Yisrael’s god Yahweh to get angry, more than any of the previous kings of Yisrael had done.

OET-LV KI1 16:29

29 And_ʼAḩʼāⱱ the_son_of ˊOmrī he_became_king over Yisrāʼēl/(Israel) in_year thirty and_eight year of_ʼĀşāʼ the_king_of Yəhūdāh/(Judah) and_ ʼAḩʼāⱱ the_son_of ˊOmrī _he_reigned over Yisrāʼēl/(Israel) in_Shomrōn twenty and_two year[s].

OET-LV KI1 16:30

30 And_ ʼAḩʼāⱱ the_son_of ˊOmrī _he/it_made the_evil in/on_both_eyes_of YHWH from_all those_who were_before_of_him.

OET-LV KI1 16:31

31 And_he/it_was was_ he_to_walk in_the_sins_of Yāroⱱˊām the_son_of Neⱱaţ _it_trifling and_he/it_took a_wife DOM ʼĪzeⱱel/(Jezebel) the_daughter_of ʼEtbaˊal the_king_of the_Tsīdonī/(Sidonians) and_he/it_went and_he_served DOM (the)_Baˊal and_he_bowed_down to_him/it.

OET-LV KI1 16:32

32 And_he_set_up an_altar to_Baˊal the_house_of (the)_Baˊal which he_built in_Shomrōn.

OET-LV KI1 16:33

33 And_ ʼAḩʼāⱱ _he/it_made DOM (the)_ʼAshērāh_pole and_ ʼAḩʼāⱱ _he_increased for_doing to_provoke_to_anger DOM YHWH the_god_of Yisrāʼēl/(Israel) from_all the_kings_of Yisrāʼēl/(Israel) who they_were before_him.
Show passage in OET: KI2 8:17–18; KI2 8:24–26

OET-RV KI2 8:17

17 He was thirty-two when he became king and he reigned from Yerushalem (Jerusalem) for eight years.

OET-RV KI2 8:18

18 He followed in the evil ways of the kings of the northern kingdom of Yisrael, just as Ahav’s descendants had done, because he’d married one of Ahav’s daughters. He did what Yahweh had said was evil,

OET-RV KI2 8:24

24 Then Yoram died and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David, and his son Ahazyah replaced him as king.

OET-RV KI2 8:25

25 In the twelfth year of Ahav’s son Yoram’s (Joram’s) reign over Yisrael (Israel), Yehoram’s (Jehoram’s) son Ahazyah became the king of Yehudah (Judah).

OET-RV KI2 8:26

26 Ahazyah was twenty-two when he became king, and he reigned from Yerushalem (Jerusalem) for one year. (His mother’s name was Atalyah (Athaliah), the daughter of King Omri of Yisrael.)

OET-LV KI2 8:17

17 A_son_of thirty and_two year[s] he_was when_he_became_king and_eight years he_reigned in_Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem).

OET-LV KI2 8:18

18 And_he/it_went in_the_way_of the_kings_of Yisrāʼēl/(Israel) just_as the_house_of ʼAḩʼāⱱ they_had_done if/because the_daughter_of ʼAḩʼāⱱ she_had_become for_him/it to/for_(a)_woman and_he/it_made the_evil in/on_both_eyes_of YHWH.

OET-LV KI2 8:24

24 And_ Yəhōrām _he_lay_down with ancestors_of_his and_he_was_buried with ancestors_of_his in_the_city_of Dāvid and_ ʼAḩazyāh son_of_his _he_became_king in_place_of_him.

OET-LV KI2 8:25

25 In_year two_plus ten year of_Yəhōrām the_son_of ʼAḩʼāⱱ the_king_of Yisrāʼēl/(Israel) ʼAḩazyāh the_son_of Yəhōrām/(Jehoram) the_king_of Yəhūdāh he_became_king.

OET-LV KI2 8:26

26 Was_a_son_of twenty and_two year[s] ʼAḩazyāh when_he_became_king and_a_year one he_reigned in_Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) and_name_of his/its_mother was_ˊAtalyāh the_daughter_of ˊOmrī the_king_of Yisrāʼēl/(Israel).
Show passage in OET: KI2 23:5

OET-RV KI2 23:5

5 He got rid of the pagan priests that the kings of Yehudah had appointed to burn incense in the hilltop shrines around Yerushalem and across the rest of Yehudah, and the ones who burnt incense to Ba’al, and to the sun and moon and to the planets and constellations.

OET-LV KI2 23:5

5 And_he_removed DOM the_pagan_priests whom the_kings_of Yəhūdāh/(Judah) they_had_appointed and_he_made_smoke at_places in_the_cities_of Yəhūdāh and_the_surroundings_of Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) and_DOM those_who_made_smoke to_Baˊal to_sun and_to_moon and_to_constellations and_to/for_all the_soldier/messenger_of the_heavens.
Show passage in OET: CH2 23:12–17

OET-RV CH2 23:12

12 When Atalyah (Athaliah) heard the sound of people running, and people praising the king, she went to the temple

OET-RV CH2 23:13

13 to look, and wow, the young king was standing where previous kings had stood by the pillar at the temple entrance, with the commanders and trumpeters beside him. The people were all cheering and blowing trumpets, and singers with instruments were leading the praise. Then Atalyah tore her robe and shouted out, “Treason! Treason!”

OET-RV CH2 23:14

14 Then Yehoyada the priest instructed the commanders, “Kill her, but not here at Yahweh’s temple. March her outside and kill anyone who sticks up for her.”

OET-RV CH2 23:15

15 They seized her as she reached the Horse Gate in front of the palace and killed her there.

OET-RV CH2 23:16

16 Then Yehoyada the priest got the people to formally agree that they and the king would be loyal to Yahweh,

OET-RV CH2 23:17

17 so all the people went to Ba’al’s temple and tore it down. They smashed its altars and idols, and killed Ba’al’s priest Matan in front of the altars.

OET-LV CH2 23:12

12 And_ ˊAtalyāh _she_heard DOM the_sound_of the_people who_were_running and_who_were_praising DOM the_king and_she_went to the_people the_house_of YHWH.

OET-LV CH2 23:13

13 And_she/it_saw and_BEHOLD/LO/SEE the_king was_standing at pillar_of_his at_entrance and_the_officials and_the_trumpets were_with the_king and_all the_people_of the_earth/land was_joyful and_it_was_giving_a_blast on_trumpets and_the_singers were_with_the_instruments_of (the)_song (and)_they_were_leading to_praise and_ ˊAtalyāh _she_tore DOM clothes_of_her and_she/it_said treason treason.

OET-LV CH2 23:14

14 And_ Yəhōyādāˊ/(Jehoiada) the_priest/officer _he_sent_out DOM the_commanders_of the_hundreds the_officers_of the_army and_he/it_said to_them bring_her_out to from_between_of the_ranks and_the_one_who_goes after_her he_will_be_put_to_death with_sword if/because the_priest/officer he_had_said not you(pl)_must_put_her_to_death the_house_of YHWH.

OET-LV CH2 23:15

15 And_they_put to/for_her/it hands and_she_went to the_entrance_of the_gate_of the_horses the_house_of the_king and_they_put_her_to_death there.

OET-LV CH2 23:16

16 And_ Yəhōyādāˊ _he_made a_covenant between_himself and_between all_of the_people and_between the_king to_be (into)_a_people to/for_YHWH.

OET-LV CH2 23:17

17 And_ all_of the_people _they_came the_house_of (the)_Baˊal and_they_pulled_it_down and_DOM altars_of_its and_DOM images_of_its they_broke and_DOM Mattān the_priest_of (the)_Baˊal they_killed to_(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before the_altars.

Jump to OET KI1 16:29–33 section.

Jump to OET KI2 8:17–18 section. · OET KI2 8:24–26 section.

Jump to OET KI2 23:5 section.

Jump to OET CH2 23:12–17 section.

In the Ugaritic epic material, Baal is pictured as descending into the netherworld, the domain of the god Mot. That descent was evidently part of a cycle intended to coincide with the cycle of seasons. In order to bring Baal up from the realm of Mot and thus ensure initiation of the fertile rainy season, the Canaanites engaged in orgiastic worship that included human sacrifice as well as sexual rites (Jer 7:31; 19:4-6). Sacred prostitutes evidently participated in the autumnal religious ritual. The worship of Baal was strongly condemned in the OT (Jgs 2:12-14; 3:7-8; Jer 19).

Show passage in OET: JER 7:31

OET-RV JER 7:31

31 They’ve built hilltop shrines to Tofet in Hinom Valley outside Yerushalem (Jerusalem) to burn their sons and daughters in fire—something I’ve never commanded or even considered.

OET-LV JER 7:31

31 And_they_have_built the_high_places_of (the)_Tofet which is_in_Valley_of son_of Valley_of to_burn DOM sons_of_their and_DOM daughters_of_their in_fire which not I_commanded and_not it_came_up on heart_of_my.
Show passage in OET: JER 19:4–6

OET-RV JER 19:4

4 I’m doing that because they’ve abandoned me and defiled this place—
 ⇔ they’ve burnt incense to other ‘gods’,
 ⇔ that neither they or their ancestors or Yehudah’s kings used to know.
 ⇔ Then they’ve filled this place with the blood of the innocent.

OET-RV JER 19:5

5 They built hilltop shrines to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Ba’al,
 ⇔ something I never instructed or talked about, nor did it even enter my mind.

OET-RV JER 19:6

6 So Yahweh declares that the time is coming when this place will no longer be called Tofet or the Valley of Ben-Hinom, but rather, the ‘Slaughter Valley’.

OET-LV JER 19:4

4 Because that they_have_abandoned_me and_they_have_treated_as_foreign DOM the_place the_this and_they_have_made_smoke in_him/it to_gods other which not they_knew_them they and_ancestors_of_their and_the_kings_of Yəhūdāh and_they_have_filled DOM the_place the_this the_blood_of innocent_ones.

OET-LV JER 19:5

5 And_they_have_built DOM the_high_places_of (the)_Baˊal to_burn DOM children_of_their in_fire burnt_offerings to_Baˊal which not I_commanded and_not I_spoke and_not it_came_up on heart_of_my.

OET-LV JER 19:6

6 For_so/thus/hence HERE days are_coming the_utterance_of YHWH and_not it_will_be_called to_place the_this again (the)_Tofet and_Valley_of son_of Valley_of if/because (if) the_valley_of (the)_slaughter.
Show passage in OET: JDG 2:12–14

OET-RV JDG 2:12

12 and abandoned the god of their ancestors, Yahweh, the one who brought them out of Mitsrayim (Egypt). Instead they went after other gods—the gods of the people around them. They worshipped them and that made Yahweh angry.

OET-RV JDG 2:13

13 They abandoned Yahweh and worshipped the Ba’al and Ashtarot idols.

OET-RV JDG 2:14

14 So Yahweh got angry with Yisrael (Israel) so he caused raiders to come and take their property and he allowed their enemies to become more powerful so they could no longer stand against them.

OET-LV JDG 2:12

12 And_they_abandoned DOM YHWH the_god_of their_ancestors_of_their who_brought_out them from_the_land_of Miʦrayim/(Egypt) and_they_went after gods other some_of_the_gods_of the_peoples which were_around_of_them and_they_bowed_down to/for_them and_they_provoked_to_anger DOM YHWH.

OET-LV JDG 2:13

13 And_they_abandoned DOM YHWH and_they_served (to)_Baˊal and_(to)_ˊAshtārōt.

OET-LV JDG 2:14

14 And_ the_anger of_YHWH _it_glowed/burnt on_Yisrāʼēl/(Israel) and_he_gave_them in_the_hand_of plunderers and_they_plundered them and_he_sold_them in_the_hand_of their_enemies_of_their from_round_about and_not they_were_able still to_stand to_(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before enemies_of_their.
Show passage in OET: JDG 3:7–8

OET-RV JDG 3:7

7 So the Israelis did things considered evil by Yahweh and they forgot about their god Yahweh, instead serving the Ba’al and Asherot idols.

OET-RV JDG 3:8

8 Because of that, Yahweh was very angry with Yisrael (Israel), so he handed them over to King Kushan-Rish’atayim of Aram-Naharayim. The Israelis served him for eight years

OET-LV JDG 3:7

7 And_ the_people_of Yisrāʼēl/(Israel) _they_made DOM the_evil in/on_both_eyes_of YHWH and_they_forgot DOM YHWH god_of_their and_they_served DOM the_Baˊal and_DOM the_ʼAshērāh_poles.

OET-LV JDG 3:8

8 And_ the_anger of_YHWH _it_glowed/burnt on_Yisrāʼēl/(Israel) and_he_sold_them in_the_hand_of Cushan- Rishathaim the_king_of ʼArām and_ the_people_of Yisrāʼēl/(Israel) _they_served DOM Cushan- Rishathaim eight years.

Jump to OET JER 7:31 section.

Jump to OET JER 19:4–6 section.

Jump to OET JDG 2:12–14 section.

Jump to OET JDG 3:7–8 section.

See also Canaanite Deities and Religion.