Baal
Lord.
1. The name appropriated to the principal male god of the
Phoenicians. It is found in several places in the plural BAALIM
Jud 2:11 10:10 1Ki 18:18 Jer 2:23 Ho 2:17 Baal is identified
with Molech Jer 19:5 It was known to the Israelites as
Baal-peor Nu 25:3 De 4:3 was worshipped till the time of Samuel
1Sa 7:4 and was afterwards the religion of the ten tribes in
the time of Ahab 1Ki 16:31-33 18:19,22 It prevailed also for a
time in the kingdom of Judah 2Ki 8:27 comp. 2Ki 11:18 16:3
2Ch 28:2 till finally put an end to by the severe discipline of
the Captivity Zep 1:4-6 The priests of Baal were in great
numbers 1Ki 18:19 and of various classes 2Ki 10:19 Their
mode of offering sacrifices is described in 1Ki 18:25-29 The
sun-god, under the general title of Baal, or "lord," was the
chief object of worship of the Canaanites. Each locality had its
special Baal, and the various local Baals were summed up under
the name of Baalim, or "lords." Each Baal had a wife, who was a
colourless reflection of himself.
2. A Benjamite, son of Jehiel, the progenitor of the Gibeonites
1Ch 8:30 9:36
3. The name of a place inhabited by the Simeonites, the same
probably as Baal-ath-beer 1Ch 4:33 Jos 19:8
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