Introduction:
Baal is a term used in the Bible to refer to various local deities worshiped in the ancient Near East, particularly among the Canaanites. The name "Baal" means "lord" or "master" and was often associated with fertility, storms, and agriculture. The worship of Baal was a significant religious practice that frequently brought the Israelites into conflict with God's commandments.

Biblical References and Context:
The worship of Baal is mentioned numerous times throughout the Old Testament, often as a symbol of idolatry and apostasy. One of the earliest references is found in the Book of Numbers, where the Israelites are led astray by the Moabites to worship Baal of Peor (Numbers 25:3: "So Israel joined in worshiping Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD burned against them."). This incident highlights the recurring temptation for Israel to adopt the religious practices of surrounding nations.

In the period of the Judges, the Israelites repeatedly fell into the worship of Baal, leading to cycles of oppression and deliverance. Judges 2:11-13 states, "And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals. They forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They provoked the LORD to anger because they forsook Him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths."

Elijah and the Prophets of Baal:
One of the most dramatic confrontations involving Baal worship is the contest on Mount Carmel between the prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal, as recorded in 1 Kings 18. King Ahab and Queen Jezebel had promoted Baal worship in Israel, leading to a spiritual crisis. Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a test to demonstrate the power of the true God. 1 Kings 18:21 records Elijah's challenge to the people: "Elijah approached all the people and said, 'How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him.' But the people did not answer a word."

The subsequent demonstration of God's power, where fire from heaven consumed Elijah's sacrifice, led to the people acknowledging the LORD as the true God and the execution of the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:38-40).

Baal Worship in the Divided Kingdom:
The worship of Baal continued to be a significant issue during the period of the divided kingdom. In the northern kingdom of Israel, Baal worship was institutionalized under Ahab and Jezebel. In the southern kingdom of Judah, King Jehoram and others also fell into Baal worship, leading to divine judgment. 2 Kings 10:18-28 describes how Jehu eradicated Baal worship from Israel, demonstrating a temporary return to the worship of the LORD.

Prophetic Denunciations:
The prophets of Israel frequently denounced Baal worship as a violation of the covenant with God. Jeremiah 2:8 laments, "The priests did not ask, 'Where is the LORD?' The experts in the law no longer knew Me, and the rulers rebelled against Me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and followed useless idols." Similarly, Hosea 2:16-17 speaks of a future time when Israel will no longer call upon Baal: "'In that day,' declares the LORD, 'you will call Me 'my husband,' and no longer call Me 'my master.' For I will remove from her lips the names of the Baals; no longer will their names be invoked.'"

Conclusion:
The worship of Baal represents a recurring challenge to the faithfulness of God's people throughout the Old Testament. It serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of idolatry and the need for exclusive devotion to the LORD. The biblical narrative consistently portrays Baal worship as a departure from the covenant relationship with God, leading to spiritual and national consequences for Israel.1168a. Baal -- a heathen god
... 1168, 1168a. Baal. 1168b . a heathen god. Transliteration: Baal Short
Definition: Baal. Word Origin from baal Definition a heathen ...
/hebrew/1168a.htm - 5k

Carmel
... Standing before Ahab, Elijah demanded that all Israel be assembled to meet
him and the prophets of Baal and Ashtoreth on Mount Carmel. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 11 carmel.htm

Which Sentence Dishonoreth the Holy Martyrs, Nay Rather Taketh ...
... whom it seems they do prudently to single out unto themselves to look unto as an
example of lying) falsely gave himself out for a servant of Baal, that he ...
/.../augustine/against lying/section 3 which sentence dishonoreth.htm

"Then the Fire of the Lord Fell. " 1 Kings xviii. 38
... God fell! II.--- THE FIRE WAS SOMETHING BAAL'S PRIESTS COULD NOT
PRODUCE."The Creator has a pre-emption on His universe. He has ...
//christianbookshelf.org/champness/broken bread/lvi then the fire of.htm

The Escape from Despondency
... I am alone and Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men." So he goes away
into solitude, and looks about him for some clear sign that God has not ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/lxxv the escape from despondency.htm

'Fit, Though Few'
... is God's will. He began his war against Midian by warring against Baal,
whose worship had brought the oppressor. If any thorough ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/fit though few.htm

A Colloquy Between a Penitent and God
... Many a frenzied shriek had gone up from these shrines of idolatrous worship, and
as with Baal's prophets, it had brought no answer, nor had there been any that ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/a colloquy between a penitent.htm

Elijah
... He had found out that the Lord was God, and not Baal, or any of the idols; and he
would follow the Lord; and tell all Israel what his own heart had told him ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xix elijah.htm

Elijah the Great Heart of Israel.
... for it. Ahab was more wicked than the kings that reigned before him, and
had built a temple for the god Baal in Samaria. Because ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxvii elijah the great.htm

Worship
... You must cry aloud as Baal's priests did to catch his notice, and put yourselves
to torment (as they did, and as many a Christian has done since) to move his ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/the good news of god/sermon vi worship.htm

Impure Zeal
... 'And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served
Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him much.19. Now ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/impure zeal.htm

Baal's (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Baal's (6 Occurrences). ... Judges 6:31 And Joash said unto
all that stood against him: 'Will ye contend for Baal? or will ye save him? ...
/b/baal's.htm - 8k

Jerub-baal's (3 Occurrences)
Jerub-baal's. Jerubba'al, Jerub-baal's. Jerubbesheth . Multi-Version
Concordance Jerub-baal's (3 Occurrences). Judges ...
/j/jerub-baal's.htm - 7k

Ba'al's (1 Occurrence)
Ba'al's. Baal's, Ba'al's. Baalsamus . Multi-Version Concordance Ba'al's (1
Occurrence). ... (See RSV). Baal's, Ba'al's. Baalsamus . Reference Bible.
/b/ba'al's.htm - 6k

Jerubbesheth (1 Occurrence)
... In 2 Samuel 11:21 Septuagint, Lucian, has "Jeroboal," which Septuagint, Codex Vaticanus,
has corrupted to "Jeroboam." Compare MERIB-BAAL; MEPHIBOSHETH; and see ...
/j/jerubbesheth.htm - 8k

Jerubba'al (11 Occurrences)
Jerubba'al. Jerub-baal, Jerubba'al. Jerub-baal's . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(See RSV). Jerub-baal, Jerubba'al. Jerub-baal's . Reference Bible.
/j/jerubba'al.htm - 9k

Ba'als (19 Occurrences)
Ba'als. Baals, Ba'als. Baal's . Multi-Version Concordance Ba'als (19 Occurrences). ...
(See RSV). Baals, Ba'als. Baal's . Reference Bible.
/b/ba'als.htm - 11k

Mattan (3 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Gift. (1.) A priest of Baal, slain before his altar
during the reformation under Jehoiada (2 Kings 11:18). ...
/m/mattan.htm - 8k

Prophet's (22 Occurrences)
... (BBE). 1 Kings 18:22 Then said Elijah to the people, I even I only, remain a prophet
of the LORD; but Baal's prophet's are four hundred and fifty men. (WBS). ...
/p/prophet's.htm - 13k

Baalhazor (1 Occurrence)
... Having a courtyard, or Baal's village, the place on the borders of Ephraim and Benjamin
where Absalom held the feast of sheep-shearing when Amnon was ...
/b/baalhazor.htm - 7k

Why is Gideon referred to as Jerubbaal? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Baal? | GotQuestions.org

What is Ugaritic, and what does it have to do with the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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