Baal

Lore & Background

Baal appears as a central figure in the conflict between the worship of the LORD and the worship of other gods. In the time of the judges, the Israelites forsook the LORD and served Baal (Judges 2:13). Gideon was commanded by the LORD to throw down his father's altar of Baal and cut down the grove beside it, which he did at night (Judges 6:25-28). The men of the city demanded Gideon's death for this act, but his father Joash argued that if Baal were a god, he could plead for himself (Judges 6:30-32). During the monarchy, King Ahab, influenced by his wife Jezebel, served and worshiped Baal, building a house and altar for Baal in Samaria (1 Kings 16:31-32). When Baal failed to answer his prophets' calls, Elijah had them slain at the brook Kishon (1 Kings 18:25-40). The LORD later told Elijah that seven thousand in Israel had not bowed to Baal (1 Kings 19:18). Jehu later destroyed the worship of Baal in Israel by deceit. He gathered all the prophets, servants, and priests of Baal for a great sacrifice, then ordered them slain and burned the images from the house of Baal (2 Kings 10:18-26).

Reader's Guide

The passages portray Baal as a deity whose worship is repeatedly condemned and violently suppressed by those loyal to the LORD. Baal is presented as powerless: his prophets call on him from morning until noon with no response (1 Kings 18:26), and his altar can be thrown down without divine retaliation (Judges 6:31-32). The narrative consistently shows that worshiping Baal provokes the LORD's anger (1 Kings 22:53) and leads to judgment. The destruction of Baal's altars, prophets, and images is depicted as a righteous act, whether by Gideon, Elijah, or Jehu. The passages also note that some kings, like Jehoram, put away the image of Baal (2 Kings 3:2), while others, like Ahab and Ahaziah, served him. The overall portrayal is that Baal is a false god whose worship is incompatible with loyalty to the LORD.

Did You Know?

• Balaam was taken to the high places of Baal to see the Israelites (Numbers 22:41).
• Gideon was called Jerubbaal, meaning 'Let Baal plead against him,' after destroying Baal's altar (Judges 6:32).
• Jehu destroyed all worshipers of Baal by trickery, then burned the images from Baal's house (2 Kings 10:25-26).

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people." — Baal "And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. [...]And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor." — Baal "Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you." — Baal "And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves." — Baal