36 lines
2.3 KiB
Markdown
36 lines
2.3 KiB
Markdown
# Baal
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## Facts:
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“Baal” means “lord” or “master” and was the name of the primary false god that was worshiped by the Canaanites.
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* There were also local false gods that had “Baal” as part of their names, such as “Baal of Peor.” Sometimes all these gods together are referred to as “the Baals.”
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* Some people had names that included the word “Baal” in them.
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* The worship of Baal included evil practices such as sacrificing children and using prostitutes.
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* At different time periods throughout their history, the Israelites also became deeply involved in Baal worship, following the example of the pagan nations around them.
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* During the reign of King Ahab, God’s prophet Elijah set up a test to prove to the people that Baal does not exist and that Yahweh is the only true God. As a result, the prophets of Baal were destroyed and the people started worshiping Yahweh again.
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(Translation suggestions: [How to Translate Names](rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names))
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(See also: [Ahab](../names/ahab.md), [Asherah](../names/asherim.md), [Elijah](../names/elijah.md), [false god](../kt/falsegod.md), [prostitute](../other/prostitute.md), [Yahweh](../kt/yahweh.md))
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## Bible References:
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* [1 Kings 16:31](rc://en/tn/help/1ki/16/31)
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* [1 Samuel 7:3-4](rc://en/tn/help/1sa/07/03)
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* [Jeremiah 2:7-8](rc://en/tn/help/jer/02/07)
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* [Judges 2:11](rc://en/tn/help/jdg/02/11)
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* [Numbers 22:41](rc://en/tn/help/num/22/41)
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## Examples from the Bible stories:
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* __[19:2](rc://en/tn/help/obs/19/02)__ Ahab was an evil man who encouraged people to worship a false god named __Baal__.
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* __[19:6](rc://en/tn/help/obs/19/06)__ All the people of the entire kingdom of Israel, including the 450 prophets of __Baal__, came to Mount Carmel. Elijah said to the people, “How long will you keep changing your mind? If Yahweh is God, serve him! If __Baal__ is God, serve him!”
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* __[19:7](rc://en/tn/help/obs/19/07)__ Then Elijah said to the prophets of __Baal__, “Kill a bull and prepare it as a sacrifice, but do not light the fire.”
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* __[19:8](rc://en/tn/help/obs/19/08)__ Then the prophets of __Baal__ prayed to __Baal__, “Hear us, O __Baal__!”
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* __[19:12](rc://en/tn/help/obs/19/12)__ So the people captured the prophets of __Baal__. Then Elijah took them away from there and killed them.
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## Word Data:
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* Strong’s: H1120, G08960
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