Essentially, the Phoenicians were the Canaanites who survived from the Bronze Age into the Iron Age and who were not supplanted by new people groups (Philistines, Israelites, etc.). The tablets, although closely attached to the worship of Baal at his local temple, probably represent Canaanite belief generally. But God has a different perspective; He says they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked (Revelation 3:17). Despite having the power and support of the king of Israel and his . He is often accused of causing their pain. Human-Ram Deity from Sidon. 30 Verses to Reflect on in the Book of Hebrews. Our god is what we give our lives over to. We may not sacrifice our children on altars for everyone to see; instead, we sacrifice them behind closed doors at a doctor's . Yet Sidon was a significant site before this period, too. Apparently in anticipation of developments the artisan god Koshar had cast furnishings of gold and silver. This is not brand new, but it is picking up speed. Or about Yahweh? Their spiritual lethargy for the true God made them uncommitted. We are seeing the same thing today, but at times, it is harder to recognize because we are accustomed to it, and it is not happening overnight. What Tamils are you speaking of? Besides the names Baal and Haddu, the Ugaritic texts furnish a variety of other titles, such as "Mighty Baal" (aliyn bl) and "Prince, Lord of Earth" (zbl bl ars). Anath then dismembered Mot, scattered and burned the pieces, and gave them to the birds. Everything Joshua* (Yehoshua) did was in accordance with the TaNaKh, which is an acrostic for Torah (=Law/Instruction), Neviim (=Prophets), and Ketuvim (=Writings). A solution has been supplied by a tradition ascribed to the ancient Phoenician priest Sakkunyaton (Greek Sanchuniathn) that when El-Kronos defeated Ouranos, he captured in the battle Ouranos' pregnant concubine and gave her to Dagn. Asherah was a fertility goddess. They believed in a Creator God, but they worshipped Him at the shrines they erected to the Baals. * Jesus is a transliteration of the Latin; it is NOT a translation! . A frequent epithet is "Cloud Rider" (rkb rpt) which has an almost identical parallel in Psalms 68:5. To accommodate Baal ideology to Yahwism required some radical transformations. 10:1113; 14:22). It is urgent that we understand what is involved here because it reveals the cause of God's anger that led to Israel's defeat and scattering. Kings Ahaz and Manasseh, The worship of Baal in Syria-Palestine was inextricably bound to the economy of the land which depends on the regularity and adequacy of the rains. Check out her books at hopebolinger.comfor clean books in most genres, great for adults and kids. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Though it hurts, the pain is indicative of rescue and cure. The latter title has a biblical echo in the corrupted form Baal-Zebub (II Kings 1:2ff. Baal worship is something I associated only with Old Testament Bible days. The name is more likely derived from the god Baal. Some suppose Baal to correspond to the sun and Ashtoreth to the moon; others that Baal was Jupiter and Ashtoreth Venus. Did the Ancient Israelites Think Children Were People. Baal's house was constructed in an extraordinary fashion. The Semitic original of this name has been recognized in one of Baal's names in Ugaritic: (The name is to be connected with the root dmr, "be strong, brave," and is probably the same as that of Abraham's son Zimrn (damarn), the -n afformative being preserved in the genitive case of the Greek form Demarountos). Jer 32:29. Thus in any year anxiety about the rainfall would be a continuing concern of the inhabitants which would suffice to give rise to rites to ensure the coming of the rains. One would think that, if altars increase during this period of prosperity, then religion is flourishing. The sum of what Elijah said is actually spiritually dangerous, due to the fact that God is judging. What happens if a person, trying to establish a religion, mixes falsehood with the truth of God? But God. "They built for themselves high places in all their cities . Did the Carthaginians Really Practice Infant Sacrifice? 55:613; Jer. In the Judeo-Christian tradition Asherah is considered a false Canaanite deity and a major source of temptation to the Israelites. Silapadikaram, a Tamil Classic, mentions more than 200 musical instruments. This time, Baal puts up a fight and holds Mot off in battle. Thus, according to Sakkunyaton, Baal's natural father was Ouranos and Dagn became his foster-father, while El-Kronos effected the transfer. 19 Now therefore, call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests. Thus it is clear that Baal, representing the life-giving rains, fluctuates in his ability to withstand the power of Mot, who represents drought, sterility, and death. Baal (/ b e. Note the name of her father, King of the Sidoneans and apparently (Josephus) a priest of Baal as well. When the rain failed, it was inevitable that some would question YHWH's power and resort to Baal. Charles Whitaker No doubt, we cant cover the breadth of verses on Baal here, but we should make a note that Baal becomes a big player in the book of Judges and during the time of the kings when Israel appears to succumb most to the foreign pantheons. God wants to transform us from people who are bent on pleasing ourselves to people who show concern for others. We need to be reminded of it because it can have a detrimental effect on us. From Easton's Bible Dictionary:Baal-peor: lord of the opening, a god of the Moabites (Numbers 25:3; 31:16; Joshua 22:17), worshipped by obscene rites. In the Bible, Jezebel is notorious for persecuting the worship of Yahweh and for demanding that the Israelites worship Baal. Prepare to Meet Your God! According to the Bible, centers of worship for Canaanite gods such as Molech and the Baal's were set up in Judah and Israel by apostate kings. (the Middle Bronze Age). Thus, IF one is to pronounce the Tetragrammaton according to the masoretic vowel-markings, then it should probably be pronounced something like yuh-WAH or yuh-HWAH. Commentaries are at odds over what the Hebrew word translated divided means. that the southern kingdom of Judah ever had .just like her momma. Today,. Some extraordinary discoveries from recent excavations have allowed us to partially reconstruct Sidonian religion during the Bronze and Iron Agesshowing that Baal worship at the site had deep roots. Recall God's prophecy in Deuteronomy 32:15, predicting that when Israel prospered, then it would rebel. While they gave lip service to the Creator, they adopted most of the Canaanitish religion with its lewd immorality, and in actual practice, patterned their life after it. In Hebrew, it is rendered Yehoshua, and in Aramaic, Yeshua. 19Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. The religion of Israel began with a man, Jeroboam I, who changed the true worship of God. (the Middle Bronze Age), this impressed handle depicts a ship and a leonine dragon, which is the symbol of the Mesopotamian storm god Adad. 7:1416). Looking at these two definitions we can say . Some become discouraged with the church because we are always being toldto some measure anywaydisturbing things about ourselves. How many pagan ideas have we let seep in? Near Baals temple was that of Dagon, given in the tablets as Baals father. His opinion of his holiness as compared with God's judgment is so far off base, it causes Jesus Christ to regurgitate him from His body. The worship of Moloch, which was practiced at a special site (outside the walls of Jerusalem in the valley of Ben-Hinnom) called Topheth, became firmly established in the time of King Manasseh, his son Amon, and at the beginning of Josiah's reign. It is related that on one occasion a strange ruler came to the place where Peor was worshiped, to sacrifice to him; but when he heard of this silly practise, he caused his soldiers to attack and kill the worshipers of the god (Sifre, Num. In the first encounter, Baal is invited to a banquet at which he is to be both guest and main course. 3:8; Ps. Further, in biblical usage when applied to the great weather-god, the singular regularly has the article, "the Baal," which suggests that the word was not regarded as a proper name. While much about Molech's nature and origin are uncertain, the Bible mentions Molech on eight occasions, providing some context regarding the problems associated with this ancient god. Baal and Asherah were two giant stumbling blocks for the people of Israel. Isaiah 14:13 alludes to this divine abode as "the Mount of Assembly in the recesses of afon" (har moed be-yarkete afon), the latter phrase being the equivalent of Ugaritic mrym pn or rrt pn, the height or fastness of apn. I prefer transliterating the sheva with [*] rather than any other English vowel letter, so I prefer Y*HWaH to YuHWaH or to YaHWeH, for that matter. The violence and injustice in Israelite society ultimately stemmed from the false teaching proclaimed from the pulpits. The prophet Haggai attributed the drought and scarcity in his day to the failure to rebuild the Temple (Hag. This is the crux of our salvation through Jesus Christ. Whoever is missing shall not live.". The Israelites rejected the law of God and relied on the traditions of Gentile nations. 6:30; II Kings 16:3233) are associated with him. That made God so angry that a plague spread through their ranks; Phinehas stood up and pled their case and the . He is the king of the east and governs an army of 66 legions of demons." Did you catch that? It proved extremely hard for a monotheistic faith to compete against the Canaanite fertility cult. 3:10; cf. The word "Baal" derives from the Semitic stem "bel", meaning "lord". Archeological excavations have dated information about Baal back as far as the second millennium BC, and the spread of Baal worship caught fire in Egypt in 1400 BC. However, it was not the religion God gave through Moses, but idolatry that flourished! He established a feast in the eighth month to replace the true Feast of Tabernacles in the seventh. Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: And the plague brake in upon them. I appreciate your consideration, and Im sure the Most High does as well! 131; Sanh. The handle displays an impression of a ship with the leonine dragon Uumgal, the storm god Adads attendant, next to it. 2008 The Gale Group. It was under the Sol Invictus cult that CHRISTIANITY as a religion BEGAN TO BE ACCEPTED AND GROW, but THERE WAS A BIG PRICE THE EARLY ROMAN CHURCH HAD TO PAY. This shows that the Egyptian Cleopatra had maritime connections with the ancient Kerala Tamils. What Is the Meaning of Psalm 91 and Why Is it Popular? There was tremendous evil to overcome. Through the influence of the Aramaeans, who borrowed the Babylonian pronunciation Bel, the god ultimately became known as the Greek Belos, identified with Zeus. There are several ideas as to exactly what Elijah meant by "How long will you falter between two opinions?" In other words, God is saying that He was driven to defeat and scatter Israel because they were guilty of exactly the same sin as the Samaritans! They also worshiped him as a fertility god who provided children. He is a loving Master who only is to be obeyed and servedand only on His terms. With the help of the sun-goddess Shapsh, Anath locates the dead Baal, carries him to the height of apn, and weeping buries him with funerary sacrifices. The Bible tells us that there were dire consequences for Israel worshiping a false god (Judges 2). When the Israelites, following Moses to the Promised Land, were in the vicinity of Peor, some of them fell into idolatry and worshiped Baal Peor. The Devil is behind a. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them (2 Kings 21:3). He was also called the Lord of Rain and Dew, the two forms of moisture that were indispensable for fertile soil in Canaan. 18For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. . They simply evolve. 27:1, 30:7, 51:910; Ezek. They believed by their actions they could control and manipulate the Gods. Only the individual could decide which side he would be on, because Elijah made it clear, "God does not want you the way you are. Nyberg had restored it in Deuteronomy 33:12; I Samuel 2:10; II Samuel 23:1; Isaiah 59:18, 63:7; and Hosea 7:16. But it could have existed long before that, when God established the law, including laws against eating pork, since pig slaughter and sacrifice were a hallmark of Baal worship. Isaiah 29:13 clarifies what God means: "Therefore the LORD said: 'Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men.'" Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). . His ministry took place about 150 years before Israel was to fall, becoming the Lost Ten Tribes, so God was beginning to make a powerful witness to them. In the books of Kings and Chronicles, we can read the record of a given king who turned away from God and served the Baals, and the foolishness sounds quick and casual because we are reading a summary. Today Jezebel has built Baal altars in the name of 'church' and led many to Baal worship. Because Baal was neither alive nor a moral force, his worshippers felt they could communicate with him only by ritual actions that portrayed what they were asking him to do. The combined letters o and e is joined to pronounce the sound ye. Baal Worship The Battle for the Israelites' Hearts For nearly a thousand years, a battle raged for the hearts of the Israelite nation. Baal's objection to the window somehow concerned his three daughters and the sea-god (Yamm), but the text is broken at this point. At Ras-Shamar, Baal was referred to as the son of Dagon, the Philistines chief god. But their carnality and their fear of men persuaded them to worship Baal, because they wanted to be friends with their fellow Israelites. They set up for themselves sacred pillars and wooden images on every high hill and under every green tree; and there they burned incense on all the high places, as the nations had done whom the LORD had carried away before them." Baal's abode was Mount apn, identified as Jebel el-Aqra ("Mount Baldy") some 30 mi. II Kings 17:5-6 relates the ultimate consequence. After a sortie against the sea-god, Baal returned to his house and ordered Koshar to install a window; Koshar laughed, reminded Baal of the debate, and complied. They used the name of God frequently, saying they trusted Him, but they filled the nation with stealing, lying, and murder. God's difference from us is that He is holy; He is moral and we are immoral. In this article, well discuss what Scripture has to say about Baal, what we know from history about Baal, and why this ultimately matters to us today. Baal was a god of prosperity, god of harvest, sex and fertility. It indeed produces great material prosperity, but it is consumed through self-indulgent gorging. In Tamil Nadu, the following words payachi paarai, Peyazhwar, payans, pai (meaning devil) are currently in use. In correlating the sequence of events, Baal's victory over the sea-god, Yamm, is probably to be placed near the beginning of the action, since it was presumably this exploit which gained him the dominant position among the gods, just as *Marduk achieved preeminence by defeating the sea-monster Tiamat. The worship of Baal penetrated Jewish religious life during the period of the Judges (Judges 3:7), became common in Israel during the rule of Ahab (1 Kings 16:31-33), and also influenced Judah (2 Chronicles 28:1-2). Given Jezebels religious fervor in the Bible, one would expect to find evidence of Baal worship at Sidon. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The lesson for us becomes clear, because Jesus says the same thing (Matthew 6:24; 12:25). Then stood up Phinehas, and exe Then they linked up with Baal Peor, attending funeral banquets and eating idol food. A complex religion with traditions and gods from all over the ancient Middle East, Baal worship offered something for everyone. He established a feast in the eighth month to replace the true Feast of Tabernacles in the seventh. Groves and high places were places of worship erected to Canaanite gods and goddesses. 11:1011). Since El and Dagn are distinct deities, this seeming confusion over Baal's paternity needs explanation. People like to feel comfortable. The Macedonian Cleopatra planned to send her son to India through the Red Sea. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Israel "walked in the statutes of the nations whom the LORD had cast out from before the children of Israel." They too had blended the worship of the true God with outright paganism, utterly corrupting the relationship He had established with them. Now another presentation that the Phoenicians who are also connected with the Canaanites had traded with the trading mariners of Kerala, India. Combine a one-year tablet and print subscription to BAR with membership in the BAS Library to start your journey into the ancient past today! For a while, both sidesthe Confederate and the Unionaccepted those turncoats and took their information. Fertility was envisaged in terms of seven-year cycles. 2:11; 3:7; 8:33), while the singular of the word in combination with other terms apparently designated minor or local gods, such as Baal-Berith, Baal-Gad, Baal-Hamon, Baal-Hazor, Baal-Hermon, or, in the feminine form, a goddess, Baalat-Beer, Baalat-Gebal. They clash violently until both are prostrate and the Sungoddess warns Mot not to fight with Baal lest El hear and overthrow him. He takes something loathsome and vile, something that is a direct affront to almighty God, a pagan idol, and turns it into a cute little children's fairy tale, so that you can buy the book, see the movies, get the cuddly toy, and bingo! Virtually all reference to Baal's consort, the violent "Virgin Anath" with whom Baal copulates by the thousand in one of the Ugaritic mythological fragments has been excluded from the Bible, but the goddesses Ashtart (Judg. In the Hebrew language, Baal as a noun means "lord or possessor." As a verb, it means "to have dominion over or be lord over." Additionally, the local deity (near Israel) "Baal," was a god of rain and fertility. What made the very name Baal anathema to the Israelites was the program of Jezebel, in the 9th century bce, to introduce into Israel her Phoenician cult of Baal in opposition to the official worship of Yahweh (I Kings 18). Gen. 41; II Sam. How Is Harry Potter a Literary Christ Figure? All through the Old Testament, the people of Israel fell into Baal and Asherah worship, and it is no different for us today. Searching for Israel (Part Six): Israel Is Fallen, Is Fallen. The Semitic word "baal" (meaning '"Lord") was also used to refer to various deities of the Levant. a little T-shaped mark that stands for the long-A vowel (like a in father). Blending the lies of this world with the truth of God produces a foul mixture called syncretism (James 3:10-13). Bible Study Hosea Old Testament. 9:20 presents a parallel is mistaken since the Ugaritic text mentions the sea-god and not Death (Mot) in connection with the window.) In the Bible, the followers of the one true God encounter other gods, or previously worshipped idols themselves. BIBLIOGRAPHY: W. Hermann, in: DDD, 13238; M.S. This establishes the fact that the Cannanites (Phoenicians) has connections with the Tamil speaking ancient Kerala mariners. Certainly not those of east Asia. All 450 prophets of Baal do not escape the slaughter that takes place after that. (verse 8). Israel "feared other gods" (verse 7). So-called from Mount Peor, where this worship was celebrated, the Baal of Peor. What the Bible says about Baal Worship ( From Forerunner Commentary ) 1 Kings 12:26-33 The religion of Israel began with a man, Jeroboam I, who changed the true worship of God. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Most of the information they gave turned out to be wrong, to be lies. In daily life, they conformed to and reflected the Babylonish system just as Israel does today. The songs of His Temple would ordinarily be happy and joyous songs of praise to God, but He will turn the songs of their templesung to Baal in the name of the Lordto wailing, for the numbers of the dead will be unimaginable. This chapter reports on the behavior of the people placed in Israel after Israel's conquest and deportation by Assyria between 722-720 BC. COPYRIGHT 2023 BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY SOCIETY 5614 Connecticut Ave NW #343, Washington DC 20015-2604. Most modern translations use "false," "deceitful," or "faithless," and none of these are wrong, including "divided." . What modern-day Baals have we worshipped in place of God? Before we explore what Scripture says about Baal, lets establish a brief depiction of the Canaanite deity. In their spiritually unaware state, they will be incredulous at God's punishment for "such a little bit of sin." But what was its real effect on the participants and the nation? 57 Bull Baal. (Iron Age) temple. Omissions? She gives life to 70 other gods in the Canaanite pantheon. Why Did Pharaoh Tell Joseph to Enjoy the 'Fat of the Land'? If the rains failed and drought and death came upon the land and people, it was not because Mot had mangled Baal and made the glowing sun-goddess destructive; it was rather YHWH's way of meting out merited punishment to a faithless and sinful people (Deut. Worship of Baal was also carried out right on the housetops of the people, from where sacrificial smoke to their god was frequently seen to rise. And she has taken over many so-called churches. Baal rejoiced and celebrated with a banquet. Issuing a challenge to his enemy Mot (death), who presumed to rule gods and men, Baal dispatched his messengers to Mot's infernal, filthy abode, warning them not to get close to Mot's rapacious jaws. was furnished by Harvard University excavations in the form of personal names containing Baal as the theophorous element, such as bybl, "Baal is my father," bl zmr, "Baal sings" or "Baalis strong," bl zkr, "Baal remembers," bl mny, "Baal is my answer," etc. El and Anath mourn violently, mutilating their faces and bodies. Payment of the full tithe to the food stores of the Temple, some thought, would guarantee that YHWH would open the windows of heaven and pour down overflowing blessings (Mal. Because of their self-absorption, God's "sudden" punishment will stun the people of the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia, and the other nations of modern Israel, including some members of the true church. Anyway she changed her mind and sent his son to Libya etc But not all years are good, and in a bad year, or a series of bad years, when the rains fail, the skies become like iron, the land like brass, and man's toil is futile for the earth will not yield its increase (Lev. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritual_washing_in_Judaism#Full-body_immersion_.28Tvilah.29, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_River, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_to_Judaism. Baal was simply the title (literally, Lord) of the pagan god Molech. The cosmic character of afon leads to its use as a synonym for "sky" in Job 26:7: "who stretched out afon on emptiness who suspended earth on naught." And one of the most famous instances of Israel going head to head with the prophets of Baal comes from 1 Kings 18. Its prosperity played a part in corrupting the Israelites' hearts, which is why Hosea mentions the divided or disloyal heart in context with its bountiful fruit. In Psalms 48:23, Mount Zion is equated with "the recesses of afon" (the phrase quoted above from Isa. Like ancient Israel, we can easily fall back into our former ways. Now the word isai, simply means music in Tamil. 114) or with eschatological victory (Isa. In spite of the fact that the word is used as the theophorous element in personal names, such as Eshbaal, Merib-Baal, Jerub Baal, it was long believed that the term remained an appellation and did not become a proper name, except in the case of the Mesopotamian Bel and in late theological speculation. Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/ggenova. Before descending to the realm of death, Baal copulates with a heifer and begets a male offspring. The word is used as the name of a town in ancient Israel in Deuteronomy 1:4, Joshua . Baal in Smith's Bible Dictionary Baal (2) the supreme male divinity of the Phoenician and Canaanitish nations, as Ashtoreth was their supreme female divinity. (Iron Age) temple. 4. Second was passing their babies through the fire. Because Canaan depended on rain to grow crops and survive, he was numero uno. It was a corruption of that religion, for the Israelites syncretized that holy way with Baalism and other idolatries. The Hebrew scriptures speak frequently of the Baal of a given place or refers to Baalim in the plural, suggesting the evidence of local deities, or lords, of various locales. Dated to c. 1750 B.C.E. John W. Ritenbaugh because they sell the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of sandals. Required fields are marked *. The worship of Baal penetrated Jewish religious life during the period of the Judges ( Judges 3:7 ), became common in Israel during the rule of Ahab ( 1 Kings 16:31-33 ), and also influenced Judah ( 2 Chronicles 28:1-2 ). Biblical Sidon is perhaps most infamously known as the birthplace of the Phoenician princess Jezebel (1 Kings 16:31), who became queen of the Israelites during King Ahabs reign in the ninth century B.C.E. Sacred sex was a key component. Ashtoreth was the fertility goddess consort of Molech. First was sexual orgies "under every green tree," where promiscuity and perverted sex acts were the norm. After we accept His calling, He commands us to become moral as He is. Jehu's massacre of the Baal worshipers (II Kings 10:1828) did not eradicate bull worship (II Kings 10:31). The god Baal was the heathen sun-god spoken of in the Old Testament. Photo: Courtesy of Claude Doumet-Serhal. Now that He has announced Israel's imminent calamity, God begins to show how His punishment would alter the lives of the people. Baal worship was the bane of the Ancient Israelites. This is a prophet's job, a hallmark of a prophet of God. The Bible speaks of the destruction of Baal's temples and the idols associated with him. ; contact address: [emailprotected]. In the formative stages of Israels history, the presence of Baal names did not necessarily mean apostasy or even syncretism. 106:28). In the Bible, Baal is spoken of in a negative light, as an idol and a false god, and is associated with idolatry and paganism. Baal worship spread rapidly when the king of Israel, Ahab, married Jezebel, the princess of Tyre (1 Kings 16:31-32). This describes to a T what Israel did then and their descendants are continuing to do today. His overall conduct may not be too bad, but his poor self-analysis persuades him that he has no urgent need to seek God any further. So the word Poeni can be rewritten as Peyeni or as Payani or as Payan. 3:23). While it is acceptable to say that it was in what is now Jordan, to point to a particular cave and say, This is it. is ridiculous. In distress some would naturally revert to the old ways of reviving or reactivating the rain-god prayer, mourning, self-laceration, dancing, and water-pouring (I Kings 18:2628; Hos. In exchange, they would offer information about their unit. 29:35, 32:26; Nah. In Canaanite religion her primary role was that of mother goddess. You have a cuddly little Baal idol in your child's bedroom without even suspecting it. The prize of the victory was kingship over the gods and the enthronement ritual guaranteed the natural order of life and the welfare of the society. Psalm 68 may have been written, in part, as a polemic against Baal worship wherein it is indicated in verse 4 that YHWH is the one who rides the clouds. 57:310), perhaps including copulation with animals (Hos. Evil practices never go away. More than 1400 of her works have been featured in various publications. He could, and did, withhold the rain from one city and lavish it on another (Amos 4:7). This article is about Baal worship in the Bible. The summer drought did not mean that YHWH had died (like Baal), nor did the return of the rains signal the resurrection. Baal was different from his adherents merely in that he was above them. What is so interesting is that, by verse 36, God is no longer reporting on the Samaritans but is addressing Israel.