View source for Baal

{{Short description|Semitic title often used in reference to deities}}
{{other uses|Baal (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Canaanite
| name = Baal
| image = Baal Ugarit Louvre AO17329.jpg
| caption = Bronze figurine of a Baal, 14th–12th century BC, found at Ras Shamra (ancient Ugarit) near the Phoenician coast. [[Musée du Louvre]].
| deity_of = God of [[fertility]], [[weather]], [[rain]], [[wind]], [[lightning]], [[seasons]], [[war]], [[sailors]]
| parents = {{plainlist|
*[[Dagan (god)|Dagan]] and [[Shalash]] (in Syria)
*[[El (deity)|El]] and [[Athirat]] (in some Ugaritic texts)}}
| siblings = [[Hebat]] (in Syrian tradition), [[Anat]]
| offspring = [[Pidray]], [[Tallay]], [[Arsay]]<ref>S. A. Wiggins, ''[https://www.academia.edu/1307039/Pidray_Tallay_and_Arsay_in_the_Baal_Cycle Pidray, Tallay and Arsay in the Baal Cycle]'', ''Journal of Northwest Semitic Languages'' 2(29), 2003, p. 86-93</ref>
| region = {{plainlist|
*[[Phoenicia]]
*[[Ancient Syria]], especially [[Halab]]
*Near, around and at [[Ugarit]]
*[[Canaan]]
*[[North Africa]]
*[[Middle Kingdom of Egypt]]}}
| symbol = [[Bull]], [[Sheep|ram]], thunderbolt
| consorts = possibly [[Anat]] and/or [[Athtart]]<ref>M. Smith, ''[https://www.academia.edu/12709064/_Athtart_in_Late_Bronze_Age_Syrian_Texts ‘Athtart in Late Bronze Age Syrian Texts]'' [in:] D. T. Sugimoto (ed), ''Transformation of a Goddess. Ishtar – Astarte – Aphrodite'', 2014, p. 48-49; 60-61</ref><ref>T. J. Lewis, ''[https://www.academia.edu/21871788/_%CA%BFAthtartus_Incantations_and_the_Use_of_Divine_Names_as_Weapons_Journal_of_Near_Eastern_Studies_71_2011_207_227 ʿAthtartu’s Incantations and the Use of Divine Names as Weapons]'', ''Journal of Near Eastern Studies'' 71, 2011, p. 208</ref>
| Greek_equivalent = [[Zeus]]<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Baal-ancient-deity |title=Baal (ancient deity) |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica |date=29 March 2024 |edition=online}}</ref>
| equivalent1_type = Mesopotamian
| equivalent1 = [[Hadad]]
| equivalent2_type = Hurrian
| equivalent2 = [[Teshub]]
| equivalent3_type = Egyptian
| equivalent3 = [[Set (god)|Set]] (due to being a foreign god in [[Egypt]], since Set was the god of foreigners – otherwise [[Baal Zephon]] equivalent with Hadad who is analogous to Ba’al, was also equated with [[Horus]]){{sfn|Kramer|1984|p=266}}
}}

{{Middle Eastern deities}}
{{Ancient Egyptian religion}}

'''Baal''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|eɪ|.|əl|,_|ˈ|b|ɑː|.|əl}}),<ref name="oed">{{cite OED|Baal |access-date=2019-12-26}}</ref>{{efn|The [[American English|American pronunciation]] is usually the same<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Baal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226003932/https://www.lexico.com/definition/baal |url-status=dead |archive-date=2019-12-26 |title=Baal |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref><ref name=mwo/> but some speakers prefer variants closer to the original sound, such as {{IPAc-en|b|ɑː|ˈ|ɑː|l}} or {{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɑː|l}}.<ref name=mwo>{{cite Merriam-Webster|Baal |access-date=2019-12-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia=Webb's Easy Bible Names Pronunciation Guide |year=2012 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IrrtAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT36 |title=Baal |last=Webb|first=Steven K.}}</ref>}} or '''Baʻal''',{{efn|{{langx|uga|{{linktext|𐎁𐎓𐎍}}|baʿlu}};{{sfnp|De Moor & al.|1987|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=fu_Y5qnoCpAC&pg=PA1 1]}} {{langx|phn|{{linktext|𐤁𐤏𐤋}}|baʿl}};<!--right-to-left--> {{langx|hbo|{{linktext|בעל}}|baʿal}}, {{IPA|he|baʕal|pron}}.}} was a title and [[honorific]] meaning 'owner' or '[[lord]]' in the [[Northwest Semitic languages]] spoken in the [[Levant]] during [[Ancient Near East|antiquity]]. From its use among people, it came to be applied to gods.{{sfnp|Smith|1878|pp=175–176}} Scholars previously associated the [[theonym]] with [[solar god|solar cults]] and with a variety of unrelated [[patron deity|patron deities]], but inscriptions have shown that the name Ba'al was particularly associated with the [[storm god|storm]] and [[fertility god]] [[Hadad]] and his local manifestations.{{sfnp|''AYBD''|1992|loc="Baal (Deity)"}}

The [[Hebrew Bible]] includes use of the term in reference to various [[Levantine mythology|Levantine deities]], often with application towards [[Hadad]], who was decried as a [[false god]]. That use was taken over into [[Christianity]] and [[Islam]], sometimes under the form [[Beelzebub]] in [[demonology]].

The [[Ugarit]]ic god Baal (𐎁𐎓𐎍) is the protagonist of one of the lengthiest surviving epics from the [[ancient Near East]], the [[Baal Cycle]].

==Name==

===Epithets===
Ba'al's widely used epithet is "rider (or mounter<ref>Dahood, "Psalms II" 1966 p = 136 § = 68 https://archive.org/details/psaml20000unse/page/n5/mode/2up</ref>) of the clouds." (''rkb ʿrpt'', cf. ''rkb bʿrbt'' in Ps. 68:5; Ugaritic ''rkb ʿrpt''.) These are related to Zeus's "gatherer of the clouds" and Yahweh's "rider of the heavens."<ref>JANES 5 1973 Weinfeld "Rider of the Clouds"</ref> Like the English word ride, ''rkb'' has equine and sexual uses.<ref>{{cite book | last=Weninger | first=Stefan | title=The Semitic Languages | publisher=Walter de Gruyter | publication-place=Berlin [u.a..] | date=2011-12-23 | isbn=978-3-11-025158-6 | page=}}</ref>
{{anchor|Etymology|Name}}

===Etymology===
The spelling of the English term "Baal" derives from the [[Koine Greek|Greek]] ''Báal'' ({{lang|grc|Βάαλ}}) which appears in the [[New Testament]]<ref>Romans 11:4</ref> and [[Septuagint]],{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=132}} and from its [[latinization of names|Latinized]] form ''{{lang|la|Baal}}'', which appears in the [[Vulgate]].{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=132}} These forms in turn derive from the vowel-less Northwest Semitic form {{sc|bʿl}} ([[Phoenician language|Phoenician]] and {{langx|xpu|{{linktext|𐤁𐤏𐤋}}}}).{{sfnp|Huss|1985|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=NvEK7kc3qnQC&pg=PA561 561]}} The word's [[Bible|biblical]] senses as a Phoenician deity and [[false god]]s generally were extended during the [[Protestant Reformation]] to denote any [[idolatry|idols]], [[icon]]s of the [[saint (Christianity)|saint]]s, or the [[Catholic Church]] generally.<ref>''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]'' (1885), "[http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/14177 Baalist, ''n.'']"</ref> In such contexts, it follows the anglicized pronunciation and usually omits any mark between its two As.<ref name=oed/> In close transliteration of the Semitic name, the [[ayin]] is represented, as ''Baʿal''.

In the [[Northwest Semitic languages]]—[[Ugaritic]], [[Phoenician language|Phoenician]], [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Amorite language|Amorite]], and [[Aramaic language|Aramaic]]—the word ''baʿal'' signified '[[property|owner]]' and, by extension, 'lord',{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=132}} a 'master', or 'husband'.{{sfnp|Pope|2007}}{{sfnp|''DULAT''|2015|loc="[https://books.google.com/books?id=bh6oBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA203 bʕl (II)]"}} 
Cognates include the [[Akkadian language|Akkadian]] ''[[Bel (mythology)|Bēlu]]'' ({{lang|akk|{{linktext|𒂗}}}}),{{efn|This [[cuneiform]] is identical to the {{nowrap|{{angle bracket| [[𒂗]] }}}} which is taken as EN in [[Sumerian language|Sumerian]] texts. There, it has the meaning '[[high priest (Sumer)|high priest]]' or 'lord' and appears in the names of the gods [[Enki]] and [[Enlil]].}} [[Amharic language|Amharic]] ''bal'' ({{lang|am|{{linktext|ባል}}}}),{{sfnp|Kane|1990|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=H6tnix8o0mwC&pg=PA861 861]}} and [[Arabic language|Arabic]] ''baʿl'' ({{lang|ar|{{linktext|بعل}}}}). ''Báʿal'' ({{lang|he|בַּעַל}}) and ''baʿl'' still serve as the words for 'husband' in modern Hebrew and Arabic respectively. They also appear in some contexts concerning the ownership of things or possession of traits.

The feminine form is ''baʿalah'' ({{langx|he|[[wikt:בעלה|בַּעֲלָה]]}};{{sfnp|Strong|1890|loc=[http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=H1172 H1172]}} {{langx|ar|بَعْلَة}}), meaning 'mistress' in the sense of a female owner or lady of the house{{sfnp|Strong|1890|loc=[http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=H1172 H1172]}} and still serving as a rare word for 'wife'.{{sfnp|Wehr & al.|1976|p=67}}

Suggestions in early modern scholarship also included comparison with the Celtic god [[Belenus]], however this is now widely rejected by contemporary scholars.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=TsD281UZGhwC&pg=PA174 Belin], in Gilles Ménage, ''Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue françoise'', 1750. Ménage constructs a derivation of both the "Chaldean" Bel and the Celtic Belin
from a supposed word for 'ball, sphere', whence 'head', and 'chief, lord'</ref>

==Semitic religion==
{{see also|Religions of the ancient Near East|Ancient Semitic religion|Canaanite religion|Punic religion}}

===Generic===
{{see also-text|[[Bel (mythology)|Bel]]|[[Zeus Belos]]|[[Belus (disambiguation)|other figures named Belus]]}}
Like [[EN (cuneiform)|En]] in [[Sumerian language|Sumerian]], the [[Akkadian language|Akkadian]] ''bēlu'' and [[Northwest Semitic languages|Northwest Semitic]] ''baʿal'' (as well as its feminine form ''baʿalah'') was used as a title of various deities in the [[Ancient Mesopotamian religion|Mesopotamian]] and [[Ancient Semitic religion|Semitic pantheons]]. Only a [[definitive article]], [[genitive]] or [[epithet]], or context could establish which particular god was meant.{{sfnp|Halpern|2009|p=64}}

===Hadad===
{{Main|Hadad}}

Baʿal was also used as a proper name by the third millennium&nbsp;BC, when he appears in a list of deities at [[Abu Salabikh]].{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=132}} Most modern scholarship asserts that this Baʿal—usually distinguished as "The Lord" ({{lang|he|[[wikt:ה־|ה]]{{linktext|בעל}}}}, ''Ha-Baʿal'')—was identical with the [[storm god|storm]] and [[fertility god]] Hadad;{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=132}}{{sfnp|Day|2000|p=68}}{{sfnp|Pope|2007}} it also appears in the form ''Baʿal Haddu''.{{sfnp|''DULAT''|2015|loc="[https://books.google.com/books?id=bh6oBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA203 bʕl (II)]"}}{{sfnp|Ayali-Darshan|2013|p=652}} Scholars propose that, as the cult of Hadad increased in importance, his true name came to be seen as too holy for any but the high priest to speak aloud and the alias "Lord" ("Baʿal") was used instead, as "[[Bel (god)|Bel]]" was used for [[Marduk]] among the Babylonians and "[[Adonai]]" for [[Tetragrammaton|Yahweh]] among the Israelites. A minority propose that Baʿal was a native [[Canaanite religion|Canaanite]] deity whose cult was identified with or absorbed aspects of [[Adad]]'s.{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=132}} Regardless of their original relationship, by the 1st millennium&nbsp;BCE, the two were distinct: Hadad was worshiped by the [[Aramaeans]] and Baʿal by the [[Phoenicians]] and other [[Canaanites]].{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=132}}

{{anchor|Baal|Ba'al}}

===Baʿal===
{{See also|Baal Cycle}}
[[File:Baal thunderbolt Louvre AO15775.jpg|thumb|Statue of [[Baal with Thunderbolt]] from Ugarit. [[Musée du Louvre]].]]
[[File:Baal, God of Fertility and Storms, Megiddo, Strata IX-VII, Late Bronze Age, 1550-1200 BC, bronze - Oriental Institute Museum, University of Chicago - DSC07738.JPG|thumb|Solid cast bronze of a votive figurine representing the god Baal discovered at [[Tel Megiddo]], dating to the mid-2nd millennium BC.]]
Baʿal is well-attested in surviving inscriptions and was popular in [[theophoric name]]s throughout the [[Levant]]{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=133}} but he is usually mentioned along with other gods, "his own field of action being seldom defined".{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=134}} Nonetheless, Ugaritic records show him as a [[weather god]], with particular power over [[lightning god|lightning]], [[wind god|wind]], [[rain god|rain]], and [[fertility god|fertility]].{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=134}}{{efn|In surviving accounts, Baʿal's power over fertility extends only over vegetation. Older scholarship claimed Baʿal controlled human fertility as well but did so on the basis of misinterpretation or of inscriptions now regarded as dubious.{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|pp=134–135}} Similarly, 19th-century scholarship treating Baal as a [[anthropomorphism|personification]] of the [[sun]] seems to have been badly taken. The [[astrotheology]] of Near Eastern deities was an [[Iron Age]] development long postdating the [[origin of religion]] and, following its development, [[Bel (god)|Bel]] and Baʿal were associated with the planet [[Jupiter (planet)|Jupiter]].{{sfnp|Smith & al.|1899}} The sun was worshipped in Canaan as either the goddess [[Shapash]] or the god [[Shamash]].}} The dry summers of the area were explained as Baʿal's time in the [[underworld]], and his return in autumn was said to have caused the storms that revived the land.{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=134}} Thus, the worship of Baʿal in [[Canaan]]—where he eventually supplanted [[El (deity)|El]] as the leader of the gods and patron of kingship—was connected to the region's dependence on rainfall for its agriculture, unlike [[Ancient Egypt|Egypt]] and [[Ancient Mesopotamia|Mesopotamia]], which focused on irrigation from their major rivers. Anxiety about water availability for crops and trees increased the importance of his cult, which focused attention on his role as a rain god.{{sfnp|Pope|2007}} He was also called upon during battle, showing that he was thought to intervene actively in the world of man,{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=134}} unlike the more aloof El. The Lebanese city of [[Baalbeck]] was named after Baal.<ref>{{citation |last=Batuman |first=Elif |contribution=The Myth of the Megalith |contribution-url=http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/baalbek-myth-megalith |title=The New Yorker |date=18 December 2014 |title-link=The New Yorker }}</ref> Alternatively, Ba' al is a divine co-regent with El, where El was the executive while Ba' al was the sustainer of the cosmos.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lewis |first=Theodore J. |url=https://academic.oup.com/book/37440/chapter/331574551?login=true#331574754 |title=The Origin and Character of God: Ancient Israelite Religion through the Lens of Divinity |date=2020 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0190072544 |pages=73–118}}</ref>

The Baʿal of Ugarit was the epithet of Hadad, but as time passed, the epithet became the god's name while Hadad became the epithet.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zfFeCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA216|title=The Splintered Divine: A Study of Istar, Baal, and Yahweh Divine Names and Divine Multiplicity in the Ancient Near East|page= 216|year= 2015|isbn=9781614512363|last1=Allen|first1=Spencer L|publisher=Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG }}</ref> Baʿal was usually said to be the son of [[Dagan (god)|Dagan]], but appears as one of the sons of El in [[Ugarit]]ic sources.{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=133}}{{sfnp|''DULAT''|2015|loc="[https://books.google.com/books?id=bh6oBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA203 bʕl (II)]"}}{{efn|Herrmann argues against seeing these separate lineages literally, instead proposing that they describe Baʿal's roles. As a god, he is understood as a child of El, "father of gods", while his fertility aspects connect him to the [[grain god]] Dagan.{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=133}}}} Both Baʿal and El were [[sacred bull|associated with the bull]] in Ugaritic texts, as they symbolized both strength and fertility.{{sfnp|Miller|2000|p=32}} He held special enmity against snakes, both on their own and as representatives of [[Yammu]] (<small>{{abbr|lit.|literally}}</small>&nbsp;"Sea"), the Canaanite [[List of water deities|sea god and river god]].{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=135}} He fought the [[Tannin (monster)|Tannin]] (''Tunnanu''), the "Twisted Serpent" (''Bṯn ʿqltn''), "[[Lotan]] the Fugitive Serpent" (''Ltn Bṯn Brḥ'', the biblical [[Leviathan]]),{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=135}} and the "Mighty One [[seven-headed serpent|with Seven Heads]]" (''Šlyṭ D.šbʿt Rašm'').{{sfnp|Uehlinger|1999|p=512}}{{efn|The account is [[lacuna (MS)|patchy]] and obscure here. Some scholars take some or all of the terms to refer to [[Litan]], and in other passages, [[ʿAnat]] takes credit for destroying the monsters on Baʿal's behalf. Herrmann takes "Šalyaṭu" as a proper name{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=135}} rather than translating it as the "powerful one" or "tyrant".{{sfnp|''DULAT''|2015|loc=[https://books.google.com/books?id=bh6oBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA810 "šlyṭ"]}}}} Baʿal's conflict with Yammu is now generally regarded as the prototype of the vision recorded in the [[Daniel 7|7th chapter]] of the [[Bible|biblical]] [[Book of Daniel]].{{sfnp|Collins|1984|p=77}} As vanquisher of the sea, the Canaanites and Phoenicians regarded Baʿal as the [[patron deity|patron]] of [[sailors]] and sea-going merchants.{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=135}} As vanquisher of [[Mot (god)|Mot]], the Canaanite [[death god]], he was known as Baʿal Rāpiʾuma (''Bʿl Rpu'') and regarded as the leader of the [[Rephaim]] (''Rpum''), the ancestral spirits, particularly those of ruling dynasties.{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=135}}

From Canaan, worship of Baʿal spread to Egypt by the [[Middle Kingdom of Egypt|Middle Kingdom]] and throughout the [[Mediterranean basin|Mediterranean]] following the waves of [[Phoenician colonization]] in the early 1st millennium&nbsp;BCE.{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=133}} He was described with diverse epithets, and before Ugarit was rediscovered, these were supposed to refer to distinct local gods. However, as explained by [[John Day (Old Testament scholar)|Day]], the texts at Ugarit revealed that they were considered "local manifestations of this particular deity, analogous to the local manifestations of the [[Virgin Mary]] in the [[Roman Catholic Church]]".{{sfnp|Day|2000|p=68}} In those inscriptions, he is frequently described as "Victorious Baʿal" (''Aliyn'' or ''Ảlỉyn Baʿal''),{{sfnp|''DULAT''|2015|loc="[https://books.google.com/books?id=bh6oBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA203 bʕl (II)]"}}{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=132}} "Mightiest one" (''Aliy'' or ''ʾAly''){{sfnp|''DULAT''|2015|loc="[https://books.google.com/books?id=bh6oBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA203 bʕl (II)]"}}{{efn|This name appears twice in the [[Legend of Keret]] discovered at [[Ugarit]]. Before this discovery, [[Henrik Samuel Nyberg|Nyberg]] had restored it to the Hebrew texts of [[Book of Deuteronomy|Deuteronomy]],<ref>{{bibleverse|Deut.|33:12|HE}}.</ref> [[Books of Samuel|1&nbsp;& 2&nbsp;Samuel]],<ref>{{bibleverse|1 Sam.|2:10|HE}}.</ref><ref>{{bibleverse|2 Sam.|23:1|HE}}.</ref> [[Book of Isaiah|Isaiah]],<ref>{{bibleverse|Isa.|59:18|HE}} & {{Bibleverse-nb||Isa|63:7|HE}}.</ref> and [[Book of Hosea|Hosea]].<ref>{{bibleverse|Hos.|7:16|HE}}.</ref> Following its verification, additional instances have been claimed in the [[Psalms]] and in [[Book of Job|Job]].{{sfnp|Pope|2007}}}} or "Mightiest of the Heroes" (''Aliy Qrdm''), "The Powerful One" (''Dmrn''), and in his role as patron of the city "Baʿal of Ugarit" (''Baʿal Ugarit'').{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|pp=132–133}} As [[Baʿal Zaphon]] (''Baʿal Ṣapunu''), he was particularly associated with his palace atop [[Jebel Aqra]] (the ancient Mount Ṣapānu and classical Mons Casius).{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|pp=132–133}} He is also mentioned as "Winged Baʿal" (''Bʿl Knp'') and "Baʿal of the Arrows" (''Bʿl Ḥẓ'').{{sfnp|''DULAT''|2015|loc="[https://books.google.com/books?id=bh6oBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA203 bʕl (II)]"}} [[Phoenician language|Phoenician]] and [[Aramaic language|Aramaic]] inscriptions describe  "Baʿal of the [[Mace (bludgeon)|Mace]]" (''Bʿl Krntryš''), "Baʿal of the Lebanon" (''Bʿl Lbnn''), "Baʿal of Sidon" (''Bʿl Ṣdn''), ''Bʿl Ṣmd'', "[[Baʿal of the Heavens]]" (''Baʿal Shamem'' or ''Shamayin''),<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Baal-ancient-deity|title=Baal {{!}} ancient deity|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=2017-08-04|language=en}}</ref> Baʿal ʾAddir (''Bʿl ʾdr''), [[Baʿal Hammon]] (''Baʿal Ḥamon''), ''Bʿl Mgnm''.{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=133}}

{{anchor|Baal Hammon|Ba'al Hammon}}

===Baʿal Hammon===
{{main|Baal Hammon|l1=Baʿal Hammon}}
[[Baal Hammon|Baʿal Hammon]] was worshipped in the [[Ancient Tyre|Tyrian]] [[Phoenician colonization|colony]] of [[Carthage]] as their [[King of the Gods|supreme god]]. It is believed that this position developed in the 5th century&nbsp;BCE following the severing of its ties to [[Ancient Tyre|Tyre]] following the 480&nbsp;BCE [[Battle of Himera (480 BC)|Battle of Himera]].{{sfnp|Moscati|2001|p=132}} Like Hadad, Baʿal Hammon was a [[fertility god]].{{sfnp|Lancel|1995|p=197}} Inscriptions about [[Punic religion|Punic deities]] tend to be rather uninformative, though, and he has been variously identified as a [[moon god]]{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} and as [[Dagan (god)|Dagan]], the [[grain god]].{{sfnp|Lipiński|1992}} Rather than the bull, Baʿal Hammon was associated with the [[Sheep|ram]] and depicted with his horns. The archaeological record seems to bear out accusations in Roman sources that the Carthaginians [[Tophet#Carthage and western Mediterranean|burned their children as human sacrifices]] to him.{{sfnp|Xella|Quinn|Melchiorri|Van Domellen|2013}} He was worshipped as Baʿal Karnaim ("Lord of the Two Horns"), particularly at an open-air sanctuary at Jebel Bu Kornein ("Two-Horn Hill") across the bay from Carthage. His consort was the goddess [[Tanit]].{{sfnp|Lancel|1995|p=195}}

The epithet Hammon is obscure. Most often, it is connected with the NW Semitic ''ḥammān'' ("[[brazier]]") and associated with a role as a [[sun god]].{{sfnp|Walbank|1979|p=47}} [[Ernest Renan|Renan]] and Gibson linked it to Hammon (modern Umm el-‘Amed between [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyre]] in [[Lebanon]] and [[Acre, Israel|Acre]] in [[Israel]]){{sfnp|Gibson|1982|p=39 & 118}} and [[Frank Moore Cross|Cross]] and [[Edward Lipiński (orientalist)|Lipiński]] to Haman or Khamōn, the classical [[Mount Amanus]] and modern Nur Mountains, which separate northern [[Syria]] from southeastern [[Cilicia]].{{sfnp|Cross|1973|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=bJqwWRDOMgEC&pg=PA26 26–28]}}{{sfnp|Lipiński|1994|p=207}}

==Judaism==
[[File:Schnorr von Carolsfeld Bibel in Bildern 1860 116.png|thumb|''Slaughter of the Prophets of Baal'', 1860 woodcut by [[Julius Schnorr von Karolsfeld]]]]
Baʿal (בַּעַל) appears about 90 times in the [[Hebrew Bible]] in reference to various gods.{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=132}} The priests of the Canaanite Baʿal are mentioned numerous times, most prominently in the [[First Book of Kings]]. Many scholars believe that this describes [[Jezebel]]'s attempt to introduce the worship of the Baʿal of [[Ancient Tyre|Tyre]], [[Melqart]],<ref name="Josephus">[[Josephus]], ''[[Antiquities (Josephus)|Antiquities]]'', 8.13.1.</ref> to the [[Kingdom of Israel (Samaria)|Israelite]] capital [[Samaria]] in the 9th century&nbsp;BCE.{{sfnp|''BEWR''|2006|loc=[https://books.google.com/books?id=dbibAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA102 "Baal"]}} Against this, [[John Day (Old Testament scholar)|Day]] argues that Jezebel's Baʿal was more probably [[Baʿal Shamem]], the Lord of the Heavens, a title most often applied to Hadad, who is also often titled just Ba‘al.{{sfnp|Day|2000|p=75}}

[[1 Kings]] 18 records an account of a contest between the [[prophet (Bible)|prophet]] [[Elijah]] and Jezebel's priests. Both sides offered a [[sacrifice]] to their respective gods: Ba'al failed to light his followers' sacrifice while [[Yahweh]]'s heavenly fire burnt Elijah's altar to ashes, even after it had been soaked with water. The observers then followed Elijah's instructions to slay the priests of Baʿal,<ref>{{bibleverse|1 Kings|18|HE}}</ref> after which it began to rain, showing Yahweh's mastery over the weather.

Other references to the priests of Baʿal describe their burning of [[incense]] in [[prayer]]<ref>{{bibleverse|2 Kings|23:5|HE}}.</ref> and their offering of [[sacrifice]] while adorned in special [[vestment]]s.<ref>{{bibleverse|2 Kings|10:22|HE}}</ref>

===Yahweh===
{{main|Yahweh|Names of God in Judaism}}
The title ''baʿal'' was a synonym in some contexts of the [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] ''[[adon]]'' ("Lord") and ''[[adonai]]'' ("My Lord") still used as aliases of the Lord of Israel [[Yahweh]]. According to some scholars, the [[Hebrew people|early Hebrews]] did use the names Baʿal ("Lord") and Baʿali ("My Lord") in reference to the Lord of Israel, just as Baʿal farther north designated the Lord of [[Ugarit]] or Lebanon.{{sfnp|''BEWR''|2006|loc=[https://books.google.com/books?id=dbibAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA102 "Baal"]}}{{sfnp|Smith|1878|pp=175–176}} This occurred both directly and as the divine element of some Hebrew [[theophoric name]]s. However, according to others it is not certain that the name Baal was definitely applied to Yahweh in early Israelite history. The component Baal in proper names is mostly applied to worshippers of Baal, or descendants of the worshippers of Baal.{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=136}} Names including the element Baʿal presumably in reference to Yahweh{{sfnp|Ayles|1904|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=nwQ9AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA103 103]}}{{sfnp|Smith|1878|pp=175–176}} include the [[judge (Judaism)|judge]] [[Gideon]] (also known as Jerubaʿal, {{abbr|lit.|literally}}&nbsp;"The Lord Strives"), [[Saul the King|Saul]]'s son [[Ish-bosheth|Eshbaʿal]] ("The Lord is Great"), and [[David]]'s son Beeliada ("The Lord Knows"). The name [[Bealiah]] ("The Lord is [[Jah]]"; "Yahweh is Baʿal"){{sfnp|''AYBD''|1992|loc="Baal (Deity)"}} combined the two.<ref>{{bibleverse|1 Chron.|12:5|HE}}.</ref>{{sfnp|Easton|1893|loc="[https://archive.org/stream/illustratedbible00east#page/86/mode/2up Beali′ah]"}} However John Day states that as far as the names Eshba’al, Meriba’al, and Beeliada (that is Baaliada), are concerned it is not certain whether they simply allude to the Canaanite god Ba’al, or are intended to equate Yahweh with Ba’al, or have no connection to Ba’al.{{sfnp|Day|2000|p=72}}

It was the program of [[Jezebel]], in the 9th century&nbsp;BCE, to introduce into Israel's capital city of Samaria her Phoenician worship of Baal as opposed to the worship of [[Yahweh]] that made the name anathema to the Israelites.{{sfnp|''BEWR''|2006|loc=[https://books.google.com/books?id=dbibAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA102 "Baal"]}}
{{blockquote|At first the name Baal<!--sic--> was used by the [[Jews]] for their God without discrimination, but as the struggle between the two religions developed, the name Baal was given up by the Israelites as a thing of shame, and even names like Jerubbaal<!--sic--> were changed to Jerubbosheth: Hebrew ''bosheth'' means "shame".{{sfnp|''ZPBD''|1963}}}} Eshbaʿal became [[Ish-bosheth]]{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} and Meribaʿal became [[Mephibosheth]],<ref>{{bibleverse|1 Chron.|9:40|HE}}.</ref>{{original research inline|date=March 2022}} but other possibilities also occurred. Gideon's name Jerubaʿal was mentioned intact but glossed as a mockery of the Canaanite god, implying that he strove in vain.<ref>{{bibleverse|Judges|6:32|HE}}.</ref>{{original research inline|date=March 2022}} Direct use of Baʿali continued at least as late as the time of the [[prophet (Judaism)|prophet]] [[Hosea]], who reproached the Israelites for doing so.<ref>{{bibleverse|Hosea|2:16|HE}}</ref>

Brad E. Kelle has suggested that references to cultic sexual practices in the worship of Baal, in Hosea 2, are evidence of an historical situation in which Israelites were either giving up Yahweh worship for Baal, or blending the two.  Hosea's references to sexual acts being metaphors for Israelite "apostasy".{{sfnp|Kelle|2005|p=137}}

Brian P. Irwin argues that "Baal" in northern Israelite traditions is a form of Yahweh that was rejected as foreign by the prophets. In southern Israelite traditions, "Baal" was a god that was worshipped in Jerusalem. His worshippers saw him as compatible or identical with Yahweh and honored him with human sacrifices and fragrant meal offerings. Eventually, the [[The Chronicler|Chronicler(s)]] disapproved of both "Baals" whilst the [[Deuteronomist]]s used "Baals" for any god they disapproved of.<ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Irwin |first=Brian P. |date=1999 |title=Baal and Yahweh in the Old Testament: A Fresh Examination of the Biblical and Extra-Biblical Data |url=https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/handle/1807/73647 |journal=University of St. Michael's College|type=Thesis }}</ref>

Likewise, Mark S. Smith believes Yahweh was more likely to be inspired by Baal rather than El, since both are stormy divine warriors and lack the pacifistic traits of El according to the Ugaritic texts and Hebrew Bible.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=van Oorschot |first1=Jürgen |title=The Origins of Yahwism |last2=Witte |first2=Markus |date=2019 |publisher=De Gruyter |isbn=978-3110656701 |pages=23–43}}</ref>

{{anchor|Baal Berith|Ba'al Berith}}

===Baʿal Berith===
{{main|Baʿal Berith}}
[[Baʿal Berith]] ("Lord of the [[Biblical covenant|Covenant]]") was a god worshipped by the [[Israelites]] when they "went astray" after the death of [[Gideon]] according to the [[Hebrew Scriptures]].<ref name=jdg8>{{bibleverse|Jgs.|8:33–34|HE}}.</ref> The same source relates that Gideon's son [[Abimelech (Judges)|Abimelech]] went to his mother's kin at [[Shechem]] and received 70 [[shekel]]s of [[silver]] "from the House of Baʿal Berith" to assist in killing his 70 brothers from Gideon's other wives.<ref>{{bibleverse|Jgs.|9:1–5|HE}}.</ref> An earlier passage had made Shechem the scene of [[Joshua]]'s covenant between all the [[tribes of Israel]] and "[[El (god)|El]] [[Yahweh]], our [[El (god)|god]] of [[Israelites|Israel]]"<ref>{{bibleverse|Josh.|24:1–25|HE}}.</ref> and a later one describes it as the location of the "House of El Berith".<ref>{{bibleverse|Jgs.|9:46|HE}}.</ref> It is thus unclear whether the false worship of the "Baʿalim" being decried<ref name=jdg8/> is the worship of a new idol or rites and [[henotheism|teachings]] placing Yahweh as a mere local god within a larger pantheon. The Hebrew Scriptures record the worship of Baʿal threatening [[Israelites|Israel]] from the time of the [[Judge (Judaism)|Judges]] until the [[Kingdom of Israel (united monarchy)|monarchy]].{{sfnp|Smith|2002|loc=Ch.&nbsp;2}} However, during the period of Judges such worship seems to have been an occasional deviation from a deeper and more constant worship of Yahweh:
{{blockquote|Throughout all the stories of Judges the popular faith in YHWH runs as a powerful current. This faith raises the judges, and inspires poets, prophets, and Nazirites. ... Worship of Baals and Ashtoreths has been schematically interspersed between these chapters, but no trace of a vital, popular belief in any foreign gods can be detected in the stories themselves. Baal prophets appeared in Israel centuries later; but during the age of the judges when Israel is supposed to have been most deeply affected by the religion of Canaan, there are no Baal priests or prophets, nor any other intimation of a vital effect of polytheism in Israel’s life.<ref>[[Yehezkel Kaufmann]], ''The Religion of Israel: From Its Beginnings to the Babylonian Exile'' (1972), p.138-139:</ref>}}

The [[Deuteronomist]]<ref>{{bibleverse|Deut.|4:1–40|HE}}</ref> and the present form of [[Book of Jeremiah#Composition|Jeremiah]]<ref>{{bibleverse|Jer.|11:12–13|HE}}</ref> seem to phrase the struggle as [[monolatry]] or [[monotheism]] against [[polytheism]]. Yahweh is frequently identified in the Hebrew scriptures with [[Elyon|El Elyon]], however, this was after a conflation with El in a process of religious [[syncretism]].{{sfn|Smith|2002|page=8}} ''’El'' ({{langx|he|אל}}) became a generic term meaning "god", as opposed to the name of a worshipped deity, and epithets such as [[El Shaddai]] came to be applied to Yahweh alone, while Baal's nature as a storm and weather god became assimilated into Yahweh's own identification with the storm.{{sfn|Smith|2002|page=8, 135}} In the next stage the Yahwistic religion separated itself from its Canaanite heritage, first by rejecting Baal-worship in the 9th century, then through the 8th to 6th centuries with prophetic condemnation of Baal, sun-worship, worship on the "high places", practices pertaining to the dead, and other matters.{{sfn|Smith|2002|page=9}}

[[File:Beelzebub.png|right|150px|thumb|alt=Paris, 1825|"Beelzebub" in the 1863 edition of [[Jacques Collin de Plancy]]'s ''[[Dictionnaire Infernal]]''.]]
{{anchor|Baal Zebub|Baʿal Zebub}}

===Beelzebub===
{{Main|Beelzebub}}
Baʿal Zebub ({{langx|he|{{linktext|בעל זבוב}}}}, <small>{{abbr|lit.|literally}}</small>&nbsp;"[[Fly]] Lord"){{sfnp|Arndt & al.|2000|p=173}}{{sfnp|Balz & al.|2004|p=211}}{{efn|"The etymology of Beelzebul has proceeded in several directions. The variant reading Beelzebub (Syriac translators and Jerome) reflects a long-standing tradition of equating Beelzebul with the Philistine deity of the city of Ekron mentioned in 2 Kgs 1:2, 3, 6, 16. Baalzebub (Heb ba˓al zĕbûb) seems to mean “lord of flies” (HALAT, 250, but cf. LXXB baal muian theon akkarōn, “Baal-Fly, god of Akkaron”; Ant 9:2, 1 theon muian)."{{sfnp|''AYBD''|1992|loc="Beelzebul"}}}} occurs in the first chapter of the [[Second Book of Kings]] as the name of the [[Philistines|Philistine]] god of [[Ekron]]. In it, [[Ahaziah of Israel|Ahaziah]], [[kingdom of Israel (Samaria)|king of Israel]], is said to have consulted the priests of Baʿal Zebub as to whether he would survive the injuries from his recent fall. The [[prophet (Judaism)|prophet]] [[Elijah]], incensed at this impiety, then foretold that he would die quickly, raining heavenly fire on the soldiers sent to punish him for doing so.<ref>{{bibleverse|2 Kings|1:1–18|HE}}.</ref> [[Jewish]] scholars have interpreted the title of "Lord of the Flies" as the Hebrew way of calling Baʿal a [[feces|pile of dung]] and his followers [[vermin]],{{sfnp|Kohler|1902}}{{sfnp|Lurker|1987|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Vtj0wSsw1JcC&pg=PA31 31]}} although others argue for a link to power over causing and curing [[infection|pestilence]] and thus suitable for Ahaziah's question.{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999b}} The [[Septuagint]] renders the name as ''Baälzeboúb'' ({{lang|grc|βααλζεβούβ}}) and as "Baʿal of Flies" ({{lang|grc|βααλ μυιαν}}, ''Baäl muian''). [[Symmachus the Ebionite]] rendered it as ''Beëlzeboúl'' ({{lang|grc|Βεελζεβούλ}}), possibly reflecting its original sense.{{sfnp|Souvay|1907}}{{efn|Arndt & al. reverse this, saying Symmachus transcribed ''Baälzeboúb'' for a more common ''Beëlzeboúl''.{{sfnp|Arndt & al.|2000|p=173}}}} This has been proposed to have been ''B‘l Zbl'', [[Ugaritic language|Ugaritic]] for "Prince Baal".{{sfnp|Wex|2005}}{{efn|"It is more probable that b‘l zbl, which can mean “lord of the (heavenly) dwelling” in Ugaritic, was changed to b‘l zbb to make the divine name an opprobrius epithet. The reading Beelzebul in Mt. 10:25 would then reflect the right form of the name, a wordplay on “master of the house” (Gk oikodespótēs)."{{sfnp|McIntosh|1989}}}}{{efn|"An alternative suggested by many is to connect zĕbûl with a noun meaning '(exalted) abode.'"{{sfnp|''AYBD''|1992|loc="Beelzebul"}}}}{{efn|"In contemporary Semitic speech it may have been understood as ‘the master of the house’; if so, this phrase could be used in a double sense in Mt. 10:25b."{{sfnp|Bruce|1996}}}}

==Classical sources==
Outside of Jewish and Christian contexts, the various forms of Baʿal were indifferently rendered in classical sources as [[Belus (disambiguation)|Belus]] ({{langx|grc|Βῆλος}}, ''Bē̂los''). An example is [[Josephus]], who states that [[Jezebel]] "built a temple to the [[patron deity|god]] of the [[Tyrians]], which they call Belus";<ref name="Josephus"/> this describes the Baʿal of Tyre, [[Melqart]]. Herrmann identifies the Demarus/Demarous figure mentioned by [[Philo Byblius]] as Baʿal.{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=135}}

[[Baʿal Hammon]], however, was identified with the [[Ancient Greek religion|Greek]] [[Cronus|Cronos]] and the [[Ancient Roman religion|Roman]] [[Saturn (god)|Saturn]] as the [[Baal-zebul|Zabul]] Saturn.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jongeling|first=K.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qn8OAAAAYAAJ&q=North+African+Names+from+Latin+Sources|title=North-African Names from Latin Sources|date=1994|publisher=Research School CNWS|isbn=978-90-73782-25-9|language=en}}</ref> He was probably never equated with Melqart, although this assertion appears in older scholarship.

==Christianity==
Beelzebub or Beelzebul was identified by the [[Evangelism|writers]] of the [[New Testament]] as [[Satan]], "[[prince]]" (i.e., [[Prince#Prince as generic for ruler|king]]) of the [[demon]]s.{{efn|"In NT Gk. beelzeboul, beezeboul (Beelzebub in TR and AV) is the prince of the demons (Mt. 12:24, 27; Mk. 3:22; Lk. 11:15, 18f.), identified with Satan (Mt. 12:26; Mk. 3:23, 26; Lk. 11:18)."{{sfnp|Bruce|1996}}}}{{efn|"Besides, Matt 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15 use the apposition ἄρχων τῶν δαιμονίων ‘head of the →Demons’."{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999b}}}}

[[John Milton]]'s 1667 [[epic poem|epic]] ''[[Paradise Lost]]'' describes the [[fallen angel]]s collecting around Satan, stating that, though their heavenly names had been "blotted out and ras'd", they would acquire new ones "wandring o're the Earth" as false gods. ''Baalim'' and ''[[Astaroth|Ashtaroth]]'' are given as the collective names of the male and female demons (respectively) who came from between the "bordering flood of old [[Euphrates]]" and "the Brook that parts Egypt from Syrian ground".<ref>[[John Milton|Milton]], ''[[Paradise Lost]]'', Bk.&nbsp;1, ll.&nbsp;419–423.</ref>

''Baal'' and derived epithets like ''Baalist'' were used as slurs during the [[English Reformation]] for the [[List of Catholic saints|saints]] and their devotees.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

==Islam==
The [[Quran]] mentions that Prophet Elias ([[Elijah#Elijah in Islam|Elijah]]) warned his people against Baʿal worship.<ref name="Tottoli">{{EI3 |last=Tottoli |first=Roberto |title=Baal |doi=10.1163/1573-3912_ei3_COM_23985}}</ref>
{{blockquote| And Indeed, Elijah was among the [[Prophets and messengers in Islam|messengers]], (123) When he said to his people: "Will you not [[Taqwa|fear]] Allah? (124) Do you call upon Ba'l and leave the best of creators - (125) Allah, your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers?" (126) And they denied him, so indeed, they will be brought [for [[Hell (Islam)|punishment]]], (127) Except the chosen servants of Allah. (128) And we left for him [favorable mention] among later generations: (129) Peace be upon Ilyāseen*. (130) Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good. (131) Indeed, he was of Our believing servants. (132).<ref name="Quran 37">{{Cite Quran|37|123|e=132|s=ref}}</ref> Quran [[As-Saaffat|Surah 37]], verses 123-132<ref name="Quran 37"/>}}

According to [[Tabari]], ''baal'' is a term used by Arabs to denote everything which is a ''lord'' over anything.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tafseer of the Mosque of Al-Bayan in Tafsir al-Qur'an/al-Tabari (d. 310 AH) |url= https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=1&tSoraNo=37&tAyahNo=125&tDisplay=yes&Page=2&Size=1&LanguageId=1 |language=ar}}</ref>

[[Al-Thaʿlabī]] offers a more detailed description about Baal; accordingly it was an idol of gold, twenty cubits tall, and had four faces.<ref name="Tottoli"/>

The trilateral root, (''bā, ayn, lam)'' ''baʿl'' occurs seven times in the Qur’an with its common Semitic usage of “owner, husband,” particularly husband.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Quranic Arabic Corpus - Quran Dictionary |url=https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=bEl#(11:72:7) |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=corpus.quran.com}}</ref> For example, [[Sarah]], wife of [[Abraham in Islam|Abraham]] refers to her husband using the term.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Surah Hud - 72 |url=https://quran.com/hud/72 |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=Quran.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Quranic Arabic Corpus - Word by Word Grammar, Syntax and Morphology of the Holy Quran |url=https://corpus.quran.com/wordmorphology.jsp?location=(11:72:7) |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=corpus.quran.com}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Mythology|Asia}}
* [[Adonis]]
* [[Bael (demon)|Bael]]
* [[Beelzebub]]
* [[Baal (disambiguation)]]
* [[Baal in popular culture]]
* [[Baal (demon)|Baal the demon]]
* [[Baalah (disambiguation)|Baalahs]]
* [[Baʿal Peʿor]] (Lord of Mt Peʿor)
* [[Baal-zephon]] (Lord of Mount Zaphon)
* [[Bel (mythology)|Bel]] and [[Temple of Bel]]
* [[Belus (disambiguation)|Beluses]]
* [[Belial]]
* [[Set (mythology)|Set]]
* [[Teshub]] and [[Theispas]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Sources===
{{refbegin}}

* {{citation |last=Arndt |first=W. |author2-last=Danker |author2-first=F.W. |author3-last=Bauer |author3-first=W. |date=2000 |ref={{harvid|Arndt & al.|2000}} |title=A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, ''3rd ed.'' |location=Chicago |publisher=University of Chicago Press }}
* {{citation |last=Ayali-Darshan |first=Noga |contribution=Baal, Son of Dagan: In Search of Baal's Double Paternity |contribution-url=https://www.academia.edu/44458724/Baal_Son_of_Dagan_In_Search_of_Baal_s_Double_Paternity_JAOS_133_2013_651_657 |title=Journal of the American Oriental Society, ''Vol.&nbsp;133, No.&nbsp;4'' |date=2013 |pages=651–657 }}
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{{refend}}

==Further reading==
* {{citation |title=Mighty Baal: Essays in Honor of Mark S. Smith |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4nD-DwAAQBAJ |volume=66 |year=2020 |series=Harvard Semitic Studies |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-43767-8 |editor-last=Russell |editor-first=Stephen C. |editor2-last=Hamori |editor2-first=Esther J.}}
* {{citation |last=Smith |first=M.S. |date=1994 |title=The Ugaritic Baal Cycle |volume=I |location=Leiden |publisher=E.J. Brill |isbn=978-90-04-09995-1 }}
* {{citation |last=Smith |first=M.S. |author2-last=Pitard |author2-first=W. |date=2009 |title=The Ugaritic Baal Cycle |volume=II |location=Leiden |publisher=E.J. Brill |isbn=978-90-04-15348-6 }}

==External links==
{{EB1911 poster|Baal}}
{{Commons category|Baal}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{cite NIE|wstitle=Baal|short=x}}
* Jewish Encyclopedia (1901–1906) "[http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/2235-ba-al Ba'al]", "[http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/2236-ba-al-and-ba-al-worship Ba'al and Ba'al Worship]", "[http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/2238-baal-berith Baal-Berith]", "[http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/2246-baal-peor Baal-Peor]", "[http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/2263-baalim Baalim]", "[http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/2265-baaltis Astarte Worship among the Hebrews]", [http://jewishencyclopedia.com/directory.jsp?letter=b &c.], ''[http://jewishencyclopedia.com/ Jewish Encyclopedia]'', New York: Funk & Wagnalls

{{Middle Eastern mythology}}
{{Ancient Egyptian religion footer}}
{{Characters and names in the Quran}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baal}}
[[Category:Baal| ]]
[[Category:Books of Kings]]
[[Category:Carthaginian mythology]]
[[Category:Deities in the Hebrew Bible]]
[[Category:Elijah]]
[[Category:Phoenician mythology]]
[[Category:Names of God in Judaism]]
[[Category:Religion in ancient Israel and Judah]]
[[Category:Canaanite religion]]